The
Director–General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in
Persons (NAPTIP), Julie Okah–Donli, has urged world leaders to make concerted
efforts towards the eradication of trafficking in persons and irregular
migration.
According
to her, the daily casualties and other misfortunes associated with human
trafficking and irregular migration especially through the Mediterranean Sea
and the Sahara desert call for better handling by world leaders.
‘’There is an urgent need for greater political and
economic will by Governments in tackling people smuggling and trafficking in human
beings and the implementation of the Post-Valletta Action Plan and the African Union Initiatives....I strongly
recommend that Governments should further consolidate counter-trafficking
efforts by strengthening institutional and legal frameworks to stem the tide of
Human Trafficking.”, she stated.
The
Director General stated these today in London at the ongoing ‘Khartoum Process’ thematic meeting on
tackling people smuggling and trafficking in human beings through enhancing
border management.
She
also called for a well articulated and synergized structure for Law Enforcement
cooperation and exchange of information and intelligence between Europe and the
West African sub-region as a way of tackling the problems.
She
said, “Against this backdrop, a well articulated and synergized structure for
Law Enforcement cooperation and exchange of information and intelligence is
desirable especially between Europe and the West Africa sub-region.
‘’I
would also recommend that pragmatic interventions be streamlined across regions
to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of anti-trafficking efforts for a
cohesive and consistent approach to such interventions. This is to prevent
duplication of efforts and to build positive momentum in our continued efforts
to rid the world of this ogre called human trafficking’’.
While
outlining some of the key policies put in place by the Government of Nigeria to
tackle incidences of human trafficking and illegal migration, she reiterated
the determination of the management of the Agency to ensure full implementation
of all the thematic procedures geared towards the eradication of trafficking in
persons.
She
said that the Nigerian Government has shown commitment in implementing the
principles of the Valletta Action Plan in its anti-trafficking response with such
actions as Re-enactment of the Anti-Trafficking Act to close loopholes in the
initial legislation, and to ensure more effective prosecution of Human
Trafficking offences.
Other
actions according to her are: Development of a Standard Operating Procedure
(SOP) for Law Enforcement Agencies on Trafficking in Persons; Training for
Instructors of Law Enforcement Training Academies on Trafficking; and Technical
assistance to other countries in the West African Region and other parts of the
world to strengthen their institutional and legal frameworks to better respond
to the crime of Human Trafficking in their domains.
She
also listed more actions as: Strengthening operational cooperation amongst Law
Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria such the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria
Police Force and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency; Continuous training
and retraining of judges and other law enforcement officers on the new trends
in the counter-trafficking efforts; Mainstreaming of Human Trafficking issues
into the curricula of primary and secondary schools in Nigeria; and Engagement
with destination countries, especially in Europe, on mitigating incidences of
human trafficking through technical and intelligence cooperation as well as
grassroots mobilization to engender behaviour and cultural change.
‘’The
NAPTIP model, which converges both frameworks, has served Nigeria and the
global community so well, and it is my firm belief that similar arrangements in
other countries across the world will greatly enhance the global response to
this heinous crime’’, she added.
Okah-Donli
however pointed out that the meeting was important in addressing the global
challenges and opportunities in effectively tacking people smuggling and
trafficking in line with the core priorities of the Khartoum Process and the
Post-Valletta Action Plan.
The
high powered International meeting is being attended by Heads of specialized
crime fighting Agencies around the World.
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