Establish Early Warning Mechanism To Tackle Human Trafficking, Ex-UN Envoy tells FG

Prof Joy Ezeilo, a former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, has urged the Nigerian government at all levels to implement early warning tools to combat the pervasive and cross-border scourge of human trafficking.

Ezeilo, Executive Director of Women Aid Collective and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said this in a statement published in Enugu on Saturday in response to a viral video of young Nigerian girls, primarily from Imo state, being trafficked for forced prostitution in adjacent Ghana.

Establishing an early warning system, she added, will identify when girls disappear from school, fail to enrol in school, or live outside of family care, while encouraging the government at all levels to take immediate action to address the core reasons and decrease the vulnerabilities of young girls.

She said, “Watching the trending video of young Nigerian girls, mainly from Imo state, trafficked for forced prostitution to neighbouring Ghana is a stark reminder of the pervasive and cross-border issue of human trafficking or trafficking in persons.”

Ezeilo claimed that while serving as UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons from 2008 to 2014, she saw Nigerians who had been trafficked or were living as irregular migrants in approximately 100 countries she visited as part of her global assignment.

“In Africa, one in every four trafficked persons is Nigerian, making the country the most affected by trafficking. This issue remains prevalent in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The Edo state was once considered the epicentre of trafficking in persons, but that is no longer the case.

“Nigerian women, children, and men are vulnerable to transnational or cross-border human trafficking, primarily to Europe and Africa, as well as to other parts of the world, including Asia and the Americas. Human trafficking knows no borders,” she lamented.

“During my time as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, from 2008 to 2014, I encountered Nigerians who were trafficked or living as irregular migrants in nearly 100 countries I visited as part of my global assignment.

“The main reasons for this trend include increasing poverty, unemployment, inequality, gender-based violence, lack of access to education, ignorance, conflicts, and displacement.”

She did, however, clarify that sexual exploitation is the most common form of human trafficking, accounting for 79% of cases, and that girls are the most common victims.

“The current economic situation in Nigeria is fueling human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and unsafe migration, including the “Japa” syndrome.

“I strongly urge the government at all levels to implement urgent measures to address the root causes, particularly to reduce the vulnerabilities of young girls. Establishing early warning mechanisms is important to identify when girls disappear from school, fail to enrol in school, or live outside of family care.

“Additionally, we need to address unsuitable working environments that increase the vulnerability of women and children to trafficking. This includes situations where girls work as waitresses in restaurants, hotels, and brothels while still under 18 years of age or when they work as apprentices in specific high-risk jobs and environments.

“End human trafficking and unsafe migration now. Stop the impunity of traffickers through effective prosecution and punishment. Join NAPTIP and other actors, including WACOL, to eradicate human trafficking and unsafe migration in Nigeria.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli