Human trafficking, a form of modern day slavery, involves the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gain and is a $150 billion global industry. Two thirds of this figure ($99 billion) is generated from commercial sexual exploitation, while another $51 billion results from forced economic exploitation, including domestic work, agriculture and other economic activities.
Nigeria remains a source, transit and destination country when it comes to human trafficking. With respect to the Global Slavery Index (2018) Report, Nigeria ranks 32/167 of the countries with the highest number of slaves – 1,386,000. In 2016 the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) reported that 75% of those who were trafficked within Nigeria are trafficked across states, while 23% were trafficked within states. Only 2% of those who are trafficked are trafficked outside the country. It is the third most common crime in Nigeria after drug trafficking and economic fraud (UNESCO, 2006). The general factors that increase vulnerability to trafficking in Nigeria include extreme poverty, corruption, conflict, climate change resulting in migration, and western consumerism.
Human trafficking is a high profit, low risk business which allows traffickers to generally operate with impunity. As such, Nigeria has a bigger battle to wage against traffickers and their inhumane activities.
The Salvation Army in order to tackle this scourge and ameliorate its attendant effect embarked upon its Anti-human Trafficking Program in Nigeria, which began in 2017 under the acronym “CAR” i.e. Community Awareness & Prevention Program in Lagos, Edo, Rivers and Akwa-ibom States with the aim of raising awareness/ increasing knowledge within target communities with respect to the menace of human trafficking.
The second phase of implementation in Nigeria commenced in April 2019 under the umbrella acronym “CPR” i.e., Community Prevention & Recovery Program which aims at empowering communities to build resilience against this menace of human trafficking through guided awareness raising strategies and capacity building activities.
The Program consists of three outcomes:
This involves addressing the factors that increase vulnerability and create demand for human trafficking. Tailored & targeted prevention programs are conducted in the community to promote inclusive participation, thus connecting people to the reality of human trafficking and encouraging changed attitudes and behaviours.
The types of awareness raising models adopted for various target audience include:
Achievements with respect to Prevention
2,560 awareness sessions and home visits reaching 33,519 people.
34,147 Information Education and Communication {IEC} materials have been distributed.
20 trained volunteer Anti-Human Trafficking {AHT} Champions leading local awareness activities in their communities.
75% increase in referrals from project locations.
62% of community members stated they will report incidences to the police, community leaders and NGOs
83% of community members reported level of awareness of human trafficking, recruitment methods and those at risk of trafficking. 59% of parents said they will not send their children to other family or non-family members for upkeep but would keep them in schools and protect their families against human trafficking.
Impact with respect to Prevention
“I didn’t know much about human trafficking apart from what I watched on TV with all these people dying in the sea. It looked like a movie and I didn’t pay attention to it. But through the Salvation Army’s Anti Human Trafficking Project, I now go looking out for these traffickers in my community and make sure every case is reported.”
We have been seeing and hearing horrible things happening to youths who left this village. With the Salvation Army’s Anti- Human Trafficking Program, we have realised the real problems of human trafficking and know that the traffickers are the ones taking our youths, we now want to help and protect our children from being deceived and trafficked, and that’s why we formed the Community Action Group”
Survivor care is also a key aspect of our work as 90% of survivors face the risk of being re-trafficked if not properly managed. Therefore, the program holistically provides protection by strengthening reintegration and rehabilitation of survivors through access to safe and secure accommodation with trained host families, confidential psychological support, routine and emergency medical treatments, professional legal assistance and holistic recovery initiatives which include education, skill acquisition and livelihood support.
Case management sessions are individual/person-centred and survivor-led aimed at empowering survivors to support their reintegration and re-socialization in their community. The Confidentiality, Data protection, Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults policies are essentially woven in to our case management processes to ensure the “DO NO HARM” principle is strictly adhered to while concurrently aligning to the National Policy on Protection & Assistance to Trafficked Persons in Nigeria.
It is essential to note that all recovery support is contributory with expected contributions from clients/family members/community, in order to achieve sustainability and promote a sense of ownership. The Anti- Human Trafficking Program in Nigeria recognises that self-reliance and resilience is a long term goal requiring mentoring, continuous improvement and engagement with individuals. The Program journeys with survivors for at least 12 months, allowing them to build relationships with their respective communities, develop life skills and confidence resulting in improved well-being and safety which are essential indicators in the recovery process.
The Community Based Accommodation Model has received positive feedback in meeting the needs of the survivors, providing value for money and community transformation. Host families have reported increased understanding of human trafficking due to their interactions with survivors. On the other hand, survivors accommodated within the host families provided feedback that the host families provided them with a sense of belonging and parents to look up to as mentors.
Achievements with respect to Protection
Impact with respect to Protection
“Since becoming a host family, we have used the trainings we received to teach people within the church and our communities about human trafficking. My wife met a young girl at Ikeja bus-stop: she looked distressed and told my wife she had travelled to meet a man with respect to a job he had offered.
My wife spoke to her about human trafficking and discovered she was vulnerable. We offered accommodation to the young girl before supporting her to return home to her family. Had it not been for the TSA Anti- Human Trafficking Program, we wouldn’t have been in the position to save the young girl.”
I was tricked, trafficked and exploited in Libya. I returned home empty handed with no hope for the future. After attending the Salvation Army meeting in my community, I was able to share my story with the TSA Anti-Human Trafficking Program Staff and that encounter changed my life.
I was supported with welding equipment and a big generator because I used to do welding before and had the skills. I am very happy now. My life and that of my family has changed. My plan is to expand and have a big workshop in order to train and build other people. I say a big thank you to the Salvation Army. I am still in shock of how you have changed my life!”
Human trafficking/modern day slavery is a syndicated crime as such no singular organisation can tackle it in isolation. The TSA Anti-Human trafficking program in Nigeria values partnership and collaboration as such works with stakeholders at the grassroots, national & international levels.
This participatory approach enhances the identification of synergies, and the sharing of resources, learning and best practices on issues such as case management, awareness raising strategies and data collection processes by organisations. The joint coordination of the Anti-human trafficking task-force with NAPTIP has strengthened survivor identification and referrals thus enabling survivors to access appropriate support in a timely manner. The task-force also provides a platform for channelling information from the grass root level through the AHT champions, leader and local communities to the state level.
Impact & Achievements with respect to Partnership
Impact with respect to Partnership
“Human trafficking is a menace which has ripped our communities and economy for many years. Although the government of Nigeria has made progress, it’s very important that other organisations join in with the fight. We are delighted with The Salvation Army for bringing all the actors together. Let us plan and work together to ensure these task-forces remain active and operational with a clear vision.”
If we all work together with a clear vision and commitment, then we can make progress in the fight against human trafficking. In Rivers State, we don’t have resources and knowledge of human trafficking. We requested training so that if we come across victims of trafficking we can identify and refer them to access support from organisations like The Salvation Army and NAPTIP. This training organised by the Salvation Army’s Anti-Human Trafficking Program has been very useful to all of us.”
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