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Connected to: GS 1 and GS 2

Context: Decline of Conviction rate in Human Trafficking cases

 

Details:

• According to the latest data released by the Union government, The conviction rate in human trafficking cases are on decline.
• Despite of increasing number of Anti-human trafficking units, the conviction rate declined dropped from 27.8% in 2016 to 10.6% in 2020.

 

Reason behind declining conviction rate:

• Absence of a strong investigation mechanism is one of the key reasons behind decline in conviction rate.

 

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 number 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, natural disasters influence trafficking. Displacement of populations increases their vulnerability to become a victim of trafficking.
• Increasing penetration of broadcast and telecommunication services, and social media  in rural areas have 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, weak enforcement of Anti-trafficking law.

 

Major Steps taken by Government:

• Government enacted Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1986 to deals with trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
• Bonded Labour Regulation Act, 1986 and Child Labour Regulation Act, 1986 deal with exploitation for 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 national level.

 

Way forward:

• Human Trafficking is an organised crime and operated across domestic and international border, the nature of the crime needs a strong cooperation and intelligence sharing between different investigating agencies.
• Steps must be taken for socio-economic development of potential victims to reduce their vulnerability.
• Focus on Improving children’s access to educational and vocational training, specially 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 minimum standard of living to all people, Strict Border control through proper fencing and regular patrolling, Preventing corruption in bureaucracy, etc, to curb the menace of
• Steps should be taken to set up Protection Homes across the country, to provide shelter, food, counseling, and medical services to victims.
• Our development goals must include both economic development and social inclusion.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking