A pro-women, the Equitable Health for Women and Empowerment Initiatives (EHWEI) is to collaborate with the Ebonyi State Ministry of Education to tackle the education challenges of sex-trafficked victims and under-aged female sex workers.
The group also pledged to collaborate with the State Ministry of Health to handle the challenges of mental health of the survivors of child sex trafficking and under-age female sex workers in the State.
Speaking during its second quarter stakeholder’s meeting, the Executive Director, EHWEI, Igwe Precious Nneka, said the partnership would include offering scholarships to child sex trafficking victims and under-aged female sex workers.
The event was in collaboration with local and national organizations, including Non- non-governmental organizations, Civil Society Organizations, and government agencies, towards sharing best practices, resources, and expertise in combating child sex trafficking.
Igwe further promised that the organization would intensify efforts to reach the hinterlands with child sex trafficking and under-aged female sex workers messages.
She said, “Child sex trafficking and underaged female sex workers are egregious violations of children’s rights, undermining their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.
“In Ebonyi state, the phenomenon of child sex trafficking and underage female sex workers has become a pressing concern, necessitating a comprehensive and coordinated response.
“EHWEI aims to tackle the root causes of child sex trafficking and underage female sex workers, including poverty, discrimination and stigma, lack of education, and social inequality.
“By adopting a holistic approach, incorporating prevention, protection, prosecution, and rehabilitation strategies, EHWEI seeks to prevent child sex trafficking and underage female workers through awareness-raising, stakeholders and community engagement, and economic empowerment.
“EHWEI also protects child victims through the provision of safe shelters, counseling and medical support as well as prosecute perpetrators through strengthened law enforcement and judicial mechanisms.
“By addressing the complex issues surrounding child sex trafficking and underage female workers, EHWEI aims to create a safer, more just, and equitable society for all children in Ebonyi State.”
For her part, EHWEI Program Officer Paul Gloria listed completed projects by the organization, including empowering Sex Workers through Equitable Policy Change on Human Dignity and Equal Access to Service delivery and grants.
“We also bridged the Gap in Service Provision for Female Sex Workers in Ebonyi State, Grant, funded by ISDAO-Love Alliance.
“Activities implemented by EHWEI in 2024 included mapping of underaged Female sex workers hot spots across the 13 LGAs in Ebonyi state, advocacy visits to key Stakeholders and Healthcare facilities, and a 4-day training of staff on Advocacy strategic plan and program management.
“Others were developing of IEC Massages and Production of IEC Materials, entrepreneurship Seminars for Older FSWs, State Partnership and Stakeholders Meetings, and International Day of the Girl Child (Girl Child Workshop).
“Mental Health Outreach, Community Sensitization Road Outreaches on the dangers of Child sex Trafficking and Underaged sex work, World AIDS Day Rally.
“There is now enhanced healthcare access and inclusivity of 106 victims of child trafficking and under-aged female sex workers in 8 healthcare facilities, and EHWEI has so far intensified referrals to those facilities with advocacy plans to improve services in others.
“EHWEI was able to increase the awareness of 50 stakeholders on the dangers of child sex trafficking and under-aged sex work in Ebonyi state. These stakeholders now serve as allies in various ministries and healthcare facilities in ensuring that child sex trafficking and underage sex work is reduced to it barest minimum in Ebonyi state.
“50 FSWs were impacted through the entrepreneurship seminar which resulted in improved capacity on skills acquisition and self-employment and can now offer entrepreneurship mentorship even in the absence of EHWEI.
“Our sensitization and legal education has led to a gradual shift in the attitude of 60 brothel owners, brothel charladies/managers in 4 brothels in Ebonyi state towards ending child sex trafficking and underage female sex work, These changes mark a great step towards ending child sex trafficking and underage female sex work in Ebonyi State.”
Gloria, however, noted that the achievements were not without challenges with corresponding actions taken by the group, namely, the unavailability of safe, secure, and comfortable housing, which makes it difficult for victims of child sex trafficking and underage sex workers to escape exploitative situations.
The State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, Rev. Chris Onyekammadu, assured that the Commission would always protect the FSWs and Children as far as the crime cases them.
“Every human being has rights because they are human beings. The Commission does not know what is called ‘Sin’ but only recognizes ‘Crime’.
In his remarks, Nnachi Daniel, the Research Officer of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), urged participants to contribute their ideas and opinions to ensure the gathering’s aim was achieved.