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 * ​Child Slavery: Benin and Togo.**

Benin- Formerly known as Dahomey, it seized the port of Ouidah in 1727 and became a famous slave-trading kingdom. The construction of the railroad in north Benin began in 1900. In 1946, it was given a deputy and two senators in the French parliament. On December 4, 1958, the Territorial Assembly became a national constituent assembly and the Republic of Dahomey was proclaimed a member of the French Community. On February 14, 1959, they created a constitution. Hubert Maga, who was at the time chairman of the Dahomeyan Democratic Rally, was named prime minister on May 18, 1959. On August 1, 1960, Dahomey proclaimed its independence, and on November 25 they created a new constitution, calling for independence. After independence, the country suffered from extreme political instability. There were military coups in 1963, 1965 (twice), 1967, 1969, and 1972. There were numerous reasons why the government failed including regionalism, especially the north–south differences. Also the country's poor economy; unemployment was high for the large number of educated Beninese, and economic growth minimal. In 1980 they elected Kérékou to a new term as president.
 * __History__**

Togo- Germany finally established control over the area, on July 5, 1884, when Dr. Gustav Nachtigal made a treaty with the chief of Togo. The treaty established a German protectorate over a small coastal enclave, and the village name eventually was given to the entire territory. After World War I in August 1914, neighboring French and British units gained control of Togo. The British took the coastal area and the railways, and the French assumed control of the interior. In 1947, leaders of the Ewe people repeatedly petitioned the UN first for Ewe unification and subsequently for Togoland unification. At that time, the Ewe were under three different rulers: the Gold Coast, British Togoland, and French Togoland. The Gold Coast became the independent state of Ghana and the British Togoland disapeared. In April 1958, new elections were held under UN supervision. The Committee for the Togolese Union, who promised complete independence, won control of the Togo Assembly, and elstablished Sylvanus Olympio as its leader, who in which became prime minister.

Benin- Benin is a poor country to begin with. Benin is a Constitutional Democracy so there really isn't any major authority to say whether or not taking these children is legal or not, and therefor these people get away with taking them and selling them as slaves. Although the government clearly states that under the Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment laws, that the "The Constitution prohibits such practices" yet they do not mention anything about child slavery. It's like they are trying to hide the fact that one of their biggest exports is children.
 * __Political Impact__**

Togo- Togo is a Republic country. The political leaders know that these children are being shipped to other countries but they are not always there to catch them in the act. There has been incidents where the government has stopped 300 children all around age 10 from getting shipped off to the western european countries. The Togo government has a little bit more control over the trading of these children, but it is still not enough to stop this issue all together.

Since the economy of Benin is extremely poor, some families believe selling their children is sometimes necessary so they can survive. The total foreign debt in 2002 was $1,845 million. Nearly 30% of the population lives in rural areas, and household expenses are well below the poverty line. Traders say girls from Benin and Togo are particularly in demand in wealthy families in Lagos in Nigeria and in Libreville in Gabon.(BBC) Most of these children were bought from their families for about $30. The parents and families of these children that are being taken are being robbed. If they sell their children, sure they are receiving money which in return can boost the economy but not by much. The Economy is not being affected because they do not gain anything from child slavery, they only export these children in both Togo and Benin. Other countries are benefiting from these children but since most of these children are being kidnapped, Benin and Togo are not receiving money for these children which is neither hurting nor helping the economy.
 * __Economical Impact__**

**__Social Impact__**
The societies in both Benin and Togo are loosing their younger generation. The elder generation won't have anyone to support them if all of the children are getting sold and shipped to different countries. The scociety needs an equal amount of people in it to have a balanced society and economy. The children that remain in Benin and Togo are getting lower by the second. They have to work ten times harder to pay for the elders who are unemployed and living on retirement.

If nothing is done about this issue, the populations in Benin and Togo will eventually die off. There are three ways in which Benin and Togo can stop child slavery. 1. They should make a law that every company must pay their employies a minimum wage. The companies that are "employing" these children should stop being so greedy and they should pay the children who they "employ" at least enough for them to buy food. This way, the children can survive on their own once they get out of slavery, they can live their own lives and not have to live their life in poverty. 2. They should have 24/7 security at the ports in Benin and Togo so that we can make sure that these children do not get on the boats and shipped off as slaves. They could have security cameras around the ports so if a person happens to get away with taking a few kids with them on the boat, they will have an image of their faces so they can report that person and he could be arrested. 3. We, the United States, could set up a NGO that helps support adults who were once child slaves and who have now either escaped or been released. We could offer them money or clothing and basic necessities so that they don't have to worry about living in poverty for the rest of their lives.
 * __Future of the Issue__**

" BBC News | AFRICA | West Africa's child slave trade." __BBC NEWS | News Front Page__. 24 Sep. 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/412628.stm>.
 * __Works Cited__**

"Benin." __U.S. Department of State__. 24 Sep. 2009 http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27712.htm>.

"History - Benin." __Encyclopedia of the Nations - Information about countries of the world, United Nations, and World Leaders__. 24 Sep. 2009 .

"History - Togo." __Encyclopedia of the Nations - Information about countries of the world, United Nations, and World Leaders__. 24 Sep. 2009 .

"Togo (05/09)." __U.S. Department of State__. 24 Sep. 2009 http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5430.htm>.