SHADE-IN Marks 2019 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Emerges M&E Officer of AACSGBV, Edo State

Every year, 30th July, 2019 is recognised as World Day Against Trafficking In Persons. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) defines human trafficking as the act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring or receiving a person through the use of force, deception or other means for the purpose of exploiting them. The theme of this year's celebration is "A Call To Act Now". Despite the fact that almost every country has trafficking laws, trafficking still remains a global menance. Hence, the thrust of this year's celebration is UNODC call to the Governments of Nations to " Act Now" by taking urgent, expedient and practical action with the best interests of the victims of trafficking as the primary consideration. The strong urgent message of UNODC is that whether law or services, national or community based, sustained or targeted, all responses should be: human rights based, age and gender responsive and victim centered to assist those most vulnerable, and in need of protection and support. 

Yury Fedotov (the Executive Director of UNODC) mentioned that human trafficking thrives where the rule of law is weak and people lack opportunities. He added that humanitarian crises and conflicts create an environment in which traffickers easily prey upon the vulnerable. It has been estimated that three quarter of all detected trafficking victims world wide are females and 30% of these victims are children.

In the light of the aforementioned, SHADE-IN wishes to state that one of the key solutions to human trafficking in Nigeria is the government providing quality education, quality learning environment, world standard curriculum and focus on the practical aspects of the curriculum. There is a correlation between literacy levels and human trafficking. Women and children who are educated and enlightened are less likely to fall victims of human trafficking compared to those who are uneducated within the same sociocultural context. In the case of children, it is easier for traffickers to exploit and deceive uneducated and unenlightened parents/guardians when compared to their educated and enlightened counterparts within the same sociocultural context. Females that are well educated are less likely to fall victim of human trafficking, when compared to their uneducated counterparts within the same sociocultural settings.

It is therefore imperative for the government to 'Act Now' and also 'Act Fast'.

It is not enough for the Nigerian government to provide free education in public primary and secondary schools; the government should include quality. By quality we mean, safe, secure and conducive learning environment, quality infrastructure, laboratories and apparatus, library and books, standard and up to date curriculum, practical sessions, skills/training (in subjects like Home Economics, Basic Technology, Fine Arts, Wood Work, etc). The curriculum should also include teaching children soft and life skills. When the Nigerian educational system is at par with the world standards then poverty and unemployment (the root cause of human trafficking) would be eradicated.

SHADE-IN would also like to recommend that the government ensures that schools' Parents Teachers Association (PTA) or better still School Based Management Committee (SBMC) is jointly involved in the eradication of human trafficking. We would recommend the SBMC or whatever name th government chooses to call it, because it comprises of parents, teachers, students representatives, representatives from community, NGOs, etc. We agree that the government alone cannot do all the work. However, the government can enforce that the PTA/SBMC are periodically enlightened through round table discussions, seminars, campaigns, etc. on the ills of human trafficking. The government can also work with the PTA/SBMC to ensure that the scourge of human trafficking is eradicated from the grassroots (parents, teachers, community and organisations). If the government brings all these primary stakeholders together and works with them, then the solution to human trafficking would be both targeted and sustained.

This year, SHADE-IN marked the world day against trafficking in persons as she attended the inaugural meeting of Association Against Child Sexual Gender Based Violence (AACSGBV), on 30th July, 2019 in Benin City, Edo State, where her representative, Rebecca Alasa, Programme Officer (SHADE-IN) was appointed as the M&E Officer for the coalition (AACSGBV), Edo State. It will be an opportunity for SHADE-IN to collaborate with other organisations in the fight against child sexual and gender based violence, while upholding the child and human rights and playing her role to curb human trafficking which is one of the violations of human rights, especially that of children and women, who are the most affected.

#EndHumanTrafficking #SHADEIN #ValueReorientation #MindsetChangeCampaign #MCC #AACSGBV #YouthEducation #HTF #UNODC #BlueHeartCampaign #WorldDayAgainstTIP