ANAMBRA PASSES LAW PROHIBITING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS, ENFORCE ADMINISTER MEASURES 01-02-24
By Sadiq Aminu A law to prohibit trafficking in persons, enforce and administer measures against trafficking and for related matters has been passed by the Anambra State House of Assembly.
The lawmakers after considering the report of the joint committee on Judiciary and Women and Social Welfare, on “Trafficking In Persons, (Prohibition) Enforcement And Administration Bill 2023”, adopted it as a working document.
Sponsor of the bill, Mr Patrick Okafor, said the the law is to provide effective and comprehensive legal and institutional framework
for the prohibition and prevention, detention, persecution and punishment of human trafficking in Anambra state.
According to him, the law will protect victims of human trafficking, promote and facilitate international cooperation in order to meet the objectives.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Somtochukwu Udeze, commended the members of the joint committee and the entire lawmakers for their commitment and dedication to the task given to them.
Speaking in an interview after plenary, the Deputy Minority Whip Lady Nkechi Ogbuefi, said the fight against trafficking in persons is a collective responsibility as the girl child are mostly victims of trafficking in persons which involves a lot of crime such as gender violence, sexual assault, and molestation.
According to her, the law will be a deterent to offenders and collaborators in violence against children, women and even men.
Africa 247 correspondent Sadiq Aminu reports that with the passage of the bill, the law awaits the assent of the governor, after which relevant agencies are empowered to enforce it and bring culprits to book.