2.25 National Youth Policy The Government of Ghana launched the National Youth Policy in 2010. Various civil society organizations embarked on sensitization activities in 2011 to educate the youth on the Youth Policy. Early Marriages The Children’s Act, 1998 restricts early marriages and sets the minimum age for marriage at 18 years. However, customary practices in Ghana still lead to child betrothals and child marriages. 2.26 Protection of Child Rights The absence of a Child Protection Policy is affecting the effective implementation of the Children’s Act 560. OBJECTIVE 8: PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF VULNERABLE GROUPS, INCLUDING INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS AND REFUGEES This objective aims to address the existence and efficacy of the legal and institutional protections of the rights of vulnerable groups. 2.25 Human Trafficking The country’s Human Trafficking Law, 2005 and its amendment in 2009 brought the definition of trafficking in line with the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Person, Especially Women and Children, and prescribed penalties of 5 to 20 years imprisonment for all trafficking crimes. The country also increased its capacity to combat trafficking. A draft Legislative Instrument (LI) on the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694) was developed. Consultations were held on the draft LI among stakeholders to address all concerns to Sixth Annual APRM Progress Report: January – December 2011 39