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Nigerian Woman Finds Solace in Caritas Project against Human Trafficking

Credit: Caritas Internationalis (CI)

Tunde Blessing, a 24-year-old woman from Nigeria’s Edo State, was lured to Libya with false promises of work opportunities in Italy. 

In Italy, Tunde faced harsh living conditions, unpaid work, and her attempt to cross the Mediterranean resulted in her eventual arrest and imprisonment. 

The young mother’s life took a turn for the better when Caritas Nigeria enlisted her for support, starting with voluntary repatriation. The development arm of the Church also helped Tunde back to her feet by funding her hairdressing business in Edo State.

Tunde is one of the victims of trafficking that Caritas is supporting in the West African country.

Ahead of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons celebrated annually on July 30, Caritas Internationalis (CI) has highlighted Tunde’s story to shine the light on the plight of victims of trafficking. 

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In a statement shared with ACI Africa on Friday, July 28 CI says that failure to prevent human trafficking and to support survivors of the act not only leaves the vulnerable groups at risk but also “signifies leaving people behind.”

The global confederation of Catholic relief agencies human trafficking remains “an affront to the dignity and wellbeing” of around 27.6 million victims worldwide.

 According to CI, 71 percent of the human trafficking victims are women and girls, and 29 percent are men and boys).

The development arm of the Catholic Church regrets that human trafficking is “a complex and often hidden issue, and accurate data on the number of victims is difficult to determine as many victims are not adequately identified.”

Expressing their strong opposition against all forms of trafficking, including forced labor and sexual exploitation, CI officials say the inhuman act that perpetuates exploitation, enslavement, and the violation of fundamental human rights is complex and multifaceted as it affects everyone irrespective of age and gender.

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“As a confederation of 162 national organizations working together across the globe, CI stands in solidarity with victims and survivors of trafficking and is resolute in its efforts to end this modern-day form of slavery,” CI Secretary General Alistair Dutton says in the statement.

He says that in partnership with different actors including the Christian Organizations Against Trafficking Network (COATNET), CI is raising awareness about human trafficking through supporting survivors, and by promoting effective policies.

“Policies such as enforcing and strengthening laws and addressing underlying causes such as poverty, inequality, conflict, and discrimination are key to addressing human trafficking,” the Secretary General of CI says.

CI has also called upon governments across the world to prioritize crime-prevention actions, strengthen and effectively enforce laws to protect victims, and adopt survivor-centered approaches.

The entity underscores the need to promote socio-economic development, education, and equal opportunities to address and overcome the root causes of trafficking.

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The United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted the World Day Against Human Trafficking in December 2013 to help in improving the coordination of efforts against trafficking in persons.

This year’s campaign against human trafficking will be celebrated under the theme, "Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind.” The celebration seeks to raise awareness on disturbing developments and trends identified by the latest United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Global Report on human trafficking.

The latest UNODC report provides “information on more than 450,000 victims and 300,000 (suspected) offenders detected worldwide between 2003 and 2021.”

The campaign also calls on governments, law enforcement, public services, and civil society to assess and enhance their efforts to strengthen prevention, identify and support victims, and end impunity. 

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.