Press Statement; World Day against Trafficking in Persons: ActionAid Nigeria calls for multi-sectoral approach and collaboration to end human trafficking in Nigeria.

ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), a human rights organisation that works with poor and excluded groups, promoting their rights and empowering people living in poverty to take necessary action to end poverty is calling for a multi sectoral approach and collaboration in tackling the menace of human trafficking in the country. In a statement released in Abuja on the World day against trafficking in persons, the Country Director, Ene Obi said ‘‘poverty, limited education and lack of economic opportunities and insecurity remains some of the main factors leading people, especially women and girls to trafficking.  As a nation, our efforts to tackle human trafficking must focus on addressing the root causes of poverty in our society, working to ensure that every Nigerian, especially women and girls have an opportunity to live a life of dignity and make social progress’’.

Ene further stated ‘‘Citizens and governments at all level must wake up to challenge this monster. The human trafficking industry is a multi-billion-dollar industry worldwide and it will take collective, consistent and decisive efforts to overcome the challenge of human trafficking. Some of those involved in trafficking of persons especially women and girls for prostitution and cheap labour are well placed and connected in the society but there must be no sacred cows in this fight. Human trafficking is a crime, and the law enforcement agencies must wake up and bring justice for the oppressed’’.

ActionAid Nigeria in her efforts to tackle the root causes of human trafficking and forced migration, has empowered 25844 women and young people within the last three years through training and mentoring, provision of start-up grants and equipment for the launch of productive activities.  At ActionAid Nigeria, we believe that building the agency of citizens and contributing to improving their socio-economic conditions will reduce their vulnerability to human trafficking and other forms of modern-day slavery. We therefore call on governments and other non-governmental organisations to scale up such interventions.

#ENDS.

Editors' notes ActionAid Nigeria is a national non-governmental, non-partisan, non-religious, civil society organisation and an affiliate member of the ActionAid International Federation with presence in 42 countries. It works in solidarity with people living in poverty and exclusion to achieve social justice, gender equality and poverty eradication towards achieving a just, equitable and sustainable world in which every person enjoys the right to a life of dignity, freedom from poverty and all forms of oppression.

CONTACT

Lola Ayanda - Communications Coordinator ActionAid Nigeria Tel: +234(0)8099101428   Email: Nihinlola.ayanda@actionaid.org  | www.actionaid.org/nigeria