A UNICEF study found that half of African countries saw trafficking in human beings as a serious problem, particularly with regard to women and children.
In a statement issued in New York, UNICEF executive director Carol Bellamy said trafficking was among the worst violations of child rights in the world.
"If we are to put an end to this brazen trade, we need courageous government leaders who will criminalise the trafficking of children in all its forms."
Failure to do so was an abuse of children. "Children will only be free from trafficking when they live in a protective environment which shields them from this unconscionable violation of their rights," Bellamy said.
The report had looked at information from 53 African countries and provided an analysis of the patterns, root causes, and existing national and regional policy responses and effective practices.
"Although the causes differed from country to country, trafficking occurred when the child's protective environment collapsed from such things as conflict, economic hardship, and discrimination," Bellamy said.
Traditional attitudes and practices, early marriage, and lack of birth registration further increased the vulnerability of children and the exploitation of women.
Other factors include the conflict-related demand for child soldiers, demand for adoption, and trafficking in body parts.
However, African countries were not the only ones involved in trafficking with Europe, the Middle East and Arab states implicated.
Trafficking within national borders was very common and occurred in eight out of every 10 African countries, the report said - Sapa.
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