From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Justice Development Peace and Caritas Initiatives (Uromi JDPCI) has called on the Edo State government to institutionalize the Local Response Units on human trafficking in the 18 local government areas that make up the state with a view to nipping the scourge of trafficking in the state.
The Executive Director of JDPCI, Rev Fr. Fidelis Arhedo made the appeal during a community sensitization and public awareness rally on trafficking in persons to commemorate the Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, an annual event observed on February 8th as the International Day of Prayer and awareness against human trafficking.
The event which was carried out under the auspices of the SCALE Nigeria Project sponsored by USAID, brought together individuals of goodwill in solidarity to offer prayers for victims of human trafficking, elevate awareness about human trafficking, and deliberate on strategies to combat it effectively, particularly through the establishment of dedicated response units at the local government levels in the state.
Arhedo urged the government to do the needful and yield to their demands. He called on the state government to help activate the Victims of Trafficking Trust Fund and its Committee, which was aimed at ensuring effectiveness in sustaining the empowerment of the victims of human trafficking in the state.
He said addressing the issue of human trafficking was a collective fight and that the JDPCI had been at the forefront. He therefore called on all and sundry to join in the fight so that issue of human trafficking can be a thing of the past in the state.