Combating trafficking in minors: Child travel within Mozambique subject to new procedures

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Combating trafficking in minors: Child travel within Mozambique subject to new procedures

10:51 CAT | 25 Jul 2018

File photo: Notícias

The Attorney General is considering introducing regulations obliging children travelling in the national territory, alone or accompanied, to carry statements from their parents or guardians confirming that they know about and have authorised their movements.

Speaking to ‘Noticias’ about the fight against trafficking, Deputy Attorney General Amabélia Chuquela, who is also the coordinator of the Reference Group for the Protection of Children and Combating Trafficking in Persons, said this would be part of the set of measures to combat trafficking in minors, which also occurs between provinces.

According to Chuquela, such a procedure would be nothing new for Mozambicans, since for some years it has applied to travel to South Africa, with authorities in both countries requiring documentation confirming the parent or guardians’ consent to the trip.

As an initial step, the Attorney General has already held an initial meeting with the Mozambican Federation of Road Transport Workers (FEMATRO), since most of travel between provinces takes place on buses belonging to companies affiliated with this association.

“We feel that there is a need to create safety mechanisms for children travelling within the country. What is happening at the moment is dangerous and causes trafficking to occur, since it is normal for a child to leave the province of Nampula to Sofala or from Inhambane to Maputo city, for example, without any kind of control, no way of knowing whether the child is travelling in safe conditions.”

“Carriers cannot look only at profit and transport children without an escort,” Chuquela said.

Source: Notícias