NIGERIA
The Major Superiors of Catholic Sisters in Nigeria were touched by the exploitation of Nigerian women and girls to Europe and elsewhere in the world, caught in the web of Human Trafficking, a new form of slavery. They felt a strong need to fight to liberate the daughters of Africa from the shackles of traffickers, the new slave masters. To fight this new form of slavery, they established the Committee for the Support of the Dignity of Women (COSUDOW) in 1999.
They also located the office in Benin City in Edo State where most of the trafficked victims in Nigeria came from. Since then the Sisters have been at the forefront of combating Human Trafficking in Nigeria with COSUDOW, the Sisters tackle human trafficking from four fronts: prevention, protection (rehabilitation and reintegration of victims), prosecution of traffickers, and partnership and collaboration with interest groups.
Prevention takes the form of public enlightenment and awareness campaigns against human trafficking in every possible direction – school, and church campaigns, market women mobilization and market campaigns, local government and community mobilization; street and road walks, town hall meetings, and meetings with opinion leaders, advocacy visits to stakeholders and government leaders, Television and Radio documentaries, jingles, social and print media, etc.
Protection of victims of human trafficking takes the form of rescuing, identifying, and profiling the victim, providing shelter for safety and recuperation, counselling for psychological and emotional healing, medical and spiritual care, psychosocial support, family tracing and reunion, economic empowerment for self-reliance and reintegration back to family and society, formal education and referral services for necessary, follow-up services, monitoring, and evaluation, etc.
Prosecution of traffickers is done as a referral or in collaboration with law enforcement agents and with the government agencies designated and empowered to arrest and prosecute traffickers such as the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and Edo State Taskforce against Human trafficking (ETAHT). Other states are gradually establishing their task force against human trafficking.
Partnership and collaboration: The Sisters partner and collaborate among themselves, with stakeholders and interest groups in the fight against human trafficking both international and national, state and non-state actors such as NGOs and CSOs. It seeks financial help from donors and benefactors both international and local.
Vision Statement
A society where young girls and women are liberated, become empowered, active, valued, and protected, and rise above cultural nuances that mitigate against their dignity
Mission Statement
COSUDOW promotes the dignity of young girls and women through education on their dignity, rights, sex, family, and responsibilities and advances the well-being of the downtrodden womanhood exposing them to equal opportunities in the social-political sphere.
Core Values
Respect, Compassion, Charity, Integrity, Trustworthiness and the Mercy of God.
- To educate and enlighten the general public, families, and young people on the hazards involved in traveling outside their country of origin for prostitution and irregular migration. The organization does this through public enlightenment campaigns – market and road walks, media campaigns, outreaches to churches and schools, use of print and social media, seminars, advocacy visits, etc.
- To ensure that victims and their family members are securely protected after they have opted out of exploitative prostitution.
- To guide and provide victims of human trafficking and potential migrants with skills to enable them to have a means of livelihood.
- To work in collaboration and partnership with Governments and Non- Governmental organizations against human trafficking
Today, with the membership and support of Talitha Kum International and Africa and the support of Arise Foundation, the Sisters (NCWRaHT- Talitha Kum Nigeria) have expanded their scope in fighting human trafficking at the grassroots wherever they live and work. Photos below show some of the activities of the Sisters and their partners and collaborators.
CAMEROON
Goals
- To promote a network between consecrated persons, social Organizations, the laity, and Leaders at the International level.
- To strengthen the existing activities, optimizing the resources of Consecrated life.
- To promote, prevent, protect raise awareness and give assistance to the victims.
- To develop educational programs in schools, colleges and universities.
- To act prophetically, condemning the exploitation of persons for economic and sexual motives.
Talitha Kum invites all to stand up with our voices, actions, daily choices and live lives which promotes and support against trafficking in persons.
We commit ourselves to be neighbours to those who are victims of human trafficking.
Vision Statement
We commit our activities to work and to uplift those robbed of their dignity and deprived of their liberty regardless of their lifestyle, race, religion, economic and sexual orientation.
Mission Statement
As Consecrated persons, we live in solidarity with those who suffer the consequences of human trafficking. We share our mission with those who are in the situation of being trafficked.
We accept the invitation to be on the side of those discriminated against, exploited and victimised by modern forms of Slavery. We value and promote collaboration and partnership with all organizations committed to eliminating trafficking in persons and its causes.
Core Values
Our Values are Compassion, Love and Hospitality.
GHANA
Vision Statement
A society free from Human Trafficking and other forms of slavery.
Mission Statement
To uphold the dignity of humanity and commit to eliminate /combat human trafficking through advocacy, awareness creation, networking, capacity building and support services for victims and survivors.
Core Values
- Respect for human dignity
- Collaboration
- Networking
- Accountability
- Commitment
- Sacrifice
Objectives
- To create awareness on the global menace of human trafficking and its damaging effects to humanity.
- To undertake preventive measures, frameworks of helping relationships and problem-solving process towards eradicating human trafficking in Ghana.
- To equip members of the network and communities with knowledge and skills to counter human trafficking.
- To rescue, support, empower and reintegrate victims of human trafficking into their communities and give them a voice to support the fight against human trafficking.
- To partner and collaborate with other organizations and agencies working to fight human trafficking.
Sr. Olivia Umoh
054026445
Conpath-Talitha KUM GHANA
Miss Jessica Deh
0207940619
Fr. Richard
0556954356