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In her efforts to develop a collaborative approach and effective partnerships for action against trafficking in persons: SCALE is strengthening Civil Society Organization (CSOs) coordination with private sector and relevant government agencies through regular, ongoing networking and exchange of evidence and best practices. The Inaugural and second edition of the Countering Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) stakeholders’ coordination forum was hosted by the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) Nigeria with support from USAID Nigeria Strengthening Civil Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) in Abuja on 29th March and 29thAugust, 2022 respectively.

The CTIP Stakeholders’ Coordination Forum was designed to build alliances, promote collaboration and strengthen experience and information sharing amongst anti-trafficking advocates toward the delivery of effective CTIP interventions in Nigeria. The mandate of the meeting was to improve coordination of state and non-state actors in the area of countering trafficking in persons.

Jason Currier, the representative of USAID in his remark appreciated the participants for honoring the invitation and encouraged active participation. He emphasized the importance of partnership as a strategy for combating trafficking in persons in Nigeria. He noted that most of the achievements of the USAID interventions are hinged on the smooth partnership established with other development partners like International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), and the Judiciary.

The National President of NACTAL, Abdulganiyu Abubakar, in his presentation, reiterated the need for effective coordination and NACTAL’s strategic position to lead the conversation. He emphasized that the overall goal of the project is a strengthened NACTAL and CSOs leading the delivery of qualitative and result-driven interventions to reduce incidences of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in Nigeria. He emphasized on the need to enhance collaboration, alliance building, information sharing, reporting, referrals, linkages, and shared learning amongst CTIP state and non-state actors in Nigeria.

Therefore, the coordination forum established a platform for robust engagement and discussions amongst critical stakeholders and partners. The forum established a platform for continuous alliance building and information sharing among civil society organizations (CSOs) and relevant government agencies towards combating the scourge of trafficking in persons in Nigeria. The outcome of both events was a draft Coordination Protocol, a coordination platform for further engagements on evidence sharing among frontline actors, and a CTIP Service Providers Directory as a tool for harnessing referrals and linkages.

Goodwill messages came from representatives of USAID Nigeria SCALE, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internationally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The seasoned advocates appreciated NACTAL and her partner for the laudable initiative and encouraged stakeholders to contribute actively and meaningfully to the development of the well-deserved platform for CTIP response in Nigeria. NACTAL Nigeria was particularly applauded for expending the forum by inviting other key stakeholders that were not initially invited in the first meeting.

Also in attendance were persons with disabilities (PWDs) from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FMLE), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

By:

Damilola Agbaje

Communications/ Knowledge Management Officer

NACTAL Nigeria, with support from the EU and FIIAPP organized the ATIPSOM project with a 3-DAY Retreat tagged ‘Capacity Workshop on Enhancement of Operational Productivity of NACTAL Member Organizations on Policies and Legislations’ at Keffi, Nasarawa State on the 1st of March, 2022.

The training strengthened the capacity of her officials in the area of service delivery, and awareness creation on TIPSOM. In attendance were 60 participants composed of NACTAL BoT, National Executive members, Zonal and State coordinators, and NACTAL project staff.

In continuation of her series of trainings, the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) with support from USAID Nigeria SCALE organized an intensive 4-Day training for representatives of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on ‘Effective Shelter and Case Management Approaches’ in Abuja from June 15th to 18th, 2022. The need to adequately build the capacity of shelter managers, redefine the process and reposition them for optimum service provision became paramount. The provision of safe shelters is instrumental to the protection and provision of adequate care for victims of trafficking.

Speaking at the event, the National President of Network Against Child Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), Abdulganiyu Abubakar,reiterated the network commitment to ensuring that Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the network benefit from the series of capacity building in the area of Trafficking in Persons (TIP), with support from USAID Nigeria SCALE. He encouraged participants to maximize the opportunity of attending such training and ensure they engaged optimally.

The training consultant, Dr. Grace Dafiel emphasized the need for shelter owners to have a well thought out plan before starting a shelter. She suggested that one can start a farm to have a sustainability to avoid running into a financial loss or inability to feed the victims. She equally advised shelter owners to engage and partner with the community they are located in.

The key outcome of the training was the increased knowledge of participants on policies, SOPs and frameworks that guide the operations, establishment and management of shelters in Nigeria. The training also strengthened the capacity of CSOs in the development and implementation of effective case management plans and victim-centered services. The training further established the need for proper case identifications, and the need to collaborate with agencies tasked with the responsibility.

In attendance were 25 participants inclusive of persons with disabilities (PWDs) drawn from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Benue, Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Lagos, Ondo, Sokoto and Taraba States.

To enhance the capacity of security personnel’ who are crucial in the prevention and protection of victims of human trafficking, the Network Against Child trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) Nigeria, with support from USAID Nigeria SCALE, organized a ‘Countering Trafficking in Persons Training’ in Benin City and Abuja for security and law enforcement agencies. The first leg of the training was held in Benin, Edo state from 6th to 8th September, 2022; while the second leg of the training was held from 14th to 16th September, 2022 in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The training strengthened security personnel’s knowledge on CTIP with a broader view on survivors and traffickers’ identification. Participants were exposed to the dos and don’ts during identification, investigation and prosecution of TIP cases. Participants applauded NACTAL Nigeria and USAID Nigeria SCALE for organizing the training as it exposed them to areas to take cognizance of in the line of duty. The training also strengthened communication among sister agencies where challenges encountered were discussed and noted for further action.

In her continued efforts to improve the coordination and implementation capacity of Civil Society Organizations on CTIP in Nigeria, the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) trained 30 local CSOs on the design and delivery of effective countering trafficking in persons prevention intervention with the support from USAID Nigeria SCALE from 25th May to 28th May, 2022 in Abuja, Nigeria.

The event featured opening remarks by NACTAL National Secretary/Head of Programs, Osita Osemene, and the Vulnerable Population Sector Manager, USAID Nigeria SCALE, Suzan Agada. The duo welcomed the participants and reiterated the need to reposition and enhance the capacity of local CSOs to design and implement impactful CTIP prevention interventions in Nigeria.

Today is 30th July 2020 and the United Nations has set aside 30th July each year as the International Day Against Human Trafficking. This is done to raise awareness of the plight of human trafficking victims and promote as well as protect their rights.

Human trafficking is any illicit trade of humans for the purposes of making profit for the traffickers. Examples include forced labour, sexual slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced marriages, child solders, tissue or organ harvest etc.

During the era of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, between 1776 and 1865 about 15 and 20 million enslaved people were transported across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa and purchased from traders of enslaved people throughout Europe, European colonies and some other parts of the world.

It is unfortunate that history is being repeated as today citizens especially women, children and persons living with disabilities are being trafficked both internally within our borders and externally across the world. Human traffickers adopt various strategies to get their victims. These strategies include pretense, social media posts, job adverts, threats or kidnapping.

The Covid-19 has added another dimension to the challenge of human trafficking not only in Nigeria but all over the world. Of recent, a case of a Nigerian lady who was being advertised by her “owner” in far away Lebanon was awash all over the media. In some cases, people are being sold for as  low as NGN20,000 Naira only.

It is now imperative that this year 2020 and with the theme of caring for frontline workers against human trafficking, Nigerians need to rise and take a collective decision to stop the menace of human trafficking in our nation.

We should also ponder and assess ourselves on how far we are waging the war against the modern day slavery and to consider the efforts and ponder on the safety of the frontline officers in the face of Covid-19.

The frontline officers include the law enforcement agents such as NAPTIP, NIS, NSCDC, Nigeria police etc. Also the Civil society actors, social workers in which NACTAL members are prominent right from the community where victims are sourced to the transits points such as the borders, at the destination in other states or countries and even at the point of repatriation and reintegration.

This year the language is now “stay safe” hence we need to ensure we protect the people working in the front line saving and rehabilitating the victims of human trafficking.

Therefore we call on the state and Non state actors to increase their effort in the battle.

Let the Federal Government put more political will and funding into this fight and not depend on foreign support most times.

Let the state governments in Nigeria also support this war at their respective states by providing the political will and the required resources. Let the states look into the full implementation of the Childs rights laws, CEDAW, VAP and other policy documents while establishing and funding the task forces on TIP.

Let those promoting illegal and fake job outside the country be scrutinized and check. This is the latest trend of enslaving our people.

Let the media institutions stop taking advert from all the job placement companies without conducting detailed investigations.

Let the community leaders follow the action of Oba of Benin by invoking the gods against the traffickers.

Let the law enforcement agencies train and retain personnel at the beat of human trafficking rather than posting such to other duties briefly after being trained.

Let the religious institutions take the care of the flocks as a priority by providing right information and support job creation for young adults.

Let international partners such as UN agencies, Government of other nations, embassies, INGOs, and others work more to reduce the demand for sex and labour slaves in their countries. Let accord the migrants from developing world same rights and respect accord to migrants from developed nations.

When we do this, we protect the victims of human trafficking and they will be confidence to name and shame their traffickers, we will keep the Front liners safer and win the war against traffickers.

As we commemorate this year International day Against Human Trafficking, NACTAL with over 150 registered organizations is poised to keep working both at the community, national and international level. We shall continue to work with other partners to ensure the battle is won and lives safe.

Thanks