Human trafficking a.k.a. Trafficking In Persons (TIP) is modern day form of slavery. The United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Supress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children which supplements the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crimes defines TIP as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt of persons by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the use of power or a position or vulnerability, or of the given or receiving of payment or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation.

Child Trafficking occurs when a person under the age of 18 years is moved from his or her home to another place within the country or outside the country by someone into situations of exploitation and abuse. Such abuse could be domestic servitude (househelp), childlabour, sexual abuse, hawking, prostitution, begging or leading blind beggars etc.

Child trafficking is a major problem in Nigeria and the rights of innocent children continue to be grossly violated. One of the factors that have contributed to the rising of this problem is ignorance of the care givers namely parents, guardians and other family members.

Many families from rural areas are not adequately sensitised and enlightened on the problems and adverse effects of this criminal practice. Due to poor economic status of the parents, they fall prey to the tricks of traffickers who are highly organized in the practice.

The children themselves are largely unaware of their rights and responsibilities and cannot react or speak out when those rights are violated. They are constrained by lack of information ontheir fundamental rights. Some reasons why children are more vulnerable to TIP are- poverty, domestic violence, dysfunctional homes, gender discrimination, tribal/religious conflicts.

In Nigeria, records have shown that the Eastern States – Imo, Abia, Enugu and Anambra States are sources for child trafficking especially for domestic servitude.Some rich individual’sparticularly young couples in major cities such as Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt when in need of domestic assistance do connect with traffickers whose business is to bring children from villages and distribute like commodities to the cities. These traffickers meet with the poor parents to give out their children, some offer money and promise better life for the children. Some of these children have been taken across the countries with the hope of greener pastures. Unfortunately, their hope has been futile.

Some cultural traditions and values like traditional fostering system whereby a child could be raised by richer family relatives,promotes child trafficking. Originally, this practice was helpful because the child was properly taken care of by the guardian just like his or her own biological child. However, this practice has been grossly abused today by some privileged people who take advantage of the vulnerability of their poor relatives and exploit their children. The children especially girls, when brought to the cities are used as ‘house helps’. Little or no attention is given to their education as they are overwhelmed with domestic chores. Some are exposed to rape and other sexual abuse. Some of the male ones are found hawking or engaged in other works that endanger their life.This is Child Labour, one of the end products of child trafficking.

Child Labour is any work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity. Any work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children is Child Labour. Children who are trafficked face the risk of labour, physical injury, psychological or emotional pains, kidnapping and rituals.

Child Trafficking has a devastating impact on children. Such impacts include: isolation from family, community and familiar surroundings, denial of education, loss of childhood pleasures, exposure to sexual abuse and rape, unwanted pregnancy, early motherhood, physical injury, hard labour, and risk of death.

Parents, guardians and community members should be aware of traffickers or some relatives who scout around for young girls and boys to take away to the cities. They may appear like angels but could be devils in disguise. Parents should,irrespective of their economic status,consider the dangers which children are bound to face when they are trafficked or when they are given to some relatives to live outside their homes. No amount of money can be equal to the value of a child. The saying ‘no place like a home’ is relevant to in the up-bringing of children. Children are better off when they live, grow and develop with their parents. Let’s say no to child trafficking and child labour by promoting the rights of children to live with their parents and be properly taken care of. Child trafficking and child labour are scourges to humanity. These must STOP!

By IwuagwuOdinaka
Officer for Youth and Children
Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF)
http://wotclef.org.ng

Report any case of trafficking and abuse to [url]wotclef.org.ng[/url]