…Seeks recognition for CSOs

The Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) Nigeria has expressed serious concern over what it considers the inadequate representation of civil society organisations (CSOs) and their contributions in the 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report released by the United States Department of State.

In a statement, National President-elect,
Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) Nigeria, Comrade Osita Osemene, said: “We recognise the importance of the TIP Report as an international assessment of countries’ efforts to combat human trafficking.

However, we underscore that an assessment of Nigeria’s response must reflect the contributions of all relevant stakeholders, including government institutions, civil society organisations, international development partners, community-based organisations and other actors working to prevent trafficking, protect victims and support survivors.”

He noted that Nigeria’s anti-trafficking response is bigger than government institutions alone. The reason for any assessment that fails to adequately capture the work of civil society risks presenting an incomplete picture of the country’s efforts, achievements, challenges and existing capacities.

“For years, civil society organisations across Nigeria have remained at the forefront of efforts to prevent human trafficking, identify vulnerable persons, support rescue and referral interventions, provide protection services and assist survivors in rebuilding their lives.

“These organisations work directly with communities, families, schools, religious institutions, vulnerable children, women, men and returning migrants. Their interventions include public awareness campaigns, community mobilisation, identification and referral of potential victims, psychosocial support, case management, temporary accommodation, family tracing and reunification, vocational training, livelihood assistance and reintegration support.

“Many of these organisations operate with limited resources while responding to complex protection needs. Some maintain shelters and provide direct assistance to vulnerable persons and survivors, complementing the work of government agencies and helping to bridge gaps in service delivery.

“Organisations such as Patriotic Citizen Initiatives (PCI), alongside other NACTAL member organisations and specialist service providers, contribute to protection, psychosocial support and reintegration interventions for vulnerable persons and returning migrants. Their work illustrates the importance of community-based and non-governmental interventions within Nigeria’s broader response to exploitation and trafficking-related vulnerabilities.”

Osemene maintained that these contributions are not incidental and they are integral to the prevention of trafficking, the protection of survivors and the reduction of vulnerability to further exploitation.

“We are therefore concerned that the contributions of frontline civil society organisations, particularly their protection capacity, shelter services, prevention activities and survivor support, are not sufficiently visible in the assessment as we understand it.

“A national response cannot be fully understood by examining government activities alone while giving inadequate attention to the organisations providing services directly to affected individuals and communities.”

According to him, one of the greatest concerns is the insufficient recognition of the role of non-governmental organisations in victim protection.

“Protection does not end when a victim is identified, rescued or referred to an authority. Survivors may require safe accommodation, food, healthcare, psychosocial care, legal assistance, family tracing, vocational training, economic support and sustained follow-up to rebuild their lives and reduce the risk of re-trafficking.

“Civil society organisations contribute significantly to these interventions. Some operate dedicated shelters, while others provide community-based support, referrals and specialised services through partnerships with government institutions and development organisations.

“Shelter capacity is particularly important. Maintaining safe accommodation requires trained personnel, adequate funding, appropriate facilities, psychosocial services and mechanisms for continued care. These are substantial responsibilities that cannot be overlooked when evaluating the effectiveness of a country’s anti-trafficking response.

“Where CSOs provide these services, their capacities, limitations and documented results should be reflected in the assessment. Where shelter spaces, specialised services or funding remain insufficient, those gaps should equally be recognised so that appropriate support can be mobilised.

“It would be misleading to assess protection outcomes without adequately considering the contribution of organisations that provide direct assistance to vulnerable people and survivors.”

Osemene stated that civil society organisations also play a critical role in preventing human trafficking before exploitation occurs.

“Through community sensitisation, school outreach, religious and traditional institutions, advocacy, youth engagement and public education, CSOs help people recognise deceptive recruitment, false employment promises, exploitative migration arrangements and other trafficking risks.

“Their proximity to communities enables them to identify vulnerabilities, engage families, encourage reporting and connect at-risk individuals to appropriate services.

“These activities may not always produce the same immediately visible outcomes as arrests, prosecutions or convictions. Nevertheless, prevention is fundamental to a comprehensive anti-trafficking strategy.

“An assessment that concentrates predominantly on government enforcement activities without adequately documenting community-level prevention risks overlooking an important dimension of the national response.