A Voice For the Voiceless

MISSION

The Advocacy Project seeks to help community-based advocates produce, disseminate and use information, and so become more effective advocates for human rights and social justice

Nigeria – Girls for Sale

Nigerian women are being trafficked in ever increasing numbers to Europe for prostitution. This series of On the Record - Girls for Sale, written in April and May 2000, highlights the human rights abuses suffered by these women and chronicles the work of local groups working with the women and lobbying their own and foreign governments.

For more information about trafficking from Nigeria to Europe, see AP's coverage in the section below: Nigeria - Trafficking to Europe.

Issue 1: The Scandal of Trafficking from Nigeria
This first issue of the series gives an overview of the problem of sex trafficking from Nigeria to Europe and how the problem is beginning to garner international attention.

Issue 2: The Crisis in Nigeria
This issue includes the story of Berta, a girl from Delta state who was trafficked to Italy. It also addresses the problem of Edo state, which is the state in Nigeria that has become the prostitution center of Africa. All those involved in the trafficking process are also introduced, including the family, the school, the lawyer, the traditional priest, the forger and then the trafficker and the enforcer.

Issue 3: On the Streets of Europe
Issue 3 begins with the story of Rachel, another girl trafficked to Italy. Italian laws on prostitution, immigration and trafficking are also discussed and shown to not be as effective as they could be. Lastly, the issue cites the attitude change in Nigeria from complacency to alarm with regard to trafficking from the country.

Issue 4: The Rescuers
This issue introduces the third trafficked girl profiled in this series, Sonia. It also introduces the work of Catholic sisters and lawyers as well as the work of the African Women Empowerment Group and Mrs. Eki Igbinedion, the wife of the governor of Edo State, in helping to curb the trafficking problem.

Issue 5: The Advocate
This final issue details the work of Olabisi Olateru-Olagbegi, a key activist in the fight against trafficking in Nigeria. It also contains a donor's guide to dos and don'ts for trafficking funding.