United Nations  Special Rapporteur Maria Grazia Giammarinaro will assess the issue of trafficking in persons in Nigeria, during an official visit to the country from 3-10 September.
This was made known to journalists in a statement by Mr Lucky Mosunda, Communication Specialist to the United Nations Development Program  in Abuja.

According to Ms Giammarinario “My visit is an opportunity to meet with relevant stakeholders to discuss various forms and manifestations of trafficking in persons and key human rights concerns and challenges, as well as progress made, in addressing trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual, labour or any other form of exploitation,” Ms Giammarinaro said.

“Particular attention will be paid to key issues and challenges in the implementation of international and legal frameworks on trafficking in persons, especially women and children. During the visit, we will also examine measures taken or to be taken in terms of prevention of trafficking in persons, identification and protection of victims, prosecution and punishment of perpetrators as well as access to justice and social inclusion for survivors.”

Ms. Giammarinaro will meet representatives of Government agencies, as well as UN officials and members of civil society organisations, especially those working in the field of prevention and victim support, during her visit to Abuja, Lagos and Benin City.

The Special Rapporteur will hold a news conference to share her preliminary observations with the media at 12 pm on Monday 10 September 2018 at the Transcop Hilton.
Findings from the country visit and recommendations will be included in an official report to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2019.

Ms. Giammarinaro (Italy) was appointed as Special Rapporteur on traffickingin persons, especially women and children by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2014. She has been a Judge since 1991 and currently serves as a Judge at the Civil Court of Rome.
She was the Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings of the OSCE, and served in the EuropeanCommission’s Directorate-General for Justice, Freedom and Security in Brussels, where she was responsible for combating human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children.Ms. Giammarinaro drafted the EU Directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims.

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.