EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

“Child trafficking is a global phenomenon exposing tens of thousands of children to increased vulnerability, exploitation and abuse. In the Middle East, every year, tens of thousands of children are trafficked from around 20 countries including Yemen and Afghanistan to the Gulf sub-region where they are exploited as street sellers, beggars and, formerly, camel jockeys. This paper examines the phenomenon and causes of child trafficking from Yemen and Afghanistan to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the Gulf countries. It shows that child trafficking is organized in phases starting in the source countries, and ending in the destination countries were children are exploited. Rescuing children can take place at any phase; however there are many examples where children are rescued to fall again in the trap of trafficking. Unless the causes leading to trafficking in both origin and destination countries are understood, this chain of trafficking is difficult to break.”