Haiti’s children at increased risk of abduction, slavery and trafficking, UN experts warn
Unaccompanied children in Haiti, including orphans and those sent by their parents to live with more affluent relatives or strangers, run a greater risk of being abducted, enslaved, sold or trafficked due to increased insecurity following last month’s devastating earthquake, a group of United Nations human rights experts warned today.
“Protection of children must be at the heart of the relief operation in Haiti,” said the independent experts, who are mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor slavery, sale of children, trafficking and violence against children.
“Unaccompanied children are particularly vulnerable and it is essential, wherever possible, to register, trace and reunite children with their families,” they added. “During the evacuation efforts, it is imperative to avoid the unnecessary separation of families which may place children at higher risk, aggravate their trauma and distress and hinder their recovery and reintegration.”
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33650&Cr=haiti&Cr1=
