Kinderhandel: ”Staten reageren te langzaam”

Overgenomen uit de CRIN Newsletter

Child trafficking: ”States slow to respond” [NGO briefing]

[12 March 2008] - An NGO briefing session on child trafficking in Asia threw the spotlight on efforts to combat the scourge.
The Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Juan Miguel Petit, was once again present, arguing that “States are slow to respond to the problem, and even slower to create policies to combat it.”
While cautioning that “it is a matter easily exaggerated”, Mr Petit called on civil society to plug the gaps by pressing States to enact policies and legislation, and guarantee their implementation.
He said: “There is also a lack of attention at the academic level. What we need is an exhaustive study.”
The lack of assistance programmes for victims can be cause for re-victimisation and increased vulnerability, he said.
While programmes make take many forms, he added, they should all be tailored to the needs of the victims.

Children especially vulnerable
Laurence Gray, of World Vision, reminded advocates that children are especially vulnerable since they are unable to resist exploitation and abuse.
The victims of trafficking in Asia, he said, are almost always from poor communities where there are scant employment opportunities, and where they may be forced by their domestic circumstances to accept exploitative treatment.
And they are also often from marginalised groups, such as Illegal immigrants or ethnic minorities, with low levels of education and inadequate government protection, he added.
Mr Gray said: “It is in the hands of governments to reduce trafficking, and many are not doing enough.”
He also emphasised the centrality of child participation in working towards effective programmes.

Meer informatie is te vinden op de website van CRIN (zie hieronder)
Lees daar Mr Petit’s last report en een interview met Mr Petit

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