GOVERNMENT SETS UP AGENCY TO TACKLE HUMAN TRAFFICKING
By Emmanuel Edukugho

February 26, 2004 – (Vanguard - Lagos) National agency against trafficking in human beings has been established. Announcing this at the University of Lagos Tuesday, Mrs Titi Atiku Abubakar, wife of the vice president and chairperson Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF) said the agency would henceforth take responsibility for the enforcement of laws against trafficking in persons, investigate and prosecute persons suspected to be engaged in trafficking in persons and for other matters connected therewith.

She also revealed that WOTCLEF activities had been acknowledged beyond the shores of Nigeria by the United Nations.

"Recently, we were granted new special status with the economic and social council of the United Nations. By this development, we have widened our horizon in this crusade to monitor progress within Africa and Nigeria on the implementation of the UN conventions on the rights of child; CEDAW and numerous ECOSOC resolutions," Mrs Abubakar said.

She said it had become mandatory to encourage, support and empower our women while our children should be motivated, inspired and properly nurtured. "Any yardstick that does not take these into considerations cannot measure up to the much-talked about social development," she added.

The wife of the vice president recalled that our women and children were trafficked into the international sex trade for the purpose of prostitution, sex tourism and other commercial sexual services.

"Majority of them are forced into exploitative labour in sweatshops, construction sites, agricultural plantations, mining, street hawking and street begging. As a mother and housewife, I view the situation as criminally callous, morally disgusting and manifestly absurd."

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200402260368.html