Sunday Williams
22 February 2008
The media has great roles to play in the fight against the trafficking in persons (TIP), the president of Economic Community in West African States (ECOWAS) said yesterday in Abuja.
Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, made the statement yesterday at a sensitization workshop organized for the media by the Department of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, ECOWAS. Chambers said trafficking in person is a crime that is pervasive and growing in the West Africa region and to avert this, there is the need for "networking and dialogue with the media."
The ECOWAS president who was represented by the Acting Director of Humanitarian and social affairs, Mrs H.U.Didigu, said the crime which primarily involves women, children, the poorest and the least educated is so serious and pervasive that only a coordinated and vigorous effort of all stakeholders will be able to address it successfully.
He said the ECOWAS in December, 2001, through the Authority of Heads of States and Government issued a political declaration condemning the phenomenon of trafficking in persons within the sub-region and immediately adopted an initial plan of action in that regard.
"We have always regarded the media as partners in the fight against human traffic especially in the area of prevention and awareness rising. Our expectation from you as key stakeholders is indeed high. Your role as a watchdog in keeping human trafficking on the front burner of societal issues can not be over emphasized. We expect that the media cooperates with us and other stakeholders to give due publicity to counter Trafficking in persons initiatives."
Highlights of the workshop include statements from relevant stakeholders and paper presentations which include 'the role of the Media in combating Trafficking in persons' by Mr. Mouktar Adamu, a Media consultant, and 'Overview of Trafficking in persons in Nigeria' by Mr. Mohammed Babandede, Head of investigation, NAPTIP.
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