Apr 16 2008
Yemen steps up anti-trafficking efforts
The Higher Council for Motherhood and Childhood is teaming up with the Yemeni government to kick off a new initiative to combat trafficking in children. One big step is to gather accurate data to better define the scope of the problem.
Although it is unclear just how big the issue is here, in April the General Administration of Women and Juvenile Affairs told IRIN that they had already rescued 49 children from being smuggled across the Saudi border since the beginning of the year.
The plan (if it is actually carried out) is thorough in scope: it examines socio-economic factors that put children at risk of being trafficked, steps that can be taken to prevent it, and improvements to laws that will help prosecute traffickers.
The project is funded by UNICEF.
