A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A THREE-DAY TRAINING AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT ORIENTATION WORKSHOP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARD REPORTING TEMPLATE FOR MEMBERS OF THE TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS MEDIA CORPS

A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A THREE-DAY TRAINING AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT ORIENTATION WORKSHOP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARD REPORTING TEMPLATE FOR MEMBERS OF THE TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS MEDIA CORPS WHICH HELD FROM WEDNESDAY, 8TH DECEMBER TO FRIDAY 10TH DECEMBER, 2021 IN KEFFI, NASARAWA STATE

Preamble:

The three-day training and capacity development workshop was organised in continuation of the prevention strategy for Trafficking In Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) under the Action Against Trafficking In Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (A-TIPSOM) project funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by FIIAPP in conjunction with National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) with the desire to build the capacity of journalists covering TIP and SOM.

The workshop with the objective to increase the level of awareness of the general public to prevent both TIP and SOM had participants drawn from the print, electronic and new media; Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, Network Against Child Trafficking Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) and NAPTIP. Following the exhaustive paper presentations and deliberations on wide-ranging issues in TIP and SOM, participants unanimously agreed as follows:

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1. The Nigerian Media needs to be more proactive and Insightful, in order to provide more coverage for Trafficking in Persons activities and endeavour to create more awareness by engaging all media organizations to join in the campaign.

2. Effective implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) Act,2015, and amendment of the same, to capture some areas of the crime, and provide appropriate punishment for offenders, including enablers of offenders.

3. NAPTIP needs more presence in all States of the Federation and all 774 Local Government Areas.

4. Relevant stakeholders need to take journalists on a tour of some destination countries, to see the victims’ plight, and appreciate the enormity of the scourge.

5. NAPTIP, media and other relevant agencies should endeavour to track the funds and other proceeds of TIP.

6. More funding is required for NAPTIP in order to implement its programmes.

7. NAPTIP needs to make use of more professional counsellors for Victims, especially Psychosocial and Psychological aspects.

8. Relevant stakeholders should engage journalists in more capacity building and trainings in order to be abreast with emerging trends in TIP and SOM.

9. Considering the risks attending to investigations, arrest and other field operations, NAPTIP Officers should be made to bear arms.

10. NAPTIP needs to recruit more personnel and improve welfare of its staff.

Names of Communique Committee Members:
1. Ajibola Abayomi Patrick
2. Ruth Aguele
3. Grace Obike
4. Oyegun Osamuyimwen E
5. Enemaku Ojechegbe
6. George Olawunmi