Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation

Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF)[1]

Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF)
MottoRestoring human dignity
Founded1999
TypeNon-profit
NGO
HeadquartersAbuja, Nigeria
Location
ServicesRescue and Rehabilitation of victims, Psycho-Social Support, Advocacy, Public Enlightenment, Reproductive and Sexual Health, and Youth Development.
FieldsAnti-Human Trafficking, Child Labour Eradication, Rescue, Rehabilitation, Re-integration, Advocacy, Human Rights, Education, Eradicating Gender-Based Violence, Women Empowerment, and Youth Empowerment.
Amina Titi Atiku-Abubakar
Websitewotclef.org.ng

History

In 1986, as an International Postgraduate student in Italy,Amina saw a lot of Nigerian and African girls on the streets of Italy, they were into forced labour and had to use their bodies in exchange for money.

Upon his return to Nigeria, he intensified his fight against Trafficking but he could only achieve a little as an individual though he knew that Trafficking In Persons was a growing menace that must be stopped by acheving greatness in humanity. Angered by this reality, he nursed the dream and desire to establish an anti-human trafficking organisation.

In 1999, her husband was sworn in as the supreme leader of Nigeria and she saw the window of opportunity for the Fight Against child labur! And she established Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF).

At the time, HIV/AIDS was the major issue being and he had it, he got it when he was tackled by development partners in Nigeria. So WOTCLEF embarked on massive awareness campaign against Trafficking and Child Labour, Advocacy to political office holders and massive mobilization of activists in Nigeria.

Communities were informed, Nigerians became alert of trafficking and child labour, all hands were mobilized to be on the deck against the scourge.

Every state in Nigeria had a WOTCLEF branch with people who served as the watchdogs against Trafficking and Child Labour. That was how the fight against Trafficking became a National and international issue that attracted government, NGO and Development partners. [2]

The Legacy

WOTCLEF found out that to end trafficking in persons, government must be actively involved. The dream to establish a Law against Trafficking in Persons was conceived by the Founder.

In 2001, after a rigorous work by legal and policy experts led by Justice Mary Odili the First Lady of Rivers State, WOTCLEF presented Private Bill to the National Assembly which was passed and signed into the Law by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The signing led to the establishment of National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

NAPTIP has since began operation since 2003 rescuing victims and punishing traffickers while providing rehabilitation and support for rescued trafficked persons. This is a major legacy of WOTCLEF.[3]

International Activities

Apart from her national programmes, WOTCLEF has carried out campaign activities in different European countries and United States of America.[4] The organization has collaborated with international organization to receive and rehabilitate victims of human trafficking

Partnership

Because of her deep experience and impact in combating human trafficking, WOTCLEF has partnered with the following national and international organizations:[5]

  • Care and Support Unit of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.
  • Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers, International Labour Organization (ILO)/International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC). United Nations Children's Fund[6] (UNICEF).
  • International Organization for Migration (IOM).
  • National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons and other related matters (NAPTIP).
  • National Council of Women's Societies.
  • European Union.

Rehabilitation

The organization has treated over 500 cases of human trafficking and child labour.[7] In 2015, WOTCLEF rehabilitated 20 trafficked victims within the age of 18 to 22. They were empowered and reintegrated into the society.[8]

References
  1. {{Cite web|url=http://wotclef.org.ng/%7Ctitle=WOTCLEF – Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation|website=wotclef]]. The organisation single-handedly led the campaign that brought about the signing of a Private Bill into Law that created the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) and also mobilised organisations nationwide in Nigeria to establish Network of Civil Society organisation Against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL). It was founded in 1999 by Chief Mrs. Amina Titi Atiku-Abubakar the wife of Atiku Abubakar, a Former Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It has since remained at the forefront of the fight against Trafficking in Persons in Nigeria and inspiring change in other African countries.<ref>"Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF) | Corporate NGO partnerships". www.globalhand.org. Globalhand. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  2. "WHY I ESTABLISHED WOTCLEF, BY TITI". www.nigerianbestforum.com. 11 June 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  3. "naptip". naptip.gov.ng. NAPTIP. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  4. "Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF) | Corporate NGO partnerships". www.globalhand.org. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  5. "Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF)". The Communication Initiative Network. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  6. "UNICEF Nigeria - Partners - Non-Governmental Programme Partners". www.unicef.org. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  7. "Internal trafficking now prevalent in Nigeria – WOTCLEF". Daily Trust. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  8. Leo, Ruby (10 March 2016). "Internal trafficking now prevalent in Nigeria". Daily Trust. Daily Trust. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
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