Child trafficking event 21 March in London

It's estimated that about 80% of trafficked children to the UK are from Nigeria, while 60% of prostitutes in Italy are Nigerian girls who have been trafficked. Please do what you can to support this important event coming up in London later this month. Thanks AS for the link:

NIGERIANS IN LONDON: WORKING TOGETHER TO SAFEGUARD TRAFFICKED
CHILDREN

AFRUCA – Africans Unite Against Child Abuse is the premier charity promoting the welfare of African children in the UK. We are also the main charity campaigning against the trafficking of African children into the country. We work with practitioners and others to identify and support child victims of trafficking, work with policymakers to influence policy and engage with different African communities to raise awareness and highlight the issue.

The Problem
Child trafficking is a growing global problem. UNICEF estimate that 1.2 million children worldwide are trafficked annually. More than 200,000 children are enslaved as a result of cross border trafficking in West and Central Africa. As a country, Nigeria unfortunately has a reputation for being one of the leading African countries with cross border and internal trafficking.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that over 40% of Nigerian street children and hawkers are victims of trafficking. There are over 1 million Aids orphans in Nigeria, most of them prone to being trafficked. More than 60% of street prostitutes in Italy are women and girls of Nigerian origin most of whom have been trafficked for that purpose.

In the UK, various agencies including the Metropolitan Police, Social Services across the country and others are reporting a rise in the number of children coming to their attention as victims of trafficking from different countries in Africa but predominantly from Nigeria. As an organisation, AFRUCA has worked with a wide range of young people trafficked for different purposes here London. These include domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, benefit fraud and other forms of forced labour. Over 80% of the young people we work with as victims of
trafficking are of Nigerian origin.

Clearly a lot of work needs to be done – and urgently too.

The Event
This community event is being organised by AFRUCA in partnership with CAN-UK to raise awareness of the growing problem of child trafficking among the Nigerian community in London. We all have a key role to play in protecting and safeguarding our children who are victims and in preventing other children from becoming victims. The conference will highlight key issues within our community that foster child trafficking, enable participants to ddebate relevant issues and identify ways in which we can act to help safeguard vulnerable children.

Date: Wednesday 21st March 2007
Time: 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Venue:
AFFORD - African Foundation for Development
31-33 Bondway
Vauxhall Cross
London SW8 1SJ
(nearest tube Vauxhall on the Victoria Line. The venue is one minute walk from the
tube station, right opposite Vauxhall Bus Station)

Event Chair: Dr Mark Abani, President, Confederation of All Nigerians in the UK (CAN-UK)
Presentations include:
- An Overview of Child Trafficking in the UK and Experience of Working with Nigerian
Victims - Debbie Ariyo (Director, AFRUCA)
- Working with victims of Child Trafficking from a legal point of view - Fiona Lindsey (Hackney
Law Centre)
- Working with victims of trafficking through the media – Dr Kurt Barling (BBC Journalist)
Special Guest
Nigerian High Commissioner (represented by Mrs Kate Igbodike)
Admission is free and dinner will be served, participation is strictly by registration only.
Please contact AFRUCA to book your place at the event.
Contact: Elvina Quaison, Child Advocacy Officer at AFRUCA email: [email protected],
telephone: 0207 7042261
Please come and have your say at this important event. We look forward to having you.
AFRUCA - Africans Unite Against Child Abuse
Unit 3D/F Leroy House
436 Essex Road
London N1 3QP
tel: +44 (0) 207 704 2261
fax: +44 (0) 207 704 2266
email: [email protected]
website: www.afruca.org

AFRUCA is a UK registered charity number 1093027 and a company limited by
guarantee number 4306536
AFRUCA - Promoting the rights and welfare of African children