Young People’s Voices on Child Trafficking

Mindful of the important contribution that young people can make to our understanding of the issues that concern them, in 2005 and 2006 UNICEF arranged for children and young people who had been trafficked while under 18 years of age, to be interviewed in their home countries.1 Interviews were conducted in Albania, Kosovo, Republic of Moldova and Romania. Each of the children and young people described their lives before recruitment, their experiences during exploitation, and how they got away from the traffickers. They also spoke of rebuilding their lives once they were free. The interviews formed part of a broader assessment of strategies to counter child trafficking in the region.2 Each child’s experience is unique, yet the different views and perceptions presented provide important insights into what trafficked children endure. The aim of this report is not to identify regional trends or patterns or presume that the experiences of the 31 children interviewed (30 girls and 1 boy) represent the reality of all trafficked children in the region. Rather, the report is intended to stimulate thinking and action, based on the active participation of children and young people. It provides individual children a platform to willingly share their experiences and perceptions, understanding that where there is such willingness there are likely to be benefits for those who participate. Much of the information from the interviews with the 31 children and young people confirms findings from previous research3, in which children were not the sole informants. The information also offers some new perspectives. The study was limited to children who were trafficked before reaching the age of 18, who received institutional assistance during their recovery, and who were willing to talk about their experience and to participate in the study. Since these care institutions focus on providing assistance to victims of sexual exploitation, and are designed to shelter girls and women, with one exception, all of the interviewed children and young people were girls.