Slavery
Slavery in Burkina Faso and Mali
Both of these West African countries suffer from trafficking of women and children for forced labour and sexual exploitation both within their own country and to neighbouring countries. Women and girls from Mali often become domestic slaves while boys are forced to work in rice fields or gold mines or to beg.
Both governments have outlawed child trafficking but not adult trafficking. Neither government is meeting minimum standards to end trafficking despite both attempting to do so. Mali is trying hard to raise awareness about trafficking.
In 2005 in Burkina Faso860 trafficked children were rescued and placed in UNICEF supported transit centres. Sometimes families of victims are offered micro-credit loans so families don’t need to rely on child labour to survive. But the problem is a long way from being solved in 2003 there were over 2 million orphans and abandoned children in Burkina Faso nearly 18 percent of the country's population many of them vulnerable to traffickers.
In Mali between 2002 and 2005 a total of 682 children were rescued. However there are many thousands who need help.Taken from :
http://www.gvnet.com/humantrafficking/Mali.htm
http://www.gvnet.com/humantrafficking/BurkinaFaso.htm
How do people become slaves?
Where is the slave labour?
The main reason that children work is poverty - and in the West African nation of Burkina Faso, poverty is endemic, with child labour widespread. Children as young as five work to eat and only 18% of those eligible attend school.
In rural areas of Burkina Faso, most people rely on farming and agriculture. But this cannot support everyone; droughts and crop failures in the Sahel region also force some children to seek work in nearby countries. Some end up in the hands of child traffickers and a life of sexual exploitation, slavery and debt bondage.
How does this effect achieving the MDGs?
People in modern slavery will all be living on less than $1 a day, their children will not be able to go to school, they may well not have clean water etc. Tackling slavery is necessary for the poorest people to benefit from achieving the MDGs.
Slave girl at well. The anklet denotes her status as slave caste.
Credit: Romana Cacchioli/Anti-Slavery International
Mariama was forced to wear this ankle bracelet, as a sign of her status and most importantly to prevent her from running away. It weights over 2 kilos.
Credit: Romana Cacchioli/Anti-Slavery International
Many children face physical violence, rape and mental abuse. Without the love and support of their own families they become traumatised and are left emotionally scarred for life.
Credit: ESAM/Anti-Slavery International
