Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
00. Editorial
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
2011/05/25
2011/05/26
2011/05/27
2011/05/28
2011/05/29
2011/05/30
2011/05/31
2011/06/01
2011/06/02
2011/06/03
2011/06/04
2011/06/05
2011/06/06
2011/06/07
2011/06/08
2011/06/09
2011/06/10
2011/06/11
2011/06/12
2011/06/13
2011/06/14
2011/06/15
2011/06/16
2011/06/17
2011/06/18
2011/06/19
2011/06/20
2011/06/21
2011/06/22
2011/06/23
2011/06/24
2011/06/25
2011/06/26
2011/06/27
2011/06/28
2011/06/29
2011/06/30
2011/07/01
2011/07/02
2011/07/04
2011/07/05
2011/07/06
2011/07/07
2011/07/08
2011/07/10
2011/07/11
2011/07/12
2011/07/13
2011/07/14
2011/07/15
2011/07/16
2011/07/17
2011/07/18
2011/07/19
2011/07/20
2011/07/21
2011/07/22
2011/07/23
2011/07/25
2011/07/27
2011/07/28
2011/07/29
2011/07/31
2011/08/01
2011/08/02
2011/08/03
2011/08/05
2011/08/06
2011/08/07
2011/08/08
2011/08/10
2011/08/11
2011/08/12
2011/08/13
2011/08/15
2011/08/16
2011/08/17
2011/08/19
2011/08/21
2011/08/22
2011/08/23
2011/08/24
2011/08/25
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Antananarivo
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Alexandria
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embasy Bonn
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brazzaville
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangui
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Belfast
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Cotonou
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chiang Mai
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Chengdu
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
DIR FSINFATC
Consulate Dusseldorf
Consulate Durban
Consulate Dubai
Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Guatemala
Embassy Grenada
Embassy Georgetown
Embassy Gaborone
Consulate Guayaquil
Consulate Guangzhou
Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Hong Kong
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kolonia
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Krakow
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Consulate Kaduna
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Lusaka
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Lome
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy Libreville
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Leipzig
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Mission Geneva
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Mogadishu
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maseru
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Merida
Consulate Melbourne
Consulate Matamoros
Consulate Marseille
Embassy Nouakchott
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Nuevo Laredo
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Praia
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Moresby
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Podgorica
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Ponta Delgada
Consulate Peshawar
REO Mosul
REO Kirkuk
REO Hillah
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Surabaya
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy Tirana
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York
USMISSION USTR GENEVA
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Mission CD Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
US Delegation FEST TWO
UNVIE
UN Rome
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vientiane
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ADANA
ASEC
AFIN
AMGT
AE
AORC
AID
AR
AO
AU
ASEAN
AGOA
AFGHANISTAN
AFFAIRS
AMED
APER
ASECARP
APEC
AEMR
AS
AA
ANET
AFLU
ABLD
AL
ASUP
AJ
APECO
AMER
ABUD
AODE
AM
AFSN
AESC
AND
AG
ALOW
AROC
AVIANFLU
ATRN
ACOA
AEGR
AMGMT
AADP
AFSI
ACABQ
APRM
AZ
AIDS
ASE
AGAO
ADCO
ABDALLAH
ARF
AIDAC
ACOTA
ASCH
AC
ASEG
AGR
ACS
AMCHAMS
AN
AMIA
ASIG
ADPM
ADB
ANARCHISTS
ALOWAR
ARM
AUC
AINF
AINT
AORG
AY
AVIAN
AMEDCASCKFLO
AK
ARSO
ARABBL
ASO
ANTITERRORISM
ARABL
AOWC
AGRICULTURE
ALJAZEERA
AMTC
AFINM
AOCR
ABER
ARR
AFPK
ASSEMBLY
ASSK
AZE
AORCYM
AINR
AGMT
AEC
ACKM
APRC
AIN
ASCC
AFPREL
ASED
APERTH
ASFC
ASECTH
AFSA
AOMS
AORCO
ANTXON
ARC
AFAF
ADIP
AIAG
AFARI
AEMED
AORL
AX
ASECAF
AOPC
ASECAFIN
AFZAL
APCS
AMB
AGUIRRE
AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL
AIT
ARCH
AMEX
ALI
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AORCD
AVIATION
ARAS
AINFCY
ACBAQ
AOPR
AREP
ALEXANDER
ATRD
AEIR
AOIC
ABLDG
ASEX
AFR
ASCE
ATRA
ASEK
AER
ALOUNI
AMCT
AVERY
APR
AMAT
AEMRS
ASPA
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ALL
AECL
ACAO
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORD
AFL
AME
ADM
ASECPHUM
AGIT
ABT
ASECVE
AGUILAR
AT
ABMC
ALZUGUREN
ANGEL
ASR
ANTONIO
BMGT
BEXP
BM
BG
BL
BA
BR
BTA
BO
BY
BBSR
BLUE
BK
BF
BTIO
BELLVIEW
BE
BU
BN
BH
BD
BC
BTC
BILAT
BT
BX
BRUSSELS
BP
BB
BRPA
BUSH
BURMA
BMENA
BESP
BIT
BBG
BGD
BMEAID
BAGHDAD
BEN
BIO
BMOT
BWC
BLUNT
BURNS
BUT
BGMT
BAIO
BCW
BOEHNER
BFIF
BOL
BASHAR
BIMSTEC
BOU
BIDEN
BZ
BFIN
BTRA
BI
BHUM
BOIKO
BERARDUCCI
BOUCHAIB
BORDER
BEXPC
BTIU
BTT
BIOS
BEXB
BGPGOV
BOND
BLR
CE
CG
CH
CVR
CASC
CU
CI
CD
CO
CDG
CB
CJAN
CPAS
COM
CVIS
CMGT
CT
CENTCOM
CNARC
CTERR
COUNTER
CHIEF
CDC
CTR
CBW
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CY
CA
CM
CS
CWC
CN
CITES
CF
CWG
CIVS
CFIS
CASCC
CROATIA
CONS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CASA
COE
CJ
CHR
CODEL
CR
CBC
CACS
CHERTOFF
CAS
CONTROL
CONDITIONS
CONDOLEEZZA
CITEL
CV
CLINTON
CHG
CZ
CON
CTBT
CEN
CRIMES
COMMERCE
CLOK
CRISTINA
CFED
CARC
CND
CTM
CARICOM
COUNTRYCLEARANCE
CBTH
CHINA
CSW
CICTE
CJUS
CYPRUS
CW
CAMBODIA
CENSUS
CIDA
CRIME
CBG
CBE
CMGMT
CAIO
CEC
CARSON
CPCTC
CEDAW
COMESA
CVIA
CWCM
CEA
COSI
CAPC
CGEN
COPUOS
CGOPRC
COETRD
CKGR
CFE
CQ
CITT
CIC
CARIB
CVIC
CLO
CAFTA
CVISU
CHRISTOPHER
CACM
CIAT
CDB
CIS
CUL
CHAO
CNC
CL
CSEP
COMMAND
CENTER
COL
CAN
CAJC
CUIS
CONSULAR
CLMT
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CAC
CROS
CIO
CPUOS
CKOR
CVPR
CONG
CONTROLS
CEPTER
CVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGKIRF
CDCE
DPOL
DEMARCHE
DHS
DR
DA
DISENGAGEMENT
DEMOCRATIC
DEFENSE
DJ
DY
DARFUR
DHRF
DEA
DTRO
DPRK
DO
DARFR
DOC
DRL
DK
DOJ
DTRA
DOMESTIC
DAC
DOD
DEAX
DIEZ
DEOC
DELTAVIOLENCE
DCOM
DMINE
DRC
DCG
DPKO
DOMESTICPOLITICS
DE
DB
DOT
DEPT
DOE
DHLAKAMA
DHSX
DS
DKEM
DAO
DCM
DANIEL
DEM
DAVID
DCRM
ETRD
EAGR
ETTC
EAID
ECON
EFIN
ECIN
EINV
ELAB
EAIR
ENRG
EPET
EWWT
ECPS
EIND
EMIN
ELTN
EC
ETMIN
EUC
EZ
ET
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EU
EUN
EG
EINT
ER
ECONOMICS
ES
EMS
ENIV
EEB
EN
ECE
ECOSOC
EK
ENVIRONMENT
EFIS
EI
EWT
ENGRD
ECPSN
EXIM
EIAD
ERIN
ECPC
EDEV
ENGY
ECTRD
EPA
ESTH
ECCT
EINVECON
ENGR
ERTD
EUR
EAP
EWWC
ELTD
EL
EXIMOPIC
EXTERNAL
ETRDEC
ESCAP
ECO
EGAD
ELNT
ECONOMIC
ENV
ETRN
EIAR
EUMEM
ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID
EREL
ECOM
ECONETRDEAGRJA
ETCC
ETRG
ECONOMY
EMED
ETR
ENERG
EITC
EFINOECD
EURM
EENG
ERA
EXPORT
ENRD
ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC
EGEN
EBRD
EVIN
ETRAD
ECOWAS
EFTA
ECONETRDBESPAR
EGOVSY
EPIN
EID
ECONENRG
EDRC
ESENV
ETT
EB
ENER
ELTNSNAR
ECHEVARRIA
ETRC
EPIT
EDUC
ESA
EFI
ENRGY
ESCI
EE
EAIDXMXAXBXFFR
EETC
ECIP
EIAID
EIVN
EBEXP
ESTN
EING
EGOV
ETRA
EPETEIND
ELAN
ETRDGK
EAIDRW
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EPEC
ENVI
ELN
EAG
EPCS
EPRT
EPTED
ETRB
EUM
EAIDS
EFIC
EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM
EAIDAR
ESF
EIDN
ELAM
EDU
EV
EAIDAF
ECN
EDA
EXBS
EINTECPS
ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ
EPREL
EAC
EINVEFIN
ETA
EAGER
EINDIR
ECA
ECLAC
ELAP
EITI
EUCOM
ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID
EARG
ELDIN
EINVKSCA
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EFINTS
ECCP
ETC
EAIRASECCASCID
EINN
ETRP
EAIDNI
EFQ
ECOQKPKO
EGPHUM
EBUD
ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ
ENERGY
ELB
EINDETRD
EMI
ECONEFIN
EIB
EURN
ETRDEINVTINTCS
EIN
EFIM
ETIO
ELAINE
EMN
EATO
EWTR
EIPR
EINVETC
ETTD
ETDR
EIQ
ECONCS
EPPD
ENRGIZ
EISL
ESPINOSA
ELEC
EAIG
ESLCO
EUREM
ENTG
ERD
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ECINECONCS
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECUN
EFND
EPECO
EAIRECONRP
ERGR
ETRDPGOV
ECPN
ENRGMO
EPWR
EET
EAIS
EAGRE
EDUARDO
EAGRRP
EAIDPHUMPRELUG
EICN
ECONQH
EVN
EGHG
ELBR
EINF
EAIDHO
EENV
ETEX
ERNG
ED
FR
FREEDOM
FINREF
FJ
FI
FRELIMO
FOREIGN
FAA
FETHI
FAS
FTAA
FRB
FAO
FCS
FINANCE
FWS
FTA
FEMA
FDA
FLU
FRANCISCO
FBI
FORCE
FO
FARC
FK
FT
FCSC
FAC
FM
FMGT
FINV
FCSCEG
FARM
FERNANDO
FINR
FIN
FINE
FIR
FDIC
FOR
FOI
FCUL
FKLU
FMLN
FISO
FIXED
GM
GMUS
GG
GR
GE
GAZA
GT
GH
GZ
GJ
GLOBAL
GV
GABY
GOI
GA
GCC
GB
GY
GATT
GC
GUAM
GEORGE
GTIP
GOV
GOMEZ
GUTIERREZ
GL
GKGIC
GF
GU
GWI
GARCIA
GTMO
GN
GANGS
GIPNC
GAERC
GREGG
GUILLERMO
GASPAR
GERARD
GI
HK
HR
HUMANR
HUMAN
HO
HA
HUMANRIGHTS
HU
HHS
HIV
HUM
HRKAWC
HILLEN
HILLARY
HDP
HUMRIT
HSTC
HUMANITARIAN
HCOPIL
HADLEY
HURI
HL
HRETRD
HOURANI
HG
HARRIET
HESHAM
HI
HNCHR
HARRY
HRECON
HRC
HOSTAGES
HEBRON
HUMOR
HSWG
HYMPSK
HECTOR
HN
HYDE
HUD
HRPGOV
HIGHLIGHTS
ID
ILC
IS
IZ
ICAO
IMO
ITU
IR
IAEA
ICRC
IPROP
IT
IBRD
ISRAELI
IRAQI
ISSUES
ITRA
IV
IO
IGAD
IRAQ
IN
IMF
ICTR
ISCON
IADB
IDB
IEA
INR
IWC
ICCAT
ILO
INMARSAT
IOM
ICJ
IQ
ISPA
ITRD
IPR
INTELSAT
ISN
IAHRC
INTERNAL
IFAD
IICA
IHO
IRAN
IL
IRCE
IC
INTELLECTUAL
IRM
IE
ICTY
IDLI
IFO
ISCA
INF
INL
ISRAEL
INV
IBB
INFLUENZA
ISPL
ITER
ITIA
INRA
ISAF
IACHR
INTERPOL
IFR
IRS
INRB
IEF
ISAAC
ICC
INDO
IIP
IATTC
INAUGURATION
IND
INS
IZPREL
IACI
IEFIN
INNP
ILAB
IA
IMTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
IFIN
IRAJ
IX
ICG
IF
ITPHUM
ITA
IP
IACW
IK
IUCN
IZEAID
IRPE
IDA
ISLAMISTS
ITF
INRO
IBET
IDP
IRC
ISO
ICES
IRMO
ITPGOV
IQNV
IMSO
IRDB
IMET
INCB
IFRC
JA
JO
JP
JM
JCIC
JOHN
JE
JEFFERY
JS
JUS
JN
JOHNNIE
JAMES
JKUS
JOSEPH
JML
JAWAD
JSRP
JIMENEZ
JOSE
JKJUS
JK
JAPAN
KMDR
KPAO
KPKO
KJUS
KCRM
KGHG
KFRD
KWMN
KDEM
KTFN
KHIV
KGIC
KIDE
KSCA
KNNP
KHUM
KIPR
KSUM
KISL
KIRF
KCOR
KRCM
KPAL
KWBG
KN
KS
KOMC
KSEP
KFLU
KPWR
KTIA
KSEO
KMPI
KHLS
KICC
KSTH
KMCA
KVPR
KPRM
KE
KU
KZ
KFLO
KSAF
KTIP
KTEX
KBCT
KOCI
KOLY
KOR
KAWC
KACT
KUNR
KTDB
KSTC
KLIG
KSKN
KNN
KCFE
KCIP
KGHA
KHDP
KPOW
KUNC
KDRL
KV
KPREL
KCRS
KPOL
KRVC
KRIM
KGIT
KWIR
KT
KIRC
KOMO
KRFD
KUWAIT
KG
KFIN
KSCI
KTFIN
KFTN
KGOV
KPRV
KSAC
KGIV
KCRIM
KPIR
KSOC
KBIO
KW
KGLB
KMWN
KPO
KFSC
KSEAO
KSTCPL
KSI
KPRP
KREC
KFPC
KUNH
KCSA
KMRS
KNDP
KR
KICCPUR
KPPAO
KCSY
KTBT
KCIS
KNEP
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KNNB
KGCC
KINR
KPOP
KMFO
KENV
KNAR
KVIR
KDRG
KDMR
KFCE
KNAO
KDEN
KGCN
KICA
KIMMITT
KMCC
KLFU
KMSG
KSEC
KUM
KCUL
KMNP
KSMT
KCOM
KOMCSG
KSPR
KPMI
KRAD
KIND
KCRP
KAUST
KWAWC
KTER
KCHG
KRDP
KPAS
KITA
KTSC
KPAOPREL
KWGB
KIRP
KJUST
KMIG
KLAB
KTFR
KSEI
KSTT
KAPO
KSTS
KLSO
KWNN
KPOA
KHSA
KNPP
KPAONZ
KBTS
KWWW
KY
KJRE
KPAOKMDRKE
KCRCM
KSCS
KWMNCI
KESO
KWUN
KPLS
KIIP
KEDEM
KPAOY
KRIF
KGICKS
KREF
KTRD
KFRDSOCIRO
KTAO
KJU
KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW
KEN
KO
KNEI
KEMR
KKIV
KEAI
KWAC
KRCIM
KWCI
KFIU
KWIC
KCORR
KOMS
KNNO
KPAI
KBWG
KTTB
KTBD
KTIALG
KILS
KFEM
KTDM
KESS
KNUC
KPA
KOMCCO
KCEM
KRCS
KWBGSY
KNPPIS
KNNPMNUC
KWN
KERG
KLTN
KALM
KCCP
KSUMPHUM
KREL
KGH
KLIP
KTLA
KAWK
KWMM
KVRP
KVRC
KAID
KSLG
KDEMK
KX
KIF
KNPR
KCFC
KFTFN
KTFM
KPDD
KCERS
KMOC
KDEMAF
KMEPI
KEMS
KDRM
KEPREL
KBTR
KEDU
KNP
KIRL
KNNR
KMPT
KISLPINR
KTPN
KA
KJUSTH
KPIN
KDEV
KTDD
KAKA
KFRP
KWNM
KTSD
KINL
KJUSKUNR
KWWMN
KECF
KWBC
KPRO
KVBL
KOM
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KEDM
KFLD
KLPM
KRGY
KNNF
KICR
KIFR
KM
KWMNCS
KAWS
KLAP
KPAK
KDDG
KCGC
KID
KNSD
KMPF
KPFO
KDP
KCMR
KRMS
KNPT
KNNNP
KTIAPARM
KDTB
KNUP
KPGOV
KNAP
KNNC
KUK
KSRE
KREISLER
KIVP
KQ
KTIAEUN
KPALAOIS
KRM
KISLAO
KWM
KFLOA
LE
LU
LH
LA
LG
LO
LY
LANTERN
LI
LABOR
LORAN
LTTE
LT
LAS
LAB
LAW
LVPR
LARREA
LEBIK
LAURA
LS
LOTT
LOVE
LR
LEON
LAVIN
LGAT
LV
LAOS
LOG
LN
LB
MOPS
MO
MARR
ML
MASS
MZ
MR
MNUC
MX
MV
MCC
MY
MEDIA
MTCRE
MG
MCAP
MOPPS
MP
MI
MK
MC
MD
MA
MU
MASC
MW
MT
MEPP
MN
MTCR
MH
MEPI
MIL
MNUCPTEREZ
MMAR
MICHAEL
MUNC
MDC
MPOS
MONUC
MAR
MGMT
MAS
MEPN
MENDIETA
MARIA
MONTENEGRO
MOOPS
MSG
MARITIME
MURRAY
MUKASEY
MOTO
MCA
MFO
MEX
MRSEC
MMED
MACP
MAAR
MINUSTAH
MCCONNELL
MAPP
MGT
MARQUEZ
MANUEL
MNUR
MCCAIN
MF
MOHAMMAD
MOHAMED
MNU
MFA
MILITANTS
MINORITIES
MTS
MLS
MILI
MIAH
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MED
MARAD
MNVC
MINURSO
MNUCUN
MIK
MARK
MBM
MPP
MILITARY
MAPS
MNUK
MILA
MTRRE
MACEDONIA
MICHEL
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
MPS
MARRGH
MRCRE
MTRE
MORALES
MAP
MCTRE
MHUC
MOPSGRPARM
MOROCCO
MCAPS
NL
NU
NS
NI
NPT
NATO
NO
NG
NATEU
NSF
NZ
NAS
NP
NDP
NLD
NGO
NEPAD
NAFTA
NASA
NEA
NGUYEN
NIH
NK
NIPP
NONE
NR
NANCY
NEGROPONTE
NRR
NERG
NSSP
NSG
NSFO
NE
NATSIOS
NFSO
NATIONAL
NTDB
NT
NCD
NTSB
NRC
NELSON
NAM
NH
NPG
NEC
NSC
NFATC
NMFS
NATOIRAQ
NAR
NZUS
NARC
NCCC
NA
NC
NEW
NRG
NUIN
NOVO
NATOPREL
NEY
NV
NICHOLAS
NPA
NW
NARCOTICS
NORAD
NOAA
NON
NTTC
NKNNP
NMNUC
NUMBERING
ODIP
OIIP
OPRC
OSCE
OREP
OTRA
OPET
OSCI
OVIP
OECD
OCII
OUALI
OPDC
OEXC
OFPD
OPIC
OFDP
OPCW
OECV
OAS
OM
OMIG
ODAG
OPREP
ORA
OIC
OEXCSCULKPAO
OIG
OASS
OFFICIALS
ORTA
OSAC
OIL
OIE
OEXP
OPEC
OPDAT
OMS
OES
OHI
OMAR
OCRA
OFSO
OCBD
OSTA
OAO
ONA
OTP
ORC
OAU
OXEC
OA
ODPC
OPDP
OVIPPRELUNGANU
OASC
OSHA
OPCD
OTR
OPPI
OPCR
OF
OFDPQIS
OSIC
OHUM
OSTRA
OASCC
OBSP
OFDA
OPICEAGR
OIM
OGAC
OTA
OTRAORP
OPPC
OESC
OCEA
OVP
ON
OPAD
OTAR
OCS
ODC
OTRD
OCED
OSD
ORUE
OREG
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PGOV
PREL
PREF
PL
PM
PHSA
PE
PARM
PINS
PK
PUNE
PO
PALESTINIAN
PU
PBTS
PROP
PTBS
POL
POLI
PA
PGOVZI
POLMIL
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLM
PD
POLITICS
POLICY
PAS
PMIL
PINT
PNAT
PV
PKO
PPOL
PERSONS
PING
PBIO
PH
PETR
PARMS
PRES
PCON
PETERS
PRELBR
PT
PLAB
PP
PAK
PDEM
PKPA
PSOCI
PF
PLO
PTERM
PJUS
PSOE
PELOSI
PROPERTY
PGOVPREL
PARP
PRL
PNIR
PHUMKPAL
PG
PREZ
PGIC
PBOV
PAO
PKK
PROV
PHSAK
PHUMPREL
PROTECTION
PGOVBL
PSI
PRELPK
PGOVENRG
PUM
PRELKPKO
PATTY
PSOC
PRIVATIZATION
PRELSP
PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ
PMIG
PREC
PAIGH
PROG
PSHA
PARK
PETER
POG
PHUS
PPREL
PS
PTERPREL
PRELPGOV
POV
PKPO
PGOVECON
POUS
PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN
PWBG
PMAR
PREM
PAR
PNR
PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO
PARMIR
PGOVGM
PHUH
PARTM
PN
PRE
PTE
PY
POLUN
PPEL
PDOV
PGOVSOCI
PIRF
PGOVPM
PBST
PRELEVU
PGOR
PBTSRU
PRM
PRELKPAOIZ
PGVO
PERL
PGOC
PAGR
PMIN
PHUMR
PVIP
PPD
PGV
PRAM
PINL
PKPAL
PTERE
PGOF
PINO
PHAS
PODC
PRHUM
PHUMA
PREO
PPA
PEPFAR
PGO
PRGOV
PAC
PRESL
PORG
PKFK
PEPR
PRELP
PREFA
PNG
PGOVPHUMKPAO
PRELECON
PINOCHET
PFOR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PRELC
PREK
PHUME
PHJM
POLINT
PGOVPZ
PGOVKCRM
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PECON
PEACE
PROCESS
PLN
PRELSW
PAHO
PEDRO
PRELA
PASS
PPAO
PGPV
PNUM
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGIV
PRFE
POGOV
PEL
PBT
PAMQ
PINF
PSEPC
POSTS
PHUMPGOV
PVOV
PHSAPREL
PROLIFERATION
PENA
PRELTBIOBA
PIN
PRELL
PGOVPTER
PHAM
PHYTRP
PTEL
PTERPGOV
PHARM
PROTESTS
PRELAF
PKBL
PRELKPAO
PKNP
PARMP
PHUML
PFOV
PERM
PUOS
PRELGOV
PHUMPTER
PARAGRAPH
PERURENA
PBTSEWWT
PCI
PETROL
PINSO
PINSCE
PQL
PEREZ
PBS
RS
REFUGEES
RW
RP
RELFREE
RO
REGIONAL
RIGHTS
REACTION
REPORT
RU
RENAMO
RIGHTSPOLMIL
REFORM
RM
REFUGEE
REL
RELATIONS
ROW
RREL
REGION
RATIFICATION
RBI
RICE
ROOD
RODENAS
RUIZ
RODHAM
ROBERT
RGY
ROY
REUBEN
RELIGIOUS
RUEHZO
RODRIGUEZ
RUEUN
RELAM
RSP
RF
RSO
RCMP
REO
ROSS
RPTS
RENE
REID
RUPREL
RMA
RI
REMON
RPEL
RFE
RFIN
RA
RAFAEL
RAY
RUS
RPREL
ROBERTG
RECIN
RAMONTEIJELO
SNAR
SP
SN
SMIG
SL
SOCI
SU
SG
SF
SENV
SZ
SOE
SCUL
SY
SO
SR
SYR
SE
SA
SW
SIPDIS
SCIENCE
SADC
SI
SCI
SOCIETY
SC
SAARC
STR
SECRETARY
SANC
SSH
ST
SNA
SGWI
SEP
SOCIS
SETTLEMENTS
SPECIALIST
SK
SHUM
START
STET
SCVL
SREF
SCHUL
SCUIL
SYRIA
SECURITY
SPCE
SYAI
SMIL
SOWGC
STEPHEN
SNRV
SKCA
SENSITIVE
SECI
SNAP
SPP
SCUD
SOM
SPECI
SMIGBG
SENC
SCRM
SGNV
SECTOR
SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR
SENVSXE
SASIAIN
SACU
SENVSPL
SWMN
STEINBERG
SOPN
SOCR
SCOI
SCRS
SILVASANDE
SWE
SARS
SNARIZ
SUDAN
SENVQGR
SM
SNARKTFN
SAAD
SD
SAN
SIPRNET
STATE
SENS
SUBJECT
SFNV
SECSTATE
SSA
SPCVIS
SOI
SOFA
SCULKPAOECONTU
SPTER
SKSAF
SENVKGHG
SHI
SEVN
SANR
SPSTATE
SMITH
SCOM
SH
SNARCS
SNARN
SIPRS
SNARM
SIPDI
SCPR
SNIG
SELAB
SULLIVAN
SENVENV
SECDEF
SOLIC
SOIC
SPAS
SASC
SOSI
SEC
SEN
SENVCASCEAIDID
TU
TH
TW
TSPA
TRGY
TPHY
TBIO
TIFA
TS
TZ
TX
TSPL
TT
TK
TC
TINT
TERFIN
TERRORISM
TIP
TURKEY
TI
TECHNOLOGY
TNGD
TRSY
TRAFFICKING
TOPEC
TPSL
TP
TD
TR
TA
TIO
TREATY
TO
THPY
TECH
TRADE
TPSA
TG
TAGS
TF
TRAD
THKSJA
TVBIO
TNDG
TN
TBIOZK
TWI
TV
TWL
TRT
TWRO
TSRY
TTPGOV
TAUSCHER
TRBY
TRBIO
TL
TPKO
TIA
TGRY
TSPAM
TREL
TNAR
TBI
TFIN
TPHYPA
TWCH
THOMMA
THOMAS
TERROR
TRY
TBID
TPP
TE
THANH
TJ
TBKIO
UNGA
USUN
UN
UG
UNSC
UK
UP
US
UNCTAD
UNVIE
UNHRC
USTR
UNAMA
UNCRIME
UNESCO
UV
UNDP
UNHCR
UNCSD
UNCHR
UZ
USAID
UNEP
UNO
UNPUOS
UY
UNDC
UNCITRAL
UNAUS
UNCND
UA
UNMIK
USTDA
USEU
USDA
UNICEF
UR
UNFICYP
USNC
USTRRP
UNODC
UNRWA
UNOMIG
USTRPS
USAU
USCC
UNEF
UNGAPL
UNFPA
UNSCE
USSC
UGA
UEU
UNMIC
UNTAC
UNION
UNCLASSIFIED
USPS
UNA
UMIK
USOAS
UNMOVIC
UNFA
UNAIDS
UNCHC
USGS
UNSE
UNRCR
UNTERR
USG
UE
UAE
UNWRA
UNCSW
UNSCR
UNCHS
UNDESCO
UNPAR
UNC
UB
UNSCS
UKXG
UNGACG
UNREST
UNHR
USPTO
UNFCYP
USCG
UNIDROIT
UNSCD
UPU
UNBRO
UNECE
USTRUWR
UNCC
UNESCOSCULPRELPHUMKPALCUIRXFVEKV
VM
VE
VT
VETTING
VN
VZ
VIS
VC
VTPREL
VIP
VTEAID
VTEG
VOA
VA
VTIZ
VANG
VISIT
VO
VENZ
VAT
VI
VEPREL
VEN
WFP
WTO
WHO
WTRO
WBG
WMO
WIPO
WA
WI
WSIS
WHA
WCL
WE
WMN
WEBZ
WS
WAR
WZ
WMD
WW
WILLIAM
WEET
WAEMU
WM
WWBG
WWT
WWARD
WITH
WMDT
WTRQ
WCO
WEU
WALTER
WRTO
WB
WHTI
WBEG
WCI
WEF
WAKI
WHOA
WGC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 02ABUJA857, NIGERIA: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #02ABUJA857.
| Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02ABUJA857 | 2002-03-15 13:54 | 2011-08-25 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Abuja |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 ABUJA 000857
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
AIDAC
DEPT FOR G/TIP, AF AND INL
DOL FOR ILAB
PASS AID FOR G/WID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM KWMN PHUM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT
REF: STATE 12686
¶1. The following is Post's submission for the annual
Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. Paragraphs below are
keyed to questions in reftel.
PARA 23 -- OVERVIEW
-------------------
A AND B. IS THE COUNTRY A COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, TRANSIT OR
DESTINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAFFICKED MEN, WOMEN, OR
CHILDREN? DOES THE TRAFFICKING OCCUR WITHIN THE COUNTRY'S
BORDERS? DOES IT OCCUR IN TERRITORY OUTSIDE OF THE
GOVERNMENT'S CONTROL (E.G. IN A CIVIL WAR SITUATION)? ARE
ANY ESTIMATES OR RELIABLE NUMBERS AVAILABLE AS TO THE
EXTENT OR MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM? PLEASE INCLUDE ANY
NUMBERS OF VICTIMS. WHAT IS/ARE THE SOURCE(S) OF AVAILABLE
INFORMATION ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS? HOW RELIABLE ARE
THESE SOURCES? ARE CERTAIN GROUPS OF PERSONS (WOMEN AND
CHILDREN -- ALSO, BOYS VERSUS GIRLS -- OR CERTAIN ETHNIC
GROUPS) MORE AT RISK OF BEING TRAFFICKED?
¶A. and B. Nigeria is primarily a point of origin, though it
also serves as a significant transit area for trafficking
in the sub-region. To a lesser extent it is a destination
point for young children from nearby West African
countries. There is also a sizeable, but unquantifiable,
internal trafficking network for forced labor within
Nigeria. While the majority of trafficking from Nigeria
involves females destined for brothels in Southern Europe,
young males are trafficked to other African countries,
including Gabon, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and the Benin
Republic, to work on farms or plantations. Press reports
claim 18 children per month are repatriated from Gabon to
Nigeria's eastern cities. Authorities have identified
another trafficking route of children through Katsina and
Sokoto to the Middle East and East Africa. This practice
reflects historic slave trade routes between Sub-Saharan
Africa and the Middle East. Eastern Nigeria and Cross
River and Akwa Ibom states have been the focus of
trafficking of children for labor and, reportedly in some
cases, human sacrifice. Many children are sold for as
little as $50.00, according to press sources.
A and B (cont). There are no accurate figures of the
number of Nigerians involved in the international sex trade
-- the largest "employer" of the Nigerians trafficked
abroad. However, Nigerian law enforcement personnel and
NGOs tell us that some of the foreign prostitutes in Italy
are Nigerian. The Italian Ambassador to Nigeria recently
estimated that 18,000 Nigerians prostitutes currently in
Italy were victims of trafficking. Mark: This is not
credible. The number of Southeastern Europeans is much
higher, but they don't look quite so foreign. I worked on
Bosnia, so t his is something about which I've some
knowledge. (Note: There are for more than 150,000 illegal
immigrants in Italy. (End note) In the past three years,
Italy and Nigeria have cooperated to repatriate over 1,300
such persons. While many of them went to Italy willingly,
others were forced or duped by family members or criminal
gangs or driven by dire economic conditions into the
international sex industry. Other significant receiving
countries for trafficked Nigerians include the Netherlands,
the Czech Republic, Spain and France. In one particularly
glaring example of this trade, a Dutch court convicted the
former Ambassador of the Netherlands to Nigeria in December
1999 for having provided visas to Nigerian women allegedly
to engage in the commercial sex trade.
¶C. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY CHANGES IN THE DIRECTION OR EXTENT
OF TRAFFICKING?
¶C. Fewer trafficking syndicates appear to use air routes
for trafficking females to Europe, opting instead for the
more circuitous but safer land routes through West Africa
and the Sahara. This appears to be the result of improved
interdiction efforts by airlines, European diplomatic
missions in Nigeria, and immigration authorities at
European airports.
¶D. ARE ANY EFFORTS OR SURVEYS PLANNED OR UNDERWAY TO
DOCUMENT THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF TRAFFICKING IN THE
COUNTRY? IS ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM SUCH
REPORTS OR SURVEYS THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE LAST YEAR?
¶D. The ILO's International Program for the Elimination of
Child Labor (IPEC) has conducted a regional study of child
trafficking patterns in eight West African countries. This
study, part of a $4.3 million regional anti-trafficking
project funded by USDOL, is available on the internet at
www.ilo.org and, along with a similar study produced by
UNICEF (available at www.unicef.org) is an excellent
resource aid. The International Organization of Migration
(IOM) has funded a study by the University of Benin (Edo
State, Nigeria) to ascertain the extent of the problem in
Nigeria, but the report remains unpublished. IOM's
Regional office in Dakar hopes to have the report completed
by mid-2002. This report may contain the most comprehensive
data on trafficking within the country.
¶E. IF THE COUNTRY IS A DESTINATION POINT FOR TRAFFICKED
VICTIMS: WHAT KIND OF CONDITIONS ARE THE VICTIMS
TRAFFICKED INTO? ARE THEY FORCED TO WORK IN SWEATSHOPS,
AGRICULTURE, RESTAURANTS, CONSTRUCTION SITES, PROSTITUTION,
NUDE DANCING, DOMESTIC SERVITUDE, BEGGING OR OTHER FORMS OF
LABOR OR SERVICES? WHAT METHODS ARE USED TO ENSURE
COMPLIANCE? ARE THE VICTIMS SUBJECT TO VIOLENCE, THREATS,
WITHHOLDING OF THEIR DOCUMENTS, ETC?
¶E. Most trafficked victims arriving in Nigeria are young
children from neighboring states. Girls are usually placed
in homes as domestic servants; most boys become
agricultural laborers. Some of the children involved in
this trade are incorporated into households, working as
"wards." A smaller number may be used to hawk goods on
street corners or to beg. Fear of physical punishment,
language barriers, and traditional religious practices are
used to control victims. In countries such as Nigeria
where animism is still practiced by many, the belief in
voodoo curses and oaths has considerable effect on
silencing children.
¶F. IF THE COUNTRY IS A COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: WHICH
POPULATIONS ARE TARGETED BY THE TRAFFICKERS? WHO ARE THE
TRAFFICKERS? WHAT METHODS ARE USED TO APPROACH VICTIMS?
(ARE THEY OFFERED LUCRATIVE JOBS, SOLD BY THEIR FAMILIES,
APPROACHED BY FRIENDS OF FRIENDS, ETC?)
¶F. Traffickers mostly target young women for the
international sex trade, but some are also used as drug
couriers. Edo State has gained a reputation (deserved) as
the main supplier of international prostitutes for Italy.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that Edo indigenes began
migrating to Italy for employment as migrant farm laborers
several decades ago. These laborers began facilitating the
travel of other Edo residents to Italy for work. Some of
these individuals became involved with drug trafficking and
other criminal activities. In the 1980s and 1990s Nigerian
criminal networks, primarily in Turin and Milan, began
facilitating travel of young women for prostitution.
Ironically, many traffickers are former victims who have
paid off their madams and began recruiting girls from their
home areas to Italy. Human Rights Watch indicates that
many young women claim they are told they will be
performing work other than prostitution and then are forced
into the sex trade once abroad. However, local reports
indicate that many young women know they will be in the sex
trade. What most do not know are the horrendous conditions
they will encounter. Many will not be paid the salaries
promised, many are forced into indentured servitude to pay
off smuggling fees ranging as high as USD 50,000 and most
are subject to physical and sexual abuse to keep them from
alerting foreign law enforcement authorities. Traffickers
often use family pressure to ensure the victims'
participation. Nigerian crime syndicates may use
indebtedness, threats of beatings and/or rape, physical
injury to the victim's family, arrest and deportation to
persuade those forced into a life of servitude from
attempting to escape. Many trafficking victims are forced
to undergo ritual cultural oaths of secrecy or are swayed
with charms. Because belief in traditional religions is
still maintained by a number of Nigerians, even those
practicing Christianity or Islam, those "voodoo" rituals
can keep many victims from contacting authorities about
their abuse.
¶G. IS THERE POLITICAL WILL AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS? IS THE
GOVERNMENT MAKING A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO SERIOUSLY ADDRESS,
TRAFFICKING? IN BROAD TERMS, WHAT RESOURCES IS THE HOST
GOVERNMENT DEVOTING TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PEROSNS (IN
TERMS OF PREVENTION, PROTECTION, PROSECUTION)?
¶G. Over the past year, the Government of Nigeria has
demonstrated increased political will to fight trafficking
in persons. President Obasanjo recognizes this crime as a
threat to Nigeria and speaks out against it frequently.
That said, however, the federal government continues to
devote inadequate resources to the fight against
trafficking in persons. In 1999 the Government funded the
establishment of a modest Police Anti-TIP Task Force in
Lagos to assist with the repatriation of trafficked victims
and to build criminal cases against suspected traffickers.
In 2002 the Government established an inter-ministerial
Committee to Address TIP but this committee lacks its own
budget and oversees no programs. Government programs for
health, education and general social development, while not
earmarked to address trafficking per se, do help address
indirectly some of the factors contributing to trafficking.
¶H. DO GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES OR INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF
GOVERNMENT FORCES FACILITATE TRAFFICKING, CONDONE
TRAFFICKING OR OTHERWISE COMPLICIT IN SUCH ACTIVITIES? IF
SO, AT WHAT LEVELS? DO GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES (SUCH AS
CUSTOMS, BORDER GUARDS, IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS, LOCAL POLICE
OR OTHERS) RECEIVE BRIBES FROM TRAFFICKERS OR OTHERWISE
ASSIST IN THEIR OPERATIONS? WHAT PUNITIVE MEASURES, IF
ANY, HAVE BEEN TAKEN AGAINST THOSE INDIVIDUALS COMPLICIT OR
INVOVLED IN TRAFFICKING?
¶H. There are a few notable crusaders in the Nigerian Police
Force on this issue. They are largely women and are
fighting a lack of political will by and, in some cases,
the active complicity of government officials. The
recently dismissed Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police
Abimbola Ojomo and the head of the Lagos-based task force
against TIP, M.A. Giwa Osagie, demonstrate a personal
commitment to fight traffickers and to aid trafficking
victims. They regularly use personal funds to feed and
care for deportees. At the other end of the spectrum, post
has received credible reports that individual government
officials facilitate or condone trafficking. Corruption is
common in Customs, the National Police Force and
Immigration, where most personnel are underpaid and poorly
trained. Some repatriated TIP victims have alleged the
active participation of Nigerian Immigration officials as a
part of the trafficking syndicates. Returnees have
reported that they were able to board flights to Italy for
a fee ($10,000 to $15,000) without any passport or visa.
Moreover, many women are reportedly trafficked through
neighboring countries using forged travel documents
identifying them as non-Nigerians. Ghana and Guinea serve
as the main transit points using this method. The arrest
of 15 Nigerian traffickers and rescue of 33 Nigerian women
and girls in Conakry in July 2002 revealed the major role
Guinea plays as a transit hub for Nigerian females bound
for Europe. One of the 15 traffickers arrested in this
case is a former chief of police of Edo State.
¶I. WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS ON THE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO
ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM IN PRACTICE? E.G., IS FUNDING FOR
POLICE OR OTHER INSTITUTIONS INADEQUATE? IS OVERALL
CORRUPTION A PROBLEM? DOES THE GOVERNMENT LACK THE
RESOURCES TO AID VICTIMS?
¶I. The National Police Force, Customs, Immigration, and
other relevant authorities lack financial resources and a
sustained political commitment from the Federal Government
to combat trafficking in persons effectively. As
previously noted, a few female police officers often use
their own resources to pay for travel to neighboring states
for investigations and the upkeep of deportees. Few
officers have been trained to identify and monitor
traffickers. Corruption, endemic in Nigerian society after
decades of misrule and mismanagement by military rulers,
remains one of the GON's most pressing problems. The
government could summon adequate resources to address the
TIP problem, but to date has chosen to allocate resources
to other pressing, and equally distressing, problems facing
the country. Reports from air carriers suggest that most
sex workers travel with authentic documents. False
Nigerian documents can be purchased cheaply and easily and
Italian documents, particularly the residency permit, are
extremely vulnerable to fraud. The Government of Nigeria
has not demonstrated the ability or will to curb fraud in
the issuance of travel documents. Therefore, the onus has
fallen on Italian authorities to control entry. The
Italian and Nigerian governments in 2002 signed a
repatriation agreement but this does not seem to address
the problem of immigration fraud. The Police anti-TIP
Task Force established in 1999 has not realized its plan to
expand its force of 10 officers and sole office in Lagos to
a larger force and offices in Kano, Port Harcourt and Benin
City. The Task Force did benefit, however, from some of
$2.5 million worth of equipment given by the Italian
government to the Nigerian police and immigration service
in 2002.
PARA 24 -- PREVENTION
---------------------
¶A. DOES THE GOVERNMENT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TRAFFICKING IS A
PROBLEM IN THAT COUNTRY? IF NO, WHY NOT?
¶A. The GON acknowledges that trafficking is a problem,
largely because of the negative image that trafficking
generates. However, many GON officials put the
responsibility for addressing the international TIP problem
on destination countries, such as Italy. Some government
officials and even non-governmental organizations blame the
demand for Nigerian prostitutes in Europe for the problem.
The trafficking of women from northern Nigeria to Saudi
Arabia is a growing problem, but officials of the
predominately Muslim states in Nigeria are reluctant to
admit, the existence of an increasing sex trade to Muslim
countries. Nigerian Government officials also do not
openly admit the internal trafficking of children within
Nigeria for forced labor purposes.
¶B. WHICH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED IN ANTI-
TRAFFICKING EFFORTS?
¶B. Anti-trafficking efforts are primarily a law enforcement
issue. Police attempts in Nigeria to stem the trafficking
of women include jail sentences and public humiliation. In
April 1999, the federal Criminal Investigation Department
(CID) paraded a group of 47 females and 17 male victims
before the press in Lagos. When a group of 62 undocumented
women were deported in October 1999 from Italy to Nigeria,
they were met by police, local media, their parents and
village chiefs, and promptly arrested. Now such
deportations from Italy are common and the deportees are
not arrested, but rather released after a cursory
screening. Both approaches to handling the deportees
appear ineffective as parents, other relatives and
professional smugglers who force many of these women and
girls into prostitution continue to be motivated by greed.
The absence of punishment for traffickers also encourages
them to continue their criminal activities. Former Deputy
Inspector General Ojomo has participated in several
international conferences on trafficking. At home she is
trying to find sponsors for rehabilitation programs for the
returned prostitutes.
¶C. ARE THERE OR HAVE THERE BEEN ANTI-TRAFFICKING
INFORMATION OR EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS? IF YES, BRIEFLY
DESCRIBE THE CAMPAIGN(S), INCLUDING THEIR OBJECTIVES AND
EFFECTIVENESS.
¶C. Wives of national politicians are involved in raising
public awareness and shaping legislation on trafficking.
Titi Abubakar, wife of the Vice-President, sponsored a
three-day workshop on "Trafficking in Women and Child
Labor" in Abuja in October 1999 for NGOs and legislators.
She has since formed a NGO called the "Women Trafficking
and Child Labor Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF)," which is
devoted to raising awareness of the trafficking problem,
providing social services to those affected by trafficking,
and assisting with prevention programs. WOTCLEF in early
2001 sponsored the first Nigerian-hosted Pan-African
conference on Human Trafficking in Abuja. Mrs. Josephine
Anenih, wife of the Minister of Works and Housing, is the
President of the Federation of Women lawyers (FIDA) in Edo
State. She lobbied for the introduction of legislation in
the Edo State House of Assembly that increased the
penalties for individuals engaged in trafficking. Edo
State Governor Lucky Igbinedion signed the law and the Edo
State Assembly passed it in December 2000. According to
Bisi Olateru-Olagberi, Executive Director of the Women's
Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON), public awareness campaigns
have blanketed Edo and other eastern states where most of
the commercial sex workers originate. Notwithstanding
these state level efforts, the lucrative returns from the
international prostitution trade; and prevailing economic
conditions; have combined to greatly lower the stigma
attached to its practiced.
¶D. DOES THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT OTHER PROGRAMS TO PREVENT
TRAFFICKING? (E.G. TO PROMOTE WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN
ECONOMIC DECISION MAKING OR EFFORTS TO KEEP CHILDREN IN
SCHOOL.) PLEASE EXPLAIN.
¶D. At the federal level, very little is offered to women
and children as alternatives to trafficking. However,
initiatives in some states have begun recently to provide
options. A majority of the women returned to Nigeria are
ethnic "Binis" hailing from Edo State, the former kingdom
of Benin. Mrs. Eki Igbinedion, wife of the Edo State
Governor, has formed a NGO called "IDIA Renaissance" to
fight prostitution and trafficking and to rehabilitate
repatriated prostitutes. Her programs include the creation
of cottage industries for young girls to sustain themselves
and educational programs to remedy high drop-out rates
among girls aged 15 to 20. In order to discourage families
from putting their daughters into prostitution, Governor
Lucky Igbinedion publishes the names of the returned
prostitutes and their families in the national dailies.
The Edo state government has formed a subcommittee on
women's political affairs in Benin City (Edo's state
capital) to create awareness of the issue, to instill in
parents responsibility toward their children, and to
educate children to the dangers of the trade. Press
reports indicate that the Igbinedions have been threatened
by traffickers for their high-profile exposure of those
involved in the trade. Onari Duke, the wife of the Cross
River state governor, is particularly concerned about the
sale of children by their families in the northern part of
the state during the period just after the holidays, when
families may be financially strapped. Despite the efforts
in these particular states, Bisi Olateru-Olagberi (see para
C above) says funding for shelters that provide housing,
education, job training, and protection from family members
for the repatriated women is the immediate short-term need.
Olateru-Olagberi's organization has done preliminary
research into the problem including a survey of repatriated
women. She also conducts public awareness campaigns and
national workshops.
¶E. IS THE GOVERNMENT ABLE TO SUPPORT PREVENTION PROGRAMS?
¶E. Yes, but only to a limited extent. With so many
priorities before it, the GON has not yet focused on a
comprehensive anti-trafficking program. An overall
improvement in Nigeria's badly deteriorated economy and
education system is needed to address the root causes of
Nigeria's TIP problem.
¶F. WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS,
NOGS, OTHER RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF
CIVIL SOCIETY ON THE TRAFFICKING ISSUE?
¶F. The relationship between federal institutions --
executive and legislative -- and non-governmental
organizations varies depending upon the political
affiliations of the NGO. Repeated efforts by NGOs to
introduce anti-TIP legislation in the National Assembly
were thwarted until the Vice-President's wife's NGO,
WOTCLEF, successfully submitted a draft anti-TIP law to the
Assembly in February 2001 (but it has yet to be passed).
The involvement of wives of government officials has made
it increasingly difficult to distinguish between genuine
NGOs and other politically-oriented organizations
established under the banner of anti-TIP work. Established
NGOs with good grass-roots support feel threatened by and
are often out-financed by NGOs created by high-profile
political figures.
¶G. DOES THE GOVERNMENT ADEQUATELY MONITOR ITS BORDERS?
DOES IT MONITOR IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION PATTERNS FOR
EVIDENCE OF TRAFFICKING? DO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
RESPOND APPROPRIATELY TO SUCH EVIDENCE?
¶G. No. For example, Embassy offices have repeatedly
observed small sum payments to Customs and Immigration
officers (the equivalent of 20 cents to one dollar) for
quick passage without paperwork. Four countries border
Nigeria, and illicit traffic of persons and goods can
easily be conducted via unofficial border crossings.
Poorly trained and corrupt immigration officials do not
look for evidence of trafficking nor do they normally
respond adequately when evidence is presented. Stricter
document controls and scrutiny at Murtala Mohammed
International Airport in Lagos have resulted in a shift of
trafficking patterns to take advantage of the country's
porous overland borders and coastal maritime routes. Many
traffickers prefer overland routes through Benin, Togo and
Ghana. Some victims then fly from Accra or Abidjan to
Europe. Others move overland to Conakry for continued
overland travel to the Mediterranean coast and across the
sea to Europe. In addition, Kano's international airport
is becoming a new hub for traffickers, given regular flight
service from this airport to destinations in eastern Africa
and the Middle East. Victims are also being taken overland
through Niger to Morocco and driven through Egypt to the
Middle East and Europe.
¶H. and K. IS THERE A MECHANISM FOR COORDINATION AND
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN VARIOUS AGENCIES, SUCH AS A MULTI-
AGENCY WORKING GROUP OR A TASK FORCE? DOES THE GOVERNMENT
HAVE AN ANTI-TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS TASK FORCE? DOES THE
GOVERNMENT HAVE A PUBLIC CORRUPTION TASK FORCE? IS THERE
SOME ENTITY OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING ANTI-
TRAFFICKING PROGRAMS WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT?
¶H. and K. In 2002, the President established an inter-
ministerial committee to coordinate all federal anti-TIP
policies and programs. The committee is chaired by the
Minister of State for Justice and has subcommittees on law
enforcement; prevention efforts, legal reform; and planning
of an international anti-TIP summit. The government has a
police anti-TIP task force and an Independent (answering
only to the President) Anti-Corruption Commission.
President Obasanjo in late 2002 established the position of
Special Assistant to the President on Human Trafficking and
Child Labor and named Michael Mku to that job.
¶I. DOES THE GOVERNMENT COORDINATE WITH OR PARTICIPATE IN
MULTINATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL WORKING GROUPS OR EFFORTS TO
PREVENT, MONITOR OR CONTROL TRAFFICKING?
¶I. The GON continues to participate in regional and
international conferences and forums addressing TIP,
particularly the ECOWAS Experts Meeting in Accra (October
2001) to formulate a regional Plan of Action and ECOWAS
Resolution against TIP and the ECPAT "Stockholm Plus Five"
International anti-TIP conference in Yokohama, Japan
(December 2001). President Obasanjo plans to host an
international Summit on TIP in Abuja in July 2002 to
formulate better regional and international strategies to
prevent, monitor and combat trafficking.
¶J. DOES THE GOVERNMENT HAVE A NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION TO
ADDRESS TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS? IF SO, WHICH AGENCIES WERE
INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING IT? WERE NGOS CONSULTED IN THE
PROCESS? WHAT STEPS HAS THE GOVERNMENT TAKEN TO
DISSEMINATE THE ACTION PLAN?
¶J. The Government does not yet have a national plan of
action to address TIP though the newly constituted Federal
inter-ministerial TIP Committee will work toward this with
the assistance of the USDOL-funded ILO-IPEC program. The
Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health,
Education, Justice and Foreign Affairs are key participants
in this process, which will include the voice of NGOs,
according to the responsible Presidential Advisor.
PARA 25 -- INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS
--------------------------------------------- ---------
¶A. DOES THE COUNTRY HAVE A LAW SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITING
TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS? IF SO, WHAT IS THE LAW? IF NOT,
UNDER WHAT OTHER LAWS CAN TRAFFICKERS BE PROSECUTED? FOR
EXAMPLE, ARE THERE LAWS AGAINST SLAVERY OR THE EXPLOITATION
OF PROSTITUTION BY MEANS OF COERCION OR FRAUD? ARE THESE
OTHER LAWS BEING USED IN TRAFFICKING CASES? ARE THESE
LAWS, TAKEN TOGETHER, ADEQUATE TO COVER THE FULL SCOPE OF
TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS?
¶A. No specific federal law exists now. The actions of
state legislatures, such as the Edo State Assembly, to
outlaw trafficking has sparked more interest at the federal
level. The presentation of draft federal anti-TIP
legislation to the National Assembly by WOTCLEF is an
opportunity to correct this weakness. There is renewed
hope, particularly among members of the Women's Affairs
Committee in the National Assembly, that Mrs. Abubakar's
legislation will be successful as Nigeria's criminal code
is undergoing change in this new democracy. The criminal
code applying to southern Nigerian states addresses some
aspects of trafficking, especially that of children, in
chapter 21. Sections 276-279 of the Northern Penal code --
applying to the 17 northern Nigerian states -- forbid
trafficking of females for prostitution or any immoral or
illegal purpose. It should be noted that each of Nigeria's
36 states began updating state laws in 1999. The criminal
code and the penal code may no longer be universally
applicable as new laws or court systems (e.g. Shari
statutes) have supplanted or supplemented older laws. For
example, Edo state recently passed a law specifically aimed
at traffickers of both women and children, and it added
provisions beyond those found in the criminal code.
¶B. WHAT IS THE PENALTY FOR TRAFFICKERS?
¶B. There is no federal penalty for trafficking in persons,
given the lack of a federal trafficking law. Under the
criminal code, penalties for trafficking of children
include fines and imprisonment from two to seven years.
Under the penal code, penalties for encouragement of
prostitution for women or children range up to ten years.
¶C. WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR RAPE OR FORCIBLE SEXUAL
ASSUALT? HOW DO THEY COMPARE TO THE PENALTY FOR
TRAFFICKING?
¶C. The penal code protects children from sexual abuse
through age 14 and defines all abuse under this age as
rape. The criminal code prohibits the sexual assault or
indecent assault of boys under the age of 14 (Criminal code
Cap. 42, Chapter XXI, S. 216) and girls under the age of 13
(Criminal Code Cap. 42, Ch. XXI, S. 218). Sexual assault
of girls between the ages of 13 to 15 is known as
defilement and is categorized as a misdemeanor offense
(Criminal code Cap. 42, Ch. XXI, S. 221). For conviction
of unlawful carnal knowledge or defilement of girls,
prosecution must take place within two months of the
commission of the offense, and be corroborated by the
testimony of an additional witness. (Comment: few
convictions for sexual assault or defilement of girls are
won -- or even brought before a court -- under these
statutes. The criminal court system can take months if not
years to hear a case. It is extremely difficult for
prosecutors to find a witness to corroborate the victim's
testimony, especially since discussion of sexual issues is
taboo in most areas. End Comment.) Anyone causing or
encouraging female prostitution before age 16 is liable for
imprisonment up to two years (criminal code Cap. 42, Ch.
XXI, S. 222A). Adults and Rape: under the criminal code,
rape is defined as "unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or
girl, without her consent, if the consent is obtained by
force or by other means of threat or intimidation of any
kind, or any fear of harm, or by means of false and
fraudulent representation as to the nature of the act."
The penalty is life imprisonment. A judge may also declare
an additional penalty of "whipping" for a convicted rapist.
Under Section 282 of the Penal Code, the threat of death or
injury, or the use of deceit, must be used for unlawful
carnal knowledge to be considered rape. The Penal Code
provides for a court to determine any length of
imprisonment, including life, for rape. Compared to the
Edo State law against trafficking, and the provisions in
Chapter 21 of the Criminal Code, and provisions in the
Penal Code, Nigerian lawmakers view rape as a much more
serious offense. Unfortunately, few offenders are brought
to book despite these laws.
¶D. HAS THE GOVERNMENT PROSECUTED ANY CASES AGAINST
TRAFFICKERS? IF YES, PROVIDE NUMBERS OF ARRESTS,
INDICTMENTS, PLEA BARGAINS, FINES AND CONVICTIONS. WHAT
WERE THE PENALTIES ACTUALLY IMPOSED IN EACH CASE? ARE THE
TRAFFICKERS SERVING THE TIME SENTENCED? IF NO, WHY NOT?
PLEASE INDICATE WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT CAN PROVIDE THIS
INFORMATION, AND IF NOT, WHY NOT?
¶D. There is no federal law against trafficking; therefore,
no cases have been tried.
¶E. IS THERE ANY INFORMATION OR REPORTS OF WHO IS BEHIND THE
TRAFFICKING? FOR EXAMPLE, ARE THE TRAFFICKERS FREELANCE
OPERATORS, SMALL CRIMINAL GROUPS, AND/OR LARGE
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME SYNDICATES? ARE EMPLOYMENT,
TRAVEL AND TOURISM AGENCIES OR MARRIAGE BROKERS FRONTING
FOR TRAFFICKERS OR CRIME GROUPS TO TRAFFIC INDIVIDUALS?
ARE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS INVOLVED?
¶E. Few arrests of traffickers are made their strong ties to
traditional rulers, particularly in Edo and eastern states,
and the collusion of family members of the victims impede
law enforcement efforts. As noted earlier, anecdotal
evidence suggests that Edo state-based crime groups control
the traffic in women and girls from that state to Italy and
are involved in other criminal activities such as drug-
trafficking and money-laundering. Moreover, there is
increasing evidence that former victims of trafficking are
involved in the recruitment of young girls for commercial
sex work in Europe. Some law enforcement and government
officials in that state reportedly are involved in the
trade. Travel agencies and employment firms based in the
South-East and South-South frequently advertise bogus
offers of legitimate employment in Europe and even in the
U.S, and are believed to be trafficking fronts.
¶F. DOES THE GOVERNMENT ACTIVELY INVESTIGATE CASES OF
TRAFFICKING? (AGAIN, THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON TRAFFICKING
CASES VICE ALIEN SMUGGLING CASES.) DOES THE GOVERNMENT USE
ACTIVE INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUES IN TIP INVESTIGATIONS? TO
THE EXTENT POSSIBLE UNDER DOMESTIC LAW, ARE TECHNIQUES SUCH
AS ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE, UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS, AND
MITIGATED PUNISHMENT OR IMMUNITY FOR COOPERATING SUSPECTS
USED BY THE GOVERNMENT?
¶F. Interpol and members of the anti-Trafficking Task Force
have minimal resources for investigations and are
preoccupied with repatriating victims to their states of
origin. The task force swings into actions when it
receives notice of imminent deportation of Nigerian TIP
victims from Europe or a trafficker is intercepted at the
border. They begin investigations by interviewing victims,
who generally do not cooperate in providing criminal
evidence against traffickers because of their fear of
trafficker retribution and threats of preternatural curses.
Next, members of the task force will videotape the victims
and travel to their homes for identification purposes and
to contact their families. The deportees are also tested
for HIV/AIDS. Those testing positive are turned over to
the state of origin's commission for health. Electronic
surveillance and undercover operations are techniques used
in the investigation of other criminal activities in
Nigeria but, given the lack of adequate anti-TIP resources,
are not currently employed in Nigeria's law enforcement
response to trafficking. Since few traffickers are
arrested the issue of mitigated punishment or immunity from
prosecution is generally moot.
¶G. DOES THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE ANY SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN HOW TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE
INCIDENCES OF TRAFFICKING?
¶G. The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) will soon receive a
specialized anti-trafficking training program for members
of its anti-TIP Task Force as well as members of the
general police force posted in areas of significant
trafficking activity as part of an IOM project. This
project will also seek to establish an anti-TIP training
module for inclusion in the existing basic training
curriculum for new police recruits.
¶H. DOES THE GOVERNMENT COOPERATE WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS IN
THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKING CASES? IF
POSSIBLE, CAN POST PROVIDE THE NUMBER OF COOPERATIVE
INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS ON TRAFFICKING?
¶H. Yes, the GON cooperates with other governments on TIP
investigations and prosecutions. Post cannot provide a
specific number of cases, but can point to the July arrest
of 15 Nigerian traffickers in Conakry and the Guinean
government's subsequent extradition of these 15 to Nigeria
-- where they now await trail -- as the most significant
case of international cooperation in 2002.
¶I. DOES THE GOVERNMENT EXTRADITE PERSONS WO ARE CHARGED
WITH TRAFFICKING IN OTHER COUNTRIES? IF SO, CAN POST
PROVIDE THE NUMBER OF TRAFFICKERS EXTRADITED? DOES THE
GOVERNMENT EXTRADITE ITS OWN NATIONALS CHARGED WITH SUCH
OFFENSES? IF NOT, IS THE GOVERNMENT PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM
EXTRADITING ITS OWN NATIONALS? IF SO, WHAT IS THE
GOVERNMENT DOING TO MODIFY ITS LAWS TO PERMIT THE
EXTRADITION OF NATIONALS?
¶I. The GON has extradition agreements with a number of
countries, including the U.S. but usually these agreements
have a "dual criminality" requirement -- a person is not
subject to extradition to stand trial for an alleged
offense committed in/against a foreign country unless that
same offense is a crime under Nigerian federal law. Since
trafficking is not a federal crime (yet), traffickers
cannot be extradited for that particular offense, though
they could be extradited for related offenses such as
kidnapping, slavery, and abuse of a minor. Post is unaware
of any such extraditions.
¶J. and K. IS THERE EVIDENCE OF GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN OR
TOLERANCE OF TRAFFICKING, ON A LOCAL OR INSTITUTIONAL
LEVEL? IF YES, PLEASE EXPLAIN IN DETAIL. IF GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS ARE INVOLVED IN TRAFFICKING, WHAT STEPS HAS THE
GOVERNMENT TAKEN TO END THEIR PARTICIPATION? HAVE ANY
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS BEEN PROSECUTED FOR INVOLVEMENT IN
TRAFFICKING OR TRAFFICKING-RELATED CORRUPTION? HAVE ANY
BEEN CONVICTED? WHAT ACTUAL SENTENCE WAS IMPOSED?
¶J. and K. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Ojomo --
forcibly retired on March 6, 2002 -- claimed to have been
investigating allegations of the collusion of Customs
officials in the illegal trade. Returnees have made
allegations that Nigerian Immigration officials accepted
bribes to look the other way when traffickers take victims
out of the country. There are credible allegations that
some traditional rulers in Edo State have assisted
traffickers and support the recruitment of Bini women into
the international sex trade. Consequently, efforts to
engage local government authorities and traditional rulers
in an awareness campaign frequently run aground because of
leadership acquiescence in or support of human smuggling.
Many of these leaders are themselves sophisticated
criminals who have operated in Edo State for the past 20
years.
¶L. HAS THE GOVERNMENT SIGNED AND RATIFIED THE FOLLOWING
INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS? PLEASE PROVIDE THE DATE OF
SIGNATURE/RATIFICATION IF APPROPRIATE.
--ILO CONVENTION 182 CONCERNING THE PROHIBITION AND
IMMEDIATE ACTION FOR THE ELIMINATION OF THE WORST FORMS OF
CHILD LABOR.
--SALE OF CHILDREN PROTOCOL SUPPLEMENTING THE RIGHTS OF THE
CHILD CONVENTION (CRC)
-- THE PROTOCOL TO PREVENT, SUPPRESS AND PUNISH TRAFFICKING
IN PERSONS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, SUPPLEMENTING
THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME.
¶L. The GON signed the ILO's Convention 182 and the Federal
Executive Council has approved ratification and is now
awaiting the National Assembly's approval. The GON signed
the Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution
and Child Pornography (supplementing the CRC) on September
8, 2000 but has not yet ratified it. The GON was the first
African country to sign the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress
and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and
Children (supplementing the UN TOC Convention), signing
this on December 13, 2000 and ratified it on June 28, 2001.
PARA 26 -- PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS
--------------------------------------------- --
¶A. DOES THE GOVERNMENT ASSIST VICTIMS, FOR EXAMPLE, BY
PROVIDING TEMPORARY TO PERMANENT RESIDENCY STATUS, RELIEF
FROM DEPORTATION, SHELTER AND ACCESS TO LEGAL, MEDICAL AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES? IF YES, PLEASE EXPLAIN. ARE THE
RIGHTS OF VICTIMS RESPECTED, OR ARE THEY ALSO TREATED AS
CRIMINALS? DOES THE COUNTRY HAVE VICTIM CARE AND VICTIM
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES? IF SO, CAN POST PROVIDE THE NUMBER
OF VICTIMS PLACED IN THESE CARE FACILITIES?
¶A. There are no clear established policies to deal with
persons trafficked to Nigeria and all regular laws apply.
For trafficked victims returned to Nigeria, social services
for resettlement are provided by a very small number of
financially-strapped NGOs, not the government. The Italian
government has provided USD 800,000 to the IOM for
assistance to women and girls repatriated to Nigeria and to
provide medical aid for returnees with HIV/AIDS. Another
USD one million has been provided by the Italian government
for preventative medical programs discouraging the spread
of HIV/AIDS in the country. On the other hand, there have
been sporadic attempts by the GON over the past two years
to "parade" returned victims before the media to discourage
cooperation with traffickers. Media reports have carried
estimates of the number of those infected by HIV/AIDS in
these reports. While it may serve as a deterrent to some
potential victims, this campaign does not provide any
assistance to those already victimized by the illicit
trade.
¶B. DOES THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE FUNDING OR OTHER FORMS OF
SUPPORT TO FOREIGN OR DOMESTIC NGOS FOR SERVICES TO
VICTIMS? PLEASE EXPLAIN.
¶B. According to the new Presidential Assistant on Human
Trafficking and Child Labor, the federal government,
through the Inter-ministerial Committee Against Trafficking
in Persons, will provide, in the coming year, funding to
NGOs such as the National Council for Women Societies and
the Women Trafficking and Child Labor Eradication
Foundation (WOTCLEF), the Child Welfare League of Nigeria
(CWLN) and IDIA Renaissance to better assist returned
Nigerian victims of trafficking.
¶C. ARE VICTIMS DETAINED, JAILED, FINED, OR DEPORTED? IF
DETAINED OR JAILED, FOR HOW LONG? ARE VICTIMS PROSECUTED
FOR VIOLATIONS OF OTHER LAWS, SUCH AS THOSE GOVERNING
IMMIGRATION OR PROSTITUTION?
¶C. Victims who are returned from other countries, such as
Italy, are currently subjected to confinement, sometimes in
cramped facilities along with criminals for varying periods
of time. Victims repatriated to Nigeria are also subjected
to mandatory testing for HIV/AIDS and other sexually
transmitted diseases before released from police custody.
These repatriated trafficking victims are seldom prosecuted
for violations of other laws such as immigration or
prostitution offenses.
¶D. DOES THE GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGE VICTIMS TO ASSIST IN THE
INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKING? MAY VICTIMS
FILE CIVIL SUITS OR SEEK LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE
TRAFFICKERS? DOES ANYONE IMPEDE THE VICTIMS' ACCESS TO
SUCH LEGAL REDRESS? IF A VICTIM IS A MATERIAL WITNESS IN A
COURT CASE AGAINST THE FORMER EMPLOYER, IS THE VICTIM
PERMITTED TO OBTAIN OTHER EMPLOYMENT OR TO LEAVE THE
COUNTRY? IS THERE A VICTIM RESTITUTION PROGRAM?
¶D. The Police Anti-TIP Task Force encourages repatriated
victims to provide testimony for the prosecution of
Nigeria-based traffickers, but rarely receives adequate
evidence as many women and girls have been threatened by
traffickers, often through voodoo or juju, of they
cooperate with law enforcement. There is no witness
restitution program in Nigeria, though witnesses could seek
legal action against traffickers through civil suits
(though no such suits are known). Given the lack of a
federal trafficking law and the paucity of related criminal
investigations, it is not known if victims who cooperate in
an criminal investigation as a material witness are
permitted to obtain other employment or leave the country.
¶E. WHAT KIND OF PROTECTIONS IS GOVERNMENT ABLE TO PROVIDE
FOR VICTIMS AND WITNESSES? DOES IT PROVIDE THESE
PROTECTIONS IN PRACTICE?
¶E. No victim or witness protection is currently available,
though, as mentioned earlier, the federal government is
planning to establish long-term care and vocational
training facilities for returned victims. Also, witness
protection measures are being considered as part of the
draft TIP law now being considered by the National
Assembly.
¶F. DOES THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE ANY SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN THE PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE TO
TRAFFICKED VICTIMS, INCLUDING THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF
TRAFFICKED CHILDREN? DOES THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE TRAINING
ON PROTECTIONS AND ASSISTANCE TO ITS EMBASSIES AND
CONSULATES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES THAT ARE DESTINATION OR
TRANIST COUNTRIES? DOES IT URGE THOSE EMBASSIES AND
CONSULATES TO DEVELOP ONGOING RELATIONSHIPS WITH NGOS THAT
SERVE TRAFFICKED VICTIMS?
¶F. Italy is by far the greatest destination for Nigerians
trafficked abroad. The government of Nigeria has stationed
a consular officer at its embassy in Rome to assist
Nigerian trafficking victims arrested or rescued by Italian
police and to facilitate their repatriation to Nigeria.
The Nigerian Embassy in Rome works closely with Italian
police, immigration and Carbineri and coordinates shelter
care for Nigerian trafficking victims with Catholic NGOs
such as Caritas. Training of the Nigerian Embassy consular
officer and others, such as the members of the NPF anti-TIP
Task Force in Lagos, appears informal and minimal, though
the IOM project mentioned earlier plans to provide a formal
training regime for the Police.
¶G. DOES THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS MEDICAL
AID, SHELTER, OR FINANCIAL HELP, TO ITS REPATRIATED
NATIONALS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING?
¶G. The government, in the form of the Police Anti-TIP Task
Force, provides limited short-term shelter for victims of
trafficking returned to Nigeria. It has no provisions,
however, for longer-term medical care or rehabilitation of
these trafficking victims. President Obasanjo's new
Special Assistant on Human Trafficking and Child Labor is,
however, planning to coordinate the establishment of long-
term shelters and vocational training centers for TIP
victims in Lagos and Abuja in the coming year. Currently
victims who test positive for HIV/AIDS at the Police short-
term shelter in Lagos are turned over to the health
commissions of their state of origin for follow-on
treatment and counseling.
¶H. WHICH NGOS, IF ANY, WORK WITH TRAFFICKING VICTIMS? WHAT
TYPES OF SERVICES DO THEY PROVIDE? WHAT SORT OF
COOPERATION DO THEY RECEIVE FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES? NOTE:
IF POST REPORTS THAT A GOVERNMENT IS INCAPABLE OF ASSISTING
AND PROTECTING TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS VICTIMS, THEN POST
SHOULD EXPLAIN THOROUGHLY. FUNDING, PERSONNEL, AND
TRAINING CONSTRAINTS SHOULD BE NOTED, IF APPLICABLE.
CONVERSELY, A LACK OF POLITICAL WILL TO ADDRESS SHOULD BE
NOTED AS WELL.
¶H. There are several NGOs active on the anti-TIP front,
including Mrs. Igbinedion's IDIA Renaissance, the Women's
Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON) and the Women Trafficking and
Child Labor Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF). There is
also a newly-created alliance of 12 NGOs to address
trafficking -- the National Coalition Against Trafficking
in Persons (NACATIP). These groups, particularly IDIA
Renaissance in Edo State, provide long-term comprehensive
assistance to trafficking victims, though this receives no
federal funding. The stated commitment of President
Obasanjo to the fight against TIP has not yet yielded funds
for these local efforts to help trafficking victims.
POINT OF CONTACT
----------------
Post's point of contact on Anti-Trafficking in Persons
issues is Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (NLEA)
officer Mark Taylor; telephone: 234-9-523-0916, 523-8001,
523-0960 or 234-9-413-1867 or 234-80340-21471 (mobile).
ANDREWS