UNITED KINGDOM: AFRUCA’s 9th Anniversary - Breaking the Cycle of Fear: Witchcraft, Juju and Safeguarding Victims of Human Trafficking

About AFRUCA

AFRUCA – Africans Unite Against Child Abuse is a leading charity promoting the rights and welfare of African children in the UK. We are a UK based charity working exclusively with victims of child trafficking from Africa.

Background:

Traditional belief in witchcraft and Juju rituals in Africa is strong and traffickers are known to employ it to coerce and subjugate their victims. Many victims of human trafficking are made to take oaths of allegiance, secrecy, and confidentiality to bind them to their traffickers, ensure compliance, and guarantee the repayment of the huge sums of money claimed to be owed for transporting the victims to Europe and for their upkeep. Many victims, fearful of the repercussions of the oath taken are compelled to endure their suffering in silence without recourse to help or support. The fear of Juju makes it extremely difficult for agencies to support victims and for the authorities to investigate, prosecute and bring suspected traffickers to justice.

How can UK practitioners better understand the needs of young people who are under the spell of Juju in order to intervene successfully?

This seminar is being held for the third time due to the high levels of interest in the subject matter by practitioners, social workers and other organizations.

Aims of the Seminar:

  •  To explore the role of Juju in the growth of human trafficking.
    • To examine the link between the trafficking of African women and children and the use of Juju rituals as a method of coercion and submission.
    • To explore the role of Juju rituals in hindering victim support and in the prosecution of suspected traffickers.
    • To explore how to empower victims of trafficking to overcome their fears of Juju.

Expected Outcome:

A better knowledge and understanding of how to support and empower victims of trafficking living in fear of Juju and how to secure their cooperation in prosecuting traffickers.

Guest Speakers:

  • Ms Debbie Ariyo, Founder and Director of AFRUCA:

The Impact of Witchcraft Abuse on Victims of Trafficking in the UK

  • Mr. Simon Chuzi Egede, Executive Secretary and CEO, NAPTIP Nigeria:

Cooperation between Nigeria and the UK in Combating Child Trafficking

  • Mr. Andy Desmond, Detective Constable, New Scotland Yard Human Trafficking Team:

Witchcraft and Juju as barriers to effective prosecution of Traffickers

  • Mr. Godwin E Morka, Head of Lagos Zonal Office, NAPTIP Nigeria:

Addressing Human Trafficking at the Source: countering the power of Juju on victims- Our experience at NAPTIP Nigeria

  • Ms Sue Powell, SOCA Investigator Vulnerable Persons Team, and Mr. David Gonzales, SOCA Investigator, Operational Team, Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA):

Op Paladin: An Investigation into Human Trafficking and Prostitution in Ireland and England Involving West African Victims

Who should attend?

  • Childs Rights Practitioners
  • Policy makers, immigration and border officials
  • The Police
  • Social workers
  • Lawyers, barristers and immigration practitioners
  • Faith groups
  • NGO’s  - local and international

Fees: £80 per delegate

Registration: Due to high levels of interest, to ensure your place at the event, please complete and return the attached booking form with payment to Cherifa Atoussi, Anti-Child Trafficking Officer, cherifa@afruca.org.

Owner: AFRUCApdf: http://www.crin.org/docs/AFRUCA_Breaking the Cycle of Fear' booking form-2.doc

Organisation: 
Africans Unite Against Child Abuse
Africans Unite Against Child Abuse
Africans Unite Against Child Abuse
Africans Unite Against Child Abuse
Link : 
http://www.crin.org/docs/AFRUCA_Breaking%20the%20Cycle%20of%20Fear'%20booking%20form-2.doc

Countries

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