Nigeria–Europe NGO Conference on the Non-Punishment Principle for Victims of Human Trafficking and Vulnerable Migrants

In November 2025, HopeNow joined fellow NGO’s and international experts in Siracusa for the Nigeria–Europe NGO Conference on the Non‑Punishment Principle, hosted with the Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights.

The focus was strengthening cooperation between Nigerian and European actors so that victims of trafficking are protected not punished. Together, we looked at case management, cross‑border referrals, digital tracking, and how ongoing reforms in Nigeria can better align with CSO‑led protection work. A joint communiqué now commits all partners to deeper collaboration within a victim-centred framework guided by the non-punishment principle.

Our director Michele Mildwater contributed important insights on emerging vulnerabilities including how criminal networks exploit LGBTQ+ individuals through blackmail, the impact of Boko Haram on internal security, and the growing role of cyber-enabled recruitment. To ground the discussion, we shared an anonymised case from our outreach in Copenhagen. It highlighted how easily a trafficked person can fall through the cracks when systems don’t recognise indicators early enough.

Being part of this conference mattered deeply to HopeNow. Many of the victims we are working with are Nigerian nationals, and stronger cooperation between Nigerian and European partners directly shapes the protection and support they receive.