UN, Italy Rate Edo High in Fight against Human Trafficking

The United Nations Women Country Representative to Nigeria and Economic Community of West Africa State (ECOWAS), Ms. Comfort Lamptey, and the Deputy Ambassador of Italy to Nigeria, Tarek Chazli, on Tuesday rated the Edo State Government high in its fight against human trafficking in the state.

The duo gave the commendation at the official launching of the ‘Preventing Forced Migration and Trafficking of Women and Girls in Nigeria’ held in Benin-city, the Edo State capital.

Lamptey said the recent signing into law of the bill prohibiting Violent Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) by the state government was the right decision taken by the governor in order to reduce the scourge against forced migration and trafficking of women and girl-child in the state

According to her, "In particular, following the recent passage of the VAPP in Edo State, it is clear that implementation will be key to addressing some of the root causes underlying the phenomenon of trafficking of women and girls.

"The project will support the ministry to develop and prioritise actions on a roadmap for implementation of the VAPP Act.

"The project will also build synergies with ongoing interventions by sister UN agencies, including UNODC, IOM, and UNHCR, which have made important contributions in support of the state government’s efforts to curb this menace."

Lamptey said globally, UN Women has built a solid and robust knowledge-based expertise in the areas of addressing gender issues, forced migration and trafficking of women and girls.

According to her, the starting point for their works is an acknowledgement of the disproportionate impact of trafficking on women and girls, who make up over 70 percent of persons trafficked globally.

She said they recognised that structural inequalities, vulnerabilities and lack of sustainable livelihoods are among the chief causes of trafficking, adding: “Indeed, trafficking is both part of the continuum of labour exploitation and violence against women.”

Lamptey said Nigeria has presented itself simultaneously as country of origin, transit and destination for all streams of migration and trafficking.

She said: "Beyond irregular migration, Nigeria also experiences significant trafficking. Women and children constitute the majority of those trafficked to Europe as well as being irregular migrants to other African destinations and the Middle East. While there are dynamic shifts over time, the main sites of forced documented and undocumented migration and trafficking are Edo and Delta States as well as some northern states."

On his part, the Deputy Ambassador of Italy to Nigeria, Tarek Chazli, said the Edo State Government has proven itself to be a reliable partner in the fight against human trafficking, adding that "that is why the Italian Government is willing to assist in all possible ways to ensure that the fight is completely won.”

Also speaking, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who was represented by Chairperson, Edo State Task Force Against Human Trafficking and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, said his government is very committed in its quest to making human trafficking and irregular migration a history in the state thus the huge financial investment in the human capacity development.

Yinka who functioned in dual capacities, also commended the state government for its financial supporting, noting that the task force may have all the ideas in the world to fight human trafficking but when the funds are not available, the fight becomes very difficult.