A bench book on women's rights, a resource directory and common protocol for rehabilitation of victims and policy interventions at every stage was suggested by experts to curb human trafficking.

At a sensitisation programme on trafficking for judicial professionals on Saturday, Geetha Ramaseshan, advocate, Madras High Court, said trafficking for sexual exploitation had nuances involving various stages. At present, women become vulnerable to trafficking owing to factors such as internal displacement, poverty and approach to teenage sexuality. The language of the law might be neutral but the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act was highly discriminatory against women, she said, suggesting a bench book — a compilation of judicial decisions, policy notes and international women's rights guidelines — that would act as a ready reckoner.

Almost every panchayat had a vigilance committee led by its president but information on human trafficking was not passed up the communication channel, said A.N. Raaj Saravanakumar, Deputy Director, Department of Social Defence. Calling for better coordination among the 11 line departments involved in prevention of human trafficking, he suggested a common protocol for the three main departments — police, judiciary and social defence — for rehabilitation of victims.

S. Kannayiram, a consultant, asked the State to follow the Philippines model of enquiry in child abuse cases. The courts had the powers to set up a multi-specialty team comprising stake-holders, including police officers, lawyers and social workers, to interact with a victim without seeing him or her. “The victim and the enquiry team will sit in separate rooms but the interaction could be videotaped to be produced as evidence,” he said.

The victim need not be troubled repeatedly in the name of enquiry under this method and the team could get back to him/her for further clarification, Mr. Kannayiram said, suggesting the compilation of a resource directory of all stakeholders concerned, especially for proper rehabilitation.