April 3, 2024

Jane matthew (Not real name) a 30 year old mother recounts in tears the ordeal of her self while growing up and now her 10 year old daughter, both of whom have been victims of sexual violence due to their vulnerability.

Jane gave birth to her first child at age 20 out of a rape.

A survivor of Human Trafficking also narrated how she was promised a job in Europe but ended up being exploited in Burkina Faso. She never saw Europe.

These are true stories of women who were stripped off their freedom and dignity.

Recognising the fact that Violence Against Women, VAW, (trafficking and other forms) are some of the major contemporary issues of the 21st century and the need to better advocate for the protection of the rights and welfare of women and girls should continue to be at the front burner of conversations.

There is the need for governments at all levels to formulate gender based policies and establish a framework to monitor the enforcement of relevant laws and policiesin Nigeria if we must curb these trends.

Rev. Sister Justina Nelson, of the religious Sisters of Charity (RSC) has over the years engaged in advocacy and empowerment programmes for the prevention of human trafficking and Sexual violence through awareness creation in both secondary and primary schools in Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Delta State.

Nelson whose ministry has rehabilitated and empowered several women and young girls, speaking to Politicaleconomistng emphasised the vulnerability of most of the victims of Traffcking and Sexual Violence.

“The magnitude of the impact on this vulnerable group is immeasurable”.

“Perpetrators of these acts prey on vulnerable women and young girls , especially those who have been brought to work as maids, some of whom may also have been trafficked without being aware. This is double tragedy”.

Nigeria’s failure to domesticate and implement the provisions of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, also known as the Maputo Protocol, which itis a signatory to has continued to pose devastating consequences on girls and women in the country.

While It is also imperative to foster international cooperation and dialogue for the ratification of emerging instruments for the holistic protection of women and the inclusion of gender education into the national curricula across all levels of education to help curtail the root causes, some experts have said.

However, the Justice development and Peace Centre (JDPC) in Lagos says the role of the private sector cannot be overemphasised if VAW must be curtailed to the barest minimum, as such called on the government to consider private sector partnerships in gender equality while urging the government to provide adequate budgetary allocations to relevant MDAs responsible for sensitising and supporting the populace on gender rights and human trafficking issues amongst others.

“No form of violence against women can be justified, and a sexually pervasive culture like that of Nigeria allows for flagrant disregard of the rights of women and girls, which is exacerbated by patriarchy”.

Though Nigeria signed and ratified the Maputo Protocol in 2003 and 2004 respectively, if we must succeed in the fight against Human Trafficking and Gender and Sexual Based violence (SGBV) experts say, Nigeria must also establish more shelters across the six geopolitical zones for victims and equip and train those who work with victims.

Reporting by: Theresa Igata