Macau Daily News - Legal Instruction Modern Slavery
Human Trafficking

No.441 – 2008.01.20 News

A sightseeing spot bay on the coast of Ghana, Africa named “the door of no return” attracts flocks of tourist, and also the descendent of the African slaves in search of their root. In the 16th century, Africans are sold to Europe and America. The dungeon standing by the coast was the slave center to export the Africans across the Atlantic to America, where they had the last sight of their home country.

Back then, slave trade was legal and a popular practice in all countries. In 1807, the United Kingdom abolished slave trade. This example was followed by other nations and the centuries of Atlantic slave trade finally came to an end.

Along with the social development, human rights become increasing important to the world. Trading human race as a product is an abuse of humanity and dignity which brought multitudinous mishaps to the society. Therefore, some international organizations are endeavoring to introduce remedies and inhibitive measures. Unfortunately, human trafficking has never stopped and seems to be growing in recent years, particularly so in children trafficking. The transnational nature of the crime makes it more difficult to knock it down.

Last year, the mainland court adjudicated a child trafficking case. The principal offender traded 32 children who were sold by their blood parents and six origin-unknown children to Singapore for adoption. The offender was sentenced to death.

Although most countries have legislated law against child trading activities, some countries are still staying out of the framework. The United Nation established Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child prostitution and Child Pornography and called for the collaboration of all countries to forbid and fight against the illegal activities by means of legislation and administration. On 3 January 2003, the Protocal was approved and came effective in the People’s Republic of China, and so as in the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Note: With reference to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child prostitution and Child Pornography.

(Source by DSAJ)

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