will unveil a series of
measures to cut illegal and unsafe migration into Europe from
West Africa and support victims of modern slavery as she visits
Nigeria today (Wednesday 29 August).
- New support will help migrants and modern slavery victims
rebuild their lives in Nigeria
- The UK will help Nigeria and Niger prevent trafficking across
their border
- The HQ for the UK-funded border task force has been
established at Lagos Airport
Nigeria is the fifth-largest country of origin for victims of
modern slavery in Britain. Men, women and children are tricked
into journeys to Europe that can lead to abuse, trauma,
prostitution, forced labour and death.
, who since her time as Home
Secretary has led the UK government’s response to this issue at
home and internationally, will also announce plans to tackle the
serious organised crime behind people trafficking and help
victims rebuild their lives.
Prime Minister said:
Modern Slavery is one of the greatest human rights abuses of
our time and the UK is a world leader in making it an
international mission to end this heinous crime.
Today we are stepping up our partnership with Nigerian
authorities to find traffickers and bring them to justice. And
because this is an international problem which needs
international response, we are also launching a new project
with France to strengthen border cooperation to prevent
trafficking along key migration routes towards Libya and
Europe.
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, and that is an important
part of the support we are announcing today.
She will make a series of announcements to fight human
trafficking and support victims of modern slavery in Nigeria and
the region, including:
-
Support to help up to 1,700 migrants and modern slavery
victims returning to Nigeria from Libya with counselling to
deal with the distress of their ordeal and training in
business and vocational skills to help them get jobs and
reintegrate into their communities. Most of these victims
have suffered serious trauma and are at high risk of
re-trafficking and psychosocial issues without this crucial
UK support, delivered in partnership with the International
Organisation of Migration.
-
A new project – led by the UK and France – to help the
governments of Nigeria and Niger strengthen their border
cooperation to prevent trafficking along one of the main
migration routes towards Libya and Europe. The project will
ensure border posts are better equipped and staffed, enhance
training for border officials, and work with NGOs to help
victims of trafficking return home.
-
The UK-funded headquarters of the Joint Border Task Force has
been established at Lagos airport, where UK and Nigerian
authorities have been working together to identify
traffickers and bring them to justice. This year the Task
Force helped secure the first prosecution of a British
national for trafficking under the UK Modern Slavery Act,
with Josephine Iyamu jailed for 14 years in Birmingham in
July.
The UK is determined to lead global efforts to stamp out modern
slavery. So far 68 countries – including Nigeria – have endorsed
the Call to Action to end forced labour, modern slavery and human
trafficking which the Prime Minister launched at the UN in 2017.
