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Sana'a: Yemeni tribal leaders have agreed to join an NGO campaign in its fight against child trafficking in Hajja province in the north of Yemen, the NGO said on Sunday.
The campaign aims to make members of local councils, shaikhs and dignitaries aware of the menace of child trafficking in the most affected districts, namely Haradh, Hairan, Aflah Al Yemen, Aflah Al Sham and Eslam in Hajja province.
Hundreds of children are trafficked every year, often with the knowledge of parents, from these extremely poor areas and other similar areas in Yemen, to neighbouring wealthy Saudi Arabia.
"Altogether 126 local council members and tribal shaikhs signed pledges rejecting all forms of child trafficking," said a statement by the group Alternatives to Combat Child Labour through Education and Sustainable Services (Access-Mena), a local NGO.
The statement, a copy of which was sent to Gulf News, said the tribal leaders had committed themselves to stand up against this practice, and to participate effectively to make their districts' inhabitants aware of the risks associated with child trafficking and the necessity of making their children go to school.
They also said they would combat child trafficking by forming work teams consisting of citizens of the districts. These teams will be reporting and giving recommendations to concerned bodies to find solutions to alleviate poverty and provide the deprived areas with services and developmental projects.
The agreement by the tribesmen came after a series of workshops to raise awareness of the issue. These workshops were held in collaboration with CHF International and the local Charitable Society for Social Welfare. The US Department of Labour provided money.
Local government officials also cooperated with the workshops, which were held under the slogan "Together to Combat Child Trafficking".
"Our final goal is to help parents understand the proper place for their children is the classroom and not any other place," said Dr Jamal Al Haddi, Access-Mena project manager.
Access-Mena have helped 206 children to return to school and prevented 1,416 children from dropping out of school, said Dr Al Haddi.
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