Human Trafficking: UN Report Raises Concerns – Stakeholders React

Human Trafficking: UN Report Raises Concerns – Stakeholders React

On December 11, 2024, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released its 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, revealing a 25% rise in detected human trafficking victims worldwide in 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019…READ MORE…

The report highlighted a significant 47% increase in victims trafficked for forced labor in 2022 compared to 2019. It also revealed a 31% rise in child trafficking victims, with the number of trafficked girls increasing by 38%.

Data from 156 countries showed that women and girls accounted for 61% of global trafficking victims in 2022, with 60% of trafficked girls exploited for sexual purposes. Additionally, trafficking for forced criminality, such as involvement in online scams, grew from 1% of detected victims in 2016 to 8% in 2022.

UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly emphasized the need for stronger criminal justice systems to hold perpetrators accountable, enhanced cross-border cooperation to rescue victims, and increased support for survivors.

This troubling report has sparked concerns in Nigeria, where human trafficking remains a major issue. Despite efforts by government bodies, civil society organizations, and international agencies like the International Organization for Migration (IOM), human trafficking and irregular migration, especially among Nigerian youth, continue to rise.

Traffickers use various tactics to evade security forces, often promising better lives to their victims, who are deceived into migrating to countries across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and even other parts of Africa. Many young Nigerians lose their lives in the process, either in the Sahara Desert or the Mediterranean Sea, while others endure abuse in detention camps, particularly in Libya and other Arab nations.

A recent case that drew attention involved ten Nigerian teenage girls, aged 15 to 18, who were trafficked to Ghana and forced into prostitution. Cases of Nigerians trafficked for forced labor, prostitution, and slavery in countries like the UAE, Turkey, Dubai, and Libya have been on the rise.

In response to the UN report, Osita Osemene, a migration consultant and National Secretary of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse, and Labour (NACTAL), stated that while the report is alarming, it should reinforce the need for increased government and NGO efforts to combat trafficking. He pointed out that the issue spans all ages and genders, with a particular focus on young girls and boys.

Osemene also called for greater awareness campaigns, especially aimed at educating parents about the dangers of human trafficking. He emphasized the importance of reinforcing family values, as many families are unaware or complicit in sending children on dangerous journeys without fully understanding the risks.

Solomon Onavi, a migration expert, cited greed as a driving factor behind some trafficking, noting that many young girls seek wealth, often disregarding the risks. He also stressed that some girls make the decision to migrate on their own, rather than being coerced or forced by their parents.

Community leader Chidiebere Adum agreed with the UNODC’s findings, highlighting the role of moral decay, corruption, and poor governance in fueling the trafficking problem. He pointed out that some security agents are complicit, accepting bribes from traffickers. Adum criticized the failure of successive Nigerian governments to fulfill their responsibilities, noting that trafficked individuals often pass through porous borders, aided by corrupt officials.

The report underscores the urgency of addressing human trafficking, particularly in Nigeria, where systemic issues continue to drive this growing social menace

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