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Bringing Transporters "On Board" to Combat Child Trafficking

Child Trafficking in Benin : A national study on child trafficking in Benin conducted last year revealed that 15,000 children were trafficked within and outside of the country during the 12 months preceding the study. Of these, 86 percent were girls between 6-14 years old. Typically, trafficked children come from parents who are too poor to support their families. Parents receive a lump sum payment of approximately $40 in return for a child. The girls become "vidomegon," the local word for children who serve as domestic servants, market sellers, and nannies. Boys "vidomegon" work as agricultural and construction laborers. Trafficked children work long, hard hours for little or no payment. They live in poor conditions, and receive no education.

Since 2005, USAID/Benin works with UNICEF to address child trafficking in Benin. Trafficked children are often transported by truck, vans and taxis within and outside of Benin. However, national efforts to combat child trafficking had not targeted the transport companies, drivers or their unions. To address this issue, UNICEF and the Government of Benin developed a code of conduct for transport companies and drivers. The code is based on Benin's 2006 anti-trafficking law. The code of conduct explains what illegal child transport is and the penalties under the law if one is charged. By signing the code of conduct, the company managers and drivers commit themselves to respecting the anti-trafficking law and refusing to transport children illegally within or outside of Benin. The code of conduct has been translated into two local languages, and 1,000 copies have been distributed within 10 districts of northern Benin. To date, over 300 transport companies and drivers have signed a commitment to combat child trafficking in Benin.

Trafficked at seven years old, Jacqueline spent the last seven years working as a domestic servant and selling in the large markets of Cotonou. She often suffered physical and sexual abuse and had been raped several times by men in the households. At last, Jacqueline was found with other children in a taxi that was stopped at the Benin/Nigeria border. The driver was arrested and paid a penalty. He admitted not knowing about the law against child trafficking. Today, he tells other drivers about the Transporters Code of Conduct, warning them about the dangers to the children and the consequences of being charged.

Jacqueline (rasing her hand) tells her story: "I can't believe I made it back home! To be back with my mother and sisters is a dream come true. Life is hard here and sometimes we're hungry, but I am so much happier than before!" Jacqueline's dreams are simple. "I just want to be able to stay home with my mother and become the best seamstress in town." Jacqueline and the other children were helped by UNICEF to return home. She is now an apprentice to become a seamstress and takes literacy classes.

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