CLEEN Foundation Holds Gender Audit Validation Workshop on Assessment of Homes/Shelters and Protection Services in FCT

Oru Leonard

The CLEEN Foundation supported by UN Women and the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), on Thursday, September 16, 2021 held a workshop to validate Gender Audit Report on Assessment of Homes/Shelters and protection services in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria.

In her welcome remarks, the Acting Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, Mrs Ruth Olofin who noted that the menace of of forced migration and human trafficking are enormous arising from humanitarian crises leading to inhumane treatment s, sex slavery, forced labour, torture, starvation and other human rights violations, adding that Nigeria is a major source of victims of forced migration and human trafficking with mostly European countries as destination points.

She said it is pertinent to scrutinise the protection services in safe home/ shelters for victims of trafficking in an effort to ensure to compliance to set minimum standards for the rehabilitation of victims of trafficking in Nigeria.

“As part of the project intervention, the project Audited Safe Homes/Shelters for victims of forced migration and trafficking in Edo and Lagos states which the findings were quite revealing to key stakeholders especially NAPTIP who appealed to UN Women to replicate the Gender Audit of Safe Homes/Shelters for victims of trafficking in the Federal Capital Territory”, explained

She disclosed that the Gender Audit report in FCT was an outcome of a rigorous methodological process by stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory with tools for the assessment of protection services in safe homes/shelters for victims of trafficking were developed and validated in a methodology workshop by stakeholders in Abuja.

“The report contains key and relevant information on the safe homes/ shelters for victims of trafficking and is the first of it’s kind to generate primary data to audit safe homes and shelters for victims of trafficking in FCT. The findings highlighted the gaps with empirical evidence and provide stakeholders areas of opportunity for interventions. It is expected that relevant government agencies utilizes the findings in the report to formulate policies and review the standard of protection services in Safe homes/Shelters in FCT”, she stated.She recommended the publication to the general public, key government agencies, security institutions, parents, guardians, teenagers and stakeholders With interest in curbing forced migration and trafficking in Nigeria.

In an interview with Journalists, The Executive Director of Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF), Mrs Imabong Ladipo Sanusi said that audit is necessary to be that victims are giving adequate care and services because of what they have passed through as victims.

The Acting Director, Counseling and Rehabilitation of NAPTIP said the Agency which was established 17 years ago with the mandate to rescue, rehabilitate and reintegrate, has 10 shelters and 180 victims across the country. She disclosed that the Agency has rescued 16,000 victims, empowered 12,000 and secured 300 court conviction of human traffickers.

Stakeholders who participated include, The UN Women, NAPTIP, National Human Rights Commission, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps, Media Campaign Against Human Trafficking, Daughters of Abraham Foundation, Social Development Secratriate and MDA’s.

Highlights of the workshop which was moderated by the Research Lead of CLEEN Foundation, Mr. Olumayowa Olaniyi, were good will messages from stakeholders, Gender Audit Field Work Experience Sharing presented by the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Mr. Nnamdi Odo, Presentation of the draft Gender Audit Report Findings on the Assessment of Homes/Shelters and protection services in FCT by the Gender Consultant, Mr. Micheal Adeniji, Interactive Section with Assistant Manager, Mrs Chigozirim Okoro who reeled out the next steps..