Child Trafficking and Armed Conflict

Child trafficking is prevalent in armed conflict, yet remains invisible in prevention, protection, and accountability measures. Despite increased risks of child trafficking when conflict breaks out, prevention and protection efforts remain ineffective, with harmful consequences for children, resulting in the destruction of the lives of many children. Child trafficking in armed conflict takes many forms, for many purposes of exploitation, including sexual exploitation and sexual slavery, child marriage, recruitment and use in combat and support roles. Too often, in armed conflict children are punished, stigmatised or neglected, rather than being recognised as victims, with rights to protection, recovery and reintegration. This Study, the first of its kind, analyses the links between child trafficking and the six grave violations against children in armed conflict. It is a call to urgent action, to address a serious failing in protection through strengthening of monitoring and reporting processes, and documenting the links between child trafficking and the six grave violations against children in armed conflict. The goal is prevention, and accountability for this serious violation of international law. The Study presents concrete, targeted, and timely recommendations to states, to parties to conflicts, and to UN entities. If implemented, they will strengthen measures to prevent child trafficking in armed conflict and to ensure accountability. By raising the visibility of protection gaps currently arising, and highlighting failings to identify, assist or protect child victims of trafficking, the Study aims to change practice, and ultimately to hold the perpetrators of child trafficking accountable.