Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF)
Unverified non-profit organisation
WOTCLEF is a non-governmental organization, which was initiated and founded by Her Excellency, Chief (Mrs.) Amina Titi Atiku Abubakar, wife of the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1999, and which is committed to building an international coalition that restores human dignity through empowerment, education and advocacy.
WOTCLEF is dedicated to the eradication of trafficking in persons, child labour and violent abuses of the rights of women and society, as well as HIV/AIDS.
WOTCLEF’s awareness activities have not been restricted to Nigeria, but also led awareness campaigns to a number of European countries known to be recipients of young women and children trafficked from Nigeria. Similar campaigns have been organized in the United States, Italy, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands. All this international collaboration led to the expansion of WOTCLEF in 2005 across borders to open an office in Florida, WOTCLEF, USA, Inc., a non-profit 501(3) in Tallahassee, Florida. The collective mission of both organizations is the same.
Having the goal to eventually reintegrate the victims into society by ensuring that they are economically self-sufficient and psychologically well adjusted, WOTCLEF offers assistance to young women, boys and girls who are victims of trafficking and child labour. Psychosocial counselling is provided for repatriated victims. They also receive medical treatment, clothing, legal assistance and shelter. Whenever possible, victims are reunited with their families and offered vocational training.
A significant landmark in the activities of WOTCLEF was the enactment of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act in 2003 and the subsequent establishment of the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) by the Federal Government of Nigeria. This was a result of WOTCLEF’s direct legislative advocacy. In July 2003, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) granted WOTCLEF a Special Consultative Status. This distinguished status gives WOTCLEF the rare opportunity to maintain regular presence at the United Nations’ meetings and conferences that are relevant to WOTCLEF’s programs and activities.