TOGO

BORDERLINE SLAVERY

CHILD TRAFFICKING IN TOGO

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Table of Contents

I. SUMMARY

West Africa's Trade in Children
Togo's Trafficked Girls
Togo's Trafficked Boys
The Prohibition of Child Trafficking in International Law
The Failures in the Togolese Government Response

II. MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS

To all West African governments implicated in the trafficking of children, including Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Niger, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Gabon

III. METHODS

IV. BACKGROUND ON CHILD TRAFFICKING IN TOGO

Scale of Child Trafficking
Causes of Child Trafficking
Poverty and Lack of Opportunity
The Link to HIV/AIDS
Other Factors
Trafficked Children Interviewed in this Report

CASE STUDY: DÉLA N., AGE FOURTEEN

V. GIRLS TRAFFICKED INTO DOMESTIC AND MARKET LABOR

Recruitment
Transport
Receipt and Exploitation
Exposure to Abuse
Sexual Exploitation and Exposure to HIV/AIDS and Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Return
Girls Trafficked to Togo from Other Countries

CASE STUDY: SÉLOM S.,AGE THIRTEEN

VI. EXTERNAL TRAFFICKING OF TOGOLESE BOYS

Recruitment
Transport
Receipt and Exploitation
Exposure to Hazards and Abuse
Return

VII. FAILURES IN STATE RESPONSE

"Rescue" of Trafficked Children
Togo's Official Repatriation and Reintegration Initiatives
Recipient Countries' Shelter and Repatriation Services
Prosecution of Traffickers

VIII. LEGAL PROTECTION AGAINST CHILD TRAFFICKING

National Law
Togo
Other Countries
Regional Anti-trafficking Efforts
International Law
Overview
Relevant Law on Child Slavery

IX. DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS

To all West African governments implicated in the trafficking of children, including Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Niger, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Gabon
Concerning the prosecution of child trafficking and related offenses
Concerning the recruitment of trafficked children
Concerning the transport of trafficked children
Concerning the commercial exploitation of trafficked children
Concerning the safe return and reintegration of trafficked children
To the Government of Togo
To Donors Supporting these Governments
To the United Nations
To Multilateral Organizations in Africa

X. CONCLUSION

APPENDIX A: EXCERPTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

APPENDIX B: ILO CONVENTION NO. 182 AND RECOMMENDATIONS

APPENDIX C: OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD ON THE SALE OF CHILDREN, CHILD PROSTITUTION AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

APPENDIX D: PROTOCOL TO THE U.N. CONVENTION ON TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME TO SUPPRESS, PREVENT AND PUNISH THE TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS