The International Centre for Migration Policy Development has charged civil society organisations to adopt strategies to end Trafficking In Persons and Violence Against Persons in Nigeria.

The centre, in collaboration with NAPTIP, made the call on Wednesday at the opening of a training workshop for CSOs in Asaba, Delta.

The three-day workshop is for partner CSOs on Community Sensitisation Approaches for TIP-VAP Prevention and Response in five states.

Rhoda Dia-Johnson, project manager, Schools Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project, ICMPD, Nigeria, said that benefiting CSOs were drawn from Delta, Edo, Ogun, Enugu and Benue.

According to her, the STEAP-TIP-VAP project is funded by the Netherlands and is being implemented by ICMPD in collaboration with NAPTIP and the Ministry of Education.

She said the training had become necessary to expand the CSOs’ activities to cover messages beyond TIP to VAP.

The STEAP project manager, who lauded the CSOs’ reports from the participating states, added that they needed to intensify efforts to embed the message in their communities to stem TIP-VAP and build a safer society.

According to her, the STEAP, a four-year project, will end in 2027, but whether it will be extended to Phase II depends on the donor, the Netherlands.

She said that if the donor approves a second phase, the project may extend to other states in the country to deepen the fight against human trafficking and violence against persons in Nigeria.

Sam Offiah, NAPTIP commander, Benin zonal command, said the partnership with ICMPD had been impactful in stemming the tide of human trafficking and violence against persons.

He urged partner CSOs to intensify efforts to sensitise the communities on the red flags of human trafficking and violence against persons by educating, reporting and ensuring an end to the menace in society.

(NAN)