Human Trafficking in [Madagascar Street Children in [Madagascar] [other countries]Child Prostitution in [Madagascar] [other countries] |
Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery In the
first ten years of the 21st Century -
2000 to 2009
Madagascar is a source country for
women and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual
exploitation. Children, mostly from rural areas, are trafficked within the country
for domestic servitude, commercial sexual exploitation, forced marriage,
forced labor for traveling vendors, and possibly forced labor in mining,
fishing, and agriculture. Some child sex trafficking occurs with the
involvement of family members, friends, transport operators, tour guides, and
hotel workers. A child sex tourism problem exists in coastal cities,
including Tamatave, Nosy Be, and Diego Suarez, as
well as the capital city of Antananarivo; - U.S. State Dept Trafficking in
Persons Report, June, 2009 [full country report] |
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CAUTION: The following links have been
culled from the web to illuminate the situation in ***
FEATURED ARTICLE *** Gem industry in need of regulation www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=46200 One of the most disturbing aspects
of Madagascar's gem industry has been the use of children to work in the
mines. A report by the International Programme for
the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), a branch of
the International Labour Organisation,
has warned that children as young as eight are being used in mines - because
they can get into the cramped spaces in the mines more easily than an adult. The report noted that children are
often exposed to very serious dangers and can, for example, die of
suffocation if the mine caves in.
Dominique Rakotomanga, who works for IPEC in
the capital, Antananarivo, told IRIN: "This is a really big problem,
especially in Ilakaka. We are trying to raise
awareness about the problem, find alternative ways for the children to make a
living, and ensure that they don't miss out on their education. But because
of the poverty here and elsewhere, it is very tempting for them to work
underground." ***
ARCHIVES *** U.S.
Dept of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs CHILD
LABOR LAWS AND ENFORCEMENT - Forced or bonded labor by children is prohibited under the Labor
Code. The Penal Code prohibit engaging
in sexual activities of any type with children under the age of 14, and the
production and dissemination of pornographic materials showing minors is
illegal. The government does not have
comprehensive legislation prohibiting trafficking in persons. Bur of Democracy,
Human Rights & Labor - Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005 TRAFFICKING
IN PERSONS – The law does
not specifically prohibit trafficking in persons, and there were reports of
trafficking in women and girls for prostitution between the country and the
neighboring islands of There were several cases of
kidnapping, and politicians from the south claimed that children were being
sold for up to $3,200 (16 million ariary) for
overseas adoption or forced labor. During the year the government took
several steps to combat trafficking. In May the government passed a new
adoption law, in part to protect children from being trafficked under the
guise of adoption. The government also continued to construct welcome centers
for the victims of trafficking and forced labor. The government listed the
fight against trafficking as one of its key objectives and created a strategy
during the year to address child labor and trafficking in each part of the
country. Concluding
Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - 2003 [42] The Committee is concerned
that there is very little interest in simple adoption in the State party
leading to various types of informal adoption such as “god-parenting” that
are not conducive to full respect for children’s rights. The Committee further welcomes the
establishment of the inter-ministerial commission on inter-country adoption,
but remains concerned that inter-country adoptions are not properly followed
up. [61] While welcoming the adoption
of Act 98-024 of 25 January 1999 amending the Penal Code and other
efforts undertaken by the State party to combat child trafficking through
a national program, and in particular the adoption of a travel document
with five other countries of the region, the Committee is deeply concerned at
the number of trafficked children who are exploited in the State party and in
neighboring countries. Freedom
House Country Report - Political Rights: 4 Civil Liberties: 3 Status: Partly Free U.S. Library of Congress
- Country Study National birth
registration campaign launched The Madagascar government and aid
partners on Friday launched a national birth registration campaign to secure
full rights of citizenship for the country's children. The Indian Ocean island is one of
the poorest countries in the world, with most of its population surviving on
less than US $1 a day. "Not
having a birth certificate means that a person is not recognised
by the state. This limits access to education, employment opportunities and a
host of other social services," UNICEF communication officer, Misbah Sheikh, told IRIN UNICEF
and world legislators urge action against child exploitation "More than two million
children throughout the world are victims of commercial sexual
exploitation," said UNICEF director Edwin Judd. "Children are bought, sold, traded,
and bartered or see no alternative but to sell themselves. The sex trade has
no borders. Children from rich as well as poor countries are exploited,"
he said. Judd said that, according to
UNICEF research, between 30 percent and 50 percent of prostitutes in
Madagascar are children. Madagascar
breaks child traffic ring Police in Madagascar have rescued
11 babies between the ages of three weeks and nine months who were in the
process of being sent abroad. The eight accused Malagasy men are
alleged to be part of an illegal adoption ring that offers financial
incentives of up to $800 for every young baby they find. Mr Rakotondravao said this can be partly attributed to
poverty as poor young single mothers are prepared to give up a child in
return for cash. Efforts to stop
child trafficking In the past year police have
reportedly smashed five networks dealing in the illicit adoption of children
aged between two months and 10 years, mainly destined for Europe, where they
were sold for about US $800 each. Madagascar
launches campaign to end child sex exploitation At the official launch of a
national campaign to end child sexual exploitation in Madagascar,
UNICEF and ILO presented the resumes of three studies that highlighted the
sexual exploitation of children in Madagascar. According to the
UNICEF-sponsored study, between 30 per cent to 50 per cent of all sex
workers in two of country's main cities, Nosy Be and Tamatave,
were children under the age of 18. Gem industry in need of regulation www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=46200 One of the most disturbing aspects
of Madagascar's gem industry has been the use of children to work in the
mines. A report by the International Programme for
the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), a branch of
the International Labour Organisation,
has warned that children as young as eight are being used in mines - because
they can get into the cramped spaces in the mines more easily than an adult. The report noted that children are
often exposed to very serious dangers and can, for example, die of
suffocation if the mine caves in.
Dominique Rakotomanga, who works for IPEC in
the capital, Antananarivo, told IRIN: "This is a really big problem,
especially in Ilakaka. We are trying to raise
awareness about the problem, find alternative ways for the children to make a
living, and ensure that they don't miss out on their education. But because
of the poverty here and elsewhere, it is very tempting for them to work
underground." All material used herein
reproduced under the fair use exception of 17 USC § 107 for noncommercial,
nonprofit, and educational use. PLEASE
RESPECT COPYRIGHTS OF COMPONENT ARTICLES.
Cite this webpage as: Patt, Prof. Martin,
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Human Trafficking in [Madagascar Street Children in [Madagascar] [other countries]Child Prostitution in [Madagascar] [other countries]