Preventing and combating trafficking of Minors and Young Women from Nigeria to Italy (project NGA/T18)

UNODC's response to TIP commenced prior to the establishment of NAPTIP. UNODC facilitated the domestication of the anti-trafficking Protocol by providing technical support to the drafting of the law. After the enactment of the law, the Agency was the first International Organization to enhance the capacity of the implementers of the law - NAPTIP staff.

The current project's main objective is to substantially reduce the trafficking of minors and young women from Nigeria to Italy for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The first phase of the project (which was implemented between 2002 and 2004) established an important foundation for countering trafficking in persons (TIP) in Nigeria, especially in Edo State. This pilot project inaugurated the first ever Coalition of NGOs working to fight trafficking in persons in Edo State. The Coalition consists of six known NGOs working to curb TIP in Edo State of Nigeria. These six NGOs are now known as "THE EDO STATE NGO COALITION AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (ENCATIP)". The aim of setting up the coalition was to increase grass root awareness on trafficking in minors and young women. Between 2003 and 2006, the coalition carried out massive TIP prevention activities, rehabilitation and re-integration of victims through micro-financing with funding and support from UNICRI/UNODC (2003-2005) and some other interested donors. In the pilot phase, ENCATIP worked to prevent and protect TIP vulnerable groups; rehabilitated over 200 trafficked victims/returnees and raised awareness by 20%.

This present second phase of the UNICRI/UNODC assistance to Nigeria aims at further confronting the issue of trafficking of minors and young women from Nigeria to Italy for sexual exploitation by creating, on the one hand, conditions that lessen vulnerability of women and children to trafficking, and on the other hand, by strengthening anti-trafficking capacities of Nigerians.  The project which is focused on the trafficking of minors and young women from Nigeria to Italy, builds upon the achievements of the pilot programme and has:

  • created conditions to lessen their vulnerability to traffickers through their economic, social and cultural empowerment;
  • prevented trafficking through series of awareness raising activities, assisted victims and fostered their successful reintegration in areas of origin;
  • supported NAPTIP in its response to trafficking and in developing and enforcing appropriate measures;
  • Disseminated lessons learned and best practices in the field of anti-trafficking and victims' assistance.

Furthermore, the project has established a fully operational and functional National Monitoring Centre (NMC) within the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP), raised public awareness among the population, and provided economic and educational opportunities for vulnerable girls and young women.

Main activities and achievements of the project

Women Empowerment

¨     The activities for the second phase were launched in December 2008.

¨     The women empowerment scheme which was part of the activities in the first phase of the project continued in the second phase.

¨     A total number of 111 beneficiaries were given micro-credit (61 for the 1 st tranche which was disbursed in December, 2008 and 50 for the second tranche disbursed in October 2009). The micro credit funds were disbursed for the beneficiaries to operate different types of businesses including tailoring, hairdressing, computer service, recharge card sales, provision store, sale of foodstuff etc.

¨     The total amount disbursed is N 9,451,633 (equivalent to $71, 986.357)

¨     Beneficiaries were mainly victims of human trafficking and vulnerable women. Some of them were harvested from the awareness raising campaigns.

¨     A 3-day Life Skills and Financial Management training were conducted for all the beneficiaries.

¨     A total number of 21 beneficiaries received education grant to continue their studies in tertiary institutions, complete secondary schools and prepare for examination. A total sum of $12,354 was spent on this activity.

¨     While 32 beneficiaries are undergoing skills acquisitions in fashion design, hairdressing, video recording, interior decoration, catering and computer training. Money spent on them cover registration, transportation, consumables and certificate. The sum of $15,009 has been spent on this scheme.

¨     As at end of March 2010 the beneficiaries of the micro credit had refunded N 2,998,422 out of the N 9,451,633.

 

Awareness-raising campaigns in Edo State (Community Centred Prevention activities)

With full supervision and assistance from UNODC/UNICRI and NAPTIP, ENCATIP developed coherent messages addressing key audiences through radio, seminars and workshops, enlightenment talks, school visits and widespread information and awareness raising activities in markets, at social and religious events, and in key public places. The coalition designed and produced information tools, promoted strategic partnerships to foster community mobilization. The campaigns which were carried out in all the three Senatorial Districts of Edo State, targeted different groups like minors, in and out of school young pupils, apprentices, women, men, opinion leaders, government officials etc.

This activity commenced in September 2009 and continued till February, 2010. The following activities were carried out during this period:-

  1. Development, production and distribution of IEC materials.
  2. Production and airing of the Radio Drama and Jingle Messages.
  3. Three Ward level meetings held with over 300 women, men and youths reached.
  4. 2 information units in 2 rural Senatorial Districts were established.
  5. Awareness rising campaigns in schools- In all, twenty seven (27) schools were engaged. There were seven weeks training sessions of thirty-five minutes per session for each of the schools.

The school campaign visit was a huge success, in all, 2,700 school girls were reached as against 2,400 targeted.

These campaigns have contributed to counteracting the trafficking in human beings in so far as they have helped in informing and sensitizing different target groups and making people more aware of the inhuman aspects of this practice.

 

Peer education training on life skill for apprentices

The life skills training for apprentices in 8 communities in Edo North and South senatorial districts targeted 800 girls - 100 girls in each of the 8 communities, but, 820 girls were reached including some of the master and mistresses trainers. Topics facilitated at training are; Refusal skill, assertiveness, value and value clarification, self-esteem, decision making, and goal setting. Facilitation, role-play, and drama were techniques adopted in the life skills training.

The National Monitoring Centre - SIDDA.NET DATABASE

The National Monitoring Centre (NMC) was established with the support from the Italian government through the first and second phase of this project. In 2005, four (4) servers (Proxy, Domain Controller, Web Controller and Application servers) were donated to the centre by the Italian government. The Centre domiciled within the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP), is aimed at creating a centralized database on investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases. Officers of NAPTIP were trained on how to use the SIDDA Software database in gathering, storing and analyzing both victims and traffickers data.  The database also serves as one method to be employed in the investigation activities of the agency.

Benefit of the database

The database is investigative in nature which gives graphic analysis, searches, management of any case under in investigation and as such helps in both investigation and prosecution in the Agency. The database is up and running and information are being inputted on daily basis by staff of NMC and officers from Investigation unit.

 

Capacity Building for National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and Other Related Matters NAPTIP's Implementation of the Action Plan against Human Trafficking

The project provides support to NAPTIP on the on-going capacity development, through the creation of a training strategy and start larger training programme, mainly in enforcement and judicial matters for NAPTIP staff and other involved national agencies and through the provision of expert support for the implementation of NAPTIP Action Plan. It also facilitates NAPTIP's conduct of awareness campaigns in priority states of Nigeria through provision of expert services, training and information material for civil society organizations to sustain their local campaigns. The project also provides for the maintenance of a donor coordination network on human trafficking and related matters in Nigeria, which UNODC/CONIG is undertaking, for gradual hand-over to NAPTIP as of 2011.

Activities

A 3-day training workshop was organized by NAPTIP in collaboration with Dutch Police of the Netherlands on Digital Evidence for NAPTIP and Other Law Enforcement Officers from 23 -26 September, 2009 in Abuja. The meeting witnessed dignitaries like Ambassadors from Finland and the Netherlands. Representatives from the following Embassies like the United States, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the French as well as the Country Representative, UNODC. The Honorable Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice, the Honorable Judges of High Court from Benue and Edo State, the Executive Secretary, NAPTIP Government Functionaries like Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Legal Aid Council, Nigeria Bar Association were also present at this important occasion.