Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: Plan Togo has welcomed the introduction of a
new law that could lead to the prosecution of
child traffickers and their accomplices; and in
some cases the parents of the victims.
[LOME, August 2005] - Plan Togo has welcomed the introduction of a new
law that could lead to the prosecution of child traffickers and their
accomplices; and in some cases the parents of the victims. According to
Plan Togo’s child rights officer Delali Kpeglo it is hoped that the law will put
an end to the current impasse that results in the perpetrators of child
trafficking being let go after one or two days in detention. “Now that there
is a law, they all will be punished,” commented Kpeglo.
The new law follows international pressure from the US State department,
which recently defined Togo as one of 14 countries not doing enough to
halt international child trafficking. In the State Department’s annual
trafficking report Togo was given 90 days to take action, or face sanctions.
In a recently published research study by Plan Togo entitled, “For the Price
of a Bike” it is estimated that 12 per cent of children in Togo are being
removed from their homes in rural areas and sent to work for little or no
pay. The children recruited - with or without parental consent - leave their
homes in the hope of making enough money to support their families,
continue their education or just to buy basic material goods. The study also
says that high rates of poverty, cultural factors, as well as the traditional
custom of Togolese families sending children to live with aunts, cousins or
other relatives, is exploited by traffickers - leading to a rapid increase in
the numbers of children involved.
In the document Plan calls on policy-makers to strengthen legal
frameworks and policies for child protection. While Plan recognises the law,
in and of itself, is not enough to combat the problem of child trafficking it
has been welcomed as a first step towards a more holistic legal frame
work that could be combined with other counter trafficking measure.
According to the law, which has yet to be promulgated, child traffickers and
their collaborators could face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to 10
million CFA francs (US $18,875). All those recruiting, transporting, lodging
and using children, as well as parents could potentially be prosecuted
under the law.
For more information, contact:
Ann Birch, Regional Communications Advisor
Plan International - West Africa
136 Sotrac Mermoz, BP 21121, Dakar-Ponty, Senegal
Tel: + 221 869 7430; Fax: + 221 8252951
Email: ann.birch@plan-international.org