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[27 March 2007] - The trafficking and abuse of children and young people has become 'a major problem for southern African countries without exception', according to studies presented on Tuesday at a conference in Johannesburg organized by the Southern African Network against Trafficking and abuse of Children (SANTAC). This meeting is part of the preparations for a conference between SADC (Southern African Development Community) and the European Union to be held in Maputo in July. Although the main purpose of trafficking in children is to force them into prostitution, the studies uncovered other motives for this traffic - including child labour, recruiting child brides for forced marriages, and using children for criminal purposes, particularly to carry drugs. Sometimes children are trafficked to almost certain death, in cases where their body parts are used in black magic rituals. The age group most vulnerable to trafficking are teenagers - children aged between 13 and 18. Although they are victims, the police often treat them as offenders - for when they are caught in the destination country, the police tend to deport them, rather than protecting them and hunting down those who exploited them. One problem is that although SADC countries have all ratified the relevant international conventions on child protection, none has yet passed any specific legislation outlawing trafficking in minors (Mozambique and South Africa, however, are both preparing such laws). The SANTC studies note that, despite this absence of specific legislation, there exist other, broader laws (on kidnapping, for example) which could be used to prosecute traffickers. 'It is not a problem of non-existence of laws, but a lack of implementation of them', SANTAC argues. The studies stress that deporting the victims of trafficking merely adds to their trauma. 'Children's rights to protection, health or education are compromised during the time they wait for deportation', says SANTAC. 'Little or no consideration is given to the child's physical and psychological state'. SANTAC calls for bilateral and multilateral arrangements 'to run joint actions against organized crime, trafficking and exploitation of children in transit and destination countries'. To this end law enforcement officers must be properly trained, and must know how to identify victims of trafficking. The studies also call for 'standard procedures within the region for the voluntary return and reintegration of victims of trafficking in their countries of origin, and extradition of traffickers for subsequent prosecution'. SANTAC also urges 'the establishment of a child-friendly judiciary and easily accessible judicial services', while specialized department should be set up to combat trafficking in people 'where qualified personnel would work on investigating reported cases of child trafficking'. Further Information:
pdf: http://allafrica.com/stories/200703270744.html