UK Prime Minister Theresa May has unveiled a raft of new measures designed support victims of modern slavery in West Africa.
During a visit to Nigeria, May announced a new plan to support victims of modern slavery in the country, as well as bordering Niger, alongside a series of new measures which also aim to reduce irregular migration from the region into Europe. Currently, Nigeria is the fifth largest country of origin for victims of modern slavery in the UK.
The UK will partner with the International Organisation for Migration to deliver support for up to 1,700 migrants and modern slavery victims returning to Nigeria from Libya. This will include counselling to help them deal with the trauma and psychosocial issues caused by trafficking, and training to help them acquire new vocational skills, allowing them to reintegrate into their community.
How else is the UK tackling irregular migration in Nigeria and the surrounding area?
In addition to the support for migrants returning to Nigeria, the UK and France will collaborate with the governments of Nigeria and Niger to strengthen their border co-operation, which in turn seeks to prevent trafficking along one of the main migration routes to Europe. The project will reinforce staffing and equipment at border posts, enhance training for border officials, and strengthen collaboration with NGOs working in the region.
Further, the UK and Nigeria will open the headquarters of their Joint Border Task Force at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria, where authorities from the two countries will work together to identify and prosecute traffickers.
What did May say about the UK’s efforts to help migrants in Nigeria?
May made the announcement during a three-day visit to Africa, and emphasised the need to fight the challenge of modern slavery, but also to support the victims of such crimes to find jobs and reintegrate into their community upon their return.
She said: “Today we are stepping up our partnership with Nigerian authorities to find traffickers and bring them to justice… But as well as targeting the smugglers and traffickers that cruelly exploit people for financial gain, it’s vital that we support the victims who have suffered enormous trauma and are at high risk of being re-trafficked.”
