Dr Esohe Aghatise, the Executive Director of Associazione Iroko Onlus (Nigeria and Italy), has called for joint effort of Federal, State Governments, traditional rulers, religious institutions/NGOs and members of the public to combat trafficking.
Aghatise made the call while addressing newsmen before the screening ofa Nigerian film titled:”Òlòturé”, directed by Kenneth Gyang and produced by EbonyLife Films on Tuesday in Abuja.
Aghatise, is one of the leading abolitionists campaigning to eliminate global
prostitution and sex trafficking.
With a background in law, economics, cross cultural mediation and ethno-clinical education, she founded one of Italy’s premier organizations, the Association IROKO, for survivors of sex trafficking and prostitution and domestic
violence.
The news conference was organized by the Gloria Steinem Equality Fund to End Sex Trafficking and its local partner Associazione Iroko Onlus.
Aghatise, who is an international lawyer, said traditional and faith leaders need to step up their roles in the fight against the trafficking of women and girls for commercial sexual exploitation.
She expressed concerns over the ”big numbers of trafficked women and girls from Edo.
”Many international organizations and non-governmental organizations are intervening to combat sex trafficking in the region.
”Inspite of these interventions, sadly, sex trafficking is still rife in Edo,” she said.
Aghatise said that human traffickers, who are aware of the risks involved in the trafficking, have also set up sophisticated channels and networks for the easy and undetected flow of trafficked persons.
The film was followed by a high-level panel discussion on sex trafficking.
”Òlòturé” is a film that highlights the scourge of sex trafficking in Nigeria through the story of an undercover journalist in Lagos.
Distributed by Netflix, Òlòturé is one of the top 10 most-watched films on Netflix by Nigerians in 2020.
Also speaking, Jarai Sabally, Deputy Director of the Sisterhood Is Global Institute., said:” with the screening of Òlòturé, the organizer hopes to bring key Nigerian political leaders, the international community and civil society together in Abuja and Benin City to strengthen ways in which we can work together to end the sex trafficking of Nigerian women and girls.”
The event was jointly supported by the Embassies of Argentina, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United States as well as FIIAPP and UN Women.
