Haitian Children at Increased Risk of Abduction, Slavery and Trafficking

Unaccompanied children in Haiti, including orphans and those sent by their parents to live with more affluent relatives or strangers, run a greater risk of being abducted, enslaved, sold or trafficked due to increased insecurity following last month’s devastating earthquake.

According to a group of United Nations human rights experts: “Protection of children must be at the heart of the relief operation in Haiti.” Independent experts - mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor slavery, sale of children, trafficking and violence against children - said they are extremely concerned about young people in Haiti.

“Unaccompanied children are particularly vulnerable and it is essential, wherever possible, to register, trace and reunite children with their families. During the evacuation efforts, it is imperative to avoid the unnecessary separation of families which may place children at higher risk, aggravate their trauma and distress and hinder their recovery and reintegration.”

The group of experts also urged international organizations and governments assisting Haitians “to ensure that the work on child protection remains a priority and continues to be properly funded and coordinated under the umbrella of the United Nations.”

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Independent Expert on Haiti have emphasized the critical need to protect children in the chaotic aftermath of the earthquake, and in light of the particular dangers posed by thousands of gang-members and other criminals who escaped from prisons damaged by the quake.

The warning was issued by the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery Gulnara Shahinian; the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography Najat M’jid Maalla; the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children Joy Ngozi Ezeilo; and the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children Marta Santos Pais.

Taken from Radio Havana Cuba