Tuesday 19 April 2016

Fighting Human Trafficking through the Tamerri Festival


Fighting Human Trafficking through the Tamerri Festival
Tamerri  Festival  is born of a desire to explore, to create an alternate reality and provoke thought beyond some divisive labels and ways of thinking to imagine a different, and more livable society. To kindle -through art, artistry and (re)imagination- an awakening/new consciousness within the virgin territory of Abuja, one of the world (and Africa)'s fastest growing capital cities, and the capital of the world's most populous 'black' nation. 
On Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd of April 2016, we will gather at Sarius Palmetum/ Botanical Gardens (on IBB Boulevard in Maitama) to celebrate various cultures and appreciate (our) connectedness.  There will be music, dance, art, masquerade exhibitions, conversations and interactions aimed at promoting the spirit of tolerance and respect and appreciation for cultures.

A single fee grants access to over 6 distinct events spread over the course of 2days, including (but not limited to)
-          2 nights of music from artistes/musicians like Bez, Brymo, Cef, Age Beeka, Jeremiah Gyang, Lindsey, Jessica Bongos, Atta Lenell Otigba, Mike Wonder, Femi Leye, Amuta Stone, Kaline, Jarell, Ell, Rubunu and more
-          Film screenings
-          An exhibition of clothing/promenade of culture/couture
-          A human library
-          Poetry
-          Podium conversations (about issues like the trafficking of children)
Considering the rate of human trafficking in Nigeria, and the hidden activities of traffickers,  Tamerri Festival is partnering with Fight Against Child Trafficking (FACT), Devatop Centre for Africa Development (initiator of The Academy for Prevention of Human Trafficking and Other Related Matters) and WOTCLEF to create awareness on human trafficking during the festival, tagged: “Arts Against Human Trafficking”.

There will be a panel of discussion on human trafficking involving the following panel members:

-           Commissioner of Police - Interpol
-           Acting Director General NAPTIP
-           WOTCLEF representative
-          Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS/ UNODC representative
Time: 10am on Friday 22nd April
Place: Tamerri Festival


There will be:

-          Exhibitions of (purchasable) art made by children from trafficking shelters in Abuja
-          Stalls sharing information about trafficking in Nigeria
It was estimated, by a 2012 International Labour Organisation study, that 15 million children in Nigeria were engaged in exploitative labour across Nigeria. However, the real number of children being trafficked, held captive, in forced labour is unknown. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons is doing exceedingly well at responding to cases that are reported to them - but the number of children being reported and therefore rescued remains low.
Due to the hidden and illegal nature of human trafficking, gathering statistics on the scale of the problem is difficult. The following statistics may represent an underestimation, but are the most credible and frequently quoted.

-          834,200 Nigerians are estimated to be in modern slavery (slavery index, 2014)
-          Nigeria tops the list of non-EU citizens registered as trafficking victims (EC, Eurostat report, 2015)
-          6 out of every 10 women/girls in the European sex trade is a Nigerian (NAPTIP, 2015)
-          Human trafficking is the second largest source of illegal income worldwide exceeded only by drugs trafficking. Profits from human trafficking are estimated by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to be $150billion annually. (International Labour Office, 2014. Profits and poverty: the economics of forced labour)
-          50% of trafficking victims are children (US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2007)

The collaboration with Tamerri Festival in promoting the fight against human trafficking is one of their approaches in getting more people involved in supporting the anti-human trafficking cause.
The potential impact of Tamerri  Festival (economically and ideologically) is promising and we invite you to observe and  join us; as we embark on this journey of  building a world without human trafficking.
Contact:
Jenna Treen – Executive Director of the Fight Against Child Trafficking: jennatreen@gmail.com (www.fightagainstchildtrafficking.com) 08072669102
Joseph Osuigwe- Executive Director of Devatop Centre for Africa Development. info@devatop.org  (www.devatop.org ) 08067251727
+2348179949532

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