A-TIPSOM supports NAPTIP to hold Workshop on Development of Minimum Standards and Guidelines for Service Providers

Combating human trafficking requires effective services for trafficked persons. However, these services and the providers should be properly and meticulously guided. The guidelines on National Referral Mechanism is a collaborative framework through which governments fulfill their obligations to protect the human rights of trafficked persons, coordinating their efforts in a strategic partnership with other stakeholders.

As part of the activities of Actions Against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (A-TIPSOM), funded by European Union, the International Ibero-America Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP) held four days’ workshop on the minimum standards and guidelines for service providers providing direct assistance to victims of trafficking and migrants exposed to violence.

The workshop which held on 1^st – 4^th December 2020 at Nasarawa State was aimed at producing a document that will be officially and legally acceptable by the general public and also maintain the desired level of compliance with International standard.

In order to achieve successful production of draft document that would largely be accepted, a spectrum of relevant practitioners attended the workshop these include National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Network of CSOs Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL),  Federal Ministry of Information, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Federal Ministry of Health, SMEDAN,  Law Enforcement Agencies etc and other relevant agencies who worked collaboratively to develop and set minimum standard for admittance of service providers.

The NAPTIP Director-General, who was represented by the Director Research and Programme Development (RPD) Mr. Godwin Morka, during the opening session of the workshop said, “it is important for stakeholders to work together in same direction, therefore, the establishment of Minimum standards that everyone will adhere to  is inevitable, though in the past the Agency has had bits and pieces of standard for Evaluation and Monitoring that have been used over the years, but this is the time to document the minimum standards for all the services.

 According to the Director General, the idea is that after the document has been produced, the Minimum Standards will be advertised so that all service providers in any part of the country that have such services can apply and be verified.  This is because the NRM seeks to enroll all service providers within and outside the country, hence it is important to spread out the services to every nook and cranny of the country and referral partners that can be leveraged on to deliver the best services   can also be known to all other practitioners.

The team leader of A-TIPSOM, Mr Rafael Rios Molina in his remarks thanked and welcomed the participants; and extended his gratitude to the Director-General of NAPTIP. Mr. Rafael who gave the remark through a recorded video, reiterated that the activity is vital as it would enable service providers have a clear direction of what to do at all times since they are in contact with victims of Trafficking and Migrants who are exposed to violence.

He said, tt is in view of this that FIIAPP under the A-TIPSOM project  deem it necessary to provide all the resources through support from the European Union to successfully implement the activity.

 

Joseph Chidiebere Osuigwe,

Technical Advisor, Communication and Awareness, A-TIPSOM