It's an ancient tradition in Togo for impoverished families to lend their children to the rich, who then pay for education and medical care in return for domestic service. Fishing is one of the industries where modern-day "slaves" are put to work. (David Gutnick/CBC)
In Depth
Modern slavery
Reports on child trafficking in Africa
Last Updated February 15, 2008
By David Gutnick
CBC reporter David Gutnick travelled to Ghana, Togo and Mauritania in December 2007 to report on modern-day slavery and child traficking in Africa.
Modern slavery
- Fishing for my master in Ghana
"People live in fishing villages along the lake. They come to conduct business. Most of the men are fishermen, and most of the children who are sent here are used in the fishing industry."- Fighting child trafficking in Togo
Former child slaves who were trafficked out of Togo have found their way back home, and are spreading the word that slavery has got to end. They've even persuaded one child trafficker to stop.- Contemporary slavery in Mauritania
In August 2007, slave-owning was criminalized in Mauritania. But for many of the half-million newly free Mauritanians, the news meant little.
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- African odyssey: Michaëlle Jean's tour
CBC stories
- Protester disrupts British service marking slave-trade ban
- March 27, 2007
- Odious commerce, Britain and the slave trade
- March 26, 2007
- World marks 200th anniversary of slave-trade ban
- March 25, 2007
- Governor General weeps at Ghanaian 'slave castle'
- Nov. 29, 2006
External Links
- Apple - What we do
- Free the Slaves
- Introductory video to modern-day slavery around the world (10:30)
- Free the Slaves
- Child trafficking in Ghana
- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
- Eradicating Child Slavery in West Africa: Priorities emerging from our work in Ghana
- PDF document
- Defining and Measuring Modern Slavery
- PDF document
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It's an ancient tradition in Togo for impoverished families to lend their children to the rich, who then pay for education and medical care in return for domestic service. Fishing is one of the industries where modern-day "slaves" are put to work. (David Gutnick/CBC)