Title:   TRAFFICKING AND HUMAN DIGNITY: A CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF AKACHI ADIMORA-EZEIGBO’S TRAFFICKED

Human trafficking for commercial sex exploitation is a heinous crime against humanity. This modern-day slavery is particularly targeted at women and children and constitutes a greater percentage of the fastest growing criminal industry in the world today. The trafficked victims are often seen as mere chattels and are therefore objectified and treated as merchandise. They are deceived, drugged, coerced or even kidnapped before being trafficked. This study, however, critically analyzes Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo’s Trafficked and examines the ingrained social injustice in Nigeria and how the writer projects the image of the dehumanized woman. Using feminist and post-colonial theory, it gives an understanding of how systems of social inequality are created and sustained. It argues that the new wave of migration and the growing commodification of the female body sustain the increase in trafficking for sexual exploitation. Findings from this research further reveal that poverty, social inequality, exclusion, gender discrimination and power imbalance culminate in the increased vulnerability of these victims. The research identifies the causes of human trafficking and categorically states that it is an affront to human values and contrary to the principles of freedom and human dignity. It equally reinstates that the protection of humans particularly children and women from trafficking must be placed in the broader context of the promotion and protection of human rights. And in order to combat and eradicate this epidemic and social injustice, this paper concludes that state legislation with stiff penalties that criminalize this nefarious and barbaric act must be institutionalized.

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Publication Date: 2020-12-04