NAPTIP with support from A-TIPSOM held Validation Workshop on National Policy on Protection and Assistance for Trafficked Victims
Human trafficking affects all categories of human beings particularly women and children. It leaves no country untouched and victims mostly women, girls and children are deceived, forced and sold into situations of exploitation. Human trafficking has physical, health, and psychological effects on victims.
All trafficked persons that have been rescued need protection and assistance services and such services require effective policy. Although Nigeria has an existing national policy on protection and assistance to trafficked victims which was first developed in 2008, but due to emerging issues and dimensions of human trafficking, the policy is being reviewed.
As part of the activities of Action Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in Nigeria Project (A-TIPSOM) funded by European Union, and implemented by The International Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP) supported National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to:
- Hold technical review workshop on the Zero Draft of the National Policy on Protection and Assistance to Trafficked Persons on 14th to 16th January, 2020
- Hold a three (3) days technical review workshop on the First Draft of the National Policy on Protection and Assistance to Trafficked Persons in Nigeria on 19th to 21st February, 2020
Today, A-TIPSOM (funded by European Union and implemented by FIIAPP) is supporting NAPTIP to validate and finalize the policy to ensure it is officially and legally acceptable, approved and the production maintains the desired level of compliance with international standard.
Participants on this validation event cut across different spectrum of service providers to victims of human trafficking such as: Care-Givers, Seasoned Child Protection Specialist, MDAs, Federal & State Ministries of Women Affairs, LEAs, Academicians, International Organizations etc.
The objectives of the validation include: enable participants, know and understand the various components of the Reviewed Policy; share opinions, understanding, inputs, observations and harmonize them into the document; produce a validated National Policy on Protection and Assistance to Trafficked Persons in Nigeria that conforms to international good practices and Post Valetta Outcomes; ensure that there is a consensus and mutual understanding on the smooth implementation of the document; and to standardize the document for presentation to Federal Executive Council for approval as National Instrument.
This activity will enable the critical stakeholders standardize and endorse the document in line with international best practices and make it suit the requirements for approval by the highest ruling body in Nigeria, Federal Executive Council as a National Document.