By Omowunmi Oladokun
Poverty, Ignorance and Illiteracy has been the reason why major Children and women are missing in the world today. Innocent people are daily hijacked and taken far away or abroad from there parent and family on a daily basis
The United Nation defines Child Trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or the receipt of a Child for the purpose of exploitation. i.e taking innocent Children abroad for forced labour, slavery, sexual exploitation, begging, illegal adoption or recruitment for armed conflict.
Article 29 of African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of a Child defines Child Trafficking as the “abduction, sales of or traffic in Children for any purpose or in any form whether with legal or parental consent.
Nigeria’s Child Right Act of 2003 prohibits buying, selling, hiring and otherwise dealing in Children.
Child trafficking is a serious crime and a violation of human rights in all countries of the world, most especially in Africa.
WHAT ARE CHILDREN USED FOR.
1. Sexual Exploitation: it includes abusing children and using there bodies recklessly for sex entertainment daily in exchange for money.
2. Child Marriage: children are transported for marriage purposes and used brutally for sex, child bearing and household chores.
3. Begging and Crime: Children are put on the street and used to commit crime such as theft, fraud and serial killing.
4. Armed Conflict: Children are used as fighters, soldiers and sexually abused on a daily basis.
5. Illegal adoption: babies and children are adopted into families for domestic and sexual purposes.
EFFECT OF CHILD TRAFFICKING.
1. Loss of body part: Children’s head, private parts and internals are sliced and used for rituals and feeding on a daily basis.
2. Health Challenges: victims may suffer both physical and mental health challenges like HIV/AIDS, Gonorrhea, depression, anxiety and the likes.
3. Death: Children may lose there lives in the course of it.
In conclusion, raising awareness about the existence of Child Trafficking and it’s effect on Children may inform the public and help ameliorate it in this generation. Research has shown that over 20000 Children are trafficked every year and many groups are already raising banners to put an end to it in the Africa.
