UN NEWS CENTER
Special Rapporteur Joy Ngozi Ezeilo. PHOTO/UN/Jean-Marc Ferré
24 May 2012 –
A United Nations independent human rights expert has urged Gabon to adopt measures to tackle trafficking in children from West and Central African States, and address traditional and cultural factors that exacerbate the problem.
“I am confident that Gabon can become a model for other countries in the region and beyond in the fight against trafficking,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, in a news statement issued today following a visit to Gabon between 14-18 May.
“Although the Government has adopted legislation to combat human trafficking, significant gaps remain,” she added. “There are a number of challenges that must be addressed by the Government if it is to succeed in effectively combating trafficking in persons and protecting the human rights of trafficked victims of all ages.”
The Special Rapporteur stressed that current Gabonese laws provide protection only to victims of trafficking who are under the age of 18, and that some forms of abuse – including labour and sexual exploitation, slavery and removal of body organs – are not covered.
“I urge the Government to expand the scope of trafficking to explicitly widen the forms and scope of protection to both trafficked women and men as per the Palermo Protocol aimed at preventing, suppressing and punishing trafficking in persons,” she said.
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