Trafficking of African Children to the UK: Denouncing the “Better life” Syndrome

Tuesday, 14 October 2003 at 10:30am
Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos
NIGERIA

Seminar Background
AFRUCA - Africans Unite Against Child Abuse is a UK based registered charity working to promote the welfare of African children in the UK and in Africa. In particular, we have been very vocal and visible in highlighting the growing problem of the trafficking of African children to the UK for a variety of purposes including domestic servitude, sexual exploitation and possible ritual killing. In November last year, we held a seminar in London looking at this particular issue. Trafficking of African children was also a key theme at our National Conference recently held in Leicester.

Rationale
AFRUCA strongly believes that much more could be done by the authorities, NGOs, the private sector and other bodies to stem the tide of young Africans who are being brought to the UK by traffickers for a so-called "better life". We are convinced that more needs to be done to safeguard the growing number of victims and at the same time, to highlight the message back home in Africa itself that children trafficked here have only misery and suffering to experience and that no "better life" exists for such children. This is the first in our series of seminars on Trafficking to be held in a number of African countries.

Objectives
The seminar will seek to raise awareness of the different trafficking issues as they occur in the UK and the impact on victims. In highlighting the issues, it will seek to put the matter at the top of the agendas of NGOs, parliamentarians, government agencies, relevant private organisations, international NGOs and other stakeholders, alongside ongoing activities focusing on child trafficking within Africa. In particular, the event will target media representatives who have a key role to play in reporting cases of trafficking and the negative impact on victims.

The event will be chaired by Mary Kanu, Chairperson, Africans Unite Against Child Abuse

Speakers include:

·         Current Trends in the Trafficking of Nigerian Children: The Factors, the Issues- Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi – Executive Director, Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON)

·         Trafficking and the Legal Framework: Exploring the New Child Rights Bill in Nigeria – Barrister Sam Erugo, Chair, Child Rights Action Coalition of Nigeria (CRAC)

·         Trafficking in West Africa – Sub-regional trends, responses and actions (to be confirmed) Roseleen Aderoye: Child Protection and Participation Officer, UNICEF Nigeria

·         New Dimensions in Child Trafficking: the “Better Life” syndrome and the Impact on African children in the UK. Debbie Ariyo, Executive Director, Africans Unite Against Child Abuse (AFRUCA):

 Admission is by invitation only. To register, please contact:

Dayo Israel

General Action Against Violation of Human and

Children’s Rights (GAAVHR), Lagos Nigeria

Tel: 0803 471 8910                                                                    

E-mail: dayoisrael@yahoo.co.uk

 Yetunde Obafemi

Event Organiser

E-mail: yobafemi@cddnig.org

Tel: 0803 303 9793