Impoverished families from many West African countries have traditionally sent their children to live with affluent members of the community in order to learn new skills and prepare for a more prosperous future. Over the last 25 years, this mutually-respectful practice has been corrupted and turned into an abusive situation. This is largely due to the fact that wars, natural disasters, civil unrest and economic degradation have robbed the majority of the population of the basic means of subsistence. Child trafficking and labor are among the many forms of exploitation caused by these dire conditions.

Due to a lack of awareness concerning these abusive practices, as well as concerted regulatory systems between countries, the situation is worsening. Today roughly 480,000 children are victims of exploitation in the sex trade and in various industries, including agriculture, mining and domestic services. These children are subject to mental, physical and psychological suffering, which seriously hampers their development.