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AFRICAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION, INC. |
To build capacity, raise awareness, support victims/the vulnerable, and to improve research/data collection.
To identify and demand reduction and prevention methods in human trafficking, sexual exploitation, commercial sex especially in women and children.
To identify and demand reduction and prevention in illegal migration in source, transist, and destination countries.
To advocate and formulate a protocol for safe return and recovery of Sub - Sahara African victims as a short and long term goal consistent with United Nations Millennium Goals and Poverty Reduction Programs.
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African Tourism Organization (ATO) is concerened with environmental refugees to include victims of human trafficking, sex tourism, sexual expliotation, prostitution/illegal migration. ATO also focuuses on integral parts of development and environmental issues to include larva and malaria control. ATOand the Nordic Baltic Task Force Desk, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden established a Joint Terms of Reference for the Sub- Sahara Africa Inter-Agency Network Against Trafficking in Human Beings and Illegal Migration. This joint terms of reference was presented to and adopted by ECOWAS for its fifteen member States in ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja, Nigeria.
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ATO Fact Finding Report Against Trafficking Human Beings and Illegal Migration
The seminar was organized by the African Tourism Organization (ATO) held in the J Building at the World Bank, Washington DC, USA, on the 27th of September, 2006 from 12:30 – 4:30pm. The meeting was organized to work out modalities and collaborations with destination and repatriation countries. Destination countries include the United Kingdom, Malta, Italy, Spain, and Morocco. Repatriated countries include Nigeria and the Gambia. The seminar also emphasized collaboration with the Commonwealth and Francophone countries in Africa with focus areas in assisting with the safe return and recovery of victims, capacity building, and constructing efficient networks....Click here for Report...
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The UN Integrated Regional Information Networks NEWS
10 December 2007
Ruth is 13 years old and only in grade 3. But for her, this is a major achievement.
At the age of five, Ruth was trafficked from her village in southern Nigeria to Gabon, further south on the Gulf of Guinea. For years of her life, she never attended school. Taken by an uncle who promised to care for and educate her in Gabon, Ruth was instead required to cook, clean, and take care of his children. Often deprived of food and sleep, she spent four years selling water at the market.
"Each time I brought the money and asked to go to school as he promised, he would tie a rope around my leg and beat me, beat me again, and then lift me up and let me fall on the floor," Ruth recounted, her small frame shivering from time to time.
Finally, in 2003, a family friend discreetly showed her the way to the Nigerian embassy. After investigation, she was returned to Nigeria but now lives at a welcome centre in Abuja. Both she and her mother thought that arrangement was in her best interests - to avoid being trafficked again.
Six million at risk?
Ruth is among six million Nigerian children estimated to be at risk of trafficking for domestic and forced labour, prostitution, and pornography every year and through out Sub-Sahara Africa according to International Labour Organization in 2003. Traffickers take Nigerian children to Saudi Arabia. In the southern states, children are trafficked within the country or to neighboring countries.
Getting help
Sarah*, now nearly 15, was taken from her family at the age of eight and sent to Gabon. For three years, she was forced to work, selling items at a street corner. "We were selling stuff from morning to night. We were not allowed to bathe or go to church or interact with people. Our hair was so dirty that we looked like mad people. Finally, a friend reported us to the police," Sarah remembers. Between 2004 and 2006, Nigeria repatriated 757 child victims. In 2007 alone, 1,475 children (about 80 percent girls and 20 percent boys) were rescued, according to the UN Agencies.
Dutch police said at least 24 people were arrested in October for allegedly trafficking 140 Nigerian children to Europe, according to BBC News. Burkina Faso, Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, Mali and Togo are also among countries involved in human trafficking.
To Conclude
"We still need a lot of awareness in Sub-Sahara Africa. Africans refuse to accept it is criminal act," and engaging little children in forced labour ,sexual expliotation is also criminal. Perharps it's tied to the African tradition.
Its Takes a Village, Sub -Sahara Africans don't realize that this tradition is NOW CALLED ABUSE." "Lets Protect African Children and women. They are not for SALE! |
"Slave: My True Story" by Mende Nazer
Mende Nazer lost her childhood at age twelve, when she was sold into slavery. It all began one horrific night in 1993, when Arab raiders swept through her Nuba village in the Sudan, burning the buildings, murdering the adults, and kidnapping Mende and thirty other children.
Mende was raped and held prisoner by her captors, and then was sold to a wealthy Arab family who lived in Sudan's capital city, Khartoum. So began her dark years of enslavement. Her Arab owners called her "yebit," an obscene term for a black slave. She was forced to call them "master." She was subjected to appalling physical and mental abuse and neglect. She slept in a shed and ate the family leftovers like a dog. She had no rights, no freedom, and no life of her own.
Seven years after she was seized and sold into slavery, she was sent to work for another master -- a diplomat working in the United Kingdom. In London, despite the huge risk it could have been to her life, Mende managed to make contact with other Sudanese, who took pity on her. In September 2000, she made a dramatic break for freedom.
SLAVE is a story almost beyond belief. It depicts the strength and dignity of the Nuba tribe. It recounts the savage way in which the Nuba and their ancient culture are being destroyed by a secret modern-day trade in slaves. Most of all, it is a remarkable testimonal to one young woman's unbreakable spirit and tremendous courage.
photo and information courtesy of www.brandeis.edu |
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ATO's ACCOMPLISHMENTS
April 22 - 26, 2008:
Third Annual Sub-Sahara Training Summit /Youth Awareness Cycling Race campaign against trafficking of human beings especially children.
January 10, 2008:
Partnership with Street Basketball Association, USA/ Youth Awareness Campaign
October 2007:
Meeting with the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre Sheffield, UK to discuss Memorandum of Understanding and partnership to improve cooperation, awareness, and to build capacity to combat human trafficking in Sub-Sahara Africa.
June 2007:
Trafficking & Illegal Migration presented to the Mexican Senate, Best Practices to Combat Human Trafficking.
January 21 - 23, 2007:
Met with our partner Kvinnoforum in Sweden, including The Head of African Department SIDA, The Ambassador for International Coordinator Against Trafficking in Human Beings, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and The Adviser for Baltic Sea States, Stockholm, Sweden
September 27, 2006:
The African Tourism Organization, Facts Finding Report seminar on Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration as a Development Issue in Sub- Sahara Africa at the World Bank,Washington, D.C. was sponsored by The Poverty Reduction & Economic Management ( PREM) Network, World Bank,USA, Volunteers For Abuse & Neglected Children (Court Appointed Advocates), Washington DC.
August 30, 2006:
The African Tourism Organization was registered in Washington, DC to become a member of the United States Justice Department Human Trafficking Task Force in Washington, D.C.
May 12 - 13, 2006:
The Launching of ATO Secretariat and the Inauguration of the Sub - Sahara Inter-Agency Network Annual Cycling Race Awareness Campaign to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings and Illegal Migration in partnership with the Gambia Cycling Association, the Hotel and Tourism Association, and the Gambia Police Force, in collaboration with the Nordic Baltic Task Force Against Trafficking in Human Beings, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sweden.
March 6 -7, 2006:
Presentation of the ATO Draft Banjul Communiqué and Joint Terms of Reference to The Economic Community Of West Africa States ( ECOWAS) for adoption for its fifteen member states by the Nordic Baltic Tack Force Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sweden, Against Trafficking in Human Beings and African Tourism & Development
Organization (ATO) in Abuja, Nigeria. The meeting was sponsored by ECOWAS, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation & African Tourism Organization Advocacy Office Washington DC.
On October 6 - 7, 2005:
African Tourism Organization organized a meeting with The Economic Community of West Africa States, department of development in ECOWAS Secretariat Abuja, Nigeria to work out the modalities for collaboration with the primary objectives to launch an efficient and long term program of support as a development and illegal migration issue. The meeting was fully sponsored by the Economic Community of West Africa States, department of development and poverty reduction
August 16, 2005:
African Tourism Organization was officially registered in Banjul The Gambia
December 1, 2005:
African Tourism Organization was rregistered in Companies House, Cardiff England
December 5-7, 2005:
African Tourism Organization Consultative Meeting with Stakeholders to prevent human trafficking, support victims of trafficking, and discuss Trafficking as a development / migration issue as well as Draft Banjul, COMMUNIQUE in Banjul
The Gambia to be adopted by ECOWAS for its fifteen member states was sponsored by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Development Sweden and African Tourism Organization Board members.
October 7 -8, 2004:
The Launching of the African Tourism Organization now known as African Tourism Organization round table workshop at the World Bank, Washington DC was sponsored by the World Bank / IMF African Society .
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