Direct assistance to victims of trafficking and migrants in Nigeria

Combating people trafficking requires effective assistance services for victims and vulnerable groups. However, these services, as well as their providers, must be carefully guided through the process. The Nigerian National Referral Mechanism guidelines form a collaborative framework through which the Nigerian government fulfils its obligation to protect the human rights of trafficking victims, coordinating its efforts through strategic alliances with other stakeholders.  

As part of the activities of the A-TIPSOM programme, which is funded by the European Union and managed by FIIAPP, a three-day workshop was held to review a document containing the minimum standards and guidelines for service providers offering direct assistance to victims of trafficking and migrants exposed to violence.  

The first draft of this guide was prepared in December last year. The objective of this workshop was to review and validate the document, ensuring it meets international standards. Special importance has been placed on the contributions to the manual from the actors involved in this matter.  

In order to achieve a broad consensus regarding the validation of the document, in addition to the Spanish National Police the workshop was attended by several organisations including the National Agency for the Prohibition of People Trafficking (NAPTIP ), the Network of Civil Society Organisations Against Trafficking, Abuse and Child Labour (NACTAL), the Nigerian Ministries of Education, Women and Health, police bodies and other relevant agencies.