Child slavery is prevalent in parts of Africa, where children are sold by their poor parents for as little as $14 to work long hours in harsh conditions. Boys often work on cotton farms while girls may become domestic servants or prostitutes, with all children working on cocoa plantations. Men trick parents into selling their children under false promises of education or training. The countries where children are most often sold as slaves include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Nigeria, and Togo. An estimated 200,000 children per year experience slavery, though some governments are reluctant to abolish the practice due to economic pressures.

1. Child Slavery in Africa By: Leighanne Hanshaw