REGION TO ESTABLISH CHILD TRAFFICKING LEGISLATION IN 2004
Regional governments and partner organisations in West Africa agreed to ratify a convention against child trafficking in 2004. The agreement was reached after a three-day meeting on cross-border trafficking in Gabon's capital, Libreville. Participants discussed a blueprint of the proposed regional agreement that highlighted prevention, identification, repatriation and reintegration of child victims into home countries and also set a three-phase agenda for the convention. From April to June 2003, countries would hold technical consultations to fine-tune the proposals and in July 2003 ministers would adopt the final draft document. The final phase would be adoption in December 2004, by a summit of heads of state. An estimated 200,000 children are trafficked in West and Central Africa every year, according to UNICEF. (IRIN)
