‘More social media awareness needed to combat human trafficking’

Christian Brügger, Migration Adviser, Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria, has said there is need for more awareness on social media to fight against human trafficking globally.

Brügger spoke Friday in Abuja at a one-day national learning, experience sharing and policy brief dissemination on human trafficking and safe migration, organized by the Women Aid Collective (WACOL) with the support of Swiss Government, managed by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs(FDFA).

He said Switzerland had been in partnership with WACOL in 2019 to prevent human trafficking and unsafe migration.

While stating that the fight against Trafficking in Persons can only be won by a “Whole-of-Society” Approach, he observed that traditional and religious leaders must lead the way in protecting their community members who look up to them.

“We are proud of our partnership with WACOL to prevent Human Trafficking and unsafe Migration since 2019. The importance of community level engagement cannot be overemphasized. The fight against Trafficking in Persons can only be won by a “Whole-of-Society” Approach. Traditional and religious leaders must lead the way in protecting their community members who look up to them.

“In the latest phase of the project, which started in March this year, we will be able to expand the proven activities geographically from Edo and Delta State to Anambra State. In addition, there will be more awareness raising campaigns on social media as the internet offers opportunities to traffickers but can also play an important role in the fight against human trafficking,” he said.

Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu, quoted the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as saying over 70% of undetected trafficking victims are women and girls, while nearly one third are children.

Executive Director of WACOL, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, said: “Though the project funding pattern is in phases, the combined goals is for preventing human trafficking and reducing unsafe migration through capacity building, community action, education and early warning system in the most affected communities of Delta and Edo States, which form potential migrants about the risk of human trafficking.”