Sex trafficking: Is there no end?

In a startling revelation, an interim report by a government committee has found that a staggering 20,000 women, including minor girls, are sold off in various towns of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for sex trafficking every year.

A high-level committee, constituted by Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, had submitted a series of recommendations on the welfare and safety of women and children in the state last week, highlighting the major issues plaguing them. With respect to human trafficking, the committee pointed out that the modus operandi of traffickers ranged from forced or fake marriage to customary or religious practices like devadasis and joginis to lure women into flesh trade.

A further analysis into the trade showed that 72% of trafficked women belong to backward castes. "Most women fall prey to 'friends' who extend 'helping hands' for jobs. Many such women are usually employed in massage parlours, dance bars or as domestic helps," the report said.

Sunitha Krishnan, general secretary of Prajwala and a member of the committee said that though the united AP government seemed to have a proactive stance towards women's protection, it was only on paper. "People need to understand that this is an organised crime rather than considering it a social problem. Because when an issue is treated like a social problem, responses from government departments are weakened," she said.

"The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), which is directly under the Crime Investigation Department (CID) is completely dysfunctional in the state. There are five such teams across Telangana, where there are reports of at least 65-70 people being pushed into flesh trade," she added.

Experts quipped that there is a need to have a database of sex offenders and suspected traffickers, which in due course of time must be made public so that people are made aware. In the case of villages, anganwadi workers and self-help groups can identify local procurers.

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Shelters too in bad shape

Even rescue shelters for women and children rescued from exploitation are in dire straits. These homes, called Ujwala homes, were an initiative of the central government. The committee has recommended that the capacity of these homes be increased from 25 to 100. Another recommendation is to keep tabs on hotels, motels, autos and hawkers in public areas.

QUOTE

People need to understand that this is an organised crime rather than considering it a social problem. Because when an issue is treated like a social problem, responses from government departments are weakened - Sunitha Krishnan, member of committee

What the law book says?

Under the government of India, trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation is punishable under the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act (ITPA)

ITPA awards a jail term ranging from seven years to life imprisonment

Bonded and forced labour is also prohibited in the country under the Bonded Labor Abolition Act, the Child Labor Act, and the Juvenile Justice Act

Offenders can be booked under Sections 366(A) and 372 of Indian Penal Code (IPC). Penalties are a maximum of ten years' imprisonment and a fine

An anti-trafficking training was incorporated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into it's standard curriculum

http://ift.tt/1qHgoVn Investigation Department,Central Bureau of Investigation,anti-human trafficking unit

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