From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The Localising Trafficking in Persons -Response Cluster, a coalition led by Uromi Justice Development Peace and Caritas Initiatives (JDPCI), has advocated for a specialised local response unit dedicated to combating human trafficking across the 18 local government areas of Edo State, be set up in the state.
The Executive Director Uromi JDPCI, Very Rev. Fr Dr. Fidelis Arhedo, made the advocacy in Benin during the learning session on harnessing LGA capacity for local Trafficking In Persons (TIP) response in Edo State.
He said setting up the units in the local governments, it would help coordinate anti-human trafficking efforts, bring migration information closer to the people in the local communities, and implement strategies that would help to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases effectively.
Speaking on the overview of the civil society organisations response in countering Trafficking In Persons, challenges and effective response mechanisms, the programme manager anti-human trafficking desk, Caritas Nigeria, Benin, Mrs. Onomen Oriakhi, said that the CSOs provides awareness, assistance, vocational/entrepreneurial training, capacity building, coalition and referral to the victims of human trafficking.
She said despite the significance roles played by the CSOs, they are still faced with financial constraint, ineffective networking, collaboration and access to data and information.
Mrs. Oriakhi however recommended that CSOs should device a sustainable ways in tackling issues of human trafficking especially in promoting prevention initiatives aimed at reducing unemployment and also in supporting victims of human trafficking.
For Mrs. Eunice Onariase, said that the Edo State Government has played a great role in addressing this menace in the state.
She said on 15th August, 2017, the governor established the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking to reduce the problem of human trafficking, assist in the support and rehabilitation of the victims and also work in collaboration with relevant agencies and bodies in addressing the problems to the barest minimum.