The Association Against Child Sexual and Gender Based Violence, a social pressure group has urged government and other stakeholders to accelerate action to end child trafficking in Nigeria.
National Chairperson of the association, Mrs Eris Jewo-ibi said this at a workshop on countering human trafficking organised by the association, in commemoration of the 2024 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, in Owerri, on Tuesday.
Speaking on the theme: Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking, Jewo-Obi noted that children represent a significant proportion of trafficking victims worldwide, with girls being disproportionately affected.
She urged government agencies, civil societies and other stakeholders to accelerate action to end child trafficking adding that children are twice as likely to face violence during trafficking than adults.
She also encouraged states to prioritize child protection, bolster legislation and improve law enforcement as well target root causes like poverty and inequality to reduce children’s vulnerability.
“ Amid overlapping crises such as armed conflict, pandemics, economic hardships, and environmental challenges, children are increasingly vulnerable to trafficking.
“The causes of child trafficking are as diverse as the ways in which children are exploited.
“ To effectively combat this scourge, concerted efforts are needed at both national and international levels “, she said.
She however noted that the proliferation of online platforms poses additional risks as children often connect to these sites without adequate safeguards.
“ Addressing online child exploitation requires innovation strategies, collaboration between tech companies, law enforcement, robust legal frame work and private sector, everyone have a vital role in raising awareness and advocating for policy reforms “, she said .
He said the association is focused on providing response referral service for abused children, survivors of rape, and gender based violence including domestic violence.
Obnoxious cultural widowhood practices while creating access to improve livelihood for the poor and vulnerable children in our community.
“The association is committed to engaging survivors and vulnerable individuals through grassroot outreach, counseling, protection, providing aids among other things, she submitted. The association’s Imo focal person, Mrs Sophia Orji reiterated that the association is a not-for-profit, non governmental organization with membership in all states of the federation with affiliate in other West African countries.
The Association Against Child SGBV is actually doing great work in Nigeria.
It’s good to know that have inaugurated a Civil Society Response Referral Team in Imo State.
With corporations from all relevant stakeholders like Medical women association, FIDA, Nigeria Association of women journalists and the Ministry of women Affairs and the Nigeria Police, and other community based organizations, child abuse , elder abuse and other forms of sexual and domestic violence will soon be a thing of the past.
Kudos to Dr Sophia for the inauguration.
Weldone. More power to your elbow. Let’s do more together.