17 Feb 2012 • Trafficking and exploitation Benin and Nigeria

Benin/Nigeria: Political-economic interests instead of the interests of the child

- Published by Darcissac, Marion

From the past 5th to 9th February, the delegation of Terre des hommes in Benin and Nigeria was invited to the ninth conference organised by the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) with authorities from the two governments of Nigeria and Benin (Ministries of Social Affairs and Childhood, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Security, Immigration). Together, they worked on the 2012 action plan to combat the trafficking of women and children.

For many years the authorities in Nigeria and Benin were distrustful about Tdh’s work of prevention and child protection. However, Tdh always upheld its advocacy on the issue of political-economic interests taken despite the interests of the children. In fact, the resumption of cotton growing by westerners and the slowing down of agricultural activity are reasons for the increase of youth mobility, as the youngsters are forced to leave home to seek more interesting economic opportunities than they can find nearer at hand.

Based on its experience gained in its project for protecting child migrants, Tdh explained and demonstrated at this conference that it is not really about a child trafficking phenomenon, but rather an economic phenomenon with risks during migrations. The two governments of Benin and of Nigeria have now positioned Tdh as the main party in the system of protection for child migrants between the two countries (the regions of Zakpota in Benin and Abeokuta in Nigeria), integrated in the new plan of action for 2012, relating to the fight against the trafficking of women and children.

We should also like to remind you that the BBC made a documentary film (10th to 30th January 2012) on the economic causes (cotton, agriculture, industry) and their consequences on the population – more specifically on the children involved in mobility – using as examples the work and responses of Tdh in this trans-frontier project. The BBC documentary (40 mins.) will be broadcast in summer 2012.

Further information on Tdh’s intervention in Benin and Nigeria