Child trafficking: a struggle looms

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By Wu Meng

According to a recent report by the Guardian, a British news outlet, at least 77 Chinese children have gone missing since March 2006 from a home operated by the London borough of Hillingdon. Only four have been found, one of whom was pregnant when she was found.

A “restricted” report by the Border and Immigration Agency, which the Guardian obtained, revealed that the children were victims of a trafficking network with agents in countries as widespread as China, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia and Kenya.

Trafficking in children is now a global problem affecting large numbers of children. The trafficked children are mostly sold as slaves for cheap labor or sexual exploitation.

Child trafficking is reportedly rampant in some parts of the world, especially in Southeast Asia and some developed countries, such as the UK and the US. According to a report by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), 1,000-1,500 Guatemalan babies and children are trafficked each year for adoption by couples in North America and Europe.

It is estimated that as many as 1.2 million children are being trafficked every year while more than 30 percent of them are stowed away and sold in another country.

Every day more children are trafficked into prostitution, forced labor, child marriage and other slavery-like conditions. Traffickers and those who purchase trafficked children grow more skilled and experienced, and the challenges mount. We can effectively fight trafficking only if our knowledge, our experience and our skills surpass those of the traffickers.

Fortunately governments and organizations in most countries have now realized the seriousness of the situation and have taken measures to combat child trafficking groups and organizations.

However, much more is expected. Over the last 20 years, anti-trafficking organizations and individuals in all corners of the world have clarified issues, conducted research, developed strategies and carried out interventions.

Concerted responses are urgently needed. To be more effective in the war against child trafficking, we need to share our accumulated knowledge, skills and experience globally.

Education, health and protection service providers need to work closely together at all levels. Only in this way can we possibly prevent child trafficking and bring back the stolen generation.