Public Service Announcement against Trafficking of Women and Girls

“So You Wan Travel Abroad?”, the worried character, played by the renowned Nollywood actress, Stephanie Okekereke-Linus, asked the young woman who has been told she will be taken abroad by a flamboyant woman. The woman is probably an aunt, a family friend, or an old acquaintance of her mother.

Just like many who have returned from Europe to tell grim, heart-wrenching stories of unimaginable ordeals and others whose graves no one will ever find, the story of the young woman in the short film does not end well.

Through a thought-provoking short film, Stephanie Okereke-Linus, with support from UN Women and the Italian Government, makes a Public Service Announcement (PSA) against the trafficking of women and girls; under the auspices of the Preventing Forced Migration and Trafficking in Women and Girls in Nigeria Project, funded by the Italian Government. This was part of initiatives for the 16 Days of Activism.

The trafficking of people for sex and labour is a global issue fueled by poverty, desperation, conflict, inequality, and greed.

According to the United Nations, 50 per cent of detected victims were trafficked for sexual exploitation, and 38 per cent were exploited for forced labour. Female victims continue to be the primary targets, with women making up 46% and girls 19% of all victims of trafficking. UNODC 2019 report shows that women and girls together account for 72 per cent of all human trafficking victims detected globally, with girls representing more than three out of every four child trafficking victims.

NAPTIP reports show that 60-80% of the victims of the Europe sex trade are Nigerians. NAPTIP further contends that 75% of those who are trafficked within Nigeria are trafficked across states, while 23% are trafficked within states.

Reinforced border security and international cooperation have not been able to eliminate this global crime, as the decision of the victim to travel with the traffickers is one of the factors responsible for the proliferation of trafficking in persons. If young people are informed enough to resist the enticement of travelling abroad, cases of human trafficking would reduce.

Film has been proven to be an effective tool for education and sensitization on human trafficking and related issues. It has been used by development partners and activists to address global and local issues, with the aim of stimulating social change. Principally, this is the aim of the Public Service Announcement.

Using a unique theatric style, the human rights advocate and actress walk through different scenes in the short film where actors are portraying the steps in luring victims and the eventual consequences.

In this short film, Stephanie is the voice of reasoning, urging the actors, and the viewers to make better choices for themselves and avoid the deceit of human traffickers. A film is a powerful tool that can be used by government, educationists, development partners, and civil society organisations in the fight against the trafficking of women and girls.