Showing posts with label Government and policy. Show all posts
Friday, July 18, 2014
Bengal to lauch anti-trafficking committees
The West Bengal government Thursday launched guidelines for forming Child Protection Committees (CPCs) across all villages of the state to maintain vigilance and monitor child trafficking, officials said.
The technical support for the efforts will be provided by Unicef.
The CPCs will fortify child protection at the gram panchayat, village, block, city and district levels under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), a centrally-sponsored programme for child protection, being implemented across the country from 2009-10.
"All of this was on paper, but today we have launched the guidelines formally. Now, notifications will be issued at all levels and they will be instructed to form the committees. These will work in parallel to other such initiatives," Shashi Panja, state woman and child welfare minister, said here.
The committees would include public health workers, NGOs like Save The Children along with members of the community and they will work in tandem with the police.
"The problem is just not restricted to the state... due to its location, bordering Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, the magnitude is immense. CPCs will ensure the strictest vigilance," said Asadur Rahman, Chief of Field Office, Unicef, West Bengal.
Earlier this year, the state had set up an anti-human trafficking task force. It has also inked a deal with Maharashtra to combat the menace.
Friday, May 30, 2014
No law to curb human trafficking
It may sound strange but it’s true. There is no law against human trafficking in India. Human traffickers are now booked either under the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act or the Passport Act. With the number of such cases going up in Kerala recently, lawyers point to the need to enact a separate law to curb such a crime.
In fact, there is not even a clear definition for trafficking under the current laws. While the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act refers to trafficking for prostitution, it does not provide comprehensive protection for children too.
As per this act if a person is found with a child it is assumed that he has detained that child for immoral reasons and can be punished from seven years in prison to life imprisonment, or sentenced to a term which may extend to ten years.
All this plus a maximum fine of one lakh rupees. Another section incorporated against the accused is Section 366 (kidnapping) but the act is inadequate as it is often used to book sexual offenders.
Adv Raja Vijayaraghavan, practicing at the High Court, points out that the accused involved in child trafficking cannot be booked under this Act and even if one is booked, the accused can escape from law as the provisions are inadequate.
“The situation is grave. To curb the increase in the number of human trafficking cases a foolproof law should be brought in,” he said. Cops as well as courts are finding it hard to deal with such cases owing to the loopholes in the law.
Under the Passport Act, while the victims get caught in foreign or domestic airports, the real masterminds behind the crime, escape. The High Court has recently expressed concern over this point recently while dealing with a case involving the trafficking of a toddler.
Director General of Prosecution T Asaf Ali echoed this view. It was high time the legal fraternity discussed these issues rather than just talking politics, he added.
In the Nedumbassery human trafficking case, the victim from Kazhakoottam in Thiruvananthapuram had initially voluntarily left for the Gulf, supported by the racket, for a job. She was later inducted into the sex trade before she fled back to Kerala and confessed to the police.
Among the several cases registered by the police, one was against the victim, for illegally migrating without valid documents. The persons involved in the racket were not arraigned as there was no law to prosecute them. The passport forgery case was made solely against the victim.
However, Alex K. John, the superintendent of crime branch police, who investigated the Nedumbassery human trafficking case before handing it over to the Central Bureau of Investigation, is of the opinion that the term ‘human trafficking’ was developed just for media sensationalism and the issue has to be dealt with from other perspectives too.
“A person trying to illegally migrate from a country with the support of rackets can still be charged for forgery of passports and travel documents. Though there is no exact law for human trafficking, a person who tried to migrate illegally can still be charged. As Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer says, it is high time we moved from the ‘court of law’ to ‘court of justice’,” the cop said.
The officer is also of the opinion that the cops would abide by the law, and file cases and it was up to the judiciary to introduce new laws.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
Delhi HC orders probe into trafficking
The Delhi High Court has ordered a police probe into large-scale trafficking of young girls in the Capital for flesh trade and the racket of brothel owners bringing back the rescued girls using fraudulent means.
The court issued the order following a complaint by human rights NGO Shakti Vahini bringing the issue to the attention of the court. It told the court that many girls rescued by NGOs and police are brought back by the owner of the brothels by sending fictitious persons to the court to pose as their parents to take the custody of the girl.
“We have considered the importance of the matter where large-scale trafficking of young girls takes place in Delhi and even after they are rescued, the brothel persons force the girls not to reveal the truth. In the court, they take the custody of the girl in the guise of parent,” said the court.
The bench appointed Delhi police standing counsel Zubeida Begum as the amicus curiae in the matter and sought a report by July 10.
Following a complaint by another NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan, the court is also looking into whether some of Capital’s placement agencies were indulging in flesh trade. The court had in 2010 ordered a CBI probe into the role of a prominent Rohini-based placement agency and whose trail runs into several states.
Source HT
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Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Haryana announces compensation plan for trafficking victims
For the hundreds who are victims of human trafficking, sexual assault, or injured or have lost dear ones in crimes committed every year in the city, and especially those from the weaker sections of society, a new proposal by the state government is likely to be a much-needed breather.
The state has decided to implement a new scheme - 'Haryana Victim Compensation Scheme 2013' - to provide funds for the purpose of compensation to the victims or dependents who have suffered loss or injury as a result of the crime, and who require rehabilitation.
"Under this scheme, compensation ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 3 lakh will be paid for loss of life, loss of a limb or part of body, loss or injury causing severe mental agony to women and child victims of human trafficking, kidnapping, molestation and also in case of rape," said a senior official.
A victim will be eligible for the grant of compensation where, a recommendation is made by the court under relevant sections or the offender (accused in a crime) is not traced or identified, but the victim is identified, and where no trial takes place.
However, to be eligible for such compensation, the income of the family should not exceed Rs 4.5 lakh per annum. Also, the crime (on account of which the compensation is to be paid under this scheme) should have been occurred within the jurisdiction of Haryana state.
The District Legal Service Authority will decide the quantum of compensation on the basis of loss caused to the victim, medical expenses to be incurred on treatment, minimum sustenance, amount required for rehabilitation, including such incidental charges like funeral expenses. The compensation may vary from case to case depending on fact of each case.
Compensation received by the victim from the state in relation to the crime in question, namely, insurance, ex-gratia or payment received under any other Act or 'Rajiv Gandhi Pariwar Bima Yojna' or any other state-run scheme, will be considered as part of the compensation amount under this scheme and will be deemed to be compensated under this scheme.
However, the official clarified that cases covered under Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, wherein compensation is to be awarded by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal, will not be covered under the scheme.
Under the scheme, a "victim compensation fund" will be set up. "The fund will have a budgetary allocation for which necessary provision will be made in the annual budget (of the state). It would also have the receipt of amount of fines imposed under section 357 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act and ordered to be deposited by the courts in the fund," said the official.
In order to make convicts accountable for crimes committed, the fund will also have amounts of compensation recovered from the wrongdoer or accused and donations and contributions from international, national, philanthropist, charitable institution or organization and individuals.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Meeting of Central Advisory Committee on Combating Trafficking held Convergence of Initiatives of Centre, States, and NGOs Stressed upon
A meeting of the Central Advisory Committee (CAC) on Combating Trafficking was held here today. Smt. Neela Ganagadharan, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development chaired the meeting.
Drawing attention to the growing problem of trafficking in the country, the Secretary said that the menace can be effectively handled through convergence of efforts of the Centre, States and civil society organizations. She mentioned that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Bill 2012, which has been passed by the Parliament, will go a long way in combating this problem due to the provisions included in the Bill, which link trafficking with protecting children from sexual offenses. She stated that sufficient legislative and programmatic framework exists to prevent and combat trafficking. Whereas the framework for prevention, protection and penalization is in place, strengthening of systems for their effective implementation is needed to combat this problem, the Secretary noted. Measures of the Ministry of Women and Child Development are supplemented by measures taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Labour Ministry and Ministry of External Affairs, and the States/UTs. She also stated that the efforts of the civil society organizations, many of whom have been working extensively in this area, have helped to combat the problem. She invited suggestions and recommendations from the representatives of the Central and State governments, UNICEF, NGOs and other experts to strengthen the legislative and monitoring measures to combat trafficking. This is the first time when the Women and Child Development departments in the States have been asked to coordinate with the nodal Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) for convergence of initiatives for prevention of trafficking, rescue and rehabilitation.
Elaborating on the initiatives taken up by the WCD Ministry to combat trafficking, the Secretary state that the Ujjwala Scheme was launched in 2008, which is a comprehensive scheme to prevent and combat trafficking, where funds and support is provide to agencies which work in the areas of prevention, rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and repatriation of victims of trafficking. Since 2008, 188 Ujjwala projects across 19 states have been sanctioned. She however noted that the States need to be more pro-active to involve the NGOs for ensuring effective implementation of the Scheme. The Secretary stated that the Ministry of WCD is planning to introduce videoconferencing for sanctioning of Ujjwala projects. Participation of the Secretary, Department of WCD in the States will help to ensure participation and increased involvement of State Government in Ujjawala projects.
The Ministry of WCD also made a presentation on the actions taken since the last meeting of the CAC in May 2011. The Ministry is formulating better monitoring mechanism of the Ujjwala scheme. It has asked States to involve district level officers for more effective monitoring. Evaluation study of the scheme has been entrusted to the Programme Evaluation Organisation of the Planning Commission which will review the components of the scheme and make recommendations.
Addressing the meeting, Smt. B. Bhamathi, Additional Secretary, MHA said that several initiatives have been taken by the MHA to combat domestic and cross-border trafficking. Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) have been set up in many States and equipped with infrastructure to assist the States in their efforts. Advisories have been issued to the States from time to time regarding diverse aspects of the trafficking problem. Representative from the Labour Ministry apprised the gathering on the schemes taken up for welfare of working children in areas of high concentration of child labour, schemes for bonded labour and those taken up for generating awareness regarding child labour.
Member Secretary, NCPCR, Sh. Lov Verma was also present during the meeting. Representatives from the department of WCD and police from Assam, Maharashtra, AP, Haryana, New Delhi, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and West Bengal were also present. Members of several NGOs working in the area of combating trafficking shared their experience regarding this, and made several recommendations to strengthen the coordination between the field level government and police functionaries.
The Central Advisory Committee (CAC) on Combating Trafficking was formed in 1994 with the Secretary, Ministry of WCD as the chairperson. It is the outcome of the Supreme Court Judgment in Vishal Jeet vs Union of India wherein the Supreme Court had directed that a Committee be formed at the Central and State levels to look into the issues of trafficking particularly child trafficking. Gradually the mandate of CAC has grown and it has been expanded to include representatives from all agencies concerned, thereby becoming a forum facilitating interaction between stakeholders to understand issues relating to trafficking and to evolve strategies for combating it.
Drawing attention to the growing problem of trafficking in the country, the Secretary said that the menace can be effectively handled through convergence of efforts of the Centre, States and civil society organizations. She mentioned that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Bill 2012, which has been passed by the Parliament, will go a long way in combating this problem due to the provisions included in the Bill, which link trafficking with protecting children from sexual offenses. She stated that sufficient legislative and programmatic framework exists to prevent and combat trafficking. Whereas the framework for prevention, protection and penalization is in place, strengthening of systems for their effective implementation is needed to combat this problem, the Secretary noted. Measures of the Ministry of Women and Child Development are supplemented by measures taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Labour Ministry and Ministry of External Affairs, and the States/UTs. She also stated that the efforts of the civil society organizations, many of whom have been working extensively in this area, have helped to combat the problem. She invited suggestions and recommendations from the representatives of the Central and State governments, UNICEF, NGOs and other experts to strengthen the legislative and monitoring measures to combat trafficking. This is the first time when the Women and Child Development departments in the States have been asked to coordinate with the nodal Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) for convergence of initiatives for prevention of trafficking, rescue and rehabilitation.
Elaborating on the initiatives taken up by the WCD Ministry to combat trafficking, the Secretary state that the Ujjwala Scheme was launched in 2008, which is a comprehensive scheme to prevent and combat trafficking, where funds and support is provide to agencies which work in the areas of prevention, rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and repatriation of victims of trafficking. Since 2008, 188 Ujjwala projects across 19 states have been sanctioned. She however noted that the States need to be more pro-active to involve the NGOs for ensuring effective implementation of the Scheme. The Secretary stated that the Ministry of WCD is planning to introduce videoconferencing for sanctioning of Ujjwala projects. Participation of the Secretary, Department of WCD in the States will help to ensure participation and increased involvement of State Government in Ujjawala projects.
The Ministry of WCD also made a presentation on the actions taken since the last meeting of the CAC in May 2011. The Ministry is formulating better monitoring mechanism of the Ujjwala scheme. It has asked States to involve district level officers for more effective monitoring. Evaluation study of the scheme has been entrusted to the Programme Evaluation Organisation of the Planning Commission which will review the components of the scheme and make recommendations.
Addressing the meeting, Smt. B. Bhamathi, Additional Secretary, MHA said that several initiatives have been taken by the MHA to combat domestic and cross-border trafficking. Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) have been set up in many States and equipped with infrastructure to assist the States in their efforts. Advisories have been issued to the States from time to time regarding diverse aspects of the trafficking problem. Representative from the Labour Ministry apprised the gathering on the schemes taken up for welfare of working children in areas of high concentration of child labour, schemes for bonded labour and those taken up for generating awareness regarding child labour.
Member Secretary, NCPCR, Sh. Lov Verma was also present during the meeting. Representatives from the department of WCD and police from Assam, Maharashtra, AP, Haryana, New Delhi, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and West Bengal were also present. Members of several NGOs working in the area of combating trafficking shared their experience regarding this, and made several recommendations to strengthen the coordination between the field level government and police functionaries.
The Central Advisory Committee (CAC) on Combating Trafficking was formed in 1994 with the Secretary, Ministry of WCD as the chairperson. It is the outcome of the Supreme Court Judgment in Vishal Jeet vs Union of India wherein the Supreme Court had directed that a Committee be formed at the Central and State levels to look into the issues of trafficking particularly child trafficking. Gradually the mandate of CAC has grown and it has been expanded to include representatives from all agencies concerned, thereby becoming a forum facilitating interaction between stakeholders to understand issues relating to trafficking and to evolve strategies for combating it.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Rescuing of girls from GB Road: HC asks NCW, DCW to respond
New Delhi, Apr 12 (PTI) The Delhi High Court today asked the National Commission for Women and the state unit to respond to pleas of some of the girls, rescued from a red light area here, that they were not willing to go to their native place. A bench of justices S Ravinder Bhatt and S P Garg directed the two bodies to file their replies after talking to the girls and listed the matter for further hearing tomorrow. The girls, currently lodged at reform home Nirmal Chhaya after being rescued from GB Road area, are seeking release saying they are "forcibly confined" and do not want to go back to their respective homes. These girls were recently rescued during a joint operation of Andhra Pradesh and Delhi Police on the direction of a court at Hyderabad. The Hyderabad court had issued a search warrant and directed the police to present these girls on the submission of a minor girl who had escaped from the red light area here. The minor girl had said that others from Hyderabad were also kept in confine in the red light area forcibly. The joint operation had rescued around 72 girls and except these 15 others were allowed to go home. The two minors were handed over to their relatives. The girls said that as the other were allowed to go, they should also be allowed to walk free.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
US decision on India regarding human trafficking questioned
Washington: The decision by Obama Administration to grant China a political waiver and India an upgrade in this year’s annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP)
Report issued by the State Department has been questioned by the a US lawmaker.
At a Congressional hearing yesterday, Congressman Chris Smith, alleged that Administration’s decisions in this regard are politically motivated as both India and China are facing problem of human trafficking, particularly sex-trafficking of women and girls.
In his remarks, Smith expressed concern about the Administration's decision to upgrade India from the Tier 3 Watch List to a Tier 2 country. Reuters
Smith is the author of the landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) as well as subsequent laws to make further strengthen and adapt TVPA.
In the 2008 reauthorisation of the TVPA, Congress decided that no country should be allowed to skirt sanctions on the Tier 2 Watch List for more than two years before being downgraded to Tier 3. 2011, represents the first year that the limit was put to the test.
In his remarks, Smith expressed concern about the Administration’s decision to upgrade India from the Tier 3 Watch List to a Tier 2 country. ”India was upgraded to a Tier 2 country in this report despite the fact that it has one of the largest populations of enslaved laborers in the world, and has only prosecuted and convicted a small handful of labor traffickers,” he said.
Defending the decision of the Obama Administration in this regard, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, said the State Department upgraded India to Tier 2 in the 2011 TIP Report because of the government’s greater resolve combating its trafficking problem, particularly bonded labor.
Blake said, “The Government of India increased law enforcement efforts through the establishment of over 80 Anti-Human Trafficking Units, ratified the UN TIP Protocol, achieved landmark convictions against bonded labor traffickers with punishments of significant prison sentences, and increased rescue and rehabilitation efforts of thousands of trafficking victims in many parts of India.”
However Smith argued, “The most dangerous three words in that part of the world is, ‘It’s a girl’. If it’s a girl, she may be dead, or if she gets a little bit older, she may be exploited through trafficking,” said Smith, who chairs the House subcommittee that oversees human rights and co-chairs the Congressional Human Trafficking Caucus.
Blake said India’s anti-TIP efforts have continued since the publication of the 2011 TIP Report. ”At the federal level we have seen efforts by the Ministry
of Labor, which called for all state labor secretaries to appoint nodal officers to tackle forced child labor and bonded labor,” he said.
“The Ministry of Home affairs has also been instrumental in broadly recognising the anti-TIP contributions of one judge of the Mumbai court (who has taken over and cleared hundreds of sex trafficking cases and issued rehabilitation orders for 1,200 rescued women and girls) and has asked Judge Swati Chauhan to share her anti-trafficking court model widely across India,” Blake said.
Blake added, “Bonded labor remains a persistent and difficult challenge in India’s anti-trafficking agenda in all jurisdictions but in August, the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights announced a new cell to focus government efforts on the elimination of bonded labor.”
India is today one of America’s most important partners, and a large and complex democracy that is increasingly committed to stopping exploitation of vulnerable people. ”The Government of India and State governments have taken
significant steps in their anti-TIP efforts, responding both to international attention to TIP issues and India’s own robust civil society that seeks social justice and reform,” Blake said.
PTI SOURCE
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
India Facing A Skewed Child Sex Ratio
New Delhi: The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad today convened a meeting of Ministers of Health, Health Secretaries and other senior officers from the 18 States where declining child sex ratio has been a matter of concern as apparent from the recent census figures. The 18 states include Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Uttaranchal, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Karnataka.
Opening the meeting Shri Azad said that today’s meeting has important bearings for the future of the nation as the declining child sex ratio in most of the States is a matter of grave national concern. Shri Azad said there is urgent need to arrest the gender imbalance. “Proper implementation of the PC & PNDT Act and deliberation on the steps are required to be taken to address this grave challenge by the States”, he said.
“The 2011 Provisional Census figures have served as a wake-up call for all of us. The misuse of medical technology for pre birth sex selection is evidently increasing” he noted as the number of girls in the age group of 0-6 years now stands at a mere 914 for every 1000 boys. The Minister said all necessary steps; political, social, economic and scientific, need to be taken to end negative discrimination against the girl child. The role that Information, Education and Communication (IEC) can play in building a positive environment for valuing the girl child can hardly be over-emphasized. “Though the PC & PNDT Act is a central legislation, it’s implementation lies entirely with the States who are expected to enforce it through District Appropriate Authorities at the State, District and Sub-district levels”. Shri Azad asked all States to appoint the Appropriate Authorities and also monitor their functioning as also conduct systematic inspections and overall monitoring of doctors and clinics registered under the Act. Shri Azad urged the States to ensure proper utilization of the funding under NRHM for setting up dedicated PNDT cells at the State and district levels to strengthen capacity to enforce the PC & PNDT Act.
The Union Minister also urged the States to implement the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram in true letter and spirit so that the poor, needy and vulnerable sections of our society are brought into the institutional fold and their out of pocket expenses are eliminated.
source
Opening the meeting Shri Azad said that today’s meeting has important bearings for the future of the nation as the declining child sex ratio in most of the States is a matter of grave national concern. Shri Azad said there is urgent need to arrest the gender imbalance. “Proper implementation of the PC & PNDT Act and deliberation on the steps are required to be taken to address this grave challenge by the States”, he said.
“The 2011 Provisional Census figures have served as a wake-up call for all of us. The misuse of medical technology for pre birth sex selection is evidently increasing” he noted as the number of girls in the age group of 0-6 years now stands at a mere 914 for every 1000 boys. The Minister said all necessary steps; political, social, economic and scientific, need to be taken to end negative discrimination against the girl child. The role that Information, Education and Communication (IEC) can play in building a positive environment for valuing the girl child can hardly be over-emphasized. “Though the PC & PNDT Act is a central legislation, it’s implementation lies entirely with the States who are expected to enforce it through District Appropriate Authorities at the State, District and Sub-district levels”. Shri Azad asked all States to appoint the Appropriate Authorities and also monitor their functioning as also conduct systematic inspections and overall monitoring of doctors and clinics registered under the Act. Shri Azad urged the States to ensure proper utilization of the funding under NRHM for setting up dedicated PNDT cells at the State and district levels to strengthen capacity to enforce the PC & PNDT Act.
The Union Minister also urged the States to implement the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram in true letter and spirit so that the poor, needy and vulnerable sections of our society are brought into the institutional fold and their out of pocket expenses are eliminated.
source
Arrest a trafficker, prevent 1,000 crimes
PUDUCHERRY: “By arresting a trafficker, you are preventing at least 1,000 crimes”. This was a piece of advice to police personnel from Dr P M Nair, ADGP of Central Reserve Police Force.
“Human trafficking in all forms violates human dignity and rights. The main target of this criminal act is the weaker sections of society, especially women and children,” Nair said addressing a two-day workshop-cum-training on ‘combating trafficking in human beings’ here on Monday.
Recollecting his interaction with a trafficker in jail, Nair said that the accused had confessed to trafficking nearly 3,000 Nepali women from 1991 to 2001. He came to Delhi as a taxi driver but later turned to the lucrative job of human trafficking.
The trafficker was arrested, tried and put into jail for 10 years, he said, adding that thousands of women had been saved from becoming his victims in the next 10 years.� The ADGP added that ignorance of rights, illiteracy, gender discrimination, neglect/abuse of children, economic deprivations, unemployment and above all increasing ‘demand’ leads to trafficking.
He asked the police to device a crime map while investigating an organised crime (trafficking) in order to identify the spotter (of girls in villages etc), the seller (parents), the purchaser (agents) and the exploiters (owners of brothels, massage parlours).
Top police officials, inspectors, sub-inspectors and representatives of NGOs are participating in the workshop, which will conclude on Tuesday.
source
“Human trafficking in all forms violates human dignity and rights. The main target of this criminal act is the weaker sections of society, especially women and children,” Nair said addressing a two-day workshop-cum-training on ‘combating trafficking in human beings’ here on Monday.
Recollecting his interaction with a trafficker in jail, Nair said that the accused had confessed to trafficking nearly 3,000 Nepali women from 1991 to 2001. He came to Delhi as a taxi driver but later turned to the lucrative job of human trafficking.
The trafficker was arrested, tried and put into jail for 10 years, he said, adding that thousands of women had been saved from becoming his victims in the next 10 years.� The ADGP added that ignorance of rights, illiteracy, gender discrimination, neglect/abuse of children, economic deprivations, unemployment and above all increasing ‘demand’ leads to trafficking.
He asked the police to device a crime map while investigating an organised crime (trafficking) in order to identify the spotter (of girls in villages etc), the seller (parents), the purchaser (agents) and the exploiters (owners of brothels, massage parlours).
Top police officials, inspectors, sub-inspectors and representatives of NGOs are participating in the workshop, which will conclude on Tuesday.
source
Friday, September 9, 2011
Mizoram records 18 cases of human trafficking in 11 yrs
Aizawl: Mizoram has recorded 18 cases of human trafficking during the last 11 years, DGP Lalrokhuma Pachuau said here on Thursday.Speaking at a three-day state-level training of trainers on anti-human trafficking, which began today, the top cop said the 18 cases were official records and the actual number of human rafficking incidents could be much higher as many cases went unreported due to fear of stigmatisation.”Mizoram is no longer an exception to human trafficking, which is one of the biggest organised crimes in the world next only to arms and drugs smuggling,” Mr Pachuau said.As India is one of the worst victims of human trafficking, the Home Ministry has put emphasis on training the law enforcement agencies and social activists on the issue, he said.”With Rs 15.16 lakh sanctioned by the Ministry, Mizoram police department has set up a well-equipped anti-human trafficking units in Aizawl and Lunglei districts, and we have applied for permission to set up one in Champhai district,” he said.Each Superintendent of Police of the eight districts is made nodal officer for human trafficking, he said.The training, held at the police headquarters’ Arya Mess, aimed to chalk out strategies to meet the emerging challenges in human trafficking which is stated to be on a steady rise in the Northeast India, including Mizoram.Earlier this year, a sensitisation programme on anti-human trafficking and capsule course on investigation of human trafficking case had been organised for police.This is the first state-level training of trainers in Mizoram and would be organised in other districts in due course of time.Even though human trafficking cases are dealt by assigned police officers, SP or deputy SP, in each district, the DGP underlined the need for working with NGOs like in other states to fight the crime more effectively.Like any other backward state, Mizoram is vulnerable to human trafficking and most of the victims have been lured out with a promise of job. (UNI)
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Sunday, August 21, 2011
Bihar Police Has No Record on Abducted Children
New Delhi: In a disturbing disclosure that raises questions on taking stock of the law and order situation in Bihar state of India, it has come to light that the Crime Branch of the Bihar Police does not have the number of children below 16 years who have been abducted in the last five years.
In response to an RTI application filed by BeyondHeadlines asking for state specific data on abductions, the Superintendent of Police (SP), Crime Branch Patna, has replied that the data is unavailable. The following question of the number of boys and girls, hence, made no sense.
Subsequently, the department also does not have the number of the first information reports (FIRs) registered in such cases nor does it know the number of cases in which investigation is being done.
However, the Crime Branch is aware that in the last five years, a total of 2,451 children have been rescued from the abductors. But again, they are not aware of what happened to these children after they were rescued as they do not know how many were handed over to their families.
On further question for the number of children killed in the abduction cases or still missing, the SP has informed that 54 children were killed in the last five years while 484 were still missing.
Moreover, the Bihar Police also does not have the information on where from the children were rescued and in what condition.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Women Trafficking
A total of 3991, 3029 and 2848 cases were reported in the country in 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively, under various crime heads relating to human trafficking such as Procuration of Minor Girls (Sec 366-A Indian Penal Code (IPC)), Importation of Girls (Sec 366-B IPC), Selling of Girls for Prostitution (Sec 373 IPC) and Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. The Minister of Women & Child Development Smt. Krishna Tirath placed this data in response to a question in Rajya Sabha today. The Minister cited the National Crime Records Bureau for this information.
The Minister said as per the information received from NCRB, total of 236 cases were reported and 616 persons were arrested under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act in Assam during the 10 year period from 2000 to 2009.
The Minister informed the House that the Government is taking measures to combat trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation in the country. The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 supplemented by the Indian Penal Code, prohibits trafficking in human beings, including children and lays down penalties for it. A comprehensive Advisory on Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking in India has been issued on 09.09.2009 by the Government of India to all States/Union Territories. Further, the Ministry has been implementing the ‘Ujjawala' Scheme, under which financial assistance is being provided for prevention of trafficking and for rescue, rehabilitation and re-integration of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation. Under the ‘Ujjawala’ Scheme, 21 projects have been sanctioned in the North Eastern States of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland. Of these, 19 projects are, inter alia, being provided financial assistance for prevention of trafficking which includes holding sensitisation and awareness generation workshops and preparing awareness generation material.
The Minister Smt. Tirath stated that Rescue is undertaken by the Non -Government Organisations and Anti- Human Trafficking Units. Data on number of girls rescued is not centrally maintained. 76 Rehabilitation Homes which can accommodate upto 3800 beneficiaries have been sanctioned under the ‘Ujjawala’ Scheme in the country. This includes 12 Rehabilitation Homes in the North Eastern States of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland taken together.
source
The Minister said as per the information received from NCRB, total of 236 cases were reported and 616 persons were arrested under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act in Assam during the 10 year period from 2000 to 2009.
The Minister informed the House that the Government is taking measures to combat trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation in the country. The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 supplemented by the Indian Penal Code, prohibits trafficking in human beings, including children and lays down penalties for it. A comprehensive Advisory on Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking in India has been issued on 09.09.2009 by the Government of India to all States/Union Territories. Further, the Ministry has been implementing the ‘Ujjawala' Scheme, under which financial assistance is being provided for prevention of trafficking and for rescue, rehabilitation and re-integration of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation. Under the ‘Ujjawala’ Scheme, 21 projects have been sanctioned in the North Eastern States of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland. Of these, 19 projects are, inter alia, being provided financial assistance for prevention of trafficking which includes holding sensitisation and awareness generation workshops and preparing awareness generation material.
The Minister Smt. Tirath stated that Rescue is undertaken by the Non -Government Organisations and Anti- Human Trafficking Units. Data on number of girls rescued is not centrally maintained. 76 Rehabilitation Homes which can accommodate upto 3800 beneficiaries have been sanctioned under the ‘Ujjawala’ Scheme in the country. This includes 12 Rehabilitation Homes in the North Eastern States of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland taken together.
source
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Anti-human trafficking unit comes up
LUCKNOW: After Mahila police stations, the state capital and 11 others districts of Uttar Pradesh have got one more specialised police station. Interestingly, this police station has come up after an initiative of the Centre, despite the fact that police and law & order are state subjects.
Named as Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, it has now started functioning as a fullfledged police station in the city. Cases related to human trafficking and other atrocities such as child labour, bonded labour, forcing someone into sex trade and human trafficking by forging their documents would be looked into by this unit.
The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, which came into its current shape after a meeting held on February 17, 2011 in New Delhi, would be responsible for collecting information to lodging FIR, conducting raids, making arrest and investigation.
Friday, August 5, 2011
State level anti-human trafficking seminar
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 4 (MExN): The seemingly never ending phenomenon called human trafficking has followed humankind since the dawn of civilisation. Proscribed by government world over, the lucrative monetary returns involved in the immoral trade lures people all the more with the legal implications notwithstanding. Human trafficking, today is said to be one of the most well organised criminal industry, second only to the illegal drug trade with annual turnovers running into billions of dollars.
Human trafficking and its ramification in Nagaland
In a remote corner of the globe, Nagaland is gradually waking up to the reality of the phenomenon. Though a majority of the populace may deny its existence, it has taken root here. For those who think otherwise, let it be known that it not only means trafficking of Nagas from Nagaland to other places for immoral purpose. It also encompasses keeping of under-aged domestic helps brought from far-flung villages however well intentioned it may be. The magnitude of the problem has reached such a proportion that NGOs have taken it upon themselves to address the issue with the government following suit.
As one of the government agencies shouldered with the responsibility of fighting crime, the police has also taken it upon itself to address the issue. The state police organised a state level seminar on human trafficking Thursday, August 3 dubbed ‘Anti-human trafficking-cum-workshop’ at the police conference hall, NAPTC, Chumukedima. It was attended by representatives from several NGOs at the forefront of the silently growing anti-human trafficking movement in Nagaland besides other government departments.
At the core of the discussions today was the rather ignorant concept of the people on the issue of human trafficking: ‘Everybody has knowledge that it exists but fails to understand its deeper ramification’ and ‘coming to terms with the reality that the people, even good families, are unwilling to acknowledge that they are themselves aiding it’.
L. Thechamo Lotha, IPS, ADG (Ops) presenting the keynote address remarked: “It is a matter of concern for all of us.” In the context of Nagaland he said that poverty is at the core of the problem. “We talk about child rights, labour rights but in our homes we’re practicing it.” He referred to the practice of Naga households keeping under-aged house helps and even adults who are under paid.
Police alone cannot tackle the problem, a collective effort of all spectrums of the society be it the church, NGOs, the government departments, the judiciary is the need of the hour, he said. “We’re lacking in cooperation.” Nagaland being a tribal based society, people tend to protect criminals if they hail from the same tribe. The tribe factor must not be allowed to come into play in cases of human trafficking or be it any other form of transgression, he reminded. “Unless we share intelligence, I think we’ll fail.” Indian legal system has so many stringent laws rein in the problem, he said while adding that what matters is the will to execute them.
I. Toshitsungba Aier, IPS DIG (R/HR & SJ) presented a paper on the dimensions and challenges of human trafficking. He underlined the causes of human trafficking, chief among them being poverty, for sexual exploitation, cheap labour, organ trade lack of education etc. Prostitution, pornography, sex tourism, bonded and child labour, domestic servitude and even trafficking for sports, marriage, child soldiers etc are the different types of human trafficking. He disclosed that between, January and May 2011 alone Dimapur recorded 70 missing persons cases while Kohima recorded 35. These were all human trafficking related.
Chubayanger Aier, project officer, Labour department quoting a survey conducted by the department according to a survey conducted by the department stated that nearly 50 percent of the children working as domestic helps were trafficked on their own will. Not only the demand for cheap labour but also the perception of the parents of the trafficked children that they are sending their children away for a better life is aiding the problem. Unfortunately not all the children land at the right home or place. A majority of the children originated from the eastern part of Nagaland and from along the Indo-Burma border.
It also found that not a single of the 302 families surveyed in Kohima and Dimapur had a future plan for the children they have brought while the maximum monthly stipend they paid was a paltry Rs. 500. Bonded labour, he said is ramifying into different forms which needs to be addressed. There are 995 under-aged child labours in the commercial centre of Dimapur alone working in hotels, garages and so on.
Mangyang Lima, member secretary, Nagaland State Legal Services Authority presented two papers on ‘Role of law enforcing agency & NGO under juvenile justice Act 200’ and ‘Role of law enforcing agency & NGO under Immoral Traffic (prevention) Act 1956।
morungexpress
Human trafficking and its ramification in Nagaland
In a remote corner of the globe, Nagaland is gradually waking up to the reality of the phenomenon. Though a majority of the populace may deny its existence, it has taken root here. For those who think otherwise, let it be known that it not only means trafficking of Nagas from Nagaland to other places for immoral purpose. It also encompasses keeping of under-aged domestic helps brought from far-flung villages however well intentioned it may be. The magnitude of the problem has reached such a proportion that NGOs have taken it upon themselves to address the issue with the government following suit.
As one of the government agencies shouldered with the responsibility of fighting crime, the police has also taken it upon itself to address the issue. The state police organised a state level seminar on human trafficking Thursday, August 3 dubbed ‘Anti-human trafficking-cum-workshop’ at the police conference hall, NAPTC, Chumukedima. It was attended by representatives from several NGOs at the forefront of the silently growing anti-human trafficking movement in Nagaland besides other government departments.
At the core of the discussions today was the rather ignorant concept of the people on the issue of human trafficking: ‘Everybody has knowledge that it exists but fails to understand its deeper ramification’ and ‘coming to terms with the reality that the people, even good families, are unwilling to acknowledge that they are themselves aiding it’.
L. Thechamo Lotha, IPS, ADG (Ops) presenting the keynote address remarked: “It is a matter of concern for all of us.” In the context of Nagaland he said that poverty is at the core of the problem. “We talk about child rights, labour rights but in our homes we’re practicing it.” He referred to the practice of Naga households keeping under-aged house helps and even adults who are under paid.
Police alone cannot tackle the problem, a collective effort of all spectrums of the society be it the church, NGOs, the government departments, the judiciary is the need of the hour, he said. “We’re lacking in cooperation.” Nagaland being a tribal based society, people tend to protect criminals if they hail from the same tribe. The tribe factor must not be allowed to come into play in cases of human trafficking or be it any other form of transgression, he reminded. “Unless we share intelligence, I think we’ll fail.” Indian legal system has so many stringent laws rein in the problem, he said while adding that what matters is the will to execute them.
I. Toshitsungba Aier, IPS DIG (R/HR & SJ) presented a paper on the dimensions and challenges of human trafficking. He underlined the causes of human trafficking, chief among them being poverty, for sexual exploitation, cheap labour, organ trade lack of education etc. Prostitution, pornography, sex tourism, bonded and child labour, domestic servitude and even trafficking for sports, marriage, child soldiers etc are the different types of human trafficking. He disclosed that between, January and May 2011 alone Dimapur recorded 70 missing persons cases while Kohima recorded 35. These were all human trafficking related.
Chubayanger Aier, project officer, Labour department quoting a survey conducted by the department according to a survey conducted by the department stated that nearly 50 percent of the children working as domestic helps were trafficked on their own will. Not only the demand for cheap labour but also the perception of the parents of the trafficked children that they are sending their children away for a better life is aiding the problem. Unfortunately not all the children land at the right home or place. A majority of the children originated from the eastern part of Nagaland and from along the Indo-Burma border.
It also found that not a single of the 302 families surveyed in Kohima and Dimapur had a future plan for the children they have brought while the maximum monthly stipend they paid was a paltry Rs. 500. Bonded labour, he said is ramifying into different forms which needs to be addressed. There are 995 under-aged child labours in the commercial centre of Dimapur alone working in hotels, garages and so on.
Mangyang Lima, member secretary, Nagaland State Legal Services Authority presented two papers on ‘Role of law enforcing agency & NGO under juvenile justice Act 200’ and ‘Role of law enforcing agency & NGO under Immoral Traffic (prevention) Act 1956।
morungexpress
Friday, June 17, 2011
Anti-human trafficking cell inaugurated in VARANASI
VARANASI: An anti-human trafficking cell (AHTC) became operational in the city on Thursday.
The vice chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Awadh Ram, inaugurated the office of AHTC on Police Lines campus in presence of DIG Lalji Shukla. SP (rural) Harish Kumar, who is also the nodal officer of this cell, said that in view of the directives of Union home ministry and the state government, the AHTC has been started in 11 districts of the state - Agra, Allahabad, Basti, Bareilly, Lucknow, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Moradabad, Maharjganj and Jhansi.
He said that the main objective of this cell is to put a check on the trafficking of children and women, who are engaged as labourers or in flesh trade forcibly after taking to industrial zones or in the major cities. As the police remain engaged in several other tasks, they have a limited time to spare for this exercise, he said, adding that in view of this ground reality, the cell would be operated with the help of women and child welfare and labour departments as well as non-government organisations (NGOs).
Kumar said that two sub-inspectors, two head constables and two constables would be deployed at AHTC that would operate independently। He said that if any case of human trafficking comes to the knowledge of anyone, he/she could inform on the AHTC's numbers (0542-2502121), his number (9454401125), numbers of cell's incharge Pannalal Gupta (938922468, 8765550114) or head constable Tabrez Khan's number (9454816977, 8765550140).
TOI
The vice chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Awadh Ram, inaugurated the office of AHTC on Police Lines campus in presence of DIG Lalji Shukla. SP (rural) Harish Kumar, who is also the nodal officer of this cell, said that in view of the directives of Union home ministry and the state government, the AHTC has been started in 11 districts of the state - Agra, Allahabad, Basti, Bareilly, Lucknow, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Moradabad, Maharjganj and Jhansi.
He said that the main objective of this cell is to put a check on the trafficking of children and women, who are engaged as labourers or in flesh trade forcibly after taking to industrial zones or in the major cities. As the police remain engaged in several other tasks, they have a limited time to spare for this exercise, he said, adding that in view of this ground reality, the cell would be operated with the help of women and child welfare and labour departments as well as non-government organisations (NGOs).
Kumar said that two sub-inspectors, two head constables and two constables would be deployed at AHTC that would operate independently। He said that if any case of human trafficking comes to the knowledge of anyone, he/she could inform on the AHTC's numbers (0542-2502121), his number (9454401125), numbers of cell's incharge Pannalal Gupta (938922468, 8765550114) or head constable Tabrez Khan's number (9454816977, 8765550140).
TOI
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
A police station to check human trafficking
Ghaziabad: Taking a step forward against human trafficking in the state, an ‘Anti-Human Trafficking’ police station was opened on Tuesday. “The police station will work to rehabilitate women and children who have been pushed into prostitution, immoral trafficking and child labour activities,” SSP Raghubir Lal, said after inaugurating the station. The government has planned to set up such stations in 12 districts across the state, including Lucknow, Gautam Budh Nagar, Meerut, Agra, Moradabad, Ghaziabad districts.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Where is anti-human trafficking cell in city?
It is non-existent though the state sanctioned Rs 7.58 lakh for it a year ago
Acting on Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s suggestion, Gujarat government decided to set up anti-human trafficking cells in five major cities of the state. For this, it had sanctioned Rs 7.58 lakh for each cell in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot and Gandhinagar last year. But for top cops, the issue of human trafficking doesn’t seem to be serious as many of them have pleaded ignorance over the non-existent cell in the city, though the government had already released funds and provided basic infrastructure for it. |
Monday, May 23, 2011
India ratify the Palermo Protocols-GCIC welcomes and demands to introduce act against trfficking
On May 13, India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced the government of India had ratified all three Palermo Protocols and two UN conventions. The UN protocol on human trafficking is linked with a convention against organised crime.
India did not ratify the Palermo Protocols for eleven years as highlighted by the U.S. Department of State’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report. Many campaigners were concerned that India lacked a clear and full definition of human trafficking for Indian states and territories to use in legislation and enforcement. Trafficking has not historically been regarded as an organised crime in India, so comprehensive laws relating to organised crime weren’t used in enforcement.
In 2011, the government of India launched a scheme to educate police about trafficking, and New Delhi police started established anti-human trafficking cells. On 12 January 2011, the Ministry of Home Affairs informed state police about the registration for a web-based certificate course on human trafficking offered in partnership with Indira Gandhi National Open University. Also, with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime support, the MHA is in the midst of a two-year project of training law enforcement officers in Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh about trafficking. “The Christian Council welcomes India’s practical steps toward stopping modern-day slavery but encourages authorities to expand the programs to more vulnerable places
The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, was adopted by the UN at Palermo, Italy, in 2000, and it supported the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/CTOC/index.html). This was signed by India in December 2002, but not ratified until May 13, 2011 (http://www.mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=530217625). The Protocol is important since it gives a comprehensive definition of human trafficking, requires countries to criminalise slavery, and instructs governments to adopt legislation to translate the protocol’s obligations into an act. source
Saturday, May 21, 2011
IGNOU trains nodal officers for anti human trafficking
The Indira Gandhi National Open University's (IGNOU's) School of Law (SOL) in partnership with Ministry of Home Affairs/Bureau of Police Research and Development and Centre for Social Research organized a national level workshop of nodal officers of all state governments and union territories with a view to empower these officials through training and capacity building about anti-human trafficking.
The three day workshop concluded to accelerate the process of sensitization, awareness and training to large number of law enforcement officials and other stakeholders like prosecutors, other government departments, NGOs etc. The workshop deliberated on laws related to human trafficking, investigation techniques and dimensions, magnitude and vulnerabilities relating to human trafficking along with issues relating to rescue, care and rehabilitation. It concluded by wrapping up the roles and responsibilities of nodal officers.
The Ministry of Home affairs is implementing a scheme titled 'Strengthening the law enforcement response in India against Trafficking in Persons through Training and Capacity Building.' The scheme has two components: establishing integrated Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) and Training of Trainers (TOTs). Under this scheme, it is proposed to establish 335 AHTUs throughout the country and impart training to 10,000 police officers through TOTs component.
The purpose of TOTs, which entails/ enables ‘cascade training’, is to pass knowledge and skills to colleagues who work at different ‘levels’ to ensure that there is ground level sensitization and awareness. Six regional level workshops for all the States/UTs of the country have already been held by MHA/BPR&D.
"State Anti Human Trafficking nodal officers are a very important linkage in effective functioning of AHTUs and in interstate rescue operations and investigations. It was keeping this in mind that IGNOU in partnership with the Ministry launched the Certificate/ Diploma/ PG Diploma Programme in Human Trafficking. MHA has advised all the State Governments and UT Administrations to launch this certificate course at State/UT level in partnership with IGNOU," said Prof. K. Elumalai, Director, SOL, IGNOU.
Trafficking in persons for various purposes such as commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, domestic servitude, begging, and public sport etc. is an organized crime that gravely violates basic human rights
The three day workshop concluded to accelerate the process of sensitization, awareness and training to large number of law enforcement officials and other stakeholders like prosecutors, other government departments, NGOs etc. The workshop deliberated on laws related to human trafficking, investigation techniques and dimensions, magnitude and vulnerabilities relating to human trafficking along with issues relating to rescue, care and rehabilitation. It concluded by wrapping up the roles and responsibilities of nodal officers.
The Ministry of Home affairs is implementing a scheme titled 'Strengthening the law enforcement response in India against Trafficking in Persons through Training and Capacity Building.' The scheme has two components: establishing integrated Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) and Training of Trainers (TOTs). Under this scheme, it is proposed to establish 335 AHTUs throughout the country and impart training to 10,000 police officers through TOTs component.
The purpose of TOTs, which entails/ enables ‘cascade training’, is to pass knowledge and skills to colleagues who work at different ‘levels’ to ensure that there is ground level sensitization and awareness. Six regional level workshops for all the States/UTs of the country have already been held by MHA/BPR&D.
"State Anti Human Trafficking nodal officers are a very important linkage in effective functioning of AHTUs and in interstate rescue operations and investigations. It was keeping this in mind that IGNOU in partnership with the Ministry launched the Certificate/ Diploma/ PG Diploma Programme in Human Trafficking. MHA has advised all the State Governments and UT Administrations to launch this certificate course at State/UT level in partnership with IGNOU," said Prof. K. Elumalai, Director, SOL, IGNOU.
Trafficking in persons for various purposes such as commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, domestic servitude, begging, and public sport etc. is an organized crime that gravely violates basic human rights
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