WOCON Table of Contents Page

Trafficking

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Sexual Exploitation

The trafficking in women and children is one of the most pervasive forms of forced migration. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), it is estimated that between 700 000 and 2 million women are being trafficked every year across international borders. In the case of Nigeria especially, thousands of young women are annually taken to Europe and the Middle East where they are forced into sexual slavery. These trafficking networks are operated by well-organized cartels who lures women and girls with promises of jobs and educational opportunities. Many of the victims are barely over the age of 16. Some are even handed over by their parents to traffickers for a small fee.

Italy is one of the main countries of destination for trafficked Nigerian women and girls for prostitution. Once there, the women are easily controlled by their traffickers who force them to work until they have paid back the cost of their transportation to Europe and all other related expenses. In order to insure repayment, many traffickers require the women to undertake ritual oaths and other superstitious symbols of bondage. It can take months and even several years before they are able to pay off their debts...more

WOCON first began working on the trafficking of women and children in 1997. We view trafficking as one of the practices which are harmful and demeaning to women, and so hinder Nigeria’s emergence as a modern, democratic state. We set up workshops, provide vocational training for young girls and lobby the government to change its legislation so as to offer better protection to victims of trafficking. Our local public awareness activities are particularly strong with the organization of various public outreach events, television /radio programs, posters and information brochures...more

Child Labor

Children are especially vulnerable to trafficking as they lack the physical, intellectual and psychological ability to stand up for their rights. Every year, thousands of children are victims of human trafficking within Nigeria especially from rural communities to the cities or across borders to neighboring African countries. Although the last decade has witnessed heightened awareness on the issue of trafficking, the trafficking of children in Africa has largely remained unaddressed. Nigeria remains a primary center for the recruitment and transit of trafficked children for domestic work and other forms of cheap labor.This trend is now on the rise partly as a result of ignorance on the part of parents and guardians in the rural communities who readily give up their children to traffickers in the hopes of finding them employment in the city. It is also driven by the increasing demand for cheap labor by the elites in the urban centers who continue to employ and sometimes abuse these children...more