Though, exploitation of children is crime, yet countries do indulge in this heinous act that spoils the lives of many a children. Trafficking of children for sexual abuse, drug smuggling, under-age marriage, domestic slavery is taking place on a large scale in the UK, according to a recent survey.
So far the survey has thrown light on 330 cases of suspected or confirmed victims of trafficking, most of the victims are Chinese or Africans. However, it warns that an unknown number may not have come to the attention of the authorities.
The trade in hundreds of children is believed to be far higher, as the trafficking racket is expected to blooming. Organized gangs either kidnap children for ransom or for organ trade or for trafficking. It has been reported that the gangs do not target any particular age group, but anyone who comes in their grip easily is exploited, it can be as small a baby as a nine month old.
The report produced by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Center, expresses concern over the safety of trafficked children placed in the care of local authorities, because fears are that the authorities are easily fleeced by a handsome ransom so that the children are returned to their captors. Even the study states that half of those kids given to the habitat homes have gone missing, amid fears that they have been returned to their captors.
Concern over the safety of girl child is worrisome, the report mentions. As most of the victims tend to be girls most likely candidates for underground sex trade or to work as domestic servants.
Exploitation goes to such an extent that in order to break in the children, they are tortured both physically as well as mentally, most of them being gang-raped, beaten and burned with cigarettes.
The survey identified Albanian, Chinese and Vietnamese trafficking gangs as the most organized linked to criminal networks involved in drug trade, money laundering and sex trade.
And an astounding fact brought by the report is the interviews of the children who refer to their abductors as their rescuers. As these children believe that their captors rescued them from their previous lives, which were subject to war, abject and relative poverty, years of physical and sexual abuse, miscarried abortions, prison, witnessing murders, neglect and a desire to escape.
The report advocates setting up of a keen and dedicated unit for gathering information on the issue on priority basis, and the use of biometric statistics to help track children.
The Home Office minister, Vernon Coker, is strongly determined to find out the nature and scale of the problem and to use all resources at their disposal to punish the culprits.
Trafficking of children is a heinous act. Exploitation of kids must be stopped. The loopholes, no matter in any country must be traced and sorted out. Children are the future and if today’s children are subject to misery, future of the world is bleak.
Via: Guardian.co.uk
