It has come to our notice that reporters are reporting or negatively captioning the experiences that survivors of human trafficking share either at meetings or in public places.

The Board of Trustees and Directors of Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON) condemn this act and declare that it is totally inconsiderate and underserving of survivors who have already and previously undergone emotional torture and painful experiences in the hands of wicked men.

Mentioning the names of these brave survivors (without their consent) or reporting stories which are sometimes not even accurate, violates the fundamental human rights as well as the rights to privacy of these individuals to be secure in themselves.

Over-reporting on the part of reporters or blowing the experiences of these group of already exploited and previously battered individuals out of proportion for whatever reason, either so that their news can be read or their sites visited, is to say the least, uncharitable and insensitive.

The media are our partners in the Civil Society industry and we are meant to join hands to keep up the fight against this menace but if we turn against the heroes and heroines who have fearlessly and courageously offered to give information that will assist others to make positive and informed decisions not to embark on these deadly journeys, then we have missed the very point we are all trying to make and the fight that we are all embarking on.

WOCON continues to work tirelessly and vigorously with NAPTIP to fight this scourge and once again, we condemn this act and therefore seek an adjustment and a pulling down of such previous and current posts that have insinuated or reflected negative reports about survivors of human trafficking both in Lagos State and across the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Signed

Morenike Omaiboje

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMES