FLORENCE, ITALY- on May 10, 2018, in partnership with Vital Voices and New York University (Florence) (La Pietra Dialogues), Pathfinders’ R. Evon Idahosa addressed the issue of sex trafficking from Nigeria to Italy at a symposium hosted by New York University (Florence). At the symposium entitled, “Trafficking In Women from Nigeria to Italy- A Crisis of Modern Slavery,” Ms. Idahosa discussed the root causes of sex trafficking from Nigeria to Italy, particularly from Edo State (Nigeria’s sex trafficking hub), as well as its implications and conflation with irregular migration. She also discussed Pathfinders’ unique methodology, the alternatives to prostitution that we are successfully providing and proffered global solutions to the problem. The symposium was attended by varying Italian prosecutors, judges, academics, CSOs, NGOs, NYU students as well as other community stakeholders and a female Nigerian survivor. It was an opportunity to share our expertise on the subject and to gain further insight into efforts being made to stem the incoming tide of migrants into Europe.
While in Florence, we also visited an NGO providing support for Nigerian survivors of sex trafficking and met with prosecutors at Palazzo di Giustizia (Tribunal) to determine how our work could support the protection of Nigerian survivors as well as the prosecution of Nigerian traffickers. We look forward to continuing the collaboration with NYU and Vital Voices and are grateful for the opportunity.
