Cross-border Trafficking and the Worst Forms of Child Labor

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After Mali in 2011, Burkina Faso in 2013, Côte d’Ivoire has just signed a joint declaration of commitment in the fight against cross-border Trafficking and the Worst Forms of Child Labor with Ghana. The signing of the declaration took place, Tuesday, September 13, 2016, at CRRAE-WAMU complex, in Plateau in the presence of Mrs. Dominique Ouattara, First Lady of Côte d'Ivoire and Mrs Lordina Dramani Mahama, First Lady of Ghana, and several officials of the two countries.
If we need reminding, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana have a common history that goes back many years. Apart from the culture, these two countries represent almost three quarters of world cocoa production.
An enviable position, which unfortunately comes with a number of negative consequences, since the two (02) countries are regularly indexed by the international community on the issue of the exploitation of child labor in cocoa plantations. Given the urgency of finding a common solution to this problem, the First Lady of Côte d'Ivoire, Mrs. Dominique Ouattara, after initiating cooperation agreements in the fight against trafficking and the worst forms of Child Labor with the Mali in 2011, and Burkina Faso in 2013, has decided to lay the foundation for a synergistic action with Ghana in this fight. A factual situation the President of the National Oversight Committee for actions against Trafficking, Exploitation and Child Labor (CNS) has not failed to note in his opening speech: "Yet, despite the actions taken, many children are still involved in the worst forms of child labor in our country and in the subregion. According to recent studies, about 4,000 children are still victims of cross-border trafficking in Côte d'Ivoire. This is a worrying situation that challenges all stakeholders and requires more vigorous action, "lamented Mrs. Dominique Ouattara. For Mrs. Dominique Ouattara, it is because of this situation that the CNS and the Interministerial Committee for actions against Trafficking, Exploitation and Child Labor (CIM) have made the strengthening of sub-regional cooperation, an essential component of their action. In this context, after Mali and Burkina Faso, it was imperative to sign an agreement with Ghana to fight efficiently against this phenomenon.
"Indeed, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are the two leading cocoa producing countries in the world. Our countries are particularly exposed to the question of the Worst Forms of Child Labor in cocoa growing. That's why we decided to unite our efforts to protect our children, «the First Lady Dominique Ouattara explained.
 
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