Survivors of human trafficking in Nigeria have emphasized the need for their greater inclusion in anti-trafficking policies and interventions. They believe that their lived experiences can significantly contribute to strengthening prevention, protection, and accountability. This call was made during the launch of Voices Unchained – Trafficking Survivors Initiative, a survivor-led organization established by three young Nigerian men who are recent survivors of trafficking for forced criminality.
The organization was founded by survivors including Anthony Ogbonna Joseph, Morgan Chikadibia Jaja, and Alex Oluwayomi Onyeji. They shared their experiences of being lured into trafficking with promises of legitimate employment opportunities. The young men warned Nigerians, particularly young people, against deceptive overseas employment offers, saying they are increasingly being used to lure victims into forced criminality and exploitation.
Anthony Joseph, Head of Administration of the initiative, advised that survivors must move beyond being beneficiaries of interventions to becoming contributors to the fight against trafficking. He noted that survivors bring a unique understanding of recruitment tactics, vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit, and the challenges of navigating systems after exploitation. Joseph and his co-founders were trafficked from Nigeria to Southeast Asia, where they were subjected to exploitation, deception, control, and loss of freedom.
The survivors' return to Nigeria was facilitated by several organizations and institutions, including Eden Myanmar, the Nigerian Embassy in Thailand, and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons. Joseph expressed appreciation to these organizations, particularly the Nigerian Embassy in Thailand, for their role in their rescue and repatriation. He emphasized that their experiences demonstrated that behind statistics on trafficking rescues and repatriations were individuals and families whose lives had been profoundly affected.
The initiative, Voices Unchained, focuses on five pillars: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Partnership, and Policy. The organization's work includes prevention, survivor protection and support, safe migration education, research and documentation, youth engagement, and policy advocacy. The survivors believe that their experiences can become knowledge, which can be used to advocate for prevention and ultimately help save lives.
Other stakeholders, including the National President of the Network Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour, Osita Osemene, and the Associate Programme Officer with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, have expressed support for the initiative. They emphasized the importance of survivor participation in policy development and anti-trafficking interventions. The British High Commission has also pledged continued support for the survivors and the initiative.
The launch of Voices Unchained and the survivors' advocacy efforts highlight the need for a more inclusive approach to combating human trafficking. Key stakeholders, including government agencies, international organizations, and civil society groups, are urged to support the initiative and work together to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and help survivors rebuild their lives.
Key points
- Survivors of human trafficking in Nigeria are calling for greater inclusion in anti-trafficking policies and interventions.
- The initiative, Voices Unchained, focuses on five pillars: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Partnership, and Policy.
- Stakeholders, including government agencies and international organizations, have expressed support for the initiative and emphasized the importance of survivor participation in combating human trafficking.
