LAGOS, NIGERIA- in 2018, we added an additional 150 volunteers to our growing Pathfinders volunteers base (now close to 300). On December 28, 2018, we conducted a “train the trainers” workshop on human trafficking and irregular migration for 18 of those volunteers in Lagos, Nigeria. The trainers, who will head our team of over 100 volunteers in Lagos, were trained on the nature of trafficking in Nigeria, the dangers of trafficking and the conflation between irregular migration, smuggling and trafficking. The trainees also learned the signs of trafficking, how to engage with and interview a trafficking survivor and the available resources in Nigeria. They will help to amplify the work that we are doing to stem the scourge of human trafficking in Nigeria. Thank you to all that attended. We look forward to lighting more paths together in 2019.
Ways YOU can fight human trafficking:
- Be informed and stay informed so you can identify a survivor or potential victim. Visit our website regularly and sign up for updates.
- Report your suspicions to law enforcement.
- Do not engage in the sex trade industry since many women in prostitution are victims.
- Volunteer and support anti-trafficking efforts in your community.
- Meet with and/or write to your local or state government, inquiring as to what they are doing to combat human trafficking.
- Host an awareness-raising event to discuss human trafficking.
- Organize a fundraiser and donate the proceeds to an anti-trafficking organization.
- Encourage your local schools to include trafficking/modern slavery in their curricula.
- Share your knowledge with friends/family and use your social media to raise awareness.
- Organize a speaking engagement within your local religious community or congregation to help stop trafficking.
- If you own or know someone who owns a business: provide jobs, internships, skills training, and other opportunities to trafficking survivors.
- If you are a student: take action in your school by organizing a club or inquiring about the tool kit for our Pathfinders School Clubs which raise awareness. You might also consider writing one of your research papers on a topic concerning human trafficking.
- If you or someone you know is a health care provider: learn how to identify the indicators of human trafficking and assist victims. With assistance from anti-trafficking organizations, extend low-cost or free services to human trafficking victims.
- If you or someone you know is a journalist: effectively and responsibly feature and report stories on human trafficking.
- If you or someone you know is a lawyer: offer human trafficking victims free legal services.
