Sex Trafficking In Nigeria Essay

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Human trafficking is “a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights” according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (What is Human Trafficking - UNODC). Sex trafficking is the sexual exploitation of human rights, especially those of women and children (UNODC). Sex trafficking is a major issue within feminist debates with differing opinions. This paper analyzes the different factors responsible for sex trafficking that arise from an interaction between Nigeria and the global community. Also, it would review the victim narrative that stem from these debates on sex trafficking and sex work. From the analysis below, the victim narrative is not beneficial to trafficked sex workers. It strips trafficked women of their agency and …show more content…

To a large extent, Nigerian television shows educated me on prostitution. However, it was clear that prostitution was not a job of prestige, neither was it a low-class job, rather, it was not (and is still not) considered a job in Nigeria. There are strong (negative) sentiments around women who engage in sexual activities with men (or women) who are not their husbands. It is considered a ‘menace’ in the society that should be eradicated (Aborisade and Aderinto 297). Sex trafficking, on the other hand, elicits a slightly different response from the society. The stigma that surrounds prostitution also exists with sex trafficking, the only difference is the women involved are treated as victims. They did not venture into it intentionally and even if they did, they do not fully understand what it entails. Before delving any further into the present nature of sex trafficking in Nigeria, there is a need to discuss its …show more content…

Out of a sample of 1456 women aged 15 to 25 years, 97.4 percent were aware of people being trafficked for prostitution (1322). Women from the state are mostly trafficked to Italy, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands (1316). Interestingly enough, some of these women may be transported by family relatives or friends, or family members are aware that these women are trafficked for sex (1321). There were women who willingly and freely agreed to be trafficked for sex. This is rather contradictory to the notion that Nigeria is a nation with “strict sexual and moral values as well as strong respect for marriage sanctity (Aborisade 301). The majority of what was represented in the Media concerning sex trafficking were forced kidnappings and women and children being abused by their traffickers. Both Aborisade and Aderinto and Okonofua et al’s articles treat sex trafficking as a poor decision that is not safe to the ‘victim’s’ wellbeing. Rehabilitation centers exist in Benin and Lagos state intended for trafficked women to assist them overcome potential traumas and reintegrate into society. In Aborisade and Aderinto’s research, women with different trafficking experiences and characteristics such as age, react differently to these rehabilitation centers. Younger women (10 to 15 years) adjust easier as opposed

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