With human trafficking and gender-based violence still rife in our society, an organization is taking it upon itself to train individuals and engage organizations to identify and help to prevent these scourges.

The Academy for Prevention of Human Trafficking and other related Matters, an arm of Devatop Centre for Africa Development, recently partnered with the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, to train 65 persons in an Anti-Human Trafficking Advocacy course.

Participants were made up of law enforcement agents, legal practitioners, youths, educators, community volunteers, religious groups and journalists.

“Virtually every nation is polluted with human rights abuses, especially human trafficking and gender-based violence. We can’t keep silent on this evil. We can’t close our eyes to it. We can’t pretend as if it doesn’t exist. We have to take action, and nothing but action,” Joseph Osuigwe Chidiebere, Executive Director of Devatop, told journalists at the workshop, adding that it is hoped that the trainees will be at the forefront in the fight against human trafficking.

Trainees were equipped with how to observe and monitor incidents of human trafficking or gender-based violence and carryout advocacy in their various communities and states.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the training in Abuja, Chidi Odinkalu, a human rights campaigner, admonished participants to play their roles in ensuring that things are put right in the country.

He pointed out that poverty and bad leadership are to two big contributors to human trafficking.

The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, who was represented by the Commissioner of Police, Interpol Abuja, Olusola Subair, assured that the police will partner with anybody interested in fighting human trafficking.

Arinze Orakwue, Director of Public Enlightenment, NAPTIP, also challenged trainees to put their newly acquired knowledge practice in ensuring that human trafficking is discouraged from our society.