Media’s role in curbing contemporary slavery in Africa

Analysis of child trafficking trends in Nigeria

  • Ifeyinwa Nsude Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki Nigeria
  • Chidinma Henrietta Onwubere National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria
Keywords: Contemporary Slavery, Child Trafficking, Media

Abstract

Slavery has been a universal phenomenon and Africa is not an exception as this had existed long before the arrival of the Europeans. It is pertinent to note that all types of slavery are characterized by the violation of all forms of Human Rights.  In most cases, the slaves are hired for economic reasons as a result of which severe inhuman treatments are meted out to them.  For these reasons, the international communities and concerned Africans frowned at this violation of Human Rights; hence the law to abolish slave trade was promulgated. Frantic efforts were made by all those that were concerned until slave trade was finally abolished in Africa in 1882.With the abolition of this trade, nations, states, and international institutions started protecting Fundamental Human Rights in the hope that there would not be a resurgence of slavery in any form. Unfortunately, contemporary slavery which has the same indices and characteristics with the Trans-Atlantic slavery and other forms of slavery in the past has emerged in modern day Africa. Contemporary slavery includes trafficking of vulnerable groups such as women and children. This paper looked at the contemporary trends of child trafficking in Nigeria and the media’s role in curbing this menace. This is a theoretical paper whereby related literature was reviewed. The work was anchored on Social Responsibility Theory and the Agenda Setting Theory. The study revealed that the trend of child trafficking is on the increase and the media have not created adequate awareness. Five recommendations were made one of which is that the media should use all the tools at their disposal in creating adequate awareness while the government should implement the already existing child trafficking laws.

Author Biographies

Ifeyinwa Nsude, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki Nigeria

Department of Mass Communication

Chidinma Henrietta Onwubere, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria

Department of Mass Communication

Published
2020-09-05
How to Cite
Nsude, I., & Onwubere, C. H. (2020). Media’s role in curbing contemporary slavery in Africa: Analysis of child trafficking trends in Nigeria. University of Nigeria Interdisciplinary Journal of Communication Studies , 26(1). Retrieved from https://journal.ijcunn.com/index.php/IJC/article/view/128
Section
Articles