This assessment studies incidents of sexual abuse and exploitation in refugee children in West Africa. It is known that many girls aged 13 to 18 in refugee camps participated in an exchange of sex for money or gifts; these children often felt that this exchange was necessary to receive food and basic necessities. Parents sporadically encouraged such actions as a means to bring in income; however, the children most vulnerable were those lacking one or more parents. The men most likely to participate were men in positions of power and influence who controlled access to goods and services—particularly UN staff, peacekeepers and NGO workers.

This abuse is most widespread in areas of large established aid programs. Staffs use their position and influence to withhold services until sex is offered. As one male refugee in Sierra Leone stated, “If you do not have a wife or a sister or a daughter to offer the NGO workers, it is hard to have access to aid.” In areas where peacekeepers are stationed, the high prices military forces pay for young girls leads to girls being trafficked from far distances.

There were several factors leading to sexual exploitation of refugee children: poverty and lack of livelihood options, and therefore the inability to meet survival needs; insufficient food rations and supplies; dependency of refugees to humanitarian aid and management problems in the delivery of aid; and pressure from peers and parents to bring in money.

USAID.GOV the Experience of Refugee Children in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, pg.34 November 2001.
www.usaid.gov/our_work/crosscutting_programs/wid/pubs/Trafficking_Conflict_July2006.pdf