Human trafficking gets the red card in Nigeria

14 August 2008 - In fulfilment of its commitment to eliminate human trafficking, and on the occasion of its fifth anniversary, Nigeria's National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) held the country's first ever national campaign against human trafficking last week.

Different events took place in the eight day long campaign, which started on 1 August with a Friday Jumat service. Activities included a 10 km charity walk through Abuja, a catholic mass commemoration, and a two-day workshop with participation from Government officials, as well as representatives from embassies, NGOs and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The campaign's high point included the Presidential launch of the "Red Card against Trafficking" during which representatives of the Government stressed they would "continue to enhance the capacity and efficiency of all its law enforcement agencies, in order to render them more effective in combating all crimes, whether national or transnational". Red Cards were distributed throughout the events as a symbolism of the Government's commitment to putting an end to, and raising awareness on the crime.

Representing UN.GIFT, Dagmar Thomas, Country Representative for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) applauded NAPTIP noting that "UN.GIFT will continue to support the Agency and promote it as an example of best practices to curb human trafficking".

A closing dinner also saw the inaugural launch of the Victims Trust Fund devoted to advocating for and assisting victims of human trafficking. The Fund will be managed independently of the Agency by a Board of Trustees chaired by the Attorney General of the Federation. The sum of N1.5 million (or roughly US$13,000) was raised in donations during the dinner.

Representatives from UNODC, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the International Migration Organization (IOM) attending the dinner were presented with awards in recognition of the agencies' support to NAPTIP.

NAPTIP was established in mid-2003 following the enforcement of the 'Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act'. Since then, the Agency has rescued over 2,200 victims, seen the conviction of over 30 traffickers and closed down different commercial sex centres which exploited victims of trafficking.