• Tasks media against stigmatization, re-traumatisation of victims
Stakeholders in the war against human trafficking have called for assignment of more judges to trafficking cases to accelerate hearing of cases involving  smuggling of migrants in the country.
 
The call was part of 21 recommendations made by participants at the end of a three-day training and capacity development orientation workshop to generate standard reporting templates for members of trafficking in Persons (TIP) corps in Asaba, Delta State.
   
The event was organised by National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic In Persons (NAPTIP) through the Action Against Trafficking In Persons And Smuggling of Migrants in Nigeria (ATIPSOM) Project, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP).
   
In the communiqué released at the end of the workshop, participants observed that most Nigerians fall prey to traffickers as a result of failure of government, leading to widespread insecurity, unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, hunger, quest for better living conditions, as well as ignorance on the part of the victims.
   
They argued that the slow pace in justice delivery on suspects has added to factors increasing the crime.
     
The communique added that the Nigeria media needed to be more proactive and insightful,  to provide more coverage for TIP activities as well as create more awareness by engaging more media organisations to join in the campaign.
 
“Government should support the building of more shelters and skills acquisition centres for victims, to hasten psycho-social rehabilitation, while the Federal Government should create a space at the entry and exit points of the country for NAPTIP officials, to identify and rescue potential victims and arrest suspected Human Traffickers.
 
“There is need for more collaboration between NAPTIP and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment for adequate monitoring of activities of job recruiting agencies within and outside Nigeria,” the communiqué added.

MEANWHILE, stakeholders have applauded NAPTIP for its cooperation with relevant agencies in the fight against human trafficking and child labour, adding that credible media reports showed that NAPTIP has rehabilitated and reintegrated more than 17,000 trafficked victims between 2003 and 2021.
 
Speaking at the end of the training exercise, Director General of National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic In Persons (NAPTIP), Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi, who was represented by Director of Public Enlightenment, Mr. Josiah Emerole, warned Nigerians against falling prey to emerging trends and tricks of human traffickers.
 
He said: “ Human traffickers have integrated technology into their business model at every stage of the process, from recruiting to exploiting victims and luring their victims into this heinous crime.  

“Children and youths are lured by traffickers on social media, with the use of social networking sites such as Facebook, Whatsapp, Youtube, and Twitter. Nigerians need to be aware of these tricks and trends because some of these traffickers now lure people through job recruitments, football opportunities and orphanage homes.
 
“We should be very careful and the media practitioners need to understand the language of reporting some of these cases, especially those that were rescued. You should protect their identity by blurring their faces and names because that is international best practices for reporting trafficking or smuggling issues, otherwise such reports will stigmatise them for life.

“Media reports should adopt “victims” as “survivors” while “illegal migration” should be referred to as

“irregular migration: as it is widely accepted as international best practices.”
   
Similarly, the Senior Project Officer/Technical Advisor on Prevention (ATIPSOM), Mr. Joseph  Sanwo,  has appreciated NAPTIP for organising the workshop.
 
He stated that the goal of ATIPSOM’s project is to reduce trafficking in persons and the reduction of migrants, while calling on journalists to utlise the training in their reportage.