Child trafficking a serious reality in Burundi: official

Child trafficking is a serious reality in Burundi, the country's Human Rights Minister has said.

"Child trafficking is a transnational crime taking place here in Burundi," Martin Nivyabandi told Xinhua on Tuesday.

The main targets are schools, public places and poor areas, where child traffickers con people, telling them their children will be received by rich families in Europe or America, according to the official.

However these children usually end up losing their organs or girls are forced into sex work.

Nivyabandi urged the public to be "very careful" against child traffickers.

He said his ministry was working with other departments and organizations in the fight against child trafficking.

In the latest case, two children were found early last week in Kinama, north of the capital Bujumbura, as they were to be taken abroad for trafficking.

"We have already rehabilitated those children in their families," said Prime Mbarubukeye, chairman of local group, the Burundian Observatory for the Fight against Transnational Criminality.

Mbarubukeye further said that five children were rescued on March 23 in Cibitoke province before child traffickers could take them across the border "to Rwanda or the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo)".

Mbarubukeye said victims of child trafficking in Burundi include children aged between one month and 15 years, as well as girls and women who would be forced into sex work.

He said the perpetrators often used Rwanda, Tanzania, DR Congo and Zambia as transit routes.

"Destination countries include Oman, Saudi Arabia, Australia, the U.S., Canada, France, Belgium and South Africa," he said.

He said his organization had recorded more than 50 children, who were victims of child trafficking, since July last year. Endit