ANB-BIA SUPPLEMENT - ISSUE/EDITION Nr 331 - 01/10/1997

ANB-BIA SUPPLEMENT

ISSUE/EDITION Nr 331 - 01/10/1997

CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE


Benin

"Child trafficking" on the increase

by Marie Kangambega Quenum, Benin, July 1997

THEME = CHILDREN



INTRODUCTION

Benin has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter of
Children's Rights. But some children in Benin are victims of an on-going traffic in children.
They are destined for "use" within Benin and in foreign countries -
some of these bordering on Benin, others further afield. And it is increasing!


The facts are frightening. According to the statistics of the Juvenile Protection Bureau - in 1996, Benin's diplomatic representatives in foreign countries, succeeded in recovering 92 children found in unhappy circumstances. In 1995, 39 children had already been repatriated.

In 1995, 119 children leaving the country were turned back by border security. This figure rose to 413 in 1996, and from 1 January to 30 June 1997, 697 children were stopped at the frontier and returned to their place of origin. The situation is clear: the number of children falling victim to this traffic is increasing every year.

In the past, some children were entrusted by their parents to third parties. This was done for family reasons or out of friendship, but always within the context of the enlarged family group or local community, and there was no thought of profit-making. Nowadays, children are subject to a shameful traffic - the main reason being, according to Mr Paul Fagnon, from the Association "Terre des Hommes" - poverty within the family. Worst of all, when these families hand over their children, they do not clearly understand the consequences of their actions.

At a national level, children handed over into the "care" of a third party, are known as: "entrusted children". A survey, carried out jointly in 1994 at Cotonou and at Porto-Novo by UNICEF and the Social Protection Department, showed that, out of 155 households surveyed, 151 housed at least one "entrusted child". 85% of these children were female, 72% of them were between 10 and 14 years old and 20% less than 10 years old. 90% of the children had never been to school.

Always victims


Both at home and abroad, these "entrusted children" are used for household labour, as street vendors or in the worst cases, are drawn into procurement networks.

And of course, it's children who are always the victims. For a "pledged" emplacement lasting two or three years, their families might receive anything from 20,000 to 80,000 CFA francs for each placement. Another reason given for "placing" children, is to protect them from the ravages of sorcery (sorcerers are known as "eaters of souls". For this reason, the children are sent a long way away from their own villages.

So what happens to the child? Consequences include ill-treatment and psychological damage which may be serious. Dr. Emilienne Kpadonou, from the non-governmental organisation "Terre des Hommes" which concerns itself with children in difficulty, describes this treatment of children as: "sadomasochistic behaviour" because it can have long-term consequences, continuing into future generations. Some "host" families or individuals even change the child's name and religion, which causes identity problems.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child, signed by Benin, classifies a child as being: "Any human person under 18 years of age, unless majority is reached under the terms of legislation applying to that person." Article 321 of this document states that: "Participating States, recognise the child's right to be protected against economic exploitation, and not to be forced into any work which may involve risk, or which may compromise its education or damage its health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development".

Protecting the child


In Benin, the existence of "entrusted children" dates from 1987, but it was 1990 before the authorities really appreciated its extent. Already, in 1961, a law had been passed regulating the placement of minors under the age of 18, outside the country. A decree established procedures for granting exit permits to such minors. Confronted with the fact that children were being shipped outside the country, further legislation was enacted in 1995 to strengthen the effect of existing laws.

The authorities are committed to controlling this "traffic". Other NGOs and associations for the defence of the rights of the child, as well as international organisations, have similar pre-occupations. At a meeting held at the end of July, those involved in dealing with traffic in children, suggested some possible solutions. The main outcome was to develop a plan of action, envisaging several stages in the struggle to stamp out this nefarious practice.

In the short term: The Media will be asked to play a greater role; monitoring committees will set up at all levels; Social Protection Centres (CPS) established or re-established in all sub- prefectures, thus strengthening the combined efforts of the Juvenile Protection Bureau (BPM), local social workers and the CPSs. It was also considered highly desirable that the BPM should have the necessary funding for responding to the problem, and that a law should be drafted and passed to eliminate the traffic in children.

The problem of "go-betweens" in the "trade" was also raised. The feeling of those taking part in the meeting was that such people should be denounced and punished. Benin's diplomatic representatives were asked to concern themselves with the struggle to protect the children.

Regarding a middle-term course of action: a solution must be found to this scandal which is only going to increase. Children must be given the opportunity to have access to written material in their own language; there must be free primary education in accordance with article 13 of the Constitution (it's a fact that not everyone can afford to pay school fees).

In the long term: It is planned to establish a vocational training centre. Already at a national level, some action has been implemented. "Terre des Hommes" plans to set up a centre and shelter at the big international Dantokpa market at Cotonou, where "entrusted children" are employed, especially by shop-keepers and saleswomen. Here they can be given training in subjects like domestic science.

A Charter


Under the terms of implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a Charter specifically designed to protect the "entrusted children" was drafted in November 1996, and officially launched in March 1997. The signatories to this Charter undertake, among other things: "Not to place any of their children with a third person before the age of 14, and not to pledge or transfer any child from the family into the charge of a third person with a view to accepting some kind of compensation, be it monetary or otherwise; not to accept or seek to take under their roof, any child of less than 14 years, for domestic or commercial work."

The Charter also defines what to do about children who are already with another person or people. In this case, "the child shall benefit from the same rights as the children in the family, especially the right to keep its own name, the right to proper nourishment, clean accommodation, and proper medical care..."

But within a Benin context, this Charter is considered difficult to apply. Why? Because poor parents are continually looking for ways and means to make ends meet. So what happens? They know that city folk are always looking for cheap labour, so "lending out" a child for a certain time (and for a certain financial compensation) seems an obvious solution.


END

CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE


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