Women Trafficking and Child Labor Foundation (WOTCLEF) gathered last week at the Junior Secondary School (JSS) Nyanya, Abuja for an hour walk to protest against the trafficking of persons, especially young persons.
They were supported by the civil society organisations in the federal Capital Territory , including the National Youth services Corps (NYSC).
They took the protest to the Emir of Karu’s Palace from JSS, Nyanya but this was not only exciting and entertaining but was also inspiring and educative as most of the banners and placards carried by the protesters carried informative inscriptions like ;” Child abuse is a crime to humanity, Child marriage is unacceptable, stop it! I am priceless, kick out traffickers! Human trafficking is slavery, don’t be a victim. Child marriage is unacceptable, stop it.”
On getting to the Sakaruyi of Karu palace, the protesters, who were led by the WOTCLEF Coordinator, Mrs. Veronica Umaru, got the audience and reception of the Emir’s representative who was glad and glad to receive the gathering.
He thanked everybody for embarking on peaceful protest to sensitize his community on the ills and torture that is attached to child trafficking. He recounted a scenario where young girls that are still in school comes round to the palace to sell foodstuff, only for him to learn later that the girl had been impregnated by some men who took advantage of her situation.
Mr. Donatus Chidi, who represented the NAPTIP Boss, in his address, commended WOTCLEF for championing the anti-trafficking Bill that later gave birth to NAPTIP. He informed his audience that a bill is awaiting the National Assembly into Law.
Mrs. Veronica Umaru however gave a brief history of WOTCLEF’s activities from inception, saying she was fulfilled to see that the trafficking preventive measures put in place are yielding results especial with establishment of NAPTIP, which they have leverage on to ensure that child traffickers get appropriate punishments.
In an exclusive chat, Miss Delita Whitfield, a member of the WOTCLEF Board, when asked of her opinion on the relevance of such March against trafficking in persons, said that it is good and favorable to see that after so many years, there is now a progression from using largely older persons for such anti-trafficking walks to using predominantly school children who are more susceptible to be trafficked to spread the word of how dangerous and tortuous it is to traffic in young persons.
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