What is the impact of trafficking on children?
The impact of trafficking is both short and long term. Trafficking abrogates a child’s right to a healthy childhood and a productive, rewarding, dignified life. Child trafficking victims are subjugated and physically abused by the perpetrators: traffickers, employers, and ‘customers’. Trafficked children are often beaten and abused, and the violence occurs at all stages of the trafficking cycle. And, if they escape or are released, they are often denied the protections necessary to reintegrate them into society. It results in impacts that are physical, emotional and psychosocial. – Physical impact – All children trafficked, whatever the purpose is, are vulnerable to physical and sexual violence. They are deprived of food, beaten or drugged. – Domestic workers, street children, child labourers and children in detention are vulnerable to rape and sexual exploitation, and are at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. – The dangerous and mistaken belief in some countries that sex with a virgin
