---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 1 Mar 2000 21:50:52 -0800
From: David Mozer <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [wa-afr-network] Child Labor in Africa

CHILD LABOUR NEWS SERVICE

March 1, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

*****************************************************************************
** Africa Moves To Check Child Trafficking

** Future of Children Uncertain in Guatemala

** Study Underplays Child Labour Problem in Sri Lanka

** Child Labour Rules on the Way

-- News-in-Brief

*****************************************************************************
Africa Moves To Check Child Trafficking

Libreville: Ministers and experts from over 20 countries met
last week in Gabon to chalk out strategies against the trafficking
of child workers in Western and Central Africa.

The delegates adopted a series of measures to protect underage
workers. They proposed the setting up of an appropriate judicial
framework, improvements in taking custody of child victims of
trafficking and the reinforcement of inter-governmental cooperation.

The proposals were published in a document entitled "A Common
Platform for Action" at the close of the three-day meeting organised
by the Gabonese government, UNICEF and the International Labour
Organisation (ILO).

According to ILO figures, of the world's 250 million working
children, 32 percent or 80 million are in Africa. Of these, many
are in West and Central Africa where children have traditionally
been placed in the households of relatives or close associates.

Studies presented at the meeting showed that the region could
be broken up into source countries for child labour (Togo, Benin,
Burkina Faso and Mali), transit countries (Cameroon and Equatoria
Guinea), and receiver countries (Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon and Nigeria).

The phenomenon was put down to high levels of poverty in the
region, cultural values and practises, heavy demand for child
labour, the strength of the informal economy, and the absence
of adequate national legislation. To handle the rehabilitation
of trafficked children, the meeting recommended establishing
reception and transit centres and finding ways to pay for the
repatriation of children.

The cross-border nature of the problem called for cooperation
between governments and police forces to get children back home,
the delegates concluded.

The meeting also proposed the creation of a permanent sub-regional
committee composed of government and private representatives,
with UNICEF and ILO participation to monitor and evaluate efforts
to combat child trafficking.

(Source: UN Integrated Regional Information Network)
(snip)



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