The Hindu : National : Women, child trafficking: call for community policing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 25, 2004

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National

Women, child trafficking: call for community policing

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 24 . A National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) report on `Trafficking in Women and Children in India' has said that the existing system in the spheres of prevention, protection and prosecution was not adequate to tackle the complex problem in a holistic and right manner.

The report, prepared by the Institute of Social Sciences with the financial support of UNIFEM, recommends that all anti-trafficking interventions should adhere to the human rights paradigm to ensure that the rights of the trafficked persons are protected.

It is imperative to understand that this gross violation of human rights occurs due to many socio-economic factors that add to the vulnerability of the victims.

Some of the main causes of vulnerability are economic and gender disparity, which limit women's access to developmental processes, the report points out.

Nodal agency

Suggesting the setting up of a nodal agency, the report says that there was a need to build up coordination among the non-governmental agencies at the national level. This was stressed by the NHRC chairperson, Justice A.S. Anand, while releasing the report here today.

To prevent trafficking, micro-studies should be carried out for vulnerability mapping of the source areas, as well as demand areas and the community should be sensitised to issues of gender, women's rights and child rights, the report points out while recommending the need for community policing. The study has also underlined the need for minimum standards of care and attention in rescue and post-rescue activities.

On the prosecution side, it stressed the need for ensuring that all crimes are reported and registered so that legal action is taken.

Lack of training

The study shows that lack of training was a serious impediment to effective law enforcement and justice delivery. ``Justice delivery mechanism is another area that is in need of change and improvement besides the proceedings of the court and its ambience need to be made more victim-friendly and less intimidating for women,'' it says while asking the panchayati raj institutions to play an active role in anti-trafficking.

The research was carried out in 13 States and Union Territories.

The primary data was collected by interviewing 4006 people falling under seven categories, including victims, survivors, brothel owners, clients and children. Of the people spoken to, 29.5 per cent were from Andhra Pradesh, 15 per cent from Karnataka, 12.5 per cent from West Bengal and 12.3 per cent from Tamil Nadu.

Strong link

The study suggests a strong link between trafficking and migration with an added dimension in trafficking because of unconventional means of commercial sex exploitation like sex tourism and exploitation in massage parlours and beer bars that has created a great demand for children. Similarly, there is a clear link between trafficking and those reported missing.

The legal regime, no matter how well meaning, has little relevance unless the laws are properly implemented.

A study of the law enforcement scenario shows that the various provisions of ITPA are underutilised or not utilised at all.

Law enforcement is also hampered by serious limitations, as trafficking is a very serious crime, extending beyond the jurisdictional boundaries.

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