PNG child trafficking on agenda

 MORE research is needed on child trafficking in PNG to better inform cross cutting policies, says a visiting academic. 

Prof Jim Arrowsmith from New Zealand’s Massey University made this recommendation in his presentation on child trafficking in PNG on Monday at the Child Labour National Action Plan forum currently underway in Port Moresby. 

Arrowsmith has been engaged by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Department of Labour and Industrial Relations as a consultant to review the national action plan and develop a national policy on child labour. 

He said it was difficult to trace movement of people within PNG but certain actions could be taken to address that.

He told participants at the forum that trafficking involving child exploitation was a key worst form of child labour and the national action plan may require the following:

• Development and implementation of internal and external migration policies and campaigns;
• Willingness to pursue prosecutions; 
• More extensive regime of labour inspections.