Meet Ochuko Joy Agbeyegbe, anti-human trafficking activist who started in Cyprus
Who is Ochuko Joy Agbeyegbe?
Ochuko Joy Agbeyegbe is a Nigerian Lawyer and sex trafficking advocate. She obtained her master's degree in International Law from the Girne American University in Cyprus. She recently conducted research on Human Trafficking Legislations, Victims' Protections and Asylum Applications made on behalf of trafficking victims by the UNHCR. Joy not only has theoretical experience from her research on human trafficking, but she also has practical experience from her efforts in helping sex trafficking victims in North Cyprus.
Ochuko Joy Agbeyegbe and her life experience.
My name is Ochuko Joy Agbeyegbe, a 25 year old Nigerian Lawyer born and raised in Lagos. Growing up in rural part of Lagos Life was a struggle. I experienced being sent home as a defaulter from school and my siblings and I had to hawk fish to help my mom better assist the family as she was the sole breadwinner. I know how it feels for a young girl or child to be deprived of not only wants but needs. The feeling of going to bed without food is unimaginable. This knowledge obtained from my past has helped me to better relate with victims of human trafficking when I come in contact with them. Rather than judge them, I feel empathy, love and the desire to help even at the expense of my life!
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| Ochuko joy Agbeyegbe |
I Arrived Cyprus in 2011 to pursue a degree in International Law where I finished with a first class and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2016. After practising in Nigeria for one year, I travelled back to Cyprus to complete my masters in International Business Law which I had started before attending Law School.
How and when the journey to becoming an anti-human and sex trafficking advocate started.
Upon arrival in Cyprus, I encountered my first major challenge in my early career. I was moved to tears when a victim of human trafficking narrated how she was trafficked from Edo State in Nigeria to Cyprus nearly 3 years ago. The victim was subject to all forms of physical, emotional and sexual abuse and had paid over 10 million Naira (official Nigerian currency) to her madam (trafficker). There were other victims but they weren’t willing to speak against their madam (This was probably due to the voodoo secrecy oath sworn by victims in Nigeria before they embark on their journey to Europe).
After several months of strategizing, I eventually decided to quit my job and started the process to liberate the victim.
How she went about making sure the victim get justice.
We reported the case to the police and the Traffickers were arrested immediately. Surprisingly, the Traffickers were released by the police within 2 days and we (the victim and I) started to run for our lives.
The North Cyprus police finally resolved that there was not enough evidence to prove the allegations (note that we had audio, video recordings and whatsapp conversations of the Traffickers) and decided that the victim would be deported back to Nigeria. At that point, I was completely broken because I was not only doing my job as a lawyer, but I had become so close to the victim and come to love her as a sister. This is a girl from a humble background who had paid over 10 million Naira (about $28,000) and now about to be deported back to the village, I knew I needed to do something.
After receiving several threats from the traffickers, we eventually ran to the office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees Office in North Cyprus on 19th February, 2018, seeking help. The UNHCR lawyer then filed an Asylum Application on behalf of the victim to the government of South Cyprus (a country under the European Union). We were also provided with accommodation in a 4 bedroom duplex, food, clothes and police protection.
Today, the victim has been granted her residence permit to live in the Republic of Cyprus. The Government pays the victim monthly, pays her house rent and she has been awarded scholarship to study Law so she can assist other victims in the future.
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| Ochuko joy Agbeyegbe |
I also recently assisted a victim of labour trafficking in Oman who was trafficked by a Nigerian agent to work as a housemaid but ended up being used as a slave in Oman. The victim finally reunited with her husband her daughter 2 weeks ago.
Based on my personal experience as an anti-human trafficking activist and research on human trafficking which formed the basis of my masters thesis, I’ve been given recognition by several humanitarian and international bodies.
Her invitation to speak at the International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference to be held in the USA, later this month.
Consequently, upon my personal experience as an anti-human trafficking activist and research on human trafficking which formed the basis of my masters thesis, I’ve been selected to be a speaker at the International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference organised by the University of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio USA. The conference which holds every year pulls lawyers, judges, social workers, professors and owners of NGOs from all over the world.
I’ll be speaking on the topic ‘Finding a Voice: From Africa to Europe; The Effect of Voodoo Secrecy Oath Sworn by Victims. The conference dates are 20th and 21st September, 2018 at the University of Toledo, Ohio. The Conference would also be aired on Webinar and can be viewed from any part of the world.
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