What are governments doing?

Strong leadership, enhanced government efforts, and increased attention from international organizations, NGOs and the media have contributed to a mounting global effort to eliminate child trafficking, including the creation of several important international legal protocols.

Nations are increasingly working together to close trafficking routes, prosecute and convict traffickers, and protect and reintegrate trafficking victims.

But there is great need for further action.

To be effective, anti-trafficking strategies must target the victims, the traffickers, and the buyers. And local, state, national and regional programs to fight trafficking must be coordinated.

As is often the case, knowledge is key. Programs must be put in place that alert children, their families and communities to the dangers of child trafficking, improve educational and economic opportunities, educate people about their rights, and create better life opportunities in general.

Governments and law enforcement officials have to be more vigorous in their prosecution and punishment of traffickers and those who aid them. And nations must work together to stop trafficking, including discouraging demand, denying traffickers legal sanctuary and providing better repatriation of victims.