The minister of
Women Affairs,
Obong Rita Akpan has called on Non-govern-mental Organisations (NGO’s), governments and all stakeholders to work together in the fight against human trafficking in the country.
Obong Rita Akpan made the call while on a visit to the centre for continuing education, a shelter/rehabili-tation centre for victims of human trafficking donated to the ministry by the Akwa Ibom State government in Mbiasu local government area in Akwa Ibom State, within the week.
She said “Akwa Ibom State is one of the most affected states in which trafficking thrives and is also a transit route.”
She also re-affirmed the commitment of the present administration on the issue of child trafficking which has led to the passing of the child rights Bill.
According to her, the child rights Act was a book that was given to the Mini-stry of Women Affairs as a mandate to implement, adding that the youths must be protected for the future of the country.
The minister appealed to the governor of the state, Arch. Obong Victor Attah to lobby the state House of Assembly to pass and adopt the child rights Bill in Akwa Ibom State.
She further enjoined the state government to embark on intensive advocacy campaign to all the nooks and crannies of the state to enlighten the indigenes on the need to eradicate the menace of child trafficking.
The minister who said similar centres would be established in all the other geo-political zones in the country, declared that this centre would be the south-south zone in the country.
She further disclosed that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) would support the venture finan-cially and materially to make the reality of non-govern-mental organisation (NGO’s) and, the govern-ment in general.
In his response, the Akwa Ibom governor, Victor Attah said that the total eradication of human traffic-king was of paramount importance in the state.
He said, “the fight against human trafficking goes beyond the establish-ment of rehabilitation centres but there is need to tackle the root causes of human trafficking which are illiteracy and unemploy-ment.”
The governor also promised to lobby the state House of Assembly to quicken the passage of the child rights bill, calling on federal government to provide qualitative education and make it free and compulsory in the country.
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