Togo: Anti-trafficking videos

One-minute videos send out powerful anti-trafficking message in Togo.

"Oga, you lied to me, I worked like a beast and for what? I have nothing. You exploited me like you want to exploit my brothers and sisters. If you come near me again, I will fight you!"

That is what Abibou, 17, has to say about the child trafficker (known as Oga) when he agreed to talk about his very difficult experience of working abroad in a neighboring country.

Abibou was one of 13 youngsters from Togo's East-Mono region who took part in the production of a series of one-minute videos about their experience and perception of child trafficking and child labor.

The project, which complemented Plan Togo's own child-trafficking efforts, was a collaboration between Plan Togo, The One Minutes Foundation and UNICEF.

The youngsters — many of whom had never themselves seen a film — talked honestly about the problem, with most having left to work abroad knowing it was likely to be a bad experience but feeling they had little or no choice.

One girl found the courage to share her experience of sexual exploitation. Others spoke about the extreme conditions they encountered in which they were worked from dawn until dusk with virtually no food or love, surviving on the hope of returning to the village with something to show. Many came back empty-handed.

Plan WARO Regional Media Advisor Mimi Brazeau said: "The powerful youth testimonies will be disseminated with the hope to better understand the real situation on child trafficking versus the vain promises made by traffickers."

As for ‘Oga’, child trafficking turned out to be his downfall as well: as the videos were being made, he was arrested while trying to convince youth to leave the village for a "better world."

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