By VICTOR  AHIUMA-YOUNG

AS the battle against human trafficking, forced and child labour in Nigeria heightens, stakeholders gathered in Lagos, to develop National Referral Mechanism, NRM, for victims for victims to regain their confidence and reintegrate into society through medical help, psychological support, legal assistance, shelter and everyday care, help with her/his migration status and in getting travel documents, protection from the trafficker etc.

National Stakeholders’ meeting for the National Referral Mechanism is under the European Union, EU, funded project on “Enhancing the Cooperation to fight trafficking in human beings from Nigeria to Europe” implemented by the International Labour Organization, ILO and the Department of Equal Opportunities, DEO, Italy.

Among stakeholders at the meeting were ILO, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, FMWA, Federal Ministry of Labour, FML, Federal Ministry of Health, FMH, International Organisation for Migration, IOM., Nigerian Police, Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS and National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters, NAPTIP.

Speaking, ILO’s Director for Nigeria, the Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Liaison Office for ECOW AS, Ms Sina Chuma-Mkandawire, said trafficking in human beings was not only a serious crime, but also an abuse of an individual’s human rights.

Represented by Mrs. Chinyere Emeka-Anuna, ILO National Programme Coordinator,

According to her, “Trafficking has consequences not only for the victims but also for their families and the nations involved. The victims, especially women and girls, are at the risk of pregnancy, maternal mortality, sexual transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. Child prostitution and child labour deprive children of the opportunity to pursue and achieve their potential, thereby depriving the nation of vital human resources for development.”

“Victims of human trafficking require complex assistance in order to regain their confidence and reintegrate into society. This involves medical help, psychological support, legal assistance, shelter and everyday care, help with her/his migration status and in getting travel documents, protection from the trafficker etc.

It is impossible for one organization or agency to meet all these needs, hence there are many actors – governmental organizations, CSOs and international organizations working to support victims of human trafficking. In order to have an effective response to these needs, there is an obligation to set up channels of coordination, collaboration and of effective and proper communication amongst organizations providing services to trafficking victims, hence the reason for a National Referral Mechanism.

National referral mechanism

Ms Chuma-Mkandawire explained that “a National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is a comprehensive system of cooperation between governmental and non-governmental agencies involved in promoting human rights and combating human trafficking based on common and internationally recognised standards of activity.

Even though, some form cooperation and conaboration between the different actors (State and Non-State) exists, anNRM is not yet sufficiently institutionalized in Nigeria. The ILO under the EU funded project “Enhancing the Cooperation to fight Trafficking in Human Beings from Nigeria to Europe” is supporting NAPTIP to work with the other actors to establish an NRM that will cater for the needs of victims of human trafficking and forced labour.”

NAPTIP mandate

Speaking, Executive Secretary of NAPTIP Mrs B. Jeddy-Agba, recalled that NAPTIP was established in August, 2003 as a Federal Agency with the statutory mandate to handle all issues on human trafficking in Nigeria.

Represented Lily Ogejiofor, Jeddy-Agba, said “the Agency’s mandate is encompassing as’ it has become the National focal point for the fight against the scourge of human trafficking (HT) and Child Labour (CL) and the rehabilitation of the victims.

In tandem with its mandate, the Agency through the Counseling and Rehabilitation department is empowered to develop and implement programmes and policies that will enhance a smooth rehabilitation and reintegration of victims into self sustaining and productive members of the society and in doing these, it is also necessary to protect their rights.”

“Adopting a human-rights-based approach to victims of trafficking is a critical step in ending the various forms of abuse they might have undergone before being rescued. A human-rights-based approach recognizes that human trafficking is not just a criminal activity but one that has profound human-rights implications for Victims, governments

and non-governmental organizations that must deal with them. Hence, the development of an effective NRM is a cooperative framework through which state actors fulfill their obligations to protect and promote the human rights of trafficked persons, coordinating their efforts in a strategic partnership with civil societies.

And it can be a vital step in ensuring that the rights of victims of human trafficking and child labour are protected.” She added that “though the formal process to this effect is ongoing, the Agency has cooperated with several Agencies and NGOs in the discharge of its duties.

The cooperation however is still much unarticulated. The reason for this get-together today is therefore to work towards a more articulated National Referral Mechanism that will be binding to all stakeholders. An articulated and coordinated approach involving all partners will make for better use of resources for the rehabilitation of VoT.”