AFRICANS IN LONDON: WORKING TOGETHER TO SAFEGUARD TRAFFICKED CHILDREN
COMMUNITY MEETING


AFRUCA – Africans Unite Against Child Abuse is the premier charity promoting the welfare of African children in the UK. We are also the main charity campaigning against the trafficking of African children into the country. We work with practitioners and others to identify and support child victims of trafficking, we also organise community events to raise awareness of the issue.

Child trafficking is a growing global problem and UNICEF estimate that 1.2 million children worldwide are trafficked annually. More that 200,000 children are enslaved as a result of cross border trafficking in West and Central Africa. In countries like Kenya, Zambia, Ethiopia, with an abundance of street children and AIDS orphans, the growth of child trafficking in those countries is reaching alarming proportions. In the UK, various agencies including the Metropolitan Police, Social Services across the country and others are reporting a rise in the number of children coming to their attention as victims of trafficking from different countries in Africa. As an organisation, AFRUCA has worked with a wide range of young people trafficked for different purposes here in the UK. These include domestic servitude, sexual exploitation and benefit fraud.

Clearly a lot of work needs to be done – and urgently.

This community event is being organised by AFRUCA in partnership with the Africa Centre, ADVAD and the Metropolitan Police to raise awareness of the issue of child trafficking among the African community in London. We all have a key role to play in protecting and safeguarding our children who are victims. The conference will highlight key issues within the community that foster child trafficking, enable participants to discuss relevant issues and identify ways in which different members of our community can act to help safeguard vulnerable children.

Date: Thursday 13 July 2007
Time: 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Venue: The Africa Centre, 38 King Street Covent Garden London WC2E

Event Chair: Dr Adotey Bing, Director of Africa Centre

Presentations:

·       Detective Sergeant Andy Johnson - Kent Police (based at Dover Port)

·       Chris Beddoe – (ECPAT) End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes

·       Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Spindler - Metropolitan Police (MET) Operation Paladin Child

·       Debbie Ariyo (Director, AFRUCA) – Presentation on the trafficking of African children in the UK


Admission is free and dinner will be served, participation is strictly by registration only.  Please contact AFRUCA to book your place at the event

Contact: Elvina Quaison, Child Advocacy Officer at AFRUCA at elvina@afruca.org

AFRUCA - Africans Unite Against Child Abuse
Unit 4S Leroy house
436 Essex Road
London
N1 3QP

Tel:020 7704 2261
Fax:020 7704 2266
Web: www.afruca.org


AFRUCA is a UK registered charity number 109 3027 and a company limited by guarantee number 4306536