Human trafficking is considered modern slavery. The term "trafficking" is used in contexts such as trafficking in human beings, forced labor, exploitation of minors, recruitment of child soldiers, child marriages, begging, organ trafficking, sexual exploitation ... The common denominator of all these crimes is that the forms of exploitation are varied and different.
Thousands of children are trafficked every year on the west coast of Africa, usually sold by their families in exchange for about thirty euros and the vague promise of a better life for the child, which instead results in a situation of slavery, physical and psychological abuse, work in solitude far away from the family and places of origin. Moreover, if a girl, it is very likely that the exploitation is multiplied with the minor living as a domestic slave, forced to help in the commercial activities of the family and, moreover, is subject to sexual abuse.
"Niños esclavos. La puerta de atrás" #TheBackdoorProject shows the work of three Spanish NGOs and religious institutions, including Misiones Salesianas, which with their reception centers in that region ensure the full transitional protection of these children and carry out research to find their families or to offer alternatives for the social reintegration of minors, while facilitating their education and formation.
With this new project, Ana Palacios tells the life stories of over 50 child slaves who managed to find, open and go beyond that "back door" to recover their interrupted childhood.
The project is the result of three years of work, four study trips and five months spent in the field in those realities and with the young protagonists in Togo, Benin and Gabon, thanks to the support of "Misiones Salesianas", the Carmelite Sisters of Charity of Vedruna, the Messengers of Peace and with the support of Unicef.
