By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
In a bid to continue its advocacy drive on social justice and social stability, a group under the aegis of Africa Faith and Justice Network, (AFJN), in partnership with the Youth wings of Christian Association of Nigeria, (YOWICAN), and Jama’atu Nasri Islam, (JNI) have organized a one day interfaith workshop in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The theme the Workshop is “Which way Nigeria – the Girl Child, Human Trafficking and Domestic Servitude”, held in Jos, the State Capital .
Declaring the workshop open, the provincial coordinator of (AFJN), Rev. Sr. Theresa Tanko, explained that the AFJN is founded by a group of Catholic missionaries, with a view of transforming U.S policy towards Africa and her people As a Catholic nonprofit organization, AFJN’s purpose is to approach policy from a faith perspective, in a spirit of solidarity and justice, with the people of Africa.
Represented by Rev. Sr. Mercy Yakubu, she maintained that, “Going forward, AFJN has expanded to beyond focusing on US-policies for Africa alone to also beaming her searchlight to policies of governments of Africa and how they affect the African people, we also bring to the attention of government, and institutions, anomalies and vices affecting our people from all works of life, with the aim of bringing about positive change through advocacy and partnership.
“These include human trafficking, domestic servitude, early marriage, ritual killings, and drug abuse, among others.”
On the theme of the workshop, Sr. Tanko noted that, “At the end of this workshop, we hope that through the input of our guest speakers and contributions from the representations of the two major religious groups here present; both the Muslims and Christians under JNI and CAN, as well as our various individual contributions, we will be able to chart a way forward for our beloved nation in respect of the issues being discussed at this workshop.”
Delivering his keynote address,
the Head of Operations at the Plateau State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mr. Juventus Yitnoe, said, that human trafficking is modern day form of slavery, “Trafficking in Persons” shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the use of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.
Speaking on the sub theme: Upholding the Rights of the GirlChild in Nigeria Through Combating Human Trafficking and Domestic Servitude, Yitnoe maintained that exploitation shall include, at the minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.”
He also noted that human trafficking is a multibillion dollar industry, “it is a Transnational Organised Crime that affects everyone globally.
“If it does not affect you directly, it affects you indirectly. It is a crime that affects mostly women and girls, we must join hands to stop human trafficking for the sake of humanity and posterity.”
On her part, the Executive Director of Islamic Counselling Association of Nigeria (ICIN), Hajiya Fatima Suleiman, who also spoke on, “Early Marriage and its Implications to Girl Child Education”; explained that there are many nations and tribes worldwide for whom early marriage is a long-lasting tradition preserved throughout the centuries, with both positive and negative implications on the couples and their families.
According to her, “Early marriage can lead to serious damage on the wellbeing of girls, through limited educations and employment opportunities, social isolation, domestic violence and rape.
“Girls who are married early are vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, and early pregnancy and even leading to VVF.
“One of the effects of early marriage is that it significantly limits a girl’s access to education as she is often expected to leave school to take on the responsibilities of being a wife and mother.
“As a result, the girl is denied the opportunity to develop skills and pursue a career, which can lead to a cycle of poverty and lack of opportunity.
“Early marriage may also increase the risk of domestic violence”, she maintained.
She highlighted some causes of early child marriage which includes poverty and economic transactions, notions of morality and honor, protecting ‘chastity’, subjugation of women, among others.
On a way out of the menace, Suleiman said, “Empowering girls with information, skills, and support networks, providing economic support and incentives to girls and their families, educating and rallying parents and community members (including traditional and religious leaders) to understand and be enlightened by the benefits of girl child education.
“Encouraging supportive laws and policies to end child marriage”, She stressed.