Point News 247 reports that several Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are working tirelessly to end the scourge of human trafficking, sex harassment, child labour and other societal ills.
One of such organisations is the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) led by its President, Mr. Abdulganiyu Abubakar.
Point News 247 also reports that NACTAL, in a strategic meeting with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), sought ways to collaborate in terms of information sharing and public enlightenment to put and end to menace of human trafficking.
In the meantime, ICPC Chairman Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, has called on civil society organisations to collaborate with the government to address the menace of illegal migration and sex trafficking.
Owasanoye gave this charge recently when he received a delegation from NACTAL.
The ICPC boss particularly advised CSOs to play an active role in educating the public against illicit migration of persons across the borders.
He disclosed that the Commission through its project on sexual harassment supported by Ford Foundation would hold a CSOs’ training on prevention and public mobilization against sexual exploitation.
The ICPC Chairman further counseled CSOs to collaborate with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in the fight against illicit migration.
He added, “The British government has invited the Commission to collaborate with it on enforcement in its Border Force project, but that ICPC cannot be in every border post, hence the need for civil society organisations involvement.”
Earlier, the President of NACTAL, had stated that the team was at the Commission to seek for partnership ahead of the International Migrants Day coming up on 18th December, 2021.
Mr. Abubakar explained that the organisation had identified 61 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) directly or indirectly linked to curbing trafficking in persons and that they are working with some of them, especially the NAPTIP to ensure that human trafficking is reduced.
He explained that NACTAL was made up of civil society organizations who are focused in fighting the scourge of illicit migration, and that many of their members were also members of ICPC’s National Anti-Corruption Coalition (NACC).
He acknowledged the help previously rendered by the ICPC Chairman in his capacity as the first Board Chairman of NACTAL before he resigned upon his appointment as ICPC Chairman.
The meeting had in attendance two other members of NACTAL, including a board member, Mrs. Veronica Umaru, as well as members of the ICPC Operations and Public Enlightenment & Education Departments, and the Sexual Harassment Unit.