Paschal Emeka, Abuja.
Human Rights activists has called for stringent penalties against persons or groups found wanting in area of human trafficking in the country.
They made their views known during a public hearing organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights held at National Assembly, Complex Abuja.
At the event, the Director General National Commission for People with Disability, NACFPWD, James David Laly, who was represented by the legal adviser, NACFPWD, Joseph Okon stated that human trafficking, rape amongst similar offences are criminal in nature, hence the need to ensure stringent and severe penalties for those found wanting in the crimes.
The agency further observed that its recommendations and suggestions should be considered important as they are also among the major player in the protection of human rights.
He appealed to the Lawmakers to always promote disability and gender issues, adding that the proposed amendment is very timely and apt.
The National Commission for People’s With Ability, NACFPWD, equally demanded that they should be given an opportunity at the board of NAPTIP to ensure equity and fairness.
He also called for adequate punishment and sanctions against those found culpable of the crimes such as rape and human trafficking to serve as a deterrent to others.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, in its submission at the public hearing explained that for any bill to be passed into law by National Assembly and the states House of Assemblies, such a law must pass a Human Right Assessment Test.
According the Commission, this test ensure that the bill must improve human rights rather than generally leading to restrictions and lowering of the level of enjoyment of human rights.
The Commission further disclosed that it has gone through the proposed amendment and is in support, recommending that it should be given an opportunity to form part of the membership of the board of NAPTIP.
“Besides the strong collaboration of the Agency with the Commission, trafficking in person’s is a human rights issue and hence the need to have NHRC on board.
In its submission, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC Commandant General, CG, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi suggested that the proposed amendment of 3c in page C1924 should include his agency in view of their prominent role and collaboration with sister agencies in the fight against human trafficking in the country.
NSCDC boss equally made some observations at the public hearing which includes that an amendment of clause 4(E) page C 1944 line 2 which reads ” other forms of exploitation’ should qualify the word exploitation to read’ sexual or child exploitation as well as suggested that the proposed clause 10(1) in page 1946 line 14-15 is vague and should be replaced in the manner below(any person who procure or recruits any other person (s) or subjects such person(s) to prostitution or other forms of exploitation’ with him or herself, any other person or person in Nigeria.
In her remarks at the hearing, the international Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, stated that it has become imperative in this era of the menace of trafficking in person’s that existing legal framework must be strengthened to ensure the protection and sheltering of Victims and survivors of trafficking in the country.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Human Right, Hon. John Dyegh in his submission promised to look critically at all the submissions made by key stakeholders in order to take definite decisions.
The public hearing sought key stakeholders’ input on a Bill for an Act to Amend the Trafficking in person’s (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, No. 4 of 2015 to include the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and Social Development in its governing Board, review the mode of appointing the Director General of NAPTIP to strengthen the Act by reviewing the Offences and Penalty Provisions and Related Matters.