Anambra Assembly Passes Trafficking In Persons Enforcement Administration Bill Into Law

Anambra State House of Assembly has passed the “Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration’ bill into law after reading it for the third time on the floor of the state House of Assembly.

The lawmakers adopted it as a working document after considering the reports of the joint committee on Judiciary headed by Mr Patrick Okafor, Onitsha North 2 constituency and the committee on Women and Social Welfare, chaired by Nkechi Ogbuefi of Anaocha 1 constituency.

Mr Patrick Okafor who sponsored the bill said the objective of the law is to provide an effective and comprehensive legal and institutional framework for the prohibition and prevention, detention, persecution and punishment of human trafficking in Anambra state.

“This law will protect victims of human trafficking, promote and facilitate international cooperation in order to meet the objectives.”

The state assembly Speaker, Somtochukwu Udeze commended the members of the joint committee and the entire lawmakers for their commitment and dedication.

“As an institution, this is part of our job and we are doing it the right way,” Udeze said.

It is noteworthy that the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, originally passed in 2003 and amended in 2005 and 2015, criminalizes human trafficking and related abuses. The Act provides trafficked persons with access to adequate health services and protection against discriminatory treatment.

Emmanuel Ukoh