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	Child Trafficking in the EU - Challenges, perspectives and good practices by Fundamental Rights Agency European Union   Trafficking in human beings is a major problem both in the EU and worldwide. Every year a substantial number of children fall victim to trafficking for sexual exploitation or other purposes. There are extremely low numbers of convictions in child trafficking cases. Overall, the report finds that the EU must do more to address the issue. The FRA calls for better legislation to combat child trafficking. The protection and care for victims, in particular, must be improved.   Background   In July 2007, the European Commission asked the FRA to develop indicators to measure how the rights of the child are implemented, protected, respected and promoted in the EU Member States. The indicators were published by the Agency in March 2009.   In October 2007, the European Commission requested that the Agency started collecting data on the basis of these indicators. Following a consultation meeting with other international organisations and the European Commission in Vienna, in April 2008, it was agreed that the FRA''s first thematic study on the rights of the child would focus on child trafficking.   Key findings   Many children fall victim to trafficking every year   Trafficking in human beings is a major problem both in the EU and worldwide. Every year a substantial number of children fall victim to trafficking for sexual exploitation or other purposes. Estimates as to the full extent of the problem have been provided by some reputable sources, yet there are no studies or reliable statistics to provide a comprehensive picture. A clear definition of child trafficking is lacking in both the EU legal framework, and at Member State level.   Children disappearing from shelters most likely fall victim to trafficking.   According to NGOs, the disappearance of children from shelters in the EU Member States is widespread, with their destinations largely unknown. However, this problem remains largely ignored, with a severe lack of monitoring as a result of insufficient data collection in at least 9 Member States. Only a few Member States have developed policies to tackle this issue.   Extremely low number of child trafficking convictions.   There are generally very few final convictions in child trafficking cases. Convictions for child trafficking could only be detected in 4 Member States in the 2000-2007 period.   Identification of victims is vital to prosecuting traffickers.   The identification of victims of child trafficking is crucial to prosecuting traffickers and providing victims with protection and assistance.   Protection of child victims of trafficking needs to be a priority.   According to international law, the interests of children must always be a primary consideration at the heart of all law. However this is still not the case for child trafficking. This ''principle of best interests of the child'' is, amongst others, enshrined in Article 24 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. Member States have important interests in combating crime and regulating immigration. However, these policy goals should not be allowed to overshadow the best interests of victims of child trafficking. Visit the related web page
	African Human Rights Defenders acknowledge gains but concerns remain deep by Amnesty International   May 2009   Human rights defenders from across Africa say they remain deeply concerned by the threats, harassment, intimidation and physical violence they continue to face in carrying out their work.   Human rights defenders from 45 African countries, together with partners from across the world, met at the All-Africa Human Rights Defenders’ Conference in Kampala, Uganda, in April, organized by the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network. In a final statement, they acknowledged the achievements made since the first such conference was held in Johannesburg more than a decade ago.   Advances included the appointment of a United Nations as well as African Union Special Rapporteur on HRDs, the adoption of a UN declaration on HRDs, the establishment of regional HRD networks in Africa and an increasing awareness of their work across the continent.   However, the Kampala meeting also condemned the sizeable number of human rights defenders who have been killed in their efforts to promote and protect universal rights over the past ten years. The conference declaration also stressed deep concern over the continued violation of the rights of defenders in the various sub-regions of Africa, where they are routinely subjected to harassment, stigmatisation, arbitrary arrest, unfair trials, torture and even killings.   There was particular concern about threats against vulnerable HRDs, especially women, people working in areas of armed conflict and under repressive regimes, journalists and minority rights activists.   Addressing the Kampala forum, Amnesty International’s Africa Programme Director, Erwin van der Borght, spoke of the many gains, in terms of better communication where human rights defenders are at risk, more opportunities for activists to meet and strengthened protection mechanisms at regional as well as international level.   But, van der Borght also stressed that “the human rights situation in many African countries remains precarious. Governments continue to restrict, without justification, the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. Activists regularly have to flee their countries because of security risks and some are killed because of their human rights work.”   Among the demands made by the Kampala meeting was a call to the governments in Africa to bring an immediate end to the harassment, intimidation, legislative affronts and attacks on HRDs; to respect the United Nations declaration on HRDs; and to ensure that domestic legislation conforms with their regional and international human rights obligations.   May 2009   Zimbabwean teachers working in fear.   Despite the creation of a power-sharing government in February 2009, teachers in Zimbabwe continue to be victims of harassment and intimidation.   They are being threatened with violence by supporters of ZANU-PF, President Robert Mugabe"s political party. Teachers who spoke to Amnesty International in March 2009 expressed serious concerns about working in an environment in which they fear for their safety.   Many teachers were targeted during the 2008 elections, particularly those working in rural schools, and fear that they will be especially vulnerable in future elections, scheduled to take place in 2010.   Their employer, the Public Services Commission (PSC), a statutory body which employs all government workers, has done nothing to guarantee the safety of teachers. None of the reported incidents of torture and ill-treatment of teachers that occurred in 2008 has been investigated and no one has been brought to justice.   Amnesty International has called on the PSC to work with the Zimbabwe Republic Police to ensure that impartial and independent investigations are carried out into the torture and ill-treatment of teachers and other civil servants that took place between the March and June elections in 2008.   Those found to be responsible should be brought to justice and victims should receive redress. Such measures would be a first step to ensuring the safety of the teachers and improving the environment in which they are working.   During Zimbabwe"s last election, teachers were singled out as perceived supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change, the political party that was then in opposition, or as a result of their affiliation to the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ).   The PTUZ recorded the deaths of seven teachers affiliated to the union and the harassment, intimidation and even torture of more than 60 other members.   Many teachers were forced to take refuge in urban areas or in neighbouring countries such as Botswana and South Africa, driven from their work places by security forces, and other ZANU-PF supporters, including veterans of Zimbabwe"s war of independence.   Many schools in rural areas were closed after ZANU-PF supporters, often led by soldiers, turned some schools into bases from which they operated in the run up to the June presidential election in 2008.   * For more news visit the link below. 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