By Lizzy Carr, Bauchi
A Non-governmental organization, the Network of Women with Disabilities has trained members on the trafficking of persons living with disabilities in Bauchi state.
This training was organized by the network in collaboration with LEAP for Africa.
The Coordinator of the Network, Princess Markus while speaking at the event said that women with disabilities are prey to human traffickers in the guise of supporting them.
She said that the training for women with disabilities is part of efforts at strengthening the capacity of organizations and youths in the prevention of human trafficking.
Markus who is in a wheelchair as a result of a spinal cord injury noted that women with disabilities have been forced into the street begging by parents and caregivers and even those who come pretending to help them.
“Women who are visually impaired and those with hearing impairments are often victims of trafficking for sex purposes,”
She said even at home women with disabilities are exploited, raped, and harassed while they face discrimination in society.
“It is difficult to live with these conditions and facing trafficking, exploitation, and rape only adds to our problems,” she noted.
She added that women with disabilities in Bauchi State have little knowledge hence the prevalence of human trafficking in the state.
“Children of women with disabilities are been trafficked for child labor as domestic helps or to lead the blind to beg for arms while the parents are told their children are in schools in the city,”
Markus stated that the training will equip them with knowledge on how to identify human traffickers and how to protect themselves and their children from this menace.
