Child Trafficking

By Mallory Croley

What is child trafficking?• The illegal movement of children for the use of slave labor or sexual

exploitation. • The trafficked children may be forced to work in sweatshops,

construction sites, or in domestic houses as slaves.• Many end up as child beggars or in wars as child soldiers.

AP Themes…• As seen in India, China, and Sub-Saharan Africa, child labor has become

a huge global issue that is often connected with child trafficking. • This connection shows us a pattern throughout World History: that

many global issues are connected and repeated and in this case, occur in areas where law enforcement is slim (third world countries).

• If we break the chain of repetition and focus on stopping all illegal exploitation of children we can not only help decrease child trafficking worldwide, but we can also stop the use of child labor and child soldiers.

Where does it occur?• Child trafficking is a GLOBAL ISSUE that is a current and ongoing problem.

• It has been statistically shown that Nigeria has some of the highest trafficking levels around the world.

• Nigeria is a transit center and destination country in Africa for trafficked children, especially young girls.

• Trafficked girls are recruited from all over Nigeria by trafficking men who are involved in illegal businesses. Trafficked children are most often taken from Nigeria and shipped to other African countries, primarily Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Gambia. However, some are forced to work in Nigeria, subject to hazardous jobs unless they are quickly rescued by family or other global organizations.

The Kidnapped Schoolgirls• 300 Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped LAST MONTH (April

2014) from their boarding school in Chibok, Nigeria by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

• The young and innocent schoolgirls are suspected to be in the Northeastern area of Nigeria’s Sambisa Forest which has long been a hideout for Nigerian smugglers and traffickers.

• Although no one has yet discovered the missing Nigerian girls, many countries and organizations are working day and night to save the trafficked children.

• The White House announced on May 21 that the US will send 80 troops to Chad in an effort to rescue the kidnapped girls and punish the Islamist group that trafficked them into slavery.

• Click Here for a link to an article that provides more in depth information on the current event taking place in Nigeria!

Global Campaign#bringbackourgirls• All around the globe, organizations,

politicians, celebrities, and activists are raising awareness about the devastation the Nigerian families and schoolgirls are facing. They continue to search and advocate for the young children to help highlight the injustice faced by trafficked children.

• With this current issue, the world has come together in unity to help find the missing girls as we have seen with many other historical events such as the genocide in Rwanda, poverty in 3rd world countries, and the unjust use of child soldiers in warzones.

Why does Trafficking Occur?• Although child trafficking is prohibited by law and illegal in most

countries, it still occurs in areas of poverty where money is most often made by illegal practices such as smuggling, hunting, and trafficking.

• In Nigeria there is already an extensive marketplace for children who are abducted by traffickers due to other global issues such as child labor and other conflicts.

• Due to the illegal global market connected between most third world countries, the issue persists despite certain bans and outlaws on trafficking because it is poorly enforced and occurs in areas with decentralized governmental control.

• The leader of the Boko Haram group who kidnapped the Nigerian girls stated ""I will sell them in the market, by Allah. There is a market for selling humans."

Cont…• The International Labor Organization estimates that about 1.2

million children are trafficked worldwide.• As many as 27 million women, men, and children have

become victims of trafficking around the globe. • Because borders are often porous and law enforcement is

weak in third world countries, trafficking persists.

~Nigeria ranks as a Tier 2 country in human trafficking—meaning that its leaders are making efforts to fight trafficking but it doesn't comply with the minimum standards of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Act.

How can I help??• Raise Awareness – Thousands all over the globe have joined in on the

#bringbackourgirls campaign. So should you! Teach people about the dangers of child trafficking and encourage them to spread the word about the lost schoolgirls. The more educated our world, the better.

• Stay informed on global issues – The more educated our society is about worldly issues and policies, the better suited we are to make a change! Watch the news, stay updated on current events, and keep track of the current issue in Nigeria.

• Implement Anti-Trafficking strategies to secure borders - All 50 US states have reported cases of trafficking in the last few decades. So as US citizens, we should encourage our government and policy makers to implement laws to secure all borders and identify all children entering and leaving the US.

• Organize a Fundraiser and donate the proceeds to anti-trafficking organizations such as the UNICEF “End Trafficking Project” .

You CAN make a Difference• Join in on UNICEF’s “End Trafficking Project” – This project works

through the UNICEF organization to raise awareness about child trafficking around the world and encourage communities to take actions in protecting children’s rights.

• Donate to UNICEF – Visit UNICEFUSA.org and donate money to the Child Protection Program.

• Write to your government!! Lobbying governments and partners to develop new laws that strengthen child protection systems.

• The US should support and train all professionals and social workers who work directly with children so that they can learn to detect the signs of abuse, trafficking, and exploitation among young boys and girls.

• Have an ANTI-TRAFFICKING DAY! – Assign one day a year, such as the day the Nigerian girls were abducted, to remember the importance of ending child trafficking. Students may choose to participate in a “day of silence” during school hours to remember those who have been abducted or abused via child trafficking.

Sources! • "Child Trafficking." UNICEF USA. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2014.

• Conant, Eve. "Nigeria's Schoolgirl Kidnappings Cast Light on Child Trafficking."National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 15 May 2014. Web. 20 May 2014.

• "Prevention of Human Trafficking Must Begin before the Border." Left Foot Forward. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2014.