Regional Project on Combating Child Trafficking for Labour and Sexual Exploitation (TICSA-II)

Trafficking as an international legal concept is a twentieth century phenomenon, linked to the greater movement of people across borders. The basic elements of trafficking require that there be movement of a person from one location to another for the purpose of slavery, slavery like practices or exploitation. Earlier conventions were not concerned with the means by which trafficking was conducted, but recent legislation focuses on the means when it comes to women and requires such elements as force, coercion or abuse of vulnerability. With regard to children, there is international consensus that the means and consent are irrelevant. The mere taking of children across borders for the purpose of slavery, slavery like practices or exploitation is an international crime. In the case of children, the prosecution has merely to show the transport of the child and the exploitative nature of his predicament. This approach implies zero tolerance of child trafficking and an international consensus that no justification or excuse will be acceptable for the trafficking of children.