To Address Trafficking From Nigeria We Need To Work Together To Confront Domestic Violence

Research carried out in partnership by Nigerian and UK organisations shows that anti-trafficking policy needs to address factors that make women vulnerable to exploitation.

Beatrice grew up in the south of Nigeria. She was coerced to marry a man who beat and raped her. Finally she was able to escape, however she feared that the police would return her to her husband. She struggled to find work and slept rough under a bridge. After a period she was approached by a woman who said she would help her find hairdressing work in the UK. When she arrived in London the woman took her passport from her and forced her into prostitution.

Beatrice was one of the people who took part in a research study  into human trafficking from Nigeria to the UK. The research was carried out in partnership between the Nigerian organisation dRPC and the UK-based organisations IPPR and Eaves. This issue is of major concern to the UK government. UK agencies estimate that Nigeria is the most common country of origin for people trafficked in the UK. Unsurprisingly, our research found that human trafficking is also of significant concern to people in Nigeria. A survey of the Nigerian population found that 85% of people (urban and rural) felt that addressing trafficking in persons should be a priority for the Nigerian government.

There have been significant efforts to attempt to tackle this issue. Nigeria has its own dedicated agency (NAPTIP), many NGOs working on the issue and support from high-profile individuals. International agencies have also engaged. There have been a multitude of anti-trafficking awareness campaigns to warn migrants of the dangers of trafficking. The UK has also stepped up its work to prevent irregular migration and train its border staff to identify potential victims of trafficking as they attempt to cross the border.

There have been many examples of good practice. However our research shows that current responses sometimes miss out important issues. Awareness campaigns keep the issue in the headlines and tough border controls make migration to the UK more difficult, but to prevent trafficking, both the Nigerian and the UK authorities need to respond to the factors that make women (in particular) vulnerable to traffickers in the first place.

Our interviews suggested that one of the most important issues for anti-trafficking policy to address is the gaps in support for women fleeing violence. It is estimated that more than a third of women in Nigeria experience domestic violence. The Nigerian legal framework currently has many gaps. Marital rape is excluded from the definition of rape under state-level Sharia penal code in Northern states and under the criminal code in Southern states. Nigeria ratified the international law of CEDAW (the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women) in the late eighties, however the National Assembly has yet to incorporate it in national law. Beyond the legal framework, Nigerian activists point to a culture of silence and a low willingness among community leaders and law enforcement to act on reports of domestic violence. Unable to seek protection under the law, a further issue is the inability of many women to escape violence due to their disadvantaged economic status. The number of women below the poverty line is 65% compared to that of men at 35%. Women fleeing violence lack support options and this can make them highly vulnerable to people looking to exploit them.

Nigeria has taken steps to establish a network of shelters to support women returning to Nigeria after they have been victims of trafficking. This is an important development and these organisations do valuable work. However by this point women using these shelters have already experienced abuse that means that they may need months or years of intensive support in order to overcome health issues, deal with social stigma as well as stay safe from traffickers. Activists have pointed to the need for a similar network of support for people fleeing domestic violence. This initiative is crucial to addressing violence against women and raising women’s status. Our research shows that it is also a crucial step to take in the fight against trafficking. Beatrice’s case, which was not dissimilar to those of many other women interviewed for the study, shows how women became vulnerable to traffickers not because of their low awareness of the dangers of migration, and not just because of their poverty, but because they were unable to access short term safe support when fleeing domestic violence.

European countries must play their part in addressing trafficking. This means addressing demand for trafficking at home, ensuring that trafficked women can escape exploitation in the UK and working in partnership with Nigerian agencies. Encouragingly, the UK Government has said that it is committed to working in partnership with countries of origin for trafficked people. UK development agencies are already active in Nigeria and working on issues that are important to an effective trafficking response. Only last month UKAid and the British Council published a report on the importance of addressing disadvantage among women and girls in Nigeria. Yet there is little link up between this work and the UK’s anti-trafficking efforts to date.

Beatrice’s story shows us the importance of responding to the reality of the underlying factors which drive trafficking. Government agencies and international organisations should look beyond simply trying to prevent migration and support NGOs and others who are doing effective work to keep women safe before they become victims of trafficking.