Combating Child Trafficking: First Lady Dominique Ouattara Commends Progress Made by the CPC Partnership and Calls for Intensified Efforts

On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, First Lady Dominique Ouattara presided over the opening ceremony of the second annual follow-up dialogue of the Child Protection Compact (CPC) Partnership at her offices in Cocody. The CPC was established between Côte d’Ivoire and the United States of America to combat child trafficking, exploitation, and labor.

The meeting brought together several members of the government, representatives from the U.S. Embassy, civil society organizations, and national experts engaged in child protection. The technical sessions of this second CPC will take place from June 2 to 3, 2026, at the First Lady’s Office.

The purpose of this meeting was to assess the progress made since the signing of this important partnership in December 2022 and to reaffirm the stakeholders’ shared commitment to combating trafficking, exploitation, and child labor.

In her opening remarks, First Lady Dominique Ouattara expressed her satisfaction with the progress made since the signing of this partnership on December 7, 2022. “I am particularly pleased to be with you today for the second annual follow-up dialogue on the Child Protection Pact partnership, which we signed to mark the shared commitment of the US and Côte d’Ivoire to combating child trafficking in our country,” she stated.

Ms. Dominique Ouattara praised the quality of cooperation between the two countries as well as the results already achieved on the ground. She particularly thanked the U.S. government for a financial support of more than $8.2 million—which represents about 4.6 billion CFA francs to support efforts to combat trafficking, exploitation, and child labor. “This is a significant contribution that reflects the United States’s voluntary commitment to supporting Côte d’Ivoire’s efforts in the fight against child trafficking,” she emphasized.

The First Lady also commended the program’s implementing partners, such as Save the Children International, the Association of Women Lawyers of Côte d’Ivoire, and the NGO Dignity and Rights of Children in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as the technical ministries involved in carrying out the CPC’s activities.

Encouraging Mid-Term Results

Referring to the progress made, Ms. Dominique Ouattara noted that the partnership is fully aligned with the global strategy to combat human trafficking as well as with the National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking, Exploitation, and Child Labor.

She highlighted the various initiatives undertaken by Côte d’Ivoire in the area of prevention. “Since 2011, we have regularly conducted intensive communication and awareness-raising campaigns across the country to inform the public about the dangers of human trafficking and child labor,” she explained.

The First Lady also highlighted investments made in the education and health sectors, including the construction of schools, school cafeterias, housing for teachers, health clinics, maternity wards, and drinking water wells in rural areas to reduce children’s vulnerability.

Regarding victim protection, she highlighted the establishment of reception and transit centers in Soubre, Ferkessedougou, and Bouake, as well as the implementation of a foster care system to provide a safe living environment for child victims of trafficking.

She also highlighted the implementation of the National System for Monitoring and Tracking Child Labor, designed to better document and track the evolution of the phenomenon throughout the country.

Stronger Crackdown on Traffickers

Regarding the prosecution of human traffickers, Ms. Dominique Ouattara commended the efforts undertaken within the framework of the CPC to strengthen the capacity of judges. She highlighted the measures taken by the Ivorian government to improve the enforcement of laws against crimes related to child trafficking. “We have enacted legislation to enable the prosecution of traffickers, and we have strengthened our police surveillance system by increasing the number of special brigades tasked with combating trafficking, exploitation, and child labor from five to eleven,” she stated.

The First Lady also emphasized the importance of partnership, the fourth pillar of the anti-trafficking strategy. She highlighted the close cooperation between various ministries, civil society organizations, private-sector partners, and United Nations agencies, such as ILO, UNICEF, and IOM.

Challenges Ahead

Despite progress made, Ms. Dominique Ouattara acknowledged that several challenges remain, including the fight against cross-border child trafficking and providing support to vulnerable families to prevent the use of child labor. “Ensuring that all our children attend school is also a major challenge that we are striving to address in order to protect them from child labor risk,” she stated.

For the First Lady, the success of this fight necessarily depends on increased investment and strengthened partnerships among all relevant stakeholders. “The CPC Partnership serves as a model of collaboration and shared commitment between the United States and Côte d’Ivoire in the fight against child trafficking,” she stated.

While confirming her commitment to child protection, Mrs. Dominique Ouattara called on all partners to continue and intensify their efforts to achieve the shared goal of a sustainable eradication of trafficking, exploitation, and child labor in Côte d’Ivoire.

Mr. Adama Kamara, Minister of Employment, Social Protection, and Vocational Training, and Chair of the Interministerial Committee to Combat Trafficking, Exploitation, and Child Labor (CIM), reviewed the actions carried out under this partnership. He emphasized the positive synergy of efforts among the various partners involved in this partnership under the supervision of the First Lady, Chair of the National Oversight Committee for Actions to Combat Trafficking, Exploitation, and Child Labor (CNS). Finally, he paid a heartfelt tribute to the wife of the President of the Republic for her leadership and steadfast commitment to the fight against Trafficking, Exploitation, and Child Labor, which has enabled Côte d’Ivoire to achieve positive results.

Ms. Amy Rustan Haslett, Acting Senior Coordinator for International Programs at the U.S. Department of State’s Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons, noted that child trafficking is a crime that can only be defeated through coordinated, sustained, and determined action by governments, international partners, and the private sector to protect children, prosecute traffickers, and prevent all forms of exploitation.

Mr. Junaid Munir, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of the United States of America, praised the First Lady’s commitment to the fight against child labor.

Mr. Sawadego Akébou, Country Director of Save the Children International in Côte d’Ivoire, provided a mid-term review of the partnership’s implementation. He noted that the fight against child labor is making significant progress across the various frameworks established.

Ms. Yao Patricia Sylvie, Executive Secretary of the CNS, reiterated the framework of the partnership regarding the Child Protection Compact between the United States and Côte d’Ivoire.