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.
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