Human trafficking: Stakeholders meet in Abuja

Human trafficking: Stakeholders meet in Abuja
Rafat  Salami, Abuja,

A ten-day awareness raising campaign in the fight against human trafficking has begun in Abuja Nigeria’s capital on the first stop of a tour of three states.

The “Na Wa” Festival aimed at “Enhancing multi stake holder cooperation in the fight against human trafficking’’ is featuring film screening, book readings, and panel discussions and will move to Lagos and Edo states.

Prostitutes

The organizer of the festival, Joana Adesuwa Reiterer told voice of Nigeria that by highlighting the challenges faced by immigrants in Europe, increased awareness will be generated on the implication of human trafficking.

She said: “Many of the ladies trafficked from Nigeria end up as prostitutes, working under very serious conditions”.

She also challenged European countries to improve their immigration laws to make it easier for people seeking better conditions to migrate.

Beyond the Shores

The festival is organized by EXIT, an Austrian based NGO in Partnership with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the International Organization for Migration.

The attraction to go to Europe is very high for many people in Nigeria and other developing countries. But many of them are unaware of what lies beyond the shores, and are mostly not prepared for the challenges.
Many Nigerian girls trafficked end up as prostitutes in Europe and to discourage Nigerians from seeking to travel illegally, a ten day film festival has begun in Nigeria.

‘That festival is highlighting the challenges faced by migrants’.

One of the films being screened at the festival is the award winning sisters of no mercy by Lukas Roegler.

About Na Wa Festival

The Director of the EXIT, Ms Joana Adesuwa Reiterer said that the organisation aims at preserving the dignity of Nigerian youth while promoting safe migration. The Festival is envisaged as a platform to facilitate a robust dialogue on issues relating to human trafficking and the exploitation of African migrants in Europe. 

Mirroring Nollywood’'s phenomenal successful film industry, Na Wa Festival utilizes the same visual impact of film, as well as other interactive media to inform the Nigerian audience on the dangers involved in migrating irregularly to Europe, at the hands of human traffickers.

During the ten day event, Na Wa will host a series of film screenings, book readings, panel discussions and strategic networking receptions involving key speakers from participating government agencies, civil society and Nollywood stars in three key Nigerian states namely, Abuja (13-14 June 2011), Edo (15 -17 June 2011), Lagos (18 -21 June 2011).

The festival activities are anticipated to involve an estimated 1,500 target participants including government officials, pioneers from Nollywood, civil society activists, educators, religious practitioners, vulnerable youths and other interested public. 

The name Na Wa!

The word "Na wa" is a Nigerian pidgin English interjection or often considered as an exclamation used to express something or an overwhelming incidence beyond explanation.

Iheanacho