Adinya foundation applauds Taraba’s human trafficking bill
By Nana Musa
Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba has signed into law the Prohibition Against Human Trafficking (PAHT) bill for the protection of the vulnerable population and upholding of human rights.
Ms Mabel Ade, Executive Director of the Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF), who welcomed the development, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
AAF is a leading civil society organisation and Anchor of the USAID Palladium SCALE Counter Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) Commission Cluster project.
Ade described the signing of the bill as a milestone, for the fact that the SCALE project funding was halted following USAID’s closure of the programme.
‘’Despite the unexpected termination of donor funding, AAF sustained the implementation of CTIP interventions through self-funding as part of its broader sustainability strategy.
‘’These efforts have culminated in the assent of the bill; a legislative milestone promised by the state government during the USAID SCALE Closeout Summit held on September 25, 2024.
“Nothing is as heartwarming as seeing your efforts come to fruition.
“We commend His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas, for keeping his promise and demonstrating that the protection of human dignity remains a top priority of his administration.
‘’Our gratitude also goes to the Taraba State House of Assembly for their unanimous support and legislative courage,” Ade said.
She said the new law would strengthen the legal framework for prosecution of traffickers, protect survivors, and prevent future trafficking, particularly among women, girls, and vulnerable populations.
In a related development, the Taraba Ministry of Women Affairs have rescued young girls tracked to Guinea and forced into sex slavery.
Ade said that this is an early indication of the state’s renewed determination to take concrete action against human trafficking.
She applauded the state’s commissioners of Justice, Information and Reorientation, and Women Affairs and other stakeholders, for their advocacy, and coordination that made it a success.
‘’As Taraba State celebrates this moment, Adinya Arise Foundation and all Cluster Members (ECJP, NUJ, GERI, OSA Foundation and JDPC) calls on sister states of Benue and Oyo to accelerate the passage and signing of their CTIP bills.
‘’The momentum is now, and no child, woman, or man should be left unprotected,’’ Ade said.(NAN)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
