Director-general of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, has pledged that the agency will continue to develop new strategies, expand cooperation, and foster more collaboration to keep pace with the evolving trends in human trafficking.
According to a statement issued yesterday, Waziri-Azi made the commitment at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja while unveiling the activities planned for the 2024 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, themed “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Trafficking in Persons.”
The day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2013 to be observed annually on July 30th to promote comprehensive, coordinated, and consistent responses at national, regional, and international levels to counter trafficking in persons.
According to the United Nations, the 2024 World Day Against Trafficking urges accelerated action to end child trafficking, recognising that children represent a significant proportion of trafficking victims worldwide, with girls being disproportionately affected.
Waziri-Azi announced that the activities lined up for the 2024 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons in Nigeria in collaboration with UNODC, IOM, ICMPD, and OHCHR commencing from July 28 to August 4, 2024, have been selected to reflect the theme of the celebration.
“I am pleased to state that our activities and interventions in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria are inclusive, involving various categories of stakeholders. For the first time, NAPTIP will commemorate the World Day with the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (NAATIP), our counterpart agency that will be visiting from The Gambia”, Prof. Waziri-Azi said.
“On Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 7:30 am, there will be an Awareness Walk from the Old Parade Ground through major routes in the Central Business District of Abuja, ending at the Unity Fountain. State Task Forces on Human Trafficking from 23 states across Nigeria will participate. From Wednesday, July 31 to Friday, August 2, 2024, we have planned a Bootcamp for all state task force members,” Prof. Waziri-Azi added.
Other planned activities include the Survivor’s Got Talent Grand Finale, sensitisation and awareness creation in places of worship and public spaces, and a robust online awareness campaign, the communication officer for NAPTIP, Adekoye Vincent, said.
Prof. Waziri-Azi urges everyone to join hands with the agency to ensure a successful 2024 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons celebration. “Let us amplify our efforts, fortify our resolve, and work tirelessly to create a world where every child can thrive in safety and dignity. Together, we can and must leave no child behind in this crucial fight,” the director-general stated.
