Human Trafficking I – SS3 Civic Education Lesson Note (Second Term)

Human trafficking is the recruiting, moving, harbouring or selling of people, by force, trick or pressure, so that others can profit from their labour or bodies.

Behavioural objectives

1. Explain the meaning of human trafficking.
2. State the factors responsible for children and women trafficking in Nigeria.
3. Highlight the consequences of human trafficking.
4. Discuss preventive measures against human trafficking in Nigeria.

Instructional techniques

• Identification: students pick out signs and causes of trafficking from examples.
• Explanation: the teacher explains each key term and point.
• Questions and answers: short oral questions check understanding.
• Demonstration: a short role-play shows how a trafficker may trick a victim.
• Videos from source: approved clips on the dangers of trafficking.

Instructional materials

• Videos: clips on trafficking and awareness campaigns.
• Loudspeaker: for playing audio and for class discussion.
• Textbook: the approved Civic Education text.
• Pictures: posters and charts on trafficking.

What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking is the trading of human beings for money, using force, trick or pressure.

• Trafficking: trading human beings for money.
• Trafficker: a person who recruits, transports or sells others for profit.
• Victim: a person who is tricked, forced or pressured into the trade.
• Exploitation: using a person unfairly for gain, such as forced work or sex.

Who are the common victims?

The common victims are children, women and girls, and young jobless people.

• Children: taken for street hawking, begging, domestic work and farm work.
• Women and girls: promised jobs or schooling, then forced into sexual exploitation.
• Young jobless people: offered false jobs at home or abroad.

What are the types of trafficking by route?

There are two types of trafficking by route: internal trafficking and cross-border trafficking.

• Internal trafficking: victims are moved within the same country.
• Cross-border trafficking: victims are moved from one country to another.

How do traffickers trap their victims?

Traffickers trap victims with false promises, money given to poor families, and force or threats.

• False job offers: promise of good pay at home or abroad.
• False promise of education: a child is told they will be sent to school.
• Pressure on poor families: parents are given small money or gifts for their children.
• Force and threats: victims are threatened or kept in debt so that they cannot leave.

What are the signs of a trafficked person?

A trafficked person is often controlled by others and cannot move, speak or leave freely.

• No freedom: the person is not allowed to leave the place of work or stay.
• No pay: the person works long hours for little or nothing.
• Held papers: the employer keeps the person’s documents.
• Fear: the person is afraid to speak to police, neighbours or strangers.
• Debt: the person is told to repay a large “travel debt”.

What factors are responsible for human trafficking in Nigeria?

The main factors are poverty, greed, corruption, unemployment, low self-esteem, ignorance, polygamy, harmful social practices, war and lack of contentment.

What are the consequences of human trafficking?

Human trafficking harms the victim, the victim’s family and the whole nation.

What are the consequences for the victim?

• Death: victims may die from abuse, hunger, accidents, illness or dangerous journeys.
• Unwanted pregnancy: girls and women forced into sex may become pregnant.
• Venereal diseases: infections spread by sex, such as gonorrhoea and HIV/AIDS.
• Stigmatisation: victims who return home may be shamed and rejected.
• Illiteracy: victims lose the chance to go to school.

What are the consequences for the family and society?

• Poverty: victims without schooling or skills stay poor.
• Corruption: bribery grows as traffickers pay officials.
• Loss of human resources: the nation loses young people who could work and build it.
• Bad image: the country’s name suffers abroad.

How can human trafficking be prevented in Nigeria?

Human trafficking is prevented by strong laws, jobs, good education, public awareness and good upbringing.

What can government and agencies do?

• Stiffer punishments: heavy penalties for traffickers and their connections.
• Employment and skill acquisition programmes: give young people real work and training at home.
• Quality education made affordable for all: keeps children in school and away from traffickers.
• Better standard of living: reduces the need to take risks to escape poverty.

What can the public, schools and families do?

• Public enlightenment and sensitisation programmes: radio, television, churches, mosques and schools teach the dangers.
• Advocacy campaigns: groups speak out and push for action against trafficking.
• Right parental upbringing: parents teach good values and protect their children.
• Reporting: citizens report suspected cases to the police or the anti-trafficking agency.

Which body fights trafficking in Nigeria?

NAPTIP is the main agency that fights human trafficking in Nigeria.

• NAPTIP: the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons, set up by law to investigate and prosecute traffickers and help victims.

Evaluation

1. Define human trafficking.
2. State five factors responsible for children and women trafficking in Nigeria.
3. Highlight four consequences of human trafficking.
4. Discuss four preventive measures against human trafficking in Nigeria.
5. Name the two types of trafficking by route and give one example of each.

Assignment

Choose any five factors responsible for human trafficking in Nigeria and, for each factor, write one sentence on how it can be reduced.