Children trapped in war zones face an increasing risk of severe violations and trafficking. A groundbreaking UN report reveals how conflict environments make children more vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, and trafficking.
The report is groundbreaking. It examines the connection between child trafficking and six grave violations committed against children in war zones. These violations include:
- Recruitment and use of children in armed forces
- Killing and maiming
- Rape and sexual violence
- Abduction
- Attacks on schools and hospitals
- Denial of humanitarian access
The study was produced by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba. It was developed in collaboration with Siobhán Mullally, the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children.
Seven countries or regions were the focus of this report: Colombia, the Lake Chad basin, Libya, Myanmar, South Sudan, Syria, and Ukraine. The report provides clear recommendations to protect children and hold violators accountable.
CHILD TRAFFICKING IN WAR ZONES
Child trafficking in armed conflict can take many forms, including:
- Sexual exploitation
- Child marriage
- Sexual slavery
- Recruitment into combat or support roles
Warring parties use trafficking to control communities, terrorize families, and sustain conflict. Grave violations often lead to or accompany child trafficking. For example, when humanitarian access is denied during war, children become more vulnerable to trafficking.
Virginia Gamba, the lead author of the report, highlighted how these violations often overlap. “This study shows how child trafficking and grave violations intersect,” she said. “Unfortunately, legal and policy responses are often fragmented.”
Gendered Dimensions of Child Trafficking
The report emphasizes that child trafficking risks are deeply gendered. Girls are frequently targeted for sexual exploitation and child marriage, while boys are more often recruited into armed forces. This gender-based violence deepens the trauma children experience in conflict zones.
Cross-Border Trafficking
In many cases, child trafficking in conflict has a cross-border dimension. In war-torn regions, trafficked children are moved across borders, further complicating efforts to protect them. Syria is one of the most affected regions, with child trafficking becoming rampant since the conflict erupted over a decade ago.
In Syria, multiple forms of child trafficking have been documented, including the abduction of Yazidi girls from Iraq for sexual slavery. In some cases, local families agreed to marry their daughters to ISIS fighters under duress.
SIX GRAVE VIOLATIONS AND CHILD TRAFFICKING
To understand how child trafficking interconnects with the six grave violations, it’s essential to break them down:
1. Recruitment and Use of Children in Armed Forces
Trafficked children are often recruited into armed groups to fight or support military operations. These children face severe physical and psychological harm, becoming both victims and unwilling participants in conflict. Armed forces exploit trafficked children because of their vulnerability and inability to escape.
2. Killing and Maiming
Children in conflict zones are frequently killed or injured. Warring factions often target children to terrorize communities and weaken opposition forces. Trafficked children who have been recruited as soldiers face significant risk of injury or death in combat.
3. Rape and Sexual Violence
Sexual violence is a weapon of war. Girls trafficked in conflict zones are often forced into sexual slavery or child marriage. In these environments, rape is used to control and dehumanize victims. Trafficked girls and women face prolonged sexual abuse and exploitation.
4. Abduction
Abduction is a common strategy by armed groups. They use it to recruit child soldiers. They also exploit them for labor or sexual purposes. Once children are abducted, they become trapped in a cycle of abuse, exploitation, and violence.
5. Attacks on Schools and Hospitals
Schools and hospitals are often targeted in conflict zones, leaving children without safe spaces for education or medical care. Trafficked children, particularly those used in combat, are denied their basic rights, including access to education and health services.
6. Denial of Humanitarian Access
The denial of humanitarian access creates challenges. Aid organizations struggle to provide food, shelter, and protection to children in conflict zones. When access is blocked, children become more vulnerable to trafficking. They have no one to protect them. Their needs are not met.
POLICY GAPS AND LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY
The UN report stresses that current policies do not adequately protect children from trafficking in conflict. Siobhán Mullally co-authored the study. She noted that child trafficking has not been recognized as a protection risk in war zones. “Limited attention has been given to child trafficking as a priority for sustainable peace,” Mullally said.
This gap in attention means that traffickers often operate with impunity. Without stronger measures to prevent and prosecute child trafficking, the cycle of exploitation continues.
Impunity and Continued Cycles of Violence
The lack of accountability for child trafficking creates a culture of impunity. Perpetrators of child trafficking and other grave violations are rarely brought to justice. This failure allows child exploitation to thrive and prolongs cycles of violence.
The report calls for urgent action to break these cycles by holding violators accountable.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PREVENTING CHILD TRAFFICKING
The study outlines several recommendations for UN Member States to address child trafficking in conflict zones. These include:
1. Non-Punishment Principle
Governments must ensure that trafficked children are recognized as victims, not criminals. The non-punishment principle should be applied universally, so that trafficked children are not penalized for actions they were forced to take.
2. Early Victim Identification
Early identification of trafficking victims is critical. Governments should invest in training frontline workers to recognize the signs of trafficking and provide support as soon as possible.
3. Addressing Poverty and Gender Inequality
To prevent child trafficking, countries need to address the root causes. This includes reducing poverty and gender inequality, which are significant drivers of trafficking.
4. Universal Child Registration
Ensuring that every child is registered at birth can help prevent trafficking. Universal registration provides legal documentation that can protect children from being exploited or trafficked.
5. Elimination of Statelessness
Stateless children are especially vulnerable to trafficking, as they lack legal recognition and protection. Efforts to eliminate statelessness will improve protections for these children and reduce their risk of being trafficked.
THE GLOBAL CALL TO PROTECT CHILDREN
The UN report serves as a wake-up call for the global community. Armed conflict creates fertile ground for child trafficking, and the world must take stronger action to protect children. We must address the root causes of trafficking. We should hold violators accountable. Improving child protection policies is essential. By doing these, we can begin to break the cycle of violence.
Ensuring long-term protection for trafficked children is essential for building sustainable peace. Governments must collaborate closely. They need to strengthen legal frameworks. It is crucial to provide adequate resources. Enforcing laws that protect children from exploitation and violence is essential.
The recommendations in this report offer concrete steps for preventing child trafficking and holding violators accountable. Now, it is up to the global community to act on these recommendations and protect the most vulnerable.
