Delegates from African communities across Europe are in London’s East End for a two-day conference discussing issues including child trafficking, female genital mutilation, possession by spirits and child fostering.

East London Advertiser: Having a laugh... delegates at East End's Black African conference during a breakHaving a laugh... delegates at East End's Black African conference during a break (Image: � Rehan Jamil)

The two-day workshops which began yesterday at Whitechapel’s Osmani centre has delegates from France, Spain and Italy as well as the UK.

They are being run by Tower Hamlets Council’s African Families Service which acts to “safeguard” east London’s Black African children and their families.

Mayor Lutfur Rahman told delegates: “We want to make sure every community is well supported and do all we can to share our expertise.”

The council’s African Families service is the only one of its kind in the country, with specialist knowledge of culture and beliefs of the community that is now the East End’s second largest minority ethnic group.

It provides social work expertise for families and runs a forum on ethnic issues, as well as giving guidance and training to other local authorities and organisations.

Delegates also include the Met Police, the Youth Against Crime charity and agencies working with the council’s Safeguarding Children Board. Two more conferences are planned later this year.