Travel to Uncertainty. A study of Child relocation in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Mali
Author(s): A. Hatløy K. H. Riisøen L. Bjerkan
Child relocation (to live with relatives, to pursue education, for work, or for an apprenticeship) is common and is not a new phenomenon in West Africa. Despite, considerable geographical and ethnic variations, relocated children make up a significant proportion of all children in the region. This report tries to examine the link between child trafficking and child relocation in three West African countries: Burkina Faso, Ghana and Mali. The main goal of the study is to identify whether traditional forms of child relocation have a preventive effect on child trafficking, or on the contrary, whether they increase trafficking. The research is based on in-depth interviews with local and national authorities, as well as with international organisations; with regional and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), children under the age of 18, household members hosting relocated children, parents who sent their children to other places, and employers. The principal finding of the study is that all working children in the three countries are at risk of being exploited, regardless of their migration status. Interviews have demonstrated that trafficking is a social and economic problem. A lack of perceived opportunities and education makes a child vulnerable to trafficking. A general recommendation of the report to local and national governments is to enlarge the scope of policies and actions to go beyond the narrow focus on the elimination of trafficking. NGOs should work in cooperation with local and national authorities to inform employers, children and parents on the risk of trafficking, and monitor and supervise certain employers and sectors.