Promoting gender transformative approaches in agrifood systems: The importance of co-design process in fostering individual and organizational changes

Olivia Rhye
11 Jan 2022
5 min read

There is rising interest in the use of Gender Transformative Approaches (GTAs) as strategic interventions to address underlying structural inequalities, especially gender norms that constrain women’s capacity and restrict their participation in agrifood systems. Following a series of studies, the Gender Equality Initiative selected a partner, the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Ibadan, to co-design and implement GTAs at different scales and different components of the cassava agrifood system.This blog highlights JDPC’s experience and insight in the process of co-designing the GTAs.

The blog also provides the details of individual and organizational changes observed by JDPC, as well as the future plans in implementing the GTAs among actors in the cassava agrifood system in Nigeria.

Organizational perspective shifts

Before now, JDPC in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 5, implements strategies aimed at integrating gender in the organization activities and projects. However, many of these strategies are limited to increasing women’s participation and benefits in some of its project activities. With the commencement of the GTA co-design process, JDPC has recognized the need to change the gender approaches in its projects from being gender sensitive to transformative. This will address the underlying causes of gender inequalities, especially gender norms, and achieve equitable gender outcomes in its agrifood system projects. Confirming the shift, a Program Officer stated, “Based on the experience that we are gaining in the process of GTA co-design, in the Integrated Development Program which is an agricultural arm of the organization, we are facilitating plans for higher-level inclusion of females into leadership roles in farmers’ groups”.

JDPC GTAs Co-Design Team in a training session in the co-designing process.
Introduction

Human Trafficking is a menace to the sanctity of human life. It is evil in all ramifications because it negates the purpose of God’s creation of the human person. Sadly, Human Trafficking maims and destroys life on daily basis.

The social reality of this evil and crime against humanity prompted the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan to conduct research on Human Trafficking in Oyo State between 2021 and 2022.

KEY FINDINGS FROM OUR SURVEY ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OYO STATE IN 2022

o  There is high prevalenceof human trafficking in Oyo state, the hub area being Ibadan and Oke Ogunareas.

o  The cases of Human Trafficking are poorly or under reported. Also, lackof good reporting system, communication gap, etc.

o  Majority of thosetrafficked are womenand children. Sadly, majority of the traffickers are also women.

o  The generalfeelings among the populace towards Human Trafficking victims are that ofindifference, nonchalance, blaming, etc.

o  Many people are aware ofthe consequences of Human Trafficking on individual persons but cannot easilyrelate it to how it affects individuals and the people collectively in thesociety.

o  There is an urgent needto tackle the causes of poverty, economic hardship and unemployment, which hasleft the people of Oyo state vulnerable to Human Trafficking.

o  There are limitedintervention plans for victims especially from government agencies, and evenfrom community, traditional and religious groups.

o  Many people are ignorantof the existing laws on Human Trafficking and there is also poor implementationof the laws.

o  81% of the respondentswere of the opinion that ignorance of the issues of Human Trafficking was amajor challenge in the fight against Human Trafficking.

OURINTERVENTIONS so far.

·       Focus areas: 11 LocalGovernment Areas in Oyo State - Ibarapa North,Ibarapa Central, Lagelu, Akinyele, Oluyole, Ona Ara, Ibadan South East, IbadanNorth, Atisbo, Saki West and Ogbomosho North.

·      Held 21 Advocacy and ConsultativeVisits to traditional, religious and community leaders in the 11 LGAs.

·      Organized 6 Training of Trainers (TOT) with383 participants from across the 11 Local Government Areas. Women and Peopleliving with Disability in attendance.

·      Organized PublicEligntehment Rallies in 9 Major Markets inthe focused government areas:  Adabo MainMarket in Saki West, Bodija Market in Ibadan North; Oja-Oba Market in IbadanSouth East, Ojoo Market in Akinyele, Igbo-Ora Market in Ibarapa Central,Oja-Jagun, Oja-Igbo, Old-Waso Markets in Ogbomoso North and Arada Market inOgbomosho South.

·      Conducted awareness campaigns in 53 schools,reaching 40,661 people including teachers, students and pupils.

·      Producedradio jingles (in English, Yoruba and Pidgin) and aired 1,500slots spread over8 Radio stations in Oyo state.  

·      Currentlyairing a 13-week editions of Phone-in Radio programme / Drama on FederalRadio Cooperation of Nigeria Ibadan (covering South West except Lagos andLagelu FM Ibadan on Mondays and Tuesdays respectively).

OUTCOMES/ A true life story

28 reported cases of human trafficking

Rescued 3 victims

On June 20 2023, one of our trainees from Ibarapa area informed us of Funmi, avictim, of Human Trafficking who was dumped in their area. Funmi was traffickedby her friend to Dubai in November 2022 for the sole purpose of sexual exploitation/slavery. Before leaving Nigeria, she was made to swear an oathwith several incisions made on her body during which she was made to swearallegiance of absolute obedience to her end-users. She recounted her ordeal ofhow she was consistently drugged while being rapped countless times, leading toseveral abortions, including an abortion of a set of twins.

§  Shedeveloped psychosis; with several incidences of mental breakdown whicheventually led her traffickers to deport her back to Nigeria in February 2023.

§  Whenthe news of the incidence reached one of our trainees, she intervened and tookFunmi to the king’s palace and then contacted us. We linked Funmi with a memberof Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON). She is impressively improvingand will be given economic empowerment as soon as she is more stable.

§  Funmiis one of numerous victims of such fate. Indeed, every stakeholder needs tocome on board, the government and families, religious and educationalinstitutions must get involved to salvage humanity from the bane of humantraffickers.

OurKey working Partners

§  Ministryof Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Oyo State

§  NigeriaImmigration Services

§  NationAgency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NATIP)

§  NationalHuman Right Commission

§  Ministryof Education, Science and Technology, Oyo state

§  CounsellingAssociation of Nigeria (CASSON)

§  Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)

§  MuslimGroups

§  ChristianAssociation of Nigeria (CAN)

NOTE:Report any case or signs of Human Trafficking to any of the above agencies/

What you must know about Human Trafficking.

§  Who is a TRAFFICKER?

Trafficker is anyone involved inthe movement of persons by means of deception, physical or psychologicalcoercion for the purpose of exploitation in order to obtain an economic gain orother profit. They are can be found everywhere AND IT CAN BE ANY OF YOUR FAMILYMEMBERS OR RELATIVES!

 

§  Who is a victim?  

Anyonewho has been exposed to the exploitations of the human traffickers

 

§  Elements of HumanTrafficking – M.A.P

The MEANS of Human Trafficking - refers to how the movement isachievedsuch as the use of deception; abduction; fraud; threat; sometimes oat taking;intimidation; force; secrecy; withdrawal of one’s fundamental human right,especially that of freedom of movement; abuse of power or taking advantage ofthe vulnerables; etc.

The ACT entails illegalMovement of a person including recruitment (one on one,online, etc), illegal transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt ofpersons.

ThePURPOSE of Human Trafficking is the motive-behind the ACT such as economic gain, sexual exploitation, forced labour orservices, practices similar to slavery, servitude, removal of organ(s) and debtbondage.

Consequences of HumanTrafficking

Ø  On the Victims

a.    Exposure to various health risks/diseases: Infections from sexual exploitation and hazardous working conditions.e,g. STDs such as Gonorrhea HIV/AIDS.

b.    Physical deformation: exposure of victimsto various physical abuses, including bruises, scares, loss of eye or damage ofany part of the body

c.    Stigmatization and suicidal urges.

d.    Identity crises.

e.    Most victims of HT are traumatized: mostvictims live in fear, suffer from insomnia, anxiety, PTSD, even mental healthissues.

f.     Lack of trust.

g.    Victimization

h.    It leads to the death of some victims.

 

Ø  On the Victims Family andSociety

a.     Conflictand confusion in the family

b.     Despair:e.g. resulting from:

·  notbeing able to reach a family member;

·  feelingof disappointment of not achieving supposed greener pasture;

·  betrayalfrom a trusted one (sometimes close friends and family members); and

·  thehope of getting out of poverty being aborted.

c.     It candiversify into other crimes like; drug trafficking, smuggling of ammunitions,etc.

d.     It cancause increase in the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

e.     It canlead to insecurity and social breakdown and exclusion.

f.      It canlead to loss of human capital for economic development.

g.     Victimsof Human Trafficking who do not get proper assistance can become vengeful andalso become traffickers.

 

§  Laws Prohibiting HumanTrafficking in Nigeria?

a.     Traffickingin Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 asamended (Act No. 4 of 2015).

b.     TheChild Rights Act 2003

c.     ChapterIV (6), Section 34 of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution as amended.

§  Questions to ask in orderto ascertain if people were victims of Human Trafficking

·      Were they promisedpayment? Did they have the ability to access the payment or is someonecollecting the money on their behalf? Are they denied their money?

·      What was the nature orconditions of the job? Was the job condition different to the expected orpromised?

·      How were they made tofeel scared or unsafe at the workplace?

·      Were they tricked orforced to do something they did not want to do?

 

§  Interview process ofvictims (watch out for the three elements of Human Trafficking)

·      Indicate the purpose ofthe interview.

·      Ask the individual ifthey agree to participate in the interview or not.

·      Assure the victims thatinformation shared will be kept strictly confidential.

·      Give them a listening earusing all the skills of active listening.

·      Tell the individuals thatthey can take time to answer questions and may take a break at any time ifnecessary.

·      Explain that the moreinformation that can be provided, the better you may be able to help.

·      Explain that if you arenot able to provide assistance, you will try to help and identify someone whocan.

·      Establish a rapport.

·      Ascertain that theindividual has clearly understood all of what has been explained

·      Ask the individual ifthey have any questions at this stage

 

§  Individual Actionsagainst Human Trafficking

o   Learnthe facts about human trafficking

o   Bealert to the signs of human trafficking

o   Reportcases, even sign(s) of human traffickers

o   Supportsurvivors

o   Networkwith individuals, groups, human rights organisation and relevant governmentministries and agencies

o   Useyour social media platforms to raise awareness about human trafficking, usingthe following hashtags: #endtrafficking, #freedomfirst.

o   Takecare of home

o   Be contented with what you have

Impactful moments in GTA co-designing process

Staff members of JDPC Ibadan recall series of memorable moments since the commencement of the GTAs co-designing process. For Taiwo Adesiji, a Program Officer in the Integrated Rural Community Development Project (IRCDP) department, the key moments was the rigorous and collaborative process of learning and knowledge-sharing in the development of baseline questionnaire and implementing the baseline study. “Prior to the GTAs baseline study, we have not engaged at such high-level in implementing gender focused data collection. The joint efforts in reviewing the GTAs questionnaire and implementing the baseline study served as a platform for gender capacity building for many staff of JDPC”, Adesiji narrated.

Anthony Adedeji, the JDPC Program Coordinator shared his memorable experience linked to his participation at the third high-level dialogue on gender and climate change, convened by HER+, the CGIAR Gender Equality Research Initiative, in Abuja, Nigeria in October 2024. During the dialogue, Adedeji had the opportunity to share updates on the GTAs co-designing process and made contributions to the gender transformative efforts implemented by the Gender Equality Initiative. “Through the Nigeria dialogue, I was able to meet many stakeholders working on issues of gender and agrifood systems in Nigeria. It was a great opportunity as I gained more knowledge on the importance of implementing GTAs to transform the agrifood system in Nigeria”, Adedeji explained.

Institutional level change

A positive spillover from the GTA co-design learning process is the identification of changes and practices that can enhance gender relations in JDPC organizational structure and projects. Jumoke Oluwadepo, an Assistant Program Officer pointed out, “Although JDPC has always been gender sensitive since its formation, with the involvement in the GTAs co-design process, JDPC  will now ensure that its efforts and policy on gender issues target transformative approaches that will give more voice to women in the different farmers’ groups that the organization is working with.”

Programme coordinator facilitating a group discussion with JDPC led cassava group in Ibarapa East, Oyo State.
Introduction

Human Trafficking is a menace to the sanctity of human life. It is evil in all ramifications because it negates the purpose of God’s creation of the human person. Sadly, Human Trafficking maims and destroys life on daily basis.

The social reality of this evil and crime against humanity prompted the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan to conduct research on Human Trafficking in Oyo State between 2021 and 2022.

KEY FINDINGS FROM OUR SURVEY ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OYO STATE IN 2022

o  There is high prevalenceof human trafficking in Oyo state, the hub area being Ibadan and Oke Ogunareas.

o  The cases of Human Trafficking are poorly or under reported. Also, lackof good reporting system, communication gap, etc.

o  Majority of thosetrafficked are womenand children. Sadly, majority of the traffickers are also women.

o  The generalfeelings among the populace towards Human Trafficking victims are that ofindifference, nonchalance, blaming, etc.

o  Many people are aware ofthe consequences of Human Trafficking on individual persons but cannot easilyrelate it to how it affects individuals and the people collectively in thesociety.

o  There is an urgent needto tackle the causes of poverty, economic hardship and unemployment, which hasleft the people of Oyo state vulnerable to Human Trafficking.

o  There are limitedintervention plans for victims especially from government agencies, and evenfrom community, traditional and religious groups.

o  Many people are ignorantof the existing laws on Human Trafficking and there is also poor implementationof the laws.

o  81% of the respondentswere of the opinion that ignorance of the issues of Human Trafficking was amajor challenge in the fight against Human Trafficking.

OURINTERVENTIONS so far.

·       Focus areas: 11 LocalGovernment Areas in Oyo State - Ibarapa North,Ibarapa Central, Lagelu, Akinyele, Oluyole, Ona Ara, Ibadan South East, IbadanNorth, Atisbo, Saki West and Ogbomosho North.

·      Held 21 Advocacy and ConsultativeVisits to traditional, religious and community leaders in the 11 LGAs.

·      Organized 6 Training of Trainers (TOT) with383 participants from across the 11 Local Government Areas. Women and Peopleliving with Disability in attendance.

·      Organized PublicEligntehment Rallies in 9 Major Markets inthe focused government areas:  Adabo MainMarket in Saki West, Bodija Market in Ibadan North; Oja-Oba Market in IbadanSouth East, Ojoo Market in Akinyele, Igbo-Ora Market in Ibarapa Central,Oja-Jagun, Oja-Igbo, Old-Waso Markets in Ogbomoso North and Arada Market inOgbomosho South.

·      Conducted awareness campaigns in 53 schools,reaching 40,661 people including teachers, students and pupils.

·      Producedradio jingles (in English, Yoruba and Pidgin) and aired 1,500slots spread over8 Radio stations in Oyo state.  

·      Currentlyairing a 13-week editions of Phone-in Radio programme / Drama on FederalRadio Cooperation of Nigeria Ibadan (covering South West except Lagos andLagelu FM Ibadan on Mondays and Tuesdays respectively).

OUTCOMES/ A true life story

28 reported cases of human trafficking

Rescued 3 victims

On June 20 2023, one of our trainees from Ibarapa area informed us of Funmi, avictim, of Human Trafficking who was dumped in their area. Funmi was traffickedby her friend to Dubai in November 2022 for the sole purpose of sexual exploitation/slavery. Before leaving Nigeria, she was made to swear an oathwith several incisions made on her body during which she was made to swearallegiance of absolute obedience to her end-users. She recounted her ordeal ofhow she was consistently drugged while being rapped countless times, leading toseveral abortions, including an abortion of a set of twins.

§  Shedeveloped psychosis; with several incidences of mental breakdown whicheventually led her traffickers to deport her back to Nigeria in February 2023.

§  Whenthe news of the incidence reached one of our trainees, she intervened and tookFunmi to the king’s palace and then contacted us. We linked Funmi with a memberof Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON). She is impressively improvingand will be given economic empowerment as soon as she is more stable.

§  Funmiis one of numerous victims of such fate. Indeed, every stakeholder needs tocome on board, the government and families, religious and educationalinstitutions must get involved to salvage humanity from the bane of humantraffickers.

OurKey working Partners

§  Ministryof Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Oyo State

§  NigeriaImmigration Services

§  NationAgency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NATIP)

§  NationalHuman Right Commission

§  Ministryof Education, Science and Technology, Oyo state

§  CounsellingAssociation of Nigeria (CASSON)

§  Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)

§  MuslimGroups

§  ChristianAssociation of Nigeria (CAN)

NOTE:Report any case or signs of Human Trafficking to any of the above agencies/

What you must know about Human Trafficking.

§  Who is a TRAFFICKER?

Trafficker is anyone involved inthe movement of persons by means of deception, physical or psychologicalcoercion for the purpose of exploitation in order to obtain an economic gain orother profit. They are can be found everywhere AND IT CAN BE ANY OF YOUR FAMILYMEMBERS OR RELATIVES!

 

§  Who is a victim?  

Anyonewho has been exposed to the exploitations of the human traffickers

 

§  Elements of HumanTrafficking – M.A.P

The MEANS of Human Trafficking - refers to how the movement isachievedsuch as the use of deception; abduction; fraud; threat; sometimes oat taking;intimidation; force; secrecy; withdrawal of one’s fundamental human right,especially that of freedom of movement; abuse of power or taking advantage ofthe vulnerables; etc.

The ACT entails illegalMovement of a person including recruitment (one on one,online, etc), illegal transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt ofpersons.

ThePURPOSE of Human Trafficking is the motive-behind the ACT such as economic gain, sexual exploitation, forced labour orservices, practices similar to slavery, servitude, removal of organ(s) and debtbondage.

Consequences of HumanTrafficking

Ø  On the Victims

a.    Exposure to various health risks/diseases: Infections from sexual exploitation and hazardous working conditions.e,g. STDs such as Gonorrhea HIV/AIDS.

b.    Physical deformation: exposure of victimsto various physical abuses, including bruises, scares, loss of eye or damage ofany part of the body

c.    Stigmatization and suicidal urges.

d.    Identity crises.

e.    Most victims of HT are traumatized: mostvictims live in fear, suffer from insomnia, anxiety, PTSD, even mental healthissues.

f.     Lack of trust.

g.    Victimization

h.    It leads to the death of some victims.

 

Ø  On the Victims Family andSociety

a.     Conflictand confusion in the family

b.     Despair:e.g. resulting from:

·  notbeing able to reach a family member;

·  feelingof disappointment of not achieving supposed greener pasture;

·  betrayalfrom a trusted one (sometimes close friends and family members); and

·  thehope of getting out of poverty being aborted.

c.     It candiversify into other crimes like; drug trafficking, smuggling of ammunitions,etc.

d.     It cancause increase in the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

e.     It canlead to insecurity and social breakdown and exclusion.

f.      It canlead to loss of human capital for economic development.

g.     Victimsof Human Trafficking who do not get proper assistance can become vengeful andalso become traffickers.

 

§  Laws Prohibiting HumanTrafficking in Nigeria?

a.     Traffickingin Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 asamended (Act No. 4 of 2015).

b.     TheChild Rights Act 2003

c.     ChapterIV (6), Section 34 of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution as amended.

§  Questions to ask in orderto ascertain if people were victims of Human Trafficking

·      Were they promisedpayment? Did they have the ability to access the payment or is someonecollecting the money on their behalf? Are they denied their money?

·      What was the nature orconditions of the job? Was the job condition different to the expected orpromised?

·      How were they made tofeel scared or unsafe at the workplace?

·      Were they tricked orforced to do something they did not want to do?

 

§  Interview process ofvictims (watch out for the three elements of Human Trafficking)

·      Indicate the purpose ofthe interview.

·      Ask the individual ifthey agree to participate in the interview or not.

·      Assure the victims thatinformation shared will be kept strictly confidential.

·      Give them a listening earusing all the skills of active listening.

·      Tell the individuals thatthey can take time to answer questions and may take a break at any time ifnecessary.

·      Explain that the moreinformation that can be provided, the better you may be able to help.

·      Explain that if you arenot able to provide assistance, you will try to help and identify someone whocan.

·      Establish a rapport.

·      Ascertain that theindividual has clearly understood all of what has been explained

·      Ask the individual ifthey have any questions at this stage

 

§  Individual Actionsagainst Human Trafficking

o   Learnthe facts about human trafficking

o   Bealert to the signs of human trafficking

o   Reportcases, even sign(s) of human traffickers

o   Supportsurvivors

o   Networkwith individuals, groups, human rights organisation and relevant governmentministries and agencies

o   Useyour social media platforms to raise awareness about human trafficking, usingthe following hashtags: #endtrafficking, #freedomfirst.

o   Takecare of home

o   Be contented with what you have

Introduction

Human Trafficking is a menace to the sanctity of human life. It is evil in all ramifications because it negates the purpose of God’s creation of the human person. Sadly, Human Trafficking maims and destroys life on daily basis.

The social reality of this evil and crime against humanity prompted the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan to conduct research on Human Trafficking in Oyo State between 2021 and 2022.

KEY FINDINGS FROM OUR SURVEY ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN OYO STATE IN 2022

o  There is high prevalenceof human trafficking in Oyo state, the hub area being Ibadan and Oke Ogunareas.

o  The cases of Human Trafficking are poorly or under reported. Also, lackof good reporting system, communication gap, etc.

o  Majority of thosetrafficked are womenand children. Sadly, majority of the traffickers are also women.

o  The generalfeelings among the populace towards Human Trafficking victims are that ofindifference, nonchalance, blaming, etc.

o  Many people are aware ofthe consequences of Human Trafficking on individual persons but cannot easilyrelate it to how it affects individuals and the people collectively in thesociety.

o  There is an urgent needto tackle the causes of poverty, economic hardship and unemployment, which hasleft the people of Oyo state vulnerable to Human Trafficking.

o  There are limitedintervention plans for victims especially from government agencies, and evenfrom community, traditional and religious groups.

o  Many people are ignorantof the existing laws on Human Trafficking and there is also poor implementationof the laws.

o  81% of the respondentswere of the opinion that ignorance of the issues of Human Trafficking was amajor challenge in the fight against Human Trafficking.

OURINTERVENTIONS so far.

·       Focus areas: 11 LocalGovernment Areas in Oyo State - Ibarapa North,Ibarapa Central, Lagelu, Akinyele, Oluyole, Ona Ara, Ibadan South East, IbadanNorth, Atisbo, Saki West and Ogbomosho North.

·      Held 21 Advocacy and ConsultativeVisits to traditional, religious and community leaders in the 11 LGAs.

·      Organized 6 Training of Trainers (TOT) with383 participants from across the 11 Local Government Areas. Women and Peopleliving with Disability in attendance.

·      Organized PublicEligntehment Rallies in 9 Major Markets inthe focused government areas:  Adabo MainMarket in Saki West, Bodija Market in Ibadan North; Oja-Oba Market in IbadanSouth East, Ojoo Market in Akinyele, Igbo-Ora Market in Ibarapa Central,Oja-Jagun, Oja-Igbo, Old-Waso Markets in Ogbomoso North and Arada Market inOgbomosho South.

·      Conducted awareness campaigns in 53 schools,reaching 40,661 people including teachers, students and pupils.

·      Producedradio jingles (in English, Yoruba and Pidgin) and aired 1,500slots spread over8 Radio stations in Oyo state.  

·      Currentlyairing a 13-week editions of Phone-in Radio programme / Drama on FederalRadio Cooperation of Nigeria Ibadan (covering South West except Lagos andLagelu FM Ibadan on Mondays and Tuesdays respectively).

OUTCOMES/ A true life story

28 reported cases of human trafficking

Rescued 3 victims

On June 20 2023, one of our trainees from Ibarapa area informed us of Funmi, avictim, of Human Trafficking who was dumped in their area. Funmi was traffickedby her friend to Dubai in November 2022 for the sole purpose of sexual exploitation/slavery. Before leaving Nigeria, she was made to swear an oathwith several incisions made on her body during which she was made to swearallegiance of absolute obedience to her end-users. She recounted her ordeal ofhow she was consistently drugged while being rapped countless times, leading toseveral abortions, including an abortion of a set of twins.

§  Shedeveloped psychosis; with several incidences of mental breakdown whicheventually led her traffickers to deport her back to Nigeria in February 2023.

§  Whenthe news of the incidence reached one of our trainees, she intervened and tookFunmi to the king’s palace and then contacted us. We linked Funmi with a memberof Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON). She is impressively improvingand will be given economic empowerment as soon as she is more stable.

§  Funmiis one of numerous victims of such fate. Indeed, every stakeholder needs tocome on board, the government and families, religious and educationalinstitutions must get involved to salvage humanity from the bane of humantraffickers.

OurKey working Partners

§  Ministryof Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Oyo State

§  NigeriaImmigration Services

§  NationAgency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NATIP)

§  NationalHuman Right Commission

§  Ministryof Education, Science and Technology, Oyo state

§  CounsellingAssociation of Nigeria (CASSON)

§  Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)

§  MuslimGroups

§  ChristianAssociation of Nigeria (CAN)

NOTE:Report any case or signs of Human Trafficking to any of the above agencies/

What you must know about Human Trafficking.

§  Who is a TRAFFICKER?

Trafficker is anyone involved inthe movement of persons by means of deception, physical or psychologicalcoercion for the purpose of exploitation in order to obtain an economic gain orother profit. They are can be found everywhere AND IT CAN BE ANY OF YOUR FAMILYMEMBERS OR RELATIVES!

 

§  Who is a victim?  

Anyonewho has been exposed to the exploitations of the human traffickers

 

§  Elements of HumanTrafficking – M.A.P

The MEANS of Human Trafficking - refers to how the movement isachievedsuch as the use of deception; abduction; fraud; threat; sometimes oat taking;intimidation; force; secrecy; withdrawal of one’s fundamental human right,especially that of freedom of movement; abuse of power or taking advantage ofthe vulnerables; etc.

The ACT entails illegalMovement of a person including recruitment (one on one,online, etc), illegal transportation, transfer, harbouring, or receipt ofpersons.

ThePURPOSE of Human Trafficking is the motive-behind the ACT such as economic gain, sexual exploitation, forced labour orservices, practices similar to slavery, servitude, removal of organ(s) and debtbondage.

Consequences of HumanTrafficking

Ø  On the Victims

a.    Exposure to various health risks/diseases: Infections from sexual exploitation and hazardous working conditions.e,g. STDs such as Gonorrhea HIV/AIDS.

b.    Physical deformation: exposure of victimsto various physical abuses, including bruises, scares, loss of eye or damage ofany part of the body

c.    Stigmatization and suicidal urges.

d.    Identity crises.

e.    Most victims of HT are traumatized: mostvictims live in fear, suffer from insomnia, anxiety, PTSD, even mental healthissues.

f.     Lack of trust.

g.    Victimization

h.    It leads to the death of some victims.

 

Ø  On the Victims Family andSociety

a.     Conflictand confusion in the family

b.     Despair:e.g. resulting from:

·  notbeing able to reach a family member;

·  feelingof disappointment of not achieving supposed greener pasture;

·  betrayalfrom a trusted one (sometimes close friends and family members); and

·  thehope of getting out of poverty being aborted.

c.     It candiversify into other crimes like; drug trafficking, smuggling of ammunitions,etc.

d.     It cancause increase in the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

e.     It canlead to insecurity and social breakdown and exclusion.

f.      It canlead to loss of human capital for economic development.

g.     Victimsof Human Trafficking who do not get proper assistance can become vengeful andalso become traffickers.

 

§  Laws Prohibiting HumanTrafficking in Nigeria?

a.     Traffickingin Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 asamended (Act No. 4 of 2015).

b.     TheChild Rights Act 2003

c.     ChapterIV (6), Section 34 of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution as amended.

§  Questions to ask in orderto ascertain if people were victims of Human Trafficking

·      Were they promisedpayment? Did they have the ability to access the payment or is someonecollecting the money on their behalf? Are they denied their money?

·      What was the nature orconditions of the job? Was the job condition different to the expected orpromised?

·      How were they made tofeel scared or unsafe at the workplace?

·      Were they tricked orforced to do something they did not want to do?

 

§  Interview process ofvictims (watch out for the three elements of Human Trafficking)

·      Indicate the purpose ofthe interview.

·      Ask the individual ifthey agree to participate in the interview or not.

·      Assure the victims thatinformation shared will be kept strictly confidential.

·      Give them a listening earusing all the skills of active listening.

·      Tell the individuals thatthey can take time to answer questions and may take a break at any time ifnecessary.

·      Explain that the moreinformation that can be provided, the better you may be able to help.

·      Explain that if you arenot able to provide assistance, you will try to help and identify someone whocan.

·      Establish a rapport.

·      Ascertain that theindividual has clearly understood all of what has been explained

·      Ask the individual ifthey have any questions at this stage

 

§  Individual Actionsagainst Human Trafficking

o   Learnthe facts about human trafficking

o   Bealert to the signs of human trafficking

o   Reportcases, even sign(s) of human traffickers

o   Supportsurvivors

o   Networkwith individuals, groups, human rights organisation and relevant governmentministries and agencies

o   Useyour social media platforms to raise awareness about human trafficking, usingthe following hashtags: #endtrafficking, #freedomfirst.

o   Takecare of home

o   Be contented with what you have

Individual level change

At the individual level, the staff members of JDPC stated some of the changes they have observed during the co-design process. These include:

- Improved knowledge on the concept of gender norms and the roles the norms play in enforcing gender inequalities;

- Better understanding of the need for gender and social inclusion in pertinent issues in agriculture such as land and assets ownership;

- Need for stakeholders’ engagement and participatory approaches; and

- Improved communication skills and capacities in conducting gender focused data collection.

Giving more insights into some of these, a Program Officer explained, “The co-design process is helping me as an individual to understand more issues relating to women inclusion in land ownership. I also have knowledge on the norms that affect women in agriculture development, from women inability to buy or sell their productive assets, to restriction from the norms in taking up leadership roles in groups”.

Benefits of the GTAs co-design process

Highlighting the benefits they have gained from the co-design process during the implementation of the GTAs process, members of JDPC’ mentioned stakeholders’ engagement, gender and social inclusion, as well as enhanced team capacity and teamwork. The Program Coordinator mentioned, “Now in our organization, we have realized the importance of including all relevant stakeholders from the beginning in the process of fostering sustainable gender outcomes”. A Program Assistant in the organization also corroborated this, “Since the collaboration with Gender Equality HER+ initiative, the organization has been so firm with its gender policy, such that all our interventions give more voice to women, girls and people living with disability in our project areas. We provide the platform where their voices can be heard and they can speak their mind”.

Future plans

Sharing JDPC’s plan  in implementing gender transformative changes in the organization agriculture and rural development projects, the Program Coordinator promised to build on the solid foundation laid through the GTAs co-design efforts. Adedeji confirmed that JDPC will continue to address gender normative constraints at all levels in the organization and in its future projects. “The organization will make efforts by building on the existing co-design approach to incorporate gender equalities outcomes especially those specified in the SDG 5 targets”, he alluded.

Conclusion

The GTA co-design process has been a new learning curve for JDPC. The lessons are valuable and will provide the platform to incorporate some of the key learnings in the organization and agriculture project activities. “Our partnership with the Gender Equality Initiative in co-designing GTAs will make our different gender intervention strategies rich and inclusive to cover all areas across gender, social, and economic dimensions”, the Program Coordinator assured.

Tunde Ajayi
30 Dec 2024
8 min read
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