A 'Neo-Abolitionist Trend' in Sub-Saharan Africa? Regional Anti-Trafficking Patterns and a Preliminary Legislative Taxonomy

Abstract:     
From the late 1990s anti-trafficking agencies – including domestic and regional NGOs and inter-governmental organizations – called on African nations to take legislative action to combat child trafficking. Responding to this advocacy, the US State Department added further political pressure to enact change. This article explores the content of anti-trafficking legislation in sub-Saharan Africa as it addresses the problems of coercion and parental responsibility. We examine the forms and content of the laws, using examples from several countries, and analyze the current wave of anti-trafficking legislation based on their respective responses to international models for criminalization of the parental role in child trafficking.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 80

Keywords: legislation, human trafficking, slavery, child abuse, human rights, West Africa, Trafficking Victims Protection Act

JEL Classification: K19, K33, K42, N40, N47, R23

Accepted Paper Series