Human Trafficking is the illegal trade in human beings for various forms of work or labor including begging, domestic work, prostitution, organ harvesting, etc.
Every year, the world faces the scourge of human trafficking which traumatizes the existence of man and threatens global development. US State Department data reveals that more than 800,000 women and children are trafficked annually across the world. Similarly, United Nations (UN) statistics indicate that 4 million human beings are trafficked globally and domestically on an annual basis.
Nigerians are trafficked to almost all the continents of the world and as rightly noted in the 2014 US Trafficking Report on Nigeria, the country is also a recipient of trafficked persons especially from West African countries who are exploited as domestic servants and subjected to prostitution, etc.
The Human trafficking phenomenon is an issue of global concern. Since the mid-90s it has become an even more serious issue particularly to Nigeria because of the grave consequences on victims, especially those who are trafficked for sexual exploitation.
Referring to the situation of trafficking in Nigeria, the 2014 United States Report on human trafficking in Nigeria, stated that:-
“Nigeria is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. Nigerian trafficking victims are recruited from rural and, to a lesser extent, urban areas within the country; women and girls for domestic servitude and sex trafficking and boys for forced labor in street trading/hawking, domestic service, mining, stone quarrying, agriculture, and begging1."
Founded and registered by Late Chief Olabisi Olateru-Olagbegi, as an incorporated Trustee on 25th August 1995 and with headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria, Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON) is a non-governmental, not for profit-making, non-partisan and non-religious Organization committed to the enforcement of Women and children’s rights and the attainment of equality, development, and peace. WOCON holds a United Nations Special Consultative Status.
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1 | 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report - Nigeria. United States Department of State, 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report - Nigeria, 28 June 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5b3e0ab6a.html [accessed 4 April 2019] |