Commission sensitises religious and community leaders on dangers of human trafficking
By Bridget Ikyado
The Action Against Trafficking in Persons Cluster of the Justice Development and Peace Commission Abuja, has sensitised people from the Private sector, Religious;Community leaders on the dangers of human trafficking.
At the sensitisation held in Abuja, Executive Director of the Commission, Rev Fr. Solomon Uko said the advocacy consultation was aimed at engaging the leaders and private sector to join the campaign against human trafficking.
“The trap of traffickers is not limited to anyone, everyone is at risk of trafficking in Nigeria,” he said.
Uko added that the essence of the advocacy was to strengthen the capacity of the private sector and the leaders on key trafficking issues and how to identify human traffickers.
He called on them to join hands in the fight against the threat.
“We know that the issue of trafficking in persons is not something that one group can be able to counter.
” We gather so that we can find a way of combating this menace of Human beings are being trafficked as if they are commodity, is something that is not impressive,
“We have to bring everybody on board so that we can counter this menace and bring about sanity and togetherness in our society.
“We are having this meeting so that our voices can be heard and our society can know that we can cohabit and live harmoniously and together to bring about a sane environment where people can live without fear of been trafficked,”he said
He said the aim of the programme was to bring that consciousness to every human being in this world beginning with our immediate environment.
” We have to recognize the dignity of a human person, recognize that we are created in the image and likeness of God, whether you are a religious person or not. Everybody will die one day,
“So you respect every human being and that is very vital
” In the Catholic Church we talk about Catholic social teaching the principle of which is the dignity of human being,
“When that is respected you see that we have a sane society, a civilized society and a place that everyone can live peacefully,he said.
In his remarks,Mr Timothy Ejeh,the Programs Director JDPC said the program was to have a consultation meeting with the six area council heads and also with the private sector leadership and with religious leaders and community leaders.
” We want to have their buying and let them understand the project we are implementing which is action against the country trafficking in persons.
” We are able to bring them because we know that we cannot take on this fight alone and if you want to go fast you go alone, and if you want to go far you go with a number of persons that have like minds and shear the same idea with you
He stressed the need for their support for sustainability , we do not just want the project here but for it to be taken to the grassroots, to their various organizations.
“We have achieved a whole lot , and we are grateful for the participation we had from the private sector, religious leaders and community leaders, we are very grateful, as they will support the drive against human trafficking
He said the team had the Catholic Relief Services’ corporate social responsibility they are going to key into and also get some support to work against human trafficking.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the advocacy was aimed at implementing the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project and seek increase funding for NAPTIP.
It was also to reactivate the Victims of Trafficking Trust Fund and improve prosecution of traffickers.
Members of the project include:Health JDPI,CACA,Cedarseed foundation,FOMWAN,Earth Spring,Cure Nigeria.