Child Trafficking Profitable, on Rise, Forum Told

Likening the trade to a modern form of slavery, the UN estimates more than 30 million women and children have fallen victim to sex trafficking over the past three decades in Asia alone. The issue is high on the agenda of a global conference being held near Tokyo this week on the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Margherita Amodeo, UNICEF regional communication adviser for West and Central Africa, said that out of 150 million children in the region, at least 50 million were considered vulnerable and in need of special protection. "They include former child soldiers or child soldiers, street children, children living in extreme poverty, child victims of sexual exploitation and orphans and children who are infected by AIDS." US authorities estimate that 45,000 to 50,000 women and children are trafficked annually to the United States, while UNICEF says China has 200,000 to 500,000 child sex workers.

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