The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Alliances for Africa (AFA) with support from the United Nations Trust Fund (UNTF), have lamented rising incidences of human trafficking and violence against women and girls.
In a joint media briefing held in Owerri on Thursday, Imo State Committee on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, a multi-sectoral committee of stakeholders from both government and civil society organizations, reflected that it is committed to unifying efforts towards improving women and girls’ access to essential services through the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Bill in Imo State. They appealed to state government, security agencies, the media and well meaning individuals to rise to the ugly trend to protect vulnerable persons, especially the female folks.
Speaking to newsmen, the NAPTIP Commander, Imo State, Ernest Ogbu, stressed that the purpose of the media briefing “was to draw attention of state and non- state actors to the rising incidences of human trafficking and baby factory as a form of violence against women and girls in Imo State”.
The Program Manager, Alliances for Africa, Duru Blessing maintained that “AFA in partnership with ISCEVAWG has documented over 200 cases of VAWG predominantly consisting of defilement of minors, rape and baby factory.
The State Coordinator, Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (ISCEVAWG), Marjorie Ezihe and human rights activist, Barr Ndidi Anike, noted that “between 2020 and July 2021, about 55 cases of human trafficking involving 49 survivors from Imo State had passed through the Agency’s Zonal Command based in Enugu, Enugu State.
Some of these cases bother on buying and selling of human beings (known as baby factory), mentioning that 18 cases have been reported to NAPTIP since April, 2021, with 5 cases of buying and selling of human beings being recorded, saying these cases are endless, especially that they are accompanied with forced labour and employment of children as domestic workers, inflicting grievous harm as well as other forms of sexual and gender based violence”.
The committee added that “baby factory is a neo form of human trafficking and a form of violence against women and girls as it relegates women to tools for baby making in exchange for pittance, degrades children to commodities and is a violation of the sexual and reproductive health rights of women”, warning perpetrators to desist from such evil act against humans or face 5 years imprisonment or pay #2,000.000.00 fine, pointing out that conviction of offenders may reduce violence against persons especially vulnerable ones.
The committee pleaded with state government to speedily assent the VAPP Bill to address the rising incidence of sexual and gender based violence in Imo State, recommending that shelter, safe home, counseling, rehabilitation before reunification with parents and reintegration or possible testimony in court among others be availed to survivors or victims as provided in the VAPP Bill by the state assembly.
They called on the people to report any hidden baby factory, human traffickers and others who abuse or relegate women, girls or boys to the appropriate quarters for quick action.
