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Doha
Nigerians in the Diaspora Organisation of Qatar (NIDO-Qatar) has called on the international community and the Nigerian government as well as other stakeholders to enhance public awareness and step up the fight against trafficking in persons.
The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is held on July 30 each year to raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and to promote and protect their rights.
The call was made by President of NIDO-Qatar Victor Ikoli during an online webinar organised by the Nigerian National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, under the leadership of Dame Julie Okah-Donli, to commemorate the World Day against Trafficking in Persons on Thursday.
The theme of this year’s World Day Against Trafficking focuses on first responders to trafficking in persons. According to the United Nations, the first responders are those who work in different fields, such as identifying, supporting, advising and working to provide justice to victims of trafficking. The first responders also include those challenging the impunity of traffickers.
Commenting on the commemoration, Victor Ikoli said, “We hope that trafficking in persons will end soon. However, as a result of the coronavirus restriction, victims are still trapped with traffickers. We want to partner with the relevant agencies and fight this crime from all fronts. We call on our government to step up its strategy and be ahead of the traffickers. We also urge our members to report any case of trafficking to help put an end to this human exploitation.
“Human trafficking undermines human dignity, undermines the rule of law and threatens global security, so all hands must be on the deck to stop this crime,” Ikoli added.
According to Director-General of NAPTIP Dame Julie, “Nigeria has been doing well in the fight against human trafficking since 2013 when NAPTIP was established. As many as 428 people have been convicted, more than 17,000 victims have been rescued and more than 7,000 perpetrators have been arrested. We have also carried out massive awareness campaigns. The fight against trafficking involves the whole of society and everyone has a different role to play. We have worked with different countries and carried out joint operations and investigations around the world aggressively.
“A day like this is set aside to raise victims’ awareness and call for action to reduce trafficking in human beings to its barest minimum,” she added.
According to the United Nations, people are being trafficked for various exploitative purposes including forced marriage, begging, labour, sexual exploitation, organs removal, selling children and child soldiers.
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31/07/2020
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