PRESS RELEASES

US Government Supports Nigerian Efforts To Combat Trafficking In Persons

September 6, 2006

The United States Government is pleased to announce the award of grants to four Nigerian Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to combat trafficking in persons in Nigeria. 

Grants have been awarded to CLEEN Foundation Policy Community Partnership Forum, Royal Pearls Foundation International, International Press Centre, and the Network for Justice and Democracy.  The grants will be used to spread awareness of the dangers of human trafficking, develop media capacity to improve  reporting on this issue, and enhance counseling and other victims’ support services. 

“The movement to end trafficking in persons is more than a human rights objective; it is a matter of global security,” stated U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice in the 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report.  “We work with international partners to secure the freedom of those who are exploited and call on governments to be effective and accountable in prosecuting those who exploit.”

As noted in the 2006 report, Nigeria is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children trafficked for forced labor and sexual exploitation. Victims are trafficked internally and internationally for domestic servitude, street hawking, agricultural labor, and sexual exploitation.  The United States Government welcomes this opportunity to join hands with the four above-mentioned organizations, and with all well-meaning Nigerians, to fight this illicit trade which targets and preys on society’s most vulnerable members.

These Mission-directed small grants are provided under a pilot program for countries in Africa.  It is anticipated that modest awards to grantee organizations selected by the Missions will yield sizable benefits in anti-trafficking capacity building and host government / NGO coordination.

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