Human TraffickingNews

NAPTIP Takes the Fight Against Human Trafficking to Cinemas

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) unveiled a new short film as a means of sensitizing the public on the rising trend of organ trafficking.

Speaking at the movie premier at Silverbird Cinemas Abuja, the Director General of the Agency, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi stated that the theme of the movie is in sync with the 2022 World Day Against Human Trafficking – Use and Abuse of Technology, and that the movie premier was part of activities lined up for the commemoration of the 2022 World Day of Anti-Human Trafficking.

Dr. Waziri – Azi advised young people to be mindful of promises of sports contract abroad and seemingly juicy job and scholarship offers, adding that sometimes, young people are deceived with false promises that if their organs are removed, it would grow back or that they are able to live with one organ. This she described as one of the deceptive methods of traffickers.

The Coordinator of the NAPTIP Drama Club, Mrs. Angela Agbayekhai presented the Prologue of the short film. In her speech, she hinted that the movie – POUND OF HEART was conceived by NAPTIP Drama Club, ably supported by the Director General of NAPTIP, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi, as a means of amplifying awareness. She stated that the major objective of the short film was to deter the crime of organ harvesting, create awareness on legal steps to ethical organ donation and transplantation as well as inform those at risk on available reporting channels. She revealed that the production was conceptualized in April 2022 and was set in Lagos and Abuja Nigeria.

Reacting to the movie, the Chairman Board of Directors, Media Coalition Against Human Trafficking – MeCAHT – Rtd. Ambassador Asalino Raymond described the movie as creative, as it adequately reflects the ordeals of victims of organ trafficking. In her remarks, the National PRO of Deaf Woman Association of Nigeria Mrs. Uche Andrew who is also the Disability Advocacy Officer of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) said she was impressed by the movie; particularly the fact that it was fully subtitled in English language, thereby making it disability-inclusive. Furthermore, the Programme officer of Expertise France Mr. Benjamin Eneanya described the short film as a beautiful piece and called on development partners to support the production of more short films for sensitization on the subject as this is a key prevention strategy.