By Meletus EZE
The ECOWAS Commission has called for a more robust criminal justice system to fight human trafficking in the sub-region.
The Vice President of the commission, Mrs Finda Koroma, made the call at a public lecture and book launch to commemorate the 2018 World Day against Human Trafficking, organised by NAPTIP in Abuja on Tuesday.
The UN in 2013 adopted July 30 as the World Day against Human Trafficking to raise awareness on the situation of victims to promote and protect their rights.
Represented by Mrs Florence Iheme, Director, Humanitarian and Social Affairs in the Commission, Koroma said a weak justice system was a factor militating progress in the war against human trafficking.
She identified the absence of strong social protection systems as one of the challenges, adding that it was in part the result of the disproportionate size of informal sector employment versus the formal sector.
According to her, weak child protection systems are also factors hindering success in the fight against human trafficking.
“Having identified these components of our operating environment, it is clear that a further step must be found within the ambit of our mandates as protection actors to mitigate these realities.
“Legal prohibition on migrant smuggling in line with UN protocol on the smuggling of migrants should be considered as one of the measures member states, including Nigeria, can apply to the task of safeguarding our citizens.
The Vice-President commended NAPTIP for the initiative and pledged the commitment of the Commission to protecting human rights of all West Africans in the sub-region.
She added that the Commission was aware of the effort of Nigerian government and NAPTIP as a focal institution for combating human trafficking in Nigeria and West Africa.
Koroma emphasised the need for collaboration with neighboring countries to win the war against human trafficking.
