Human Trafficking in [Chad] [other countries]
Street Children in [Chad] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Chad] [other countries]
 

Child Prostitution

The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

Republic of Chad [ Country-by-Country Reports ]

The Republic of Chad [map] is a landlocked country located in N central Africa and is bordered by the Central African Republic (S), by Sudan (E), by Libya (N), and by Cameroon, Niger, & Nigeria (W). Ndjamena is its capital and largest city. Chad is home to approximately 8.1 million people. In recent decades, political instability has hindered economic and social development and detrimentally affected the situation of women and children. Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted by major oilfield and pipeline projects that began in 2000. Over 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and livestock raising for its livelihood. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's export earnings.

CAUTION:  The following links and accompanying text have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in Chad. Some of these links may lead to websites that present allegations that are unsubstantiated, misleading or even false. No attempt has been made to validate their authenticity or to verify their content.

Quick Search for Missing Children - Select Gender, Country (Chad), and Years Missing

National Plan of Action

U.S. Dept of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs

INCIDENCE AND NATURE OF CHILD LABOR - A 2003 ECPAT study estimated that many Chadian children live in the streets and often fall victim to violence, including sexual exploitation.

CHILD LABOR LAWS AND ENFORCEMENT - The Penal Code prohibits child trafficking and sexual exploitation and procurement for the purposes of prostitution. The prostitution of children can result in a fine and imprisonment from 2 to 5 years.

CURRENT GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS TO ELIMINATE THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR - The Government of Chad is working with UNICEF to implement a project for children who need special protection, including victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

Bur of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005

TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS - There were also reports of child prostitution, primarily in the southern oil-producing region.

Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - 1999

[38] The Committee is concerned at the absence of data and of a comprehensive study on the issue of sexual exploitation of children. In the light of article 34 and other related articles of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party undertake studies with a view to designing and implementing appropriate policies and measures, including care and rehabilitation, to prevent and combat the sexual exploitation of children.

ECPAT: Fifth Report on implementation of the Agenda for Action [DOC]

[B] COUNTRY UPDATES – CHAD – Chad has not yet developed a National Plan of Action specifically dealing with CSEC. However, civil society is discussing the issue more openly and potential solutions are being investigated. As a result, NGOs such as the Association Jeunesse Anti-Clivage and Association des Femmes Juristes du Chad are able to assist women and children whose rights are violated.

Situational Analysis Studies on CSEC in Chad [PDF]

[2.1.1] THE MAIN CAUSES OF PROSTITUTION IN CHAD - Prostitution increased considerably during the civil war, which lasted from 1979 to 1982. Unfavorable socio-economic factors affected the lives of most Chadians. The situation was worse depending on the size of a family, pushing fathers to neglect their duties. Unable to cope with their failure to meet basic needs, many fathers turned away from their parental responsibilities and left children to the streets. Boys became street children, known in Chad as “Colombians” (a reference to these boys’ drug consumption) and the girls to prostitution where they were exploited by many men in Chad. In addition to the war, we must mention the dictatorship of ex-President Hissein Habré (1982-1990), which led to the deaths of 40,000 victims, mostly men, which in turn led to many single parent families and a larger number of orphans.

Protection Project - Chad [DOC]

FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRAFFICKING INFRASTRUCTURE - Causes of commercial sexual exploitation of children in Chad include rural exodus, parental irresponsibility, alcoholism, illiteracy, domestic violence, weight of tradition, lack of enforcement of legal sanctions against sexual offenders, low awareness, open borders, and corruption.

The dictatorship of Hissein Habre (president of Chad from 1982 to 1990) led to the deaths of 40,000 persons, mostly men, which in turn led to many single-parent homes and a large number of orphans. The death of a husband often pushes the widow and her female children to prostitute themselves in order to survive.

ECPAT: 2002 Agenda for Action Report [DOC]

MONITORING - PREVENTION / RECOVERY & REINTEGRATION - THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA - RECOVERY AND INTEGRATION -

In Chad, UNICEF has developed a project for children in need of special protection.  One project component has been developed with the particular aim of providing protection and psychological rehabilitation to CSEC victims. The project is planned for an initial 3-year period of time.  An educational program has been developed, together with the Chadian Ministry of Social Affairs, specifically for officials that come in contact with children, including CSEC victims, to work for the child’s protection.

Chad Oil Pipeline Under Attack For Harming The Poor

A coalition of environment, religious and development groups have produced two reports showing that so far the construction of the pipeline has damaged the interests of people along its entire length: water supplies have been damaged, pygmies have lost hunting lands, farmers have lost land and crops and an influx of immigrant workers has brought child prostitution and spread AIDS.

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Human Trafficking in [Chad]  [other countries]
Street Children in [Chad] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Chad] [other countries]