ARMED CONFLICT AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN AFRICA: WHAT ROLE FOR THE RULE OF LAW?

Abstract

Africa has been contending with armed conflicts since the end of the Second World War. These conflicts are mostly intrastate. Although victims of such conflicts are usually not gender specific, women and female children suffer disproportionately as they are more predisposed to human rights abuses and sexual based violence. Existing literature suggests that armed conflict and human trafficking intersect as armed conflict increases the risks of human trafficking by weakening rule of law. Regrettably, despite the robust legal framework for human trafficking in Africa the problem persists. This paper examines human trafficking of women and children in times of armed conflict in two African countries: Nigeria and the Central African Republic. It states that human trafficking is a common occurrence during armed conflicts in these countries and suggest that African states, especially Nigeria and the Central African Republic, strengthen the rule of law by means of creative anti-trafficking strategies in humanitarian responses through collaboration with international community.