Pathfinders Launches ‘The Justice Project’

APRIL 2022- BENIN CITY, EDO STATE. Pathfinders is proud to launch ‘The Justice Project’ (TJP), a 6-month Project which commenced on the 1st of April 2022, with support from the French Embassy to Nigeria, pursuant to its Innovative Projects from Civil Societies and Coalitions of Actors (PISCCA).

The Justice Project (TJP) will improve on how survivors of sex trafficking in Nigeria access the tools they need to embark on self-sufficiency and sustainable economic empowerment. By directly enhancing the capacity and coordination of the CSOs (Civil Society Organizations) who serve them, TJP will also expand access to HERS (Hub for Economic Resources for Survivors) Africa (www.hersafrica.org) (our existing online platform which provides resources to survivors and those at-risk to trafficking throughout Nigeria and Africa) by creating  additional videos and translations to reach those who may speak different languages and dialects. The Project will also promote visibility of HERSAfrica.org by increasing platform engagement by survivors who need it the most, irrespective of their location.

As part of the Project seeks to create a roadmap for a formal state referral mechanism for survivors, TJP kicked off on the 7th of April with a focus group meeting of forty (40) survivors (four focus groups of ten survivors per group), led by PJI facilitators. The objective of the meeting was to ascertain the experiences and opinions of survivors concerning the functionality of Edo State’s informal referral system, which some may have experienced during their rehabilitation process. It was also to outline and  prioritize any existing gaps in the informal system (as well as to provide recommendations) so that they can be addressed by stakeholders, as we collectively work towards formally achieving our goals. Finally survivors also provided feedback and recommendations on the current version of HERSAfrica and on what additional features and content would be most useful to them, as same will formally launch on May 1, 2022.

We are grateful to the French Embassy to Nigeria for its support, which is allowing for the successful implementation of TJP.

This publication has been produced with the financial support of the French Embassy to Nigeria via its PISCCA Program. Its content is the sole responsibility of Pathfinders Justice Initiative and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Embassy.