RESPONDING TO THE TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
UNODC’S Theme for this Year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

Although the magnitude of the problem of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants in Nigeria is underscored by the lack of empirical statistical data, there is however abundant evidence that thousands of Nigerian women and millions of children are being trafficked externally across Borders and within the country.

Despite the enormous resources from the international community and the Nigerian Government invested to address the issue, the trend of Trafficking in Persons seems to escalate over the years.

Trafficking of persons within sub-saharan Africa predominantly features women and children and this continues to be a global concern. More than ever, it has become increasingly imperative to keep up the fight in order not to lose this war to the perpetrators.

As an NGO that promotes the rights of women, youth and children especially girls, Women’s Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON), in commemoration of this year’s World Day against Human Trafficking, is determined more than ever not to give up the fight against human trafficking and will continue to commit to strengthening our various Awareness Campaigns and interventions across the country in partnership with National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Government and the numerous Partners and Civil Society organizationsto tackle this scourge.

Indicators continue to show that the incidence of trafficking in Nigeria is assuming alarming proportions and one of such indicators is the growing number of women and children particularly children in cities and towns of West African States and outside Nigeria; particularly in Europe who end up there as a result of urban migration and illegal trans-border migration coupled with a growing market for exploitative slave-like conditions.

The International Labour Organization estimated many years ago that over 12 million children were engaged in child labour in Nigeria and this has definitely increased many years after.  Our organization’s experience in executing projects for the elimination of child labour validates this statistics and it has been discovered that a large percentage of the children in labour are trafficked victims.

On sexual exploitation of children, innocent children continue to be exploited for sexual purposesin brothels in the urban cities, most of who are brought in from the rural areas. There are also abnormal Clubs presently springing up in Schools with the aim of recruiting girls for commercial sexual exploitation for Tourists and Travellers. Other young and innocent unsuspecting under-aged girls are held in slave like conditions, forced into repayment bonds under the disguise of securing jobs for them and aredenied access to education as well as having their health and physical well-being compromised.

Men and boys are also now being increasingly found to be victims of human trafficking

WOCONs work dates back to over 22 years ago since we launched the first Campaign against Trafficking held in Nigeria. Since then we have and will continue to work tirelessly to rescue and rehabilitate survivors of trafficking from within Nigeria, within Africa as well as outside Nigeria.

Let’s join hands with NAPTIP, the Government, United Nations, the Civil society organizations and nongovernmental organizations to end this scourge so that Nigerian women, men, boys and girls can be set free to live lives to the fullest.

Our children are our future, our children are our pride!

#EndHumanTrafficking
#EndSexualExploitationofWomenandChildren
#WOCONsaysNOtoExploitationofChildrenforSexualPurposes

WOMEN CONSORTIUM OF NIGERIA
13 Okesuna Street, Off Igbosere Road, Lagos
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Website:              www.womenconsortiumofnigeria.org
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