Mr Arinze Orakwe, the Director of Training and Manpower Development, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Thursday in Keffi, urged media practitioners to demonstrate more professionalism while reporting issues related to human trafficking.He gave the advice at at a three-day capacity training tagged: “Capacity development orientation, development of standard reporting template for members of the trafficking in persons media core and officers of the press and public relations unit”.
The director who spoke on the role of the media in combating trafficking in persons, said that media personnel must be cautious of their reportage in order not to jeopardise the future of victims.“Media coverage of human trafficking issues is ethically demanding, this involved numbers and others, media must not rush to publish stories.“Credible journalism demands that the media must know, and understand what he or she is talking about. Journalists must mobilise public support involvement to prevent TIP.“
Journalists must have the ability to mould public opinion, media publicity must be anchored on trust base, our objective is to say the truth but not to the detriment of victims.“Media must respect personal information about victims, human trafficking has serious human security implications, all hands must be on deck especially the media because of its role in the society,” he said.On his part, NAPTIP Director of Research and Programme Development, Mr Olusayo Olubiyi, disclosed that the agency works on five elements to tackle trafficking.He said that the agency works on protection, prosecution of perpetrators, partnership with stakeholders, policies initiation and prevention mechanism.
He disclosed that NAPTIP is working towards bringing up trafficking in persons certificate portal where the purpose of individual traveling out will be ascertained before approval.Olubiyi also spoke on the treatment given to victims while in NAPTIP shelters; such as training, adding that various kinds of training are given to victims to help them reintegrate back to the society.“The agency may not be able to meet up all the needs of victims while going out of the shelter, we are doing our part and we will continue to do that,” he said.Mr Josiah Emerole, NAPTIP Director of Public Enlightenment, spoke on the dangers human trafficking can bring to a country as well as individuals.
According to him, human trafficking fuels corruption, destroys international relationships and impedes international trades and investments.On the dangers it brings to individuals, Emerole said that it could result in death of key family members, reduction of the nation active population and result in the spread of daily diseases, adding that Nigerians must desist from the menace. (NAN)
