India’s struggle against human trafficking
by Nirmala Carvalho
US State Department releases its 2010 ‘Trafficking in Persons Report’. India drops out of the watch list and is now a Tier 2 level country because of “significant efforts” against the problem. In the country’s western region, the Church is involved in prevention.
New Delhi (AsiaNews) – After a gap of six years, India is off the human trafficking 'Watch List' for making significant efforts in combating the problem. In its 2010 Trafficking in Persons report, the US State Department has praised New Delhi for its efforts against the practice. India has thus been upgraded to Tier 2 status, i.e. countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act's (TVPA) but are making significant efforts in this regard.
The annual Trafficking in Persons Report serves as the primary diplomatic tool through which the US Government encourages partnership and increased determination in the fight against forced labour, sexual exploitation, and modern-day slavery.
Every year 70,000 people, largely women and children, go missing in the country with the majority believed to be trafficked or sold.
About 12.3 million people are victims of human trafficking in the world, but only 49,105 have been identified.
Only 4,166 trials against people involved in human trafficking were successful in 2009; 335 against people involved in forced labour.
The watch list includes countries with large numbers of victims of human trafficking, countries where the number is steadily rising, or where the government shows an inability to fight the problem.
India’s “promotion” is due largely to a crackdown by courts in Tamil Nadu and Mumbai.
However, according to Lenin Raghuvanshi, director of the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), the report does not mention “the problems faced by human rights defenders.” In fact, “the Indian government is not serious about it” whist “activists face threats continuously”.
Mary Goretti Xalxo, programme coordinator for the Western Region Social Service Forum (WRSSF), told AsiaNews that the Church is involved in preventing human trafficking in 15 dioceses in the western region.
“The WRSSF launched ‘Project Sankrashit’ in 2008 to protect women and children in the states of Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat,” she said.
“The project, which ended in December 2010, was one of the first large-scale initiatives by a Church-based organisation.” It “brought together many grassroots organisations, diocesan social service societies, schools, institutes, panchayats and NGOs.”
Sankrashit’s goal was to protect “women and children from human trafficking in the western region” through the cooperation of various diocesan organisations and NGOs.
The project’s greatest success was to include human trafficking among the problems dealt with by the Diocesan Social Service Society (DSSS).
In order to reach this goal, awareness courses and seminars were organised. Altogether 3,616 people, including 851 heads or organisations, 744 teachers, and 878 vigilance members took part in the various meetings.
In 2009, the Union Home Ministry set up anti-trafficking cells in all of the country’s districts to fight the problem.
India and Sri Lanka are Tier 2 countries, whilst Bangladesh, Afghanistan and China are still on the watch list.
The annual Trafficking in Persons Report serves as the primary diplomatic tool through which the US Government encourages partnership and increased determination in the fight against forced labour, sexual exploitation, and modern-day slavery.
Every year 70,000 people, largely women and children, go missing in the country with the majority believed to be trafficked or sold.
About 12.3 million people are victims of human trafficking in the world, but only 49,105 have been identified.
Only 4,166 trials against people involved in human trafficking were successful in 2009; 335 against people involved in forced labour.
The watch list includes countries with large numbers of victims of human trafficking, countries where the number is steadily rising, or where the government shows an inability to fight the problem.
India’s “promotion” is due largely to a crackdown by courts in Tamil Nadu and Mumbai.
However, according to Lenin Raghuvanshi, director of the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), the report does not mention “the problems faced by human rights defenders.” In fact, “the Indian government is not serious about it” whist “activists face threats continuously”.
Mary Goretti Xalxo, programme coordinator for the Western Region Social Service Forum (WRSSF), told AsiaNews that the Church is involved in preventing human trafficking in 15 dioceses in the western region.
“The WRSSF launched ‘Project Sankrashit’ in 2008 to protect women and children in the states of Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat,” she said.
“The project, which ended in December 2010, was one of the first large-scale initiatives by a Church-based organisation.” It “brought together many grassroots organisations, diocesan social service societies, schools, institutes, panchayats and NGOs.”
Sankrashit’s goal was to protect “women and children from human trafficking in the western region” through the cooperation of various diocesan organisations and NGOs.
The project’s greatest success was to include human trafficking among the problems dealt with by the Diocesan Social Service Society (DSSS).
In order to reach this goal, awareness courses and seminars were organised. Altogether 3,616 people, including 851 heads or organisations, 744 teachers, and 878 vigilance members took part in the various meetings.
In 2009, the Union Home Ministry set up anti-trafficking cells in all of the country’s districts to fight the problem.
India and Sri Lanka are Tier 2 countries, whilst Bangladesh, Afghanistan and China are still on the watch list.
.png)
See also
Most human rights violations in Asia
12/03/2008
12/03/2008
Human trafficking: Myanmar among worst offenders, US says
17/08/2018 15:15
17/08/2018 15:15
