allAfrica.com: Nigeria: 'Trafficking Should Be Included in School Curriculum'

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201110241450.html

Adie Vanessa Offiong

23 October 2011

It was a gathering of stakeholders against slavery yesterday at the one-day symposium themed, 'Take a stand against slavery' when all put heads together to discuss the worrisome issue plaguing nations across the world with Nigeria significantly in it.

Present at the event was Chief (Mrs) Titi Abubakar founder of Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF). In her address, she noted that, there should be more interest in such forays that discuss the issue of trafficking as it affects every sphere of the society. According to her, everybody has a role to play in curbing trafficing in persons. Laws enacted should be enforced and prosecution of offenders taken very seriously.

Describing human trafficking as the menace of the 21st century Executive Secretary of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP), Mrs Beatrice Agba, represented by Mrs Adefunke Abiodunm said "The battle against this kind of slavery is a very serious one because the nature of the crime is absolutely different from other crimes." While stating that poverty, ignorance, globalization, the inability of victims to testify against their traffickers amongst others, contributed to the challenges of combating traffic in persons, she noted that rehabilitating the rescued victims is also a problem as it is expensive and too difficult for the government to do alone.

Abidun urged all stakeholders to come together and take concrete actions/decisions that would end the scourge. "Effective social security should be put in place to assist the aged, unemployed and vulnerable persons."

Mrs Kate Imasuen, founder and initiator, Great Africa Network for Women and Kera Basil Foundation, has recommended that human trafficking and other related matters be included in children's school curriculum and made compulsory under the subject, 'Ethics'. According to her, it is no longer news that girls and boys are being sold into prostitution, domestic slavery and other activities for forced labour but that some of these victims even though they were trafficked enjoyed the trade and have become merchants in this same business.

The German-based organisation has rescued over 480 victims from across Europe and three from Burkina Faso last April.

She charged authorities to make available more resources dedicated to the cause.