Article 35: Abduction, trafficking and sale of children

Convention text

The countries that have signed the Convention must make sure that children are not abducted, trafficked or sold. This must not happen in any way or for any purpose. They must take all necessary measures against this. They must also work together with other countries.

Key point

The government must protect children from child abduction and child trafficking.

Explanation

The government must make sure that children are not abducted, sold or trafficked. In the Netherlands, there is a National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings (Nationaal Rapporteur Mensenhandel) and Sexual Violence against Children. The National Rapporteur informs the government about how many children in the Netherlands are affected by child abduction and child trafficking. It also gives advice on how to prevent trafficking in human beings and sexual violence against children.

Under international law, the sale of children and trafficking in children are similar, but not the same. In the case of the sale of children, one person hands a child over to another person in exchange for money or another benefit. Child trafficking is the whole process connected with the exploitation of children, meaning making children do things that are not good for them in order to make money from them. Many countries do not make this distinction in their laws. The Netherlands only has a law that prohibits trafficking in children, but no specific law that prohibits the sale of children.

Extra agreements on protecting children from sale and sexual exploitation

The Convention contains three additional agreements. The countries that have signed the Convention decide for themselves whether they also sign these additional agreements and agree to follow them. One of these agreements is about protecting children from sale and sexual exploitation. The Netherlands has signed this additional agreement. You can read the full text here in a Dutch translation.