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Daily News Analysis

Anti-Human Trafficking Cell  

4th April, 2022 Social Issues

 

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Context: Anti-Human Trafficking Cell launched by National Commission for Women.

 

Details:

  • The National Commission for Women has launched an Anti-Human Trafficking Cell.
  • The objective of the Anti-Human Trafficking cell;
    • To improve effectiveness in tracking cases of human trafficking.
    • Raising awareness among women and girls.
    • Capacity building and training of Anti Trafficking Units.
    • Increasing responsiveness of law enforcement agencies.
    • Increasing awareness among law enforcement officials and facilitating their capacity building.
    • To conduct Gender Sensitization Training and Workshops at regional, state and district levels.
  • To improve monitoring mechanisms and encourage agencies for the prevention of trafficking and rehabilitation of victims.
  • It will also help survivors of trafficking in reconstructing their lives by delivering them need-based training and by organizing capacity-building programs.

 

Human Trafficking:

  • Human trafficking is defined as the forceful exploitation of a person.
  • It is the trade of humans for the purpose of forced labour, Prostitution, etc.
  • According to the data released by National Crime Records Bureau, the highest numbers of persons were trafficked for forced labour, followed by prostitution.

 

Root Causes of Human trafficking:

  • The Reasons behind increasing trafficking vary from country to country, and often differ from one country to another.
  • Social, political, economical, cultural and other factors play a key role in Promoting Trafficking. Women and children are extremely vulnerable to trafficking.
  • Socio-economic conditions like poverty, caste discrimination or violence, lack of economic opportunity, Political violence, Climate change, and natural disasters influence trafficking. Displacement of populations increases their vulnerability to becoming a victim of trafficking.
  • Increasing penetration of broadcast and telecommunication services and social media in rural areas has increased the desire of people to migrate towards the city and, with that; they are becoming easy targets for traffickers.
  • In Some Poor families, Parents sell their children due to their weak financial condition, and also in the hope that their children would get a better standard of living and more opportunities in life.
  • Other factors like porous borders, corruption among Government officials, and weak enforcement of Anti-trafficking laws.

 

Major Steps were taken by Government:

  • The government enacted the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, of 1986 to deal with trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
  • Bonded Labour Regulation Act, 1986 and Child Labour Regulation Act, 1986 deal with the exploitation of bonded labour.
  • India is part of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crimes, and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking.
  • The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018 was introduced in Parliament. It contains provisions for the prevention, rescue, and rehabilitation of trafficked persons.
  • The Union government created a National Anti-Trafficking Bureau to monitor the investigation of cases at the national level.

 

Way Forward:

  • Human Trafficking is an organised crime and operated across domestic and international borders, the nature of the crime needs strong cooperation and intelligence sharing between different investigating agencies.
  • Steps must be taken for the socio-economic development of potential victims to reduce their vulnerability.
  • Focus on improving children’s access to educational and vocational training, especially among girls and minority groups.
  • Promoting job opportunities for women by supporting Self Help Groups (SHGs) and organizing training courses to empower them.
  • Prohibiting the services provided through trafficked persons, like child labour, prostitution, etc.
  • Need to ensure a minimum standard of living for all people, Strict Border control through proper fencing and regular patrolling, Prevent corruption in bureaucracy, etc, to curb the menace of trafficking.
  • Steps should be taken to set up Protection Homes across the country, to provide shelter, food, counselling, and medical services to victims.
  • Our development goals must include both economic development and social inclusion.

https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=234630