Together we can stop child trafficking cartels

The rescue of three school children in Trans Nzoia County yesterday must have been a mighty relief to their grandfather who did not know of their whereabouts for three days.

That the minors aged between 11 and 14 years had been defiled by their abductors on the pain of death makes the case for sad reading. But these girls were the luckier ones.

In far off Malindi, Provincial Directors of Children’s Services from all the eight provinces, were meeting to share experiences and strategise on how to deal with a resurgence of child trafficking.

The vice has evolved into a multi-billion-dollar global industry. Most of the well-organised cartels often hit rural villages and lure poverty-stricken minors with the prospect of a better life. This being distinctly different from people smuggling, traffickers take their charges for outright sale to prostitution rings, child labour and paedophiles. Their motivation is money, pure and simple.

Some of the deliberations of the Provincial Directors of Children’s Services are disturbing as it turns out child traffickers now include close family members and even parents.

The officers are putting all their hopes on Parliament’s passing of the Anti-trafficking in Persons Bill and its assent by President Kibaki, to help curb the vice. Beyond that, specific measures include the signing up to a code of ethics by hotel owners not to allow minors into their establishments, especially for child sex tourists.

Conspiracy of silence

Basic, too is eternal vigilance by parents and guardians, by monitoring children’s whereabouts, disappearances, limit access to pornographic content and teaching of life skills in school.

Child abuse helplines and helpdesks have been provided by Government and any conspiracy of silence by not reporting any form of child abuse is in itself a crime.