THE HINDU
Date:06/11/2009
Andhra Pradesh - Eluru
3 towns gain notoriety for women trafficking
Staff Reporter
ELURU: Three towns -- Tanuku, Tadepalligudem and Kovvuru -- in West Godavari district earned notoriety for women trafficking, according to Superintendent of Police B. Balakrishna. Several victims were rescued from trafficking in these three towns during a series of raids by the police, the SP said at a meeting on women trafficking here on Thursday. He said 56 traffickers were arrested and 23 victims were sent to rescue homes for rehabilitation in the last two months.
Mr. Balakrishna said police were contemplating implication of the relatives of victims in cases relating to trafficking for reportedly abetting their kith and kin into the trade. In some cases, it was the parents and relatives who were selling their minor girls.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Half the Districts in India are Affected by Human Trafficking
Half the Districts in India are Affected by Human Trafficking
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
According to a report of the National Commission for Women, (NCW) at least half of the 612 districts in the country are affected by trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual exploitation.
The NCW report says that in 378 districts, there are 1,794 identified places of origin from where females are trafficked and 1,016 areas where commercial sexual activities take place.
The NCW says that the promise of a job is the biggest way of deception and accounts for over 50 per cent of trafficking cases.
The states in southern and eastern India ae the most vulnerable as far as trafficking is concerned, say the report.
The report also found out that almost all the districts in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal are affected by this problem.
Tamil Nadu with 93.33 per cent of its districts are affected, is leading the tally of the states affected by human trafficking followed by Orissa with 86.66 per cent and Bihar 86.48 per cent.
The report further added that 2.4 per cent of the total female population in age group of 15-35 years in the country are affected by commercial sexual exploitation.
According to the report there are over 28 lakh commercial sex workers in the country. And over 43 percent women enter to this flesh trade in their minor ages.
The report expressed concern over the entry of minors in flesh trade from the regions where incidence of poverty and hunger are comparatively high
Reasons like violence against women, high rate of unemployment and lack of options contribute to the vulnerability of trafficking of adults, the report says.
The report says that gender discrimination and gender specific violence and crimes perpetuate the vulnerability of women and children and act as one of the reasons behind trafficking.
The report also says that more than 22 per cent women are trafficked and forced into flesh trade by family members.
Around 8 per cent women are trafficked by husbands or in-laws and friends or neighbours lure 18 per cent. More than 51 per cent women in commercial sex were trafficked either by family members or in-laws, the report says.
The report reveals that about 22 per cent of traffickers are not prosecuted due to their political backing
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
According to a report of the National Commission for Women, (NCW) at least half of the 612 districts in the country are affected by trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual exploitation.
The NCW report says that in 378 districts, there are 1,794 identified places of origin from where females are trafficked and 1,016 areas where commercial sexual activities take place.
The NCW says that the promise of a job is the biggest way of deception and accounts for over 50 per cent of trafficking cases.
The states in southern and eastern India ae the most vulnerable as far as trafficking is concerned, say the report.
The report also found out that almost all the districts in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal are affected by this problem.
Tamil Nadu with 93.33 per cent of its districts are affected, is leading the tally of the states affected by human trafficking followed by Orissa with 86.66 per cent and Bihar 86.48 per cent.
The report further added that 2.4 per cent of the total female population in age group of 15-35 years in the country are affected by commercial sexual exploitation.
According to the report there are over 28 lakh commercial sex workers in the country. And over 43 percent women enter to this flesh trade in their minor ages.
The report expressed concern over the entry of minors in flesh trade from the regions where incidence of poverty and hunger are comparatively high
Reasons like violence against women, high rate of unemployment and lack of options contribute to the vulnerability of trafficking of adults, the report says.
The report says that gender discrimination and gender specific violence and crimes perpetuate the vulnerability of women and children and act as one of the reasons behind trafficking.
The report also says that more than 22 per cent women are trafficked and forced into flesh trade by family members.
Around 8 per cent women are trafficked by husbands or in-laws and friends or neighbours lure 18 per cent. More than 51 per cent women in commercial sex were trafficked either by family members or in-laws, the report says.
The report reveals that about 22 per cent of traffickers are not prosecuted due to their political backing
Minors in circus human trafficking
Minors in circus human trafficking
Himalayan News Service
2009-10-05 2:17 PM
Print This News
KATHMANDU; The Supreme Court (SC) has treated the recruitment of minors in circus as seriously as human trafficking.
Stating that the recruitment of minors in hazardous circus jobs is a violation of children’s fundamental rights and is against the Person Trafficking (Control) Act, 1976, the apex court has termed it a criminal offence requiring prohibition.
The SC also cited a news report published in The Himalayan Times on September 6, which said 12,000 children and women were trafficked into India annually, as well as a report published in The Times of India on August 22.
“Neither the parents nor the society has authority to violate the rights of children by exposing them to hazardous jobs,” a division bench of Justices Bala Ram KC and Rajendra Prasad Koirala said in their full text of judgment made public today.
The bench turned down the appeal filed by traffickers, who sold three children to an Indian circus for IRs 2,000 each.
The bench also upheld punishment slapped by lower courts to traffickers Bir Bahadur Shrestha, Radhika Lama, Thuli Maharjan alias Thuli Didi, Dhan Bahadur Gurung and his second wife. Challenging the Hetauda Appellate Court verdict that upheld the one by Hetauda District Court, the defendants had moved the apex court two years ago.
The traffickers had sold three minors — Sunima Lama, Roshana Lama and Devi Bista — to an Indian circus in 1998. The trio was rescued after a few weeks. Interestingly, their parents were found to have signed contracts for their kids’ deployment there.
The bench also observed that the guardians do not have rights to sign any such
contract.
Underlining the need for a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty or Judicial Cooperation Treaty between Nepal and India to curb crimes, the SC directed the government to initiate process to seek the help of the Indian government in this regard.
The court also stressed on the need to create awareness among schoolchildren on trafficking and to adopt Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice System while conducting trials on cases related to child rights.
Himalayan News Service
2009-10-05 2:17 PM
Print This News
KATHMANDU; The Supreme Court (SC) has treated the recruitment of minors in circus as seriously as human trafficking.
Stating that the recruitment of minors in hazardous circus jobs is a violation of children’s fundamental rights and is against the Person Trafficking (Control) Act, 1976, the apex court has termed it a criminal offence requiring prohibition.
The SC also cited a news report published in The Himalayan Times on September 6, which said 12,000 children and women were trafficked into India annually, as well as a report published in The Times of India on August 22.
“Neither the parents nor the society has authority to violate the rights of children by exposing them to hazardous jobs,” a division bench of Justices Bala Ram KC and Rajendra Prasad Koirala said in their full text of judgment made public today.
The bench turned down the appeal filed by traffickers, who sold three children to an Indian circus for IRs 2,000 each.
The bench also upheld punishment slapped by lower courts to traffickers Bir Bahadur Shrestha, Radhika Lama, Thuli Maharjan alias Thuli Didi, Dhan Bahadur Gurung and his second wife. Challenging the Hetauda Appellate Court verdict that upheld the one by Hetauda District Court, the defendants had moved the apex court two years ago.
The traffickers had sold three minors — Sunima Lama, Roshana Lama and Devi Bista — to an Indian circus in 1998. The trio was rescued after a few weeks. Interestingly, their parents were found to have signed contracts for their kids’ deployment there.
The bench also observed that the guardians do not have rights to sign any such
contract.
Underlining the need for a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty or Judicial Cooperation Treaty between Nepal and India to curb crimes, the SC directed the government to initiate process to seek the help of the Indian government in this regard.
The court also stressed on the need to create awareness among schoolchildren on trafficking and to adopt Guidelines for Action on Children in the Criminal Justice System while conducting trials on cases related to child rights.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Drive against Human Trafficking and Crime against Women to be intensified: Ajay Maken
Drive against Human Trafficking and Crime against Women to be intensified: Ajay Maken
MHA issues Advisories in this regard to States/UTs --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Ajay Maken today said that the Government of India in close co-ordination with the various State and UT Governments had intensified measures against Human Trafficking and Crime against women. Shri Maken also informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) along with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), will be organizing a workshop for training of trainers of all stake holders against Human Trafficking by the end of this year. The Conference will be inaugurated by the Home Minister, Shri P Chidambaram, he said. After this workshop, the MHA also intends to organize similar workshops for stake holders from SAARC countries in line with Government of India’s offer of conducting training programmes for Capacity building for implementation of the SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children, he elaborated.
In this regard the Ministry had convened a meeting of the Nodal Officers for Human Trafficking of various States and UTs on August 28, 2009 and had pushed forward the agenda of co-ordinated and intensive efforts against trafficking, Shri Maken informed.
While the meeting resolved to strengthen the respective Nodal Officers and Offices at the Centre and in the States, it also deliberated upon certain common operating procedures and practices, following which MHA has issued the following two advisories to the State Governments and UT administrations to issue suitable directions to all concerned to check crime against women and Human Trafficking;
1. Advisory regarding Measures needed to curb Crime against Women issued on September 4, 2009.
2. Advisory on Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking in India issued on September 9, 2009.
Main Points of advisory on checking crime against women
The advisory has detailed measures that are needed to curb crime against this vulnerable section of the society. The States and UTs have also been asked to convey the status on the measures to the Centre within a month. The Government of India have been advising the State Governments from time to time regarding the steps that need to be taken to afford a greater measure of protection to the women and in particular to prevent incidence of crimes against them. Through the advisories, the State Governments were also requested to undertake a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the machinery in tackling the problem of women and to take appropriate measures aimed at increasing the responsiveness of the law and order machinery.
Some State Governments, no doubt, have taken some measures in this regard. However, the inputs regarding crime against women available with this Ministry indicate that these measures need to be strengthened further. Despite several steps being taken by the State Governments, picture still is very grim and disappointing. Complaints are still being received regarding non-registration of FIRs and unsympathetic attitude of police personnel towards rape victims and victims of violence.
The National Commission for Women has been undertaking visits to various States to review the status of women and has been making available findings of their inquiry to the concerned State Governments as well as to the MHA. The reports of the inquiries conducted by the Commission in specific incidents indicate that the level of sensitiveness and care with which crime against women should be handled is not up to the desired level.
The Government of India is deeply concerned with these trends and ground situation and has re-emphasized that urgent action should be taken on the following:-
i. Vigorously enforce the existing legislation relating to Crime against Women and Children, i.e., Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 and Violence against Women (Prevention) Act, 2005, Section 67 of the IT Act, 2000, the display of lascivious photographs/films on computer through internet, etc.
ii. Government must ensure proper enforcement of law and convictions in women related crimes. Enforcement agencies should be instructed in unambiguous terms that enforcement of the rights of the weaker and vulnerable sections including women and children should not be downplayed for fear of further disturbances or retribution and adequate preparation should be made to face any such eventuality.
iii. The administration and police should play a more proactive role in detection and investigation of crime against women and ensuring that there is no under reporting.
iv. Increasing the overall representation of women in police forces. The representation of women in police at all levels should be increased through affirmative action so that they constitute about 33% of the police.
v. Sensitizing the law enforcement machinery towards crime against women by way of well structured training programmes, meetings and seminars etc., for police personnel at all levels as well as other functionaries of the criminal justice system.
vi. Government must take concrete steps to increase awareness in the administration and among the police in particular, regarding crime against women, and take steps not only to tackle such crimes but also deal sensitively with the ensuing trauma.
vii. For improving general awareness on legislations, mechanisms in place for safety and protection of women, the concerned department of the State Government must, inter-alia, take following steps:
a. Create awareness through print and electronic media;
b. Develop a community monitoring system to check cases of violence, abuse and exploitation and take necessary steps to curb the same;
c. Involving the Community at large in creating and spreading such awareness; and
d. Organize legal literacy and legal awareness camps.
viii. Explore the possibility of associating NGOs working in the area of combating crime against women. Citizens groups and NGOs should be encouraged to increase awareness about gender issues in society and help bring to light violence against women and also assist the police in the investigation of crime against women. Close coordination between the police and the NGOs dealing with the interests of women may be ensured.
ix. There should be no delay whatsoever in registration of FIR in all cases of crime against women.
x. All out efforts should be made to apprehend all the accused named in the FIR immediately so as to generate confidence in the victims and their family members;
xi. Cases should be thoroughly investigated and charge sheets against the accused persons should be filed within three months from the date of occurrence, without compromising on the quality of investigation. Speedy investigation should be conducted in heinous crimes like rape. The medical examination of rape victims should be conducted without delay.
xii. Ensure proper supervisions at appropriate level of cases of crime against women from the recording of FIR to the disposal of the case by the competent court.
xiii. Help-line numbers of the crime against women cells - should be exhibited prominently in hospitals/schools/colleges premises, and in other suitable places.
xiv. Set up exclusive ‘Crime Against Women and Children’ desk in each police station and the Special Women police cells in the police stations and all women police thana as needed.
xv. Concerned departments of the State Governments could handle rape victims at all stages from filing a complaint in a police station to undergoing forensic examination and in providing all possible assistance including counseling, legal assistance and rehabilitation. Preferably these victims may be handled by women so as to provide a certain comfort level to the rape victims.
xvi. The specialized Sexual Assault Treatment Units could be developed in government hospitals having a large maternity section.
xvii. The Health department of the State Govts., should set up ‘Rape Crisis Centres’ (RCCs) and specialized ‘Sexual Assault Treatment Units’ (SATUs), at appropriate places. RCCs could act as an interface between the victims and other agencies involved.
xviii. The administration should also focus on rehabilitation of the victims and provide all required support. The police should consider empanelling professional counselors and the counseling should not be done by the police.
xix. For improving the safety conditions on road, the concerned departments of the State Government must take suitable steps to:
a. Increase the number of beat constables, especially on the sensitive roads;
b. Increase the number of police help booth/kiosks, especially in remote and lonely stretches;
c. Increase police patrolling, especially during the night;
d. Increase the number of women police officers in the mobile police vans;
e. Set-up telephone booths for easy access to police;
f. Install people friendly street lights on all roads, lonely stretches and alleys; and
g. Ensure street lights are properly and efficiently working on all roads, lonely stretches and alleys.
xx. The local police should arrange for patrolling in the affected areas and more especially in the locality of the weaker sections of the society. Periodic visits by DM & SP will create a sense of safety and security among these sections of the people.
xxi. Special steps to be taken for security of women working in night shifts of call centers.
xxii. Crime prone areas should be identified and a mechanism be put in place to monitor infractions in schools/colleges for ensuring safety and security of female students. Women police officers in adequate number fully equipped with policing infrastructure may be posted in such areas.
xxiii. Action should be taken at the State level to set up of Fast Track Courts and Family Courts.
xxiv. Dowry related cases must be adjudicated expeditiously to avoid further harassment of the women.
xxv. Appointment Dowry Prohibition Officers and notify the Rules under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
xxvi. All police stations may be advised to display the name and other details of Protection Officers of the area appointed under the Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
xxvii. Police personnel should be trained adequately in special laws dealing with atrocities against women. Enforcement aspect should be emphasized adequately so as to streamline it.
xxviii. Special steps may also be taken by the police in collaboration with the Health and Family Welfare Department of the State to prevent female foeticide.
xxix. Special steps should also be taken to curb the ‘Violation of Women’s Rights by so called Honour Killings, to prevent forced marriage in some northern States, and other forms of Violence’.
xxx. Ensure follow up of reports of cases of atrocities against women received from various sources, including NCW & SCW, with concerned authorities in the State Governments.
The advisories issued by MHA, inter-alia, include gender sensitization of the police personnel, adopting appropriate measures for swift and salutary punishment to public servants found guilty of custodial violence against women, minimizing delays in investigations of murder, rape and torture of women and improving its quality, setting up a ‘crime against women cell’ in districts where they do not exist, providing adequate counseling centers and shelter homes for women who have been victimized etc.
Main points of advisory on preventing and combating human trafficking in India
The key points include implementation of legal provisions in the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act 1956; Juvenile Justice Act 2000; Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006; capacity building of the State machinery; prevention of trafficking; investigation and prosecution and rescue and rehabilitation measures. The states and UTs have also been asked to convey to the Centre the present status within one month. The key points have been worked out in collaboration with the related Ministries of Women & Child Development, Labour & Employment and Health & Family Welfare.
To facilitate matters in this regard, MHA has already established an Anti Trafficking Cell (ATC) which deals with the following major subject matters:
a. All matters pertaining to the criminal aspect of trafficking in human beings especially of women and children, which is the fastest growing organized crime and an area of concern.
b. To act as the Nodal cell for dealing with the criminal aspect of Human Trafficking in India, hold regular meetings of all States and UTs, communicating various decisions and follow up on action taken by the State Governments.
c. To interface with other Ministries like Women & Child Development, Social Justice &Empowerment, External Affairs, Overseas Indian Affairs, Labour & Employment, Law, and NCRB regarding the criminal aspect of human trafficking.
The Anti Trafficking Nodal Cell of MHA has developed an MIS proforma for the monitoring of the action taken by various State Governments regarding the criminal aspect of human trafficking as well as crime against women. The State Governments are required to send quarterly information.
MHA issues Advisories in this regard to States/UTs --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Ajay Maken today said that the Government of India in close co-ordination with the various State and UT Governments had intensified measures against Human Trafficking and Crime against women. Shri Maken also informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) along with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), will be organizing a workshop for training of trainers of all stake holders against Human Trafficking by the end of this year. The Conference will be inaugurated by the Home Minister, Shri P Chidambaram, he said. After this workshop, the MHA also intends to organize similar workshops for stake holders from SAARC countries in line with Government of India’s offer of conducting training programmes for Capacity building for implementation of the SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children, he elaborated.
In this regard the Ministry had convened a meeting of the Nodal Officers for Human Trafficking of various States and UTs on August 28, 2009 and had pushed forward the agenda of co-ordinated and intensive efforts against trafficking, Shri Maken informed.
While the meeting resolved to strengthen the respective Nodal Officers and Offices at the Centre and in the States, it also deliberated upon certain common operating procedures and practices, following which MHA has issued the following two advisories to the State Governments and UT administrations to issue suitable directions to all concerned to check crime against women and Human Trafficking;
1. Advisory regarding Measures needed to curb Crime against Women issued on September 4, 2009.
2. Advisory on Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking in India issued on September 9, 2009.
Main Points of advisory on checking crime against women
The advisory has detailed measures that are needed to curb crime against this vulnerable section of the society. The States and UTs have also been asked to convey the status on the measures to the Centre within a month. The Government of India have been advising the State Governments from time to time regarding the steps that need to be taken to afford a greater measure of protection to the women and in particular to prevent incidence of crimes against them. Through the advisories, the State Governments were also requested to undertake a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the machinery in tackling the problem of women and to take appropriate measures aimed at increasing the responsiveness of the law and order machinery.
Some State Governments, no doubt, have taken some measures in this regard. However, the inputs regarding crime against women available with this Ministry indicate that these measures need to be strengthened further. Despite several steps being taken by the State Governments, picture still is very grim and disappointing. Complaints are still being received regarding non-registration of FIRs and unsympathetic attitude of police personnel towards rape victims and victims of violence.
The National Commission for Women has been undertaking visits to various States to review the status of women and has been making available findings of their inquiry to the concerned State Governments as well as to the MHA. The reports of the inquiries conducted by the Commission in specific incidents indicate that the level of sensitiveness and care with which crime against women should be handled is not up to the desired level.
The Government of India is deeply concerned with these trends and ground situation and has re-emphasized that urgent action should be taken on the following:-
i. Vigorously enforce the existing legislation relating to Crime against Women and Children, i.e., Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 and Violence against Women (Prevention) Act, 2005, Section 67 of the IT Act, 2000, the display of lascivious photographs/films on computer through internet, etc.
ii. Government must ensure proper enforcement of law and convictions in women related crimes. Enforcement agencies should be instructed in unambiguous terms that enforcement of the rights of the weaker and vulnerable sections including women and children should not be downplayed for fear of further disturbances or retribution and adequate preparation should be made to face any such eventuality.
iii. The administration and police should play a more proactive role in detection and investigation of crime against women and ensuring that there is no under reporting.
iv. Increasing the overall representation of women in police forces. The representation of women in police at all levels should be increased through affirmative action so that they constitute about 33% of the police.
v. Sensitizing the law enforcement machinery towards crime against women by way of well structured training programmes, meetings and seminars etc., for police personnel at all levels as well as other functionaries of the criminal justice system.
vi. Government must take concrete steps to increase awareness in the administration and among the police in particular, regarding crime against women, and take steps not only to tackle such crimes but also deal sensitively with the ensuing trauma.
vii. For improving general awareness on legislations, mechanisms in place for safety and protection of women, the concerned department of the State Government must, inter-alia, take following steps:
a. Create awareness through print and electronic media;
b. Develop a community monitoring system to check cases of violence, abuse and exploitation and take necessary steps to curb the same;
c. Involving the Community at large in creating and spreading such awareness; and
d. Organize legal literacy and legal awareness camps.
viii. Explore the possibility of associating NGOs working in the area of combating crime against women. Citizens groups and NGOs should be encouraged to increase awareness about gender issues in society and help bring to light violence against women and also assist the police in the investigation of crime against women. Close coordination between the police and the NGOs dealing with the interests of women may be ensured.
ix. There should be no delay whatsoever in registration of FIR in all cases of crime against women.
x. All out efforts should be made to apprehend all the accused named in the FIR immediately so as to generate confidence in the victims and their family members;
xi. Cases should be thoroughly investigated and charge sheets against the accused persons should be filed within three months from the date of occurrence, without compromising on the quality of investigation. Speedy investigation should be conducted in heinous crimes like rape. The medical examination of rape victims should be conducted without delay.
xii. Ensure proper supervisions at appropriate level of cases of crime against women from the recording of FIR to the disposal of the case by the competent court.
xiii. Help-line numbers of the crime against women cells - should be exhibited prominently in hospitals/schools/colleges premises, and in other suitable places.
xiv. Set up exclusive ‘Crime Against Women and Children’ desk in each police station and the Special Women police cells in the police stations and all women police thana as needed.
xv. Concerned departments of the State Governments could handle rape victims at all stages from filing a complaint in a police station to undergoing forensic examination and in providing all possible assistance including counseling, legal assistance and rehabilitation. Preferably these victims may be handled by women so as to provide a certain comfort level to the rape victims.
xvi. The specialized Sexual Assault Treatment Units could be developed in government hospitals having a large maternity section.
xvii. The Health department of the State Govts., should set up ‘Rape Crisis Centres’ (RCCs) and specialized ‘Sexual Assault Treatment Units’ (SATUs), at appropriate places. RCCs could act as an interface between the victims and other agencies involved.
xviii. The administration should also focus on rehabilitation of the victims and provide all required support. The police should consider empanelling professional counselors and the counseling should not be done by the police.
xix. For improving the safety conditions on road, the concerned departments of the State Government must take suitable steps to:
a. Increase the number of beat constables, especially on the sensitive roads;
b. Increase the number of police help booth/kiosks, especially in remote and lonely stretches;
c. Increase police patrolling, especially during the night;
d. Increase the number of women police officers in the mobile police vans;
e. Set-up telephone booths for easy access to police;
f. Install people friendly street lights on all roads, lonely stretches and alleys; and
g. Ensure street lights are properly and efficiently working on all roads, lonely stretches and alleys.
xx. The local police should arrange for patrolling in the affected areas and more especially in the locality of the weaker sections of the society. Periodic visits by DM & SP will create a sense of safety and security among these sections of the people.
xxi. Special steps to be taken for security of women working in night shifts of call centers.
xxii. Crime prone areas should be identified and a mechanism be put in place to monitor infractions in schools/colleges for ensuring safety and security of female students. Women police officers in adequate number fully equipped with policing infrastructure may be posted in such areas.
xxiii. Action should be taken at the State level to set up of Fast Track Courts and Family Courts.
xxiv. Dowry related cases must be adjudicated expeditiously to avoid further harassment of the women.
xxv. Appointment Dowry Prohibition Officers and notify the Rules under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961.
xxvi. All police stations may be advised to display the name and other details of Protection Officers of the area appointed under the Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
xxvii. Police personnel should be trained adequately in special laws dealing with atrocities against women. Enforcement aspect should be emphasized adequately so as to streamline it.
xxviii. Special steps may also be taken by the police in collaboration with the Health and Family Welfare Department of the State to prevent female foeticide.
xxix. Special steps should also be taken to curb the ‘Violation of Women’s Rights by so called Honour Killings, to prevent forced marriage in some northern States, and other forms of Violence’.
xxx. Ensure follow up of reports of cases of atrocities against women received from various sources, including NCW & SCW, with concerned authorities in the State Governments.
The advisories issued by MHA, inter-alia, include gender sensitization of the police personnel, adopting appropriate measures for swift and salutary punishment to public servants found guilty of custodial violence against women, minimizing delays in investigations of murder, rape and torture of women and improving its quality, setting up a ‘crime against women cell’ in districts where they do not exist, providing adequate counseling centers and shelter homes for women who have been victimized etc.
Main points of advisory on preventing and combating human trafficking in India
The key points include implementation of legal provisions in the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act 1956; Juvenile Justice Act 2000; Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006; capacity building of the State machinery; prevention of trafficking; investigation and prosecution and rescue and rehabilitation measures. The states and UTs have also been asked to convey to the Centre the present status within one month. The key points have been worked out in collaboration with the related Ministries of Women & Child Development, Labour & Employment and Health & Family Welfare.
To facilitate matters in this regard, MHA has already established an Anti Trafficking Cell (ATC) which deals with the following major subject matters:
a. All matters pertaining to the criminal aspect of trafficking in human beings especially of women and children, which is the fastest growing organized crime and an area of concern.
b. To act as the Nodal cell for dealing with the criminal aspect of Human Trafficking in India, hold regular meetings of all States and UTs, communicating various decisions and follow up on action taken by the State Governments.
c. To interface with other Ministries like Women & Child Development, Social Justice &Empowerment, External Affairs, Overseas Indian Affairs, Labour & Employment, Law, and NCRB regarding the criminal aspect of human trafficking.
The Anti Trafficking Nodal Cell of MHA has developed an MIS proforma for the monitoring of the action taken by various State Governments regarding the criminal aspect of human trafficking as well as crime against women. The State Governments are required to send quarterly information.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Ordinance 2009.
Chandigarh, Sep 16 (PTI) To curb the fraudulent activities of people involved in organised human trafficking and to check the activities of unregistered travel agents, the Punjab government today approved the promulgation of Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Ordinance 2009.
The state has seen many cases in recent years where people were duped on the pretext of sending them to foreign countries.
The state has seen many cases in recent years where people were duped on the pretext of sending them to foreign countries.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Human traffickers exploit economic crisis, redoubled prevention efforts urgently needed, warns high-level conference at OSCE
VIENNA, 14 September 2009 - The impact of the global economic crisis in severely reducing legitimate employment opportunities and increasing the vulnerability of millions of people to sexual and labour exploitation is the focus of an OSCE-organized conference that opened in Vienna today.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in a video address opening the two-day conference, urged OSCE participating States to redouble prevention efforts.
"New economic pressures are likely to aggravate the problem further, so this conference comes at a time of renewed urgency. It is an opportunity to place a renewed focus on prevention and the root causes of trafficking," said Clinton. "Together we must implement a comprehensive approach that both confronts criminals and cares for survivors."
The 9th Alliance Against Trafficking in Persons Conference, focusing on "Prevention of Modern-Slavery", brings together more than 250 experts from governments, international organizations and civil society to discuss the business of trafficking in the context of the economic crisis, which has increased both supply and demand.
"Widespread unemployment, a drastic decline in opportunities and a loss in remittances from labour migrants result in desperate situations both in countries of origin and of destination, where people have few viable alternatives and are prone to take more risks," said Eva Biaudet, the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.
"In the context of our global economic crisis, empirical evidence on the extent of trafficking and the effectiveness of our efforts is more necessary than ever. We must prevent the root causes of trafficking such as unemployment, all forms of discrimination, corrupt practices and the demand for commercial sex and exploitative labour, before trafficking occurs, but also to prevent re-trafficking by having strong protections in place."
Conference participants will also discuss current best practices using a human rights approach, including the media's role in preventing trafficking. Investigative journalists, documentary filmmakers and photographers will take part in a panel discussion on the media's role and responsibility in covering human trafficking
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in a video address opening the two-day conference, urged OSCE participating States to redouble prevention efforts.
"New economic pressures are likely to aggravate the problem further, so this conference comes at a time of renewed urgency. It is an opportunity to place a renewed focus on prevention and the root causes of trafficking," said Clinton. "Together we must implement a comprehensive approach that both confronts criminals and cares for survivors."
The 9th Alliance Against Trafficking in Persons Conference, focusing on "Prevention of Modern-Slavery", brings together more than 250 experts from governments, international organizations and civil society to discuss the business of trafficking in the context of the economic crisis, which has increased both supply and demand.
"Widespread unemployment, a drastic decline in opportunities and a loss in remittances from labour migrants result in desperate situations both in countries of origin and of destination, where people have few viable alternatives and are prone to take more risks," said Eva Biaudet, the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.
"In the context of our global economic crisis, empirical evidence on the extent of trafficking and the effectiveness of our efforts is more necessary than ever. We must prevent the root causes of trafficking such as unemployment, all forms of discrimination, corrupt practices and the demand for commercial sex and exploitative labour, before trafficking occurs, but also to prevent re-trafficking by having strong protections in place."
Conference participants will also discuss current best practices using a human rights approach, including the media's role in preventing trafficking. Investigative journalists, documentary filmmakers and photographers will take part in a panel discussion on the media's role and responsibility in covering human trafficking
Friday, September 11, 2009
Govt urged to enforce laws to protect women
By Express News Service
11 Sep 2009 03:16:00 AM IST
Govt urged to enforce laws to protect women
HYDERABAD: The AP Women Network, an organisation formed by women social activists working to end violence against women in the State, has urged the government to enforce the Domestic Violence Act 2005 and the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act 1956 to protect the rights of women and prevent attacks on them.
Talking with reporters here today, APWN convener C Bhanuja said the government had failed to rehabilite women and help them reunite with their families. Several victims were rescued from flesh trade centres in Pune, Bhiwandi and Mumbai by APWN. Unless the government provided proper facilities to the rescued victims the APWN would not cooperate with the officials concerned in conducting rescue operations, she said.
The APWN has urged the government to provide counselling and skill development programmes to the victims at Swadhar Homes, to strengthen them mentally and make them employable, which can certainly prevent them from going back to the oldest profession. G Sucharitha, a member of APWN, said the government was to provide Rs 10,000 as rehabilitation fund as per rules but failed to release the money immediately.
They were taking long time _ six months to one year - in releasing the fund, she noted.
They appealed to the government to strengthen the rehabilitation and reintegration mechanism to successfully bring them to normal life from `hell-holes’.
They called for better coordination among the women development and child welfare department, police, NGOs and lawyers. They also urged the government to take stringent action against human traffickers.
Kota Sivakumari, another member, charged the government with failure to enforce the Domestic Violence Act effectively.
Though numerous attacks on women were being reported by the media every day, only 3,565 cases were booked under the Domestic Violence Act in the last four years, she wondered and urged the government to provide a special budget, protection officer and employees to the enforce the Act effectively
11 Sep 2009 03:16:00 AM IST
Govt urged to enforce laws to protect women
HYDERABAD: The AP Women Network, an organisation formed by women social activists working to end violence against women in the State, has urged the government to enforce the Domestic Violence Act 2005 and the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act 1956 to protect the rights of women and prevent attacks on them.
Talking with reporters here today, APWN convener C Bhanuja said the government had failed to rehabilite women and help them reunite with their families. Several victims were rescued from flesh trade centres in Pune, Bhiwandi and Mumbai by APWN. Unless the government provided proper facilities to the rescued victims the APWN would not cooperate with the officials concerned in conducting rescue operations, she said.
The APWN has urged the government to provide counselling and skill development programmes to the victims at Swadhar Homes, to strengthen them mentally and make them employable, which can certainly prevent them from going back to the oldest profession. G Sucharitha, a member of APWN, said the government was to provide Rs 10,000 as rehabilitation fund as per rules but failed to release the money immediately.
They were taking long time _ six months to one year - in releasing the fund, she noted.
They appealed to the government to strengthen the rehabilitation and reintegration mechanism to successfully bring them to normal life from `hell-holes’.
They called for better coordination among the women development and child welfare department, police, NGOs and lawyers. They also urged the government to take stringent action against human traffickers.
Kota Sivakumari, another member, charged the government with failure to enforce the Domestic Violence Act effectively.
Though numerous attacks on women were being reported by the media every day, only 3,565 cases were booked under the Domestic Violence Act in the last four years, she wondered and urged the government to provide a special budget, protection officer and employees to the enforce the Act effectively
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
17 year old girl rescued from traffickers
THE HINDU
Date:01/09/2009
Andhra Pradesh
TADEPALLIGUDEM: The life of a 17-year-old minor girl from Gopalapuram area in West Godavari district would have ended up as a victim of women trafficking, but for the timely intervention of police. A special team led by Sub-Inspector M. Venkateswara Rao rescued the girl while being sold away to a couple of traffickers from Eluru for a ‘price’ of Rs 10,000 here.
Kovvuru DSP G. Janaki Sharmila said efforts were under way to send the victim to a State-run rescue home at Eluru for rehabilitation. Besides the minor girl, five other women, who were forced into flesh trade, also secured freedom following a raid on a den by the police in the town. Ms. Janaki Sharmila presented 16 persons who were allegedly involved in the trafficking at a media conference here on Monday.
The DSP said the accused were allegedly luring the young women with poor economic background into trafficking to cities such as Bangalore and Hyderabad by presenting them expensive gifts.
Ms. Janaki informed that police launched a drive against women trafficking in the Kovvuru sub-division and freed 15 victims, including four minors, in the last two weeks.
A recent raid on a den at Tanuku led to the release of nine victims, including three minors, from the clutches of traffickers.
In all, 27 persons allegedly involved in the trafficking were arrested in the two incidents reported at Tanuku and Tadepalligudem. Suspect sheets were opened against 11 persons belonging to different places in the district for allegedly having connections with the traffickers.
Date:01/09/2009
Andhra Pradesh
TADEPALLIGUDEM: The life of a 17-year-old minor girl from Gopalapuram area in West Godavari district would have ended up as a victim of women trafficking, but for the timely intervention of police. A special team led by Sub-Inspector M. Venkateswara Rao rescued the girl while being sold away to a couple of traffickers from Eluru for a ‘price’ of Rs 10,000 here.
Kovvuru DSP G. Janaki Sharmila said efforts were under way to send the victim to a State-run rescue home at Eluru for rehabilitation. Besides the minor girl, five other women, who were forced into flesh trade, also secured freedom following a raid on a den by the police in the town. Ms. Janaki Sharmila presented 16 persons who were allegedly involved in the trafficking at a media conference here on Monday.
The DSP said the accused were allegedly luring the young women with poor economic background into trafficking to cities such as Bangalore and Hyderabad by presenting them expensive gifts.
Ms. Janaki informed that police launched a drive against women trafficking in the Kovvuru sub-division and freed 15 victims, including four minors, in the last two weeks.
A recent raid on a den at Tanuku led to the release of nine victims, including three minors, from the clutches of traffickers.
In all, 27 persons allegedly involved in the trafficking were arrested in the two incidents reported at Tanuku and Tadepalligudem. Suspect sheets were opened against 11 persons belonging to different places in the district for allegedly having connections with the traffickers.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Hyderabad- It's boom time for brothels in city
Bushra Baseerat,
TNN 28 August 2009, 01:46am IST
|
HYDERABAD: The organised business of brothels is becoming big time in Hyderabad with an estimated 5,000 brothels dotting the Twin Cities.
According to officials of Andhra Pradesh State Aids Control Society and ‘coordinators’ of flesh trade, the number of brothels has doubled in the city in the last two years.
The business, which has been recession-proof, is booming in brothels with girls in the trade charging anywhere between Rs 500 and Rs 10,000 a day or even more, depending on their age, appearance and the client’s spending capacity. These brothels are largely being operated from residential apartments that are spread across Twin Cities, according to non-governmental organisations and networks working with the People Living with HIV/Aids (PLHAs).
What is new in the city’s flesh trade is the organised business model that they have adopted with pimps saying that Hyderabad brothels are going the Mumbai way. Pimps say that the number of such brothels would be around 2,000 to 3,000.
Take for instance, this brothel in a residential area in Kukatpally that TOI visited. Managed by a ‘madam’, the ‘brothel’ appears like a normal flat with sparse furniture. The madam is a 25-year-old sex worker and says she has now recruited four girls who operate from this flat. These girls give a portion of their income to the woman who sub-lets her flat to them. She also has two male members in her ‘family’ to ward off curious neighbours and police raids.
The trend of ‘contracts’’ too has come to stay in Hyderabad. “I was taken on a contract for ten days by a pimp and catered to ten clients a day earning Rs 23,000. Now, I have set up my own business,’’ says a sex worker who continues to work. She maintains that she insists on condom use by her clients, a claim that officials aren’t too sure of.
Sex workers share that girls in the age group of 15 to 25 years are in demand and their customers are mostly married who range from businessmen, software engineers to even auto-walas.
A pimp who operates in the Yousufguda area, told TOI that coordinators lure girls with ‘good money’, showcasing Hyderabad as a cash-rich destination with the IT and real estate boom. “Girls are being brought from rural areas of West Bengal as well as Maharashtra and tribal Gujarat. Even girls from Warangal and Nalgonda are being inducted. Earlier, they were mostly natives of Andhra from districts like Krishna, Guntur, East Godavari (Kakinada and Rajhamundry) and Vizag,” said the broker, in the business since past five years. Officials said they started mapping brothels as it became impossible for them to fan out to each sex worker to spread Aids awareness messages. That there could be a considerable number of minor girls operating from these brothels is a serious area of concern, but police officials admit it is difficult to keep tabs on these brothels as they are temporary in nature and sex workers shift out of their flats every month.
C Ravi Verma, DCP west zone, said that girls are promised money up to Rs 40,000 and brought to the city and says that more people in the city are visiting sex workers than before. “The problem is even after we catch them, they come out on bail and start operating from a different place all over again,’’ he says, ruing that very few people lodge complaints.
TNN 28 August 2009, 01:46am IST
|
HYDERABAD: The organised business of brothels is becoming big time in Hyderabad with an estimated 5,000 brothels dotting the Twin Cities.
According to officials of Andhra Pradesh State Aids Control Society and ‘coordinators’ of flesh trade, the number of brothels has doubled in the city in the last two years.
The business, which has been recession-proof, is booming in brothels with girls in the trade charging anywhere between Rs 500 and Rs 10,000 a day or even more, depending on their age, appearance and the client’s spending capacity. These brothels are largely being operated from residential apartments that are spread across Twin Cities, according to non-governmental organisations and networks working with the People Living with HIV/Aids (PLHAs).
What is new in the city’s flesh trade is the organised business model that they have adopted with pimps saying that Hyderabad brothels are going the Mumbai way. Pimps say that the number of such brothels would be around 2,000 to 3,000.
Take for instance, this brothel in a residential area in Kukatpally that TOI visited. Managed by a ‘madam’, the ‘brothel’ appears like a normal flat with sparse furniture. The madam is a 25-year-old sex worker and says she has now recruited four girls who operate from this flat. These girls give a portion of their income to the woman who sub-lets her flat to them. She also has two male members in her ‘family’ to ward off curious neighbours and police raids.
The trend of ‘contracts’’ too has come to stay in Hyderabad. “I was taken on a contract for ten days by a pimp and catered to ten clients a day earning Rs 23,000. Now, I have set up my own business,’’ says a sex worker who continues to work. She maintains that she insists on condom use by her clients, a claim that officials aren’t too sure of.
Sex workers share that girls in the age group of 15 to 25 years are in demand and their customers are mostly married who range from businessmen, software engineers to even auto-walas.
A pimp who operates in the Yousufguda area, told TOI that coordinators lure girls with ‘good money’, showcasing Hyderabad as a cash-rich destination with the IT and real estate boom. “Girls are being brought from rural areas of West Bengal as well as Maharashtra and tribal Gujarat. Even girls from Warangal and Nalgonda are being inducted. Earlier, they were mostly natives of Andhra from districts like Krishna, Guntur, East Godavari (Kakinada and Rajhamundry) and Vizag,” said the broker, in the business since past five years. Officials said they started mapping brothels as it became impossible for them to fan out to each sex worker to spread Aids awareness messages. That there could be a considerable number of minor girls operating from these brothels is a serious area of concern, but police officials admit it is difficult to keep tabs on these brothels as they are temporary in nature and sex workers shift out of their flats every month.
C Ravi Verma, DCP west zone, said that girls are promised money up to Rs 40,000 and brought to the city and says that more people in the city are visiting sex workers than before. “The problem is even after we catch them, they come out on bail and start operating from a different place all over again,’’ he says, ruing that very few people lodge complaints.
Protocol for Pre rescue & post rescue for sex trafficking victim
PROTOCOL FOR PRE-RESCUE, RESCUE AND POST-RESCUE OPERATIONS OF CHILD VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING FOR COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
I. GUIDELINES FOR STATE GOVERNMENTS
1. Develop an Anti-Trafficking Policy specifying victim’s friendly provisions and structures.
2. Create an Anti-Trafficking Cell at the State and District level to co-ordinate with other relevant Departments and NGOs on the issues pertaining to trafficking, especially on the rescue and rehabilitation of child victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.
3. Create a Database on traffickers, brothel owners, informants, decoy customers, number of cases registered, status of each case, source and destination areas in the State/District and any other relevant information. The information in the Database should be kept confidential and should be parted only to genuine information seekers.
4. Form Community Vigilant Groups (CVGs) at the Community Level. The CVGs can help in rescue and rehabilitation of victims at the community level.
5. Assign sufficient number of police personnel especially women Police personnel for the rescue operations.
6. Prominently display signboards in hotels, tourist places, restaurants, beaches, airports, bus stands, railway stations and other susceptible places, warning people against trafficking and use of children for commercial sexual exploitation. In case, any child is seen under suspicious circumstances in these places, the informant should inform the Police/childline/ NGO immediately.
7. Repatriate the victim from the Destination State to the Home State. The State would be responsible for transportation and the State Government would meet all expenses towards travel for the victim and escort, food and incidental. The State Government should provide a separate budget for repatriation of the victims.
8. Give adequate publicity, through both print and electronic media, on child-lines and women help-lines over a sustained period of time.
9. Declare names of fit people and fit institutions, where victims of trafficking can be kept in safe custody. The list should be circulated to all Police Head Quarters, Police Stations at State and District Levels, Courts and NGOs.
10. Declare fit institutions where mentally challenged or ill child victims and women can be kept in safe custody and proper medical treatment can be provided.
11. Issue directives that all Court proceedings related to child victims of trafficking are carried out in-camera.
12. Assign trained Child Welfare Officers in every Police Station.
13. Every Police Station should have separate clean and hygienic toilet (s) for women.
II. FOR RESCUE TEAM MEMBERS
A. STRATEGY FOR PRE-RESCUE OPERATIONS
i. For Rescue of Trafficked Child Vicitms
• Cultivate networks of informants who will provide specific information about trafficked under-aged child victims (below 18 years) or woman willing to be rescued from brothels. Specific information may be in the form of letters, emails, photographs, personality traits, identification marks and scars, addresses, physical presence of relatives and people known to child victim, computer graphics generated by the description and mannerisms (e.g. accent, distinctive body language like frequent rubbing of fingers, blinking of eyes or any other). It is desirable, that a small remuneration is paid to the informant, which sustains their motivation.
• Identify the child victim by the use of decoy customers and authenticate the available information. The decoy customer should try to motivate the child to talk on a one-to-one basis and to facilitate further rescue operations.
• Involve an NGOs and Social Workers in Rescue operations carried out by the Police or the Community.
• Prepare a strategic plan for rescue operation with minimum loss of time. The plan should include the following: -
1. Compilation of all available valid information. For example, physical layout of the brothels and hideouts, specific characteristics of the location, etc. Seek help of key informants people such as petty-shop owners, sweepers, part-time maids, milkmen or any other persons who may provide their service to the brothels/hide-outs, local contractors and builders who would know the layout of the brothels/hide-outs.
2. Rescue team, preferably trained, should consists of the designated Special Police Officer as defined under Section 13 of Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, 1956, Assistant Commissioner of Police and/or District Commissioner of Police, police personnel including women, NGO representative and social worker. The number of rescue team members should be constituted depending on the size (number of brothels/victims) of the rescue operation.
3. Maintain confidentiality and secrecy of the rescue operation, all members of the rescue operation should gather at a commonplace or location at least 2 hours before the actual rescue operation.
4. To prevent leakage of information, prior to the actual rescue operation, mobile phones and any other mode(s) of communication belonging to the rescue operation team members should be taken in custody by the rescue team leader.
5. The strategy that would be adopted for the rescue operations and its various steps should be explained at this time. To each team member, explain his/her role in the rescue operation and clear any doubts that she/he may have.
6. Preparing key players: Formation of teams would depend upon the situation and targeted number of brothels to be covered and expected number of minors to be recovered.
7. Under no circumstances should the decoy customer(s) be exposed before, during and after the rescue operations.
8. Under no circumstances should the rescue operation be revealed to any person (s) other than those directly involved”. If by any chance, the media does happen to get word of it, they should not be allowed to cover the rescue operation.
9. Check /verify vacancies available in Government and other certified Homes, so that the rescued victims can be taken to the appropriate Homes for safe custody. This should be done in total confidentiality, so that any information on the rescue operation is not leaked.
10. Before conducting rescue operations, all police formalities should be completed.
11. During the rescue operations, the rescue team members should not physically touch the girls, women, or their belongings. Only female members of the rescue team should deal with the victims.
12. During the rescue operations, no rescue team members should use abusive language towards the girls and women.
ii. Rescue Operation at a Community Level
• The community should be sensitized about trafficking, the harm resulting out of this exploitative situation and what to do in case they have knowledge of such an incident. Community members should be motivated to keep a watch in the community for irregular movement of child victims to and from the area, their possible traffickers and hideouts.
• The Community members should immediately provide information on suspicious people or to the nearest NGO working on rescue of trafficked victims. In absence of an NGO, the nearest police station may be informed.
• Involve community group in rehabilitation of the victim, if he/she is from the same community.
B. STRATEGY FOR RESCUE OPERATIONS
1. Planned rescue operations should be carried out on brothel communities.
2. Place the rescue team members in strategic location as pre-planned for the rescue operation, before entering the brothel/community,
3. Immediately go to the place/area where the child is being kept/confined.
4. Remove the Child from the brothel/community as quickly as possible. He/She should collect all his/her belongings. In case, she has a child or children of her own, make sure that she is not separated from them.
5. Treat the child victim with sympathy and not as a criminal.
6. Remove any mentally-challenged or ill child victim or woman in the brothel, irrespective of their age.
7. Be aware of your body language and do not make any unnecessary contact, unwelcome gesture, use physical force, cause physical harm, use vulgar or inappropriate language to any inmates of the brothel.
8. Seize/collect all records showing expenses/income/payment/financial transactions and any other important document from the brothel owners, as they would form important piece of material evidence in the Court.
9. Identification of the victims should be kept confidential, her name, address, photograph or any other information should not be published in any newspaper, magazine, news-sheet or visual media. This is mandatory as per Section 21 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.
10. Identity and location of decoy customer should be kept confidential.
11. The rescue team members should be accountable to the rescue team leader and any violation of the rights of the victim should be dealt in appropriate manner.
C. STRATEGY FOR POST-RESCUE OPERATIONS
1. Separate the victims by sight and sound from the accused. While taking the child victim to the Police Station, the child and brothel owners/traffickers should be taken in a separate vehicle. If this is not possible, they should be kept separate from each other. This is to prevent the accused from threatening or intimidating the child.
2. Do not keep the child in the lock-up under any circumstances. The victim should be immediately taken to a certified place of safety after the raid. The victim is not an accused person and should not receive the same treatment as the accused. Keep her separately from the brothel owners/traffickers.
3. Document the rescue operation in the diary, in presence of two independent reliable witnesses and get it signed by them for authentication.
4. The First Information Report (FIR) should be immediately registered by the victims or NGO in the Police Station and it should contains details of location of crime, description of offence, victim and accused, chronology of crime right from the time the child was trafficked. The FIR should be as detailed as possible. The child should receive a copy of the FIR and it should be kept in safe custody of the NGO/Protective/children Home, where the child is kept.
5. Invoke all relevant Sections of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, 1956 and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 against the trafficker and brothel owners.
6. Hand over the Child to a representative from the Protective/Children Home run by either the Government or NGO. The child should be counseled about her stay in protective custody and that she has been kept there for her safety and well being.
7. It is important to ensure the following: -
• Only Plain-clothes police accompany the child to the Protective/Children Home.
• The functionaries of the Protective/Children Home should ensure that the child does not come in contact with its traffickers, pimps, brothel owners or any such persons, who may have bad influence on him/her.
• The medical examination, including age verification test is carried out properly and scientifically. The age verification test is mandatory as per Section 15 b (5A) of Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, 1956 and Section 49 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.
• The child victim is produced before the Child Welfare Committee within 24 hrs of taking him/her into custody. In case, the Child Welfare Committee is not available, then he/she should be produced before concerned Magistrate for relief.
• The child has immediate access to standardized counseling, health care and legal aid. On behalf of the victim, the Personnel from the NGO, including Social Worker or Protective/Children Home should sign the vakalatnama (or the consent for a lawyer’s representation).
• A social worker accompanies the child whenever he/she leaves the place of safety.
• A counselor is present whenever a child is giving testimony in the Court.
• The concerned Magistrate or the members of the competent authority as the case may be, visits the rescue home once in every fifteen days to conduct legal proceedings.
• The child is prepared by explaining to him/her about court proceedings, so that he/she is aware of the procedures and is mentally well prepared. After every hearing of the case, the child should be informed about the court order, if any, so that he/she is kept fully updated on his/her case.
• It is recommended that trafficking cases be fast tracked under Speedy Trial to reduce the trauma and suffering of the child.
D. STRATEGY FOR REHABILITATION (for functionaries in the Protective/Children Home)
1. Ensure that the child is informally welcomed and is introduced to other residents and shown around. She should be shown to her room and her locker where she can keep her personnel belongings. It is advisable that for the first few days, she should be given space for privacy and if possible kept separately from the others or with those who have been rescued like her.
2. Provide a welcome kit that includes a change of clothes, towel, undergarments, chappals/slippers and toiletries (soap, oil, hair brush/comb, tooth brush, paste, powder, rubber band, shampoo, sanitary napkins etc.), to the child on arrival.
3. Explain to him/her the rules and regulation of the Protective/Children Homes and their objectives, once he/she settles down,. This will make him/her feel comfortable and secure in his/her new environment. Also, explain to the child his/her responsibilities and duties during his/her stay in the Home.
4. A registered medical doctor should examine the child for any ailments, allergies, skin rashes and psychological disorders or problems. Routine blood, urine, lung X-rays and stool tests should be carried out. In case, the child is suffering from any aliment, she should be given appropriate medication as prescribed by the doctor and there should be continuous follow-up on her condition.
5. Talk to the child and find out whether he/she is interested in continuing with her education and accordingly, admit him/her to a regular school or make arrangements for non-formal education or tutoring so that she can catch up with his/her studies. In any case, the child should be given some basic education which will help his/her to be independent when he/she leaves the Home.
6. Provide the child with vocational training, including marketing strategies that are marketable, sustainable and practical. (Please check that providing a child with vocational training and marketing strategies is not contravening any child rights or child labor laws).
7. Prepare the Child for his/her repatriation/integration with his/her family. No rescued child should be sent back to his/her family without ensuring social acceptance, family support, to prevent re-trafficking and further exploitation.
I. GUIDELINES FOR STATE GOVERNMENTS
1. Develop an Anti-Trafficking Policy specifying victim’s friendly provisions and structures.
2. Create an Anti-Trafficking Cell at the State and District level to co-ordinate with other relevant Departments and NGOs on the issues pertaining to trafficking, especially on the rescue and rehabilitation of child victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.
3. Create a Database on traffickers, brothel owners, informants, decoy customers, number of cases registered, status of each case, source and destination areas in the State/District and any other relevant information. The information in the Database should be kept confidential and should be parted only to genuine information seekers.
4. Form Community Vigilant Groups (CVGs) at the Community Level. The CVGs can help in rescue and rehabilitation of victims at the community level.
5. Assign sufficient number of police personnel especially women Police personnel for the rescue operations.
6. Prominently display signboards in hotels, tourist places, restaurants, beaches, airports, bus stands, railway stations and other susceptible places, warning people against trafficking and use of children for commercial sexual exploitation. In case, any child is seen under suspicious circumstances in these places, the informant should inform the Police/childline/ NGO immediately.
7. Repatriate the victim from the Destination State to the Home State. The State would be responsible for transportation and the State Government would meet all expenses towards travel for the victim and escort, food and incidental. The State Government should provide a separate budget for repatriation of the victims.
8. Give adequate publicity, through both print and electronic media, on child-lines and women help-lines over a sustained period of time.
9. Declare names of fit people and fit institutions, where victims of trafficking can be kept in safe custody. The list should be circulated to all Police Head Quarters, Police Stations at State and District Levels, Courts and NGOs.
10. Declare fit institutions where mentally challenged or ill child victims and women can be kept in safe custody and proper medical treatment can be provided.
11. Issue directives that all Court proceedings related to child victims of trafficking are carried out in-camera.
12. Assign trained Child Welfare Officers in every Police Station.
13. Every Police Station should have separate clean and hygienic toilet (s) for women.
II. FOR RESCUE TEAM MEMBERS
A. STRATEGY FOR PRE-RESCUE OPERATIONS
i. For Rescue of Trafficked Child Vicitms
• Cultivate networks of informants who will provide specific information about trafficked under-aged child victims (below 18 years) or woman willing to be rescued from brothels. Specific information may be in the form of letters, emails, photographs, personality traits, identification marks and scars, addresses, physical presence of relatives and people known to child victim, computer graphics generated by the description and mannerisms (e.g. accent, distinctive body language like frequent rubbing of fingers, blinking of eyes or any other). It is desirable, that a small remuneration is paid to the informant, which sustains their motivation.
• Identify the child victim by the use of decoy customers and authenticate the available information. The decoy customer should try to motivate the child to talk on a one-to-one basis and to facilitate further rescue operations.
• Involve an NGOs and Social Workers in Rescue operations carried out by the Police or the Community.
• Prepare a strategic plan for rescue operation with minimum loss of time. The plan should include the following: -
1. Compilation of all available valid information. For example, physical layout of the brothels and hideouts, specific characteristics of the location, etc. Seek help of key informants people such as petty-shop owners, sweepers, part-time maids, milkmen or any other persons who may provide their service to the brothels/hide-outs, local contractors and builders who would know the layout of the brothels/hide-outs.
2. Rescue team, preferably trained, should consists of the designated Special Police Officer as defined under Section 13 of Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, 1956, Assistant Commissioner of Police and/or District Commissioner of Police, police personnel including women, NGO representative and social worker. The number of rescue team members should be constituted depending on the size (number of brothels/victims) of the rescue operation.
3. Maintain confidentiality and secrecy of the rescue operation, all members of the rescue operation should gather at a commonplace or location at least 2 hours before the actual rescue operation.
4. To prevent leakage of information, prior to the actual rescue operation, mobile phones and any other mode(s) of communication belonging to the rescue operation team members should be taken in custody by the rescue team leader.
5. The strategy that would be adopted for the rescue operations and its various steps should be explained at this time. To each team member, explain his/her role in the rescue operation and clear any doubts that she/he may have.
6. Preparing key players: Formation of teams would depend upon the situation and targeted number of brothels to be covered and expected number of minors to be recovered.
7. Under no circumstances should the decoy customer(s) be exposed before, during and after the rescue operations.
8. Under no circumstances should the rescue operation be revealed to any person (s) other than those directly involved”. If by any chance, the media does happen to get word of it, they should not be allowed to cover the rescue operation.
9. Check /verify vacancies available in Government and other certified Homes, so that the rescued victims can be taken to the appropriate Homes for safe custody. This should be done in total confidentiality, so that any information on the rescue operation is not leaked.
10. Before conducting rescue operations, all police formalities should be completed.
11. During the rescue operations, the rescue team members should not physically touch the girls, women, or their belongings. Only female members of the rescue team should deal with the victims.
12. During the rescue operations, no rescue team members should use abusive language towards the girls and women.
ii. Rescue Operation at a Community Level
• The community should be sensitized about trafficking, the harm resulting out of this exploitative situation and what to do in case they have knowledge of such an incident. Community members should be motivated to keep a watch in the community for irregular movement of child victims to and from the area, their possible traffickers and hideouts.
• The Community members should immediately provide information on suspicious people or to the nearest NGO working on rescue of trafficked victims. In absence of an NGO, the nearest police station may be informed.
• Involve community group in rehabilitation of the victim, if he/she is from the same community.
B. STRATEGY FOR RESCUE OPERATIONS
1. Planned rescue operations should be carried out on brothel communities.
2. Place the rescue team members in strategic location as pre-planned for the rescue operation, before entering the brothel/community,
3. Immediately go to the place/area where the child is being kept/confined.
4. Remove the Child from the brothel/community as quickly as possible. He/She should collect all his/her belongings. In case, she has a child or children of her own, make sure that she is not separated from them.
5. Treat the child victim with sympathy and not as a criminal.
6. Remove any mentally-challenged or ill child victim or woman in the brothel, irrespective of their age.
7. Be aware of your body language and do not make any unnecessary contact, unwelcome gesture, use physical force, cause physical harm, use vulgar or inappropriate language to any inmates of the brothel.
8. Seize/collect all records showing expenses/income/payment/financial transactions and any other important document from the brothel owners, as they would form important piece of material evidence in the Court.
9. Identification of the victims should be kept confidential, her name, address, photograph or any other information should not be published in any newspaper, magazine, news-sheet or visual media. This is mandatory as per Section 21 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.
10. Identity and location of decoy customer should be kept confidential.
11. The rescue team members should be accountable to the rescue team leader and any violation of the rights of the victim should be dealt in appropriate manner.
C. STRATEGY FOR POST-RESCUE OPERATIONS
1. Separate the victims by sight and sound from the accused. While taking the child victim to the Police Station, the child and brothel owners/traffickers should be taken in a separate vehicle. If this is not possible, they should be kept separate from each other. This is to prevent the accused from threatening or intimidating the child.
2. Do not keep the child in the lock-up under any circumstances. The victim should be immediately taken to a certified place of safety after the raid. The victim is not an accused person and should not receive the same treatment as the accused. Keep her separately from the brothel owners/traffickers.
3. Document the rescue operation in the diary, in presence of two independent reliable witnesses and get it signed by them for authentication.
4. The First Information Report (FIR) should be immediately registered by the victims or NGO in the Police Station and it should contains details of location of crime, description of offence, victim and accused, chronology of crime right from the time the child was trafficked. The FIR should be as detailed as possible. The child should receive a copy of the FIR and it should be kept in safe custody of the NGO/Protective/children Home, where the child is kept.
5. Invoke all relevant Sections of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, 1956 and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 against the trafficker and brothel owners.
6. Hand over the Child to a representative from the Protective/Children Home run by either the Government or NGO. The child should be counseled about her stay in protective custody and that she has been kept there for her safety and well being.
7. It is important to ensure the following: -
• Only Plain-clothes police accompany the child to the Protective/Children Home.
• The functionaries of the Protective/Children Home should ensure that the child does not come in contact with its traffickers, pimps, brothel owners or any such persons, who may have bad influence on him/her.
• The medical examination, including age verification test is carried out properly and scientifically. The age verification test is mandatory as per Section 15 b (5A) of Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, 1956 and Section 49 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.
• The child victim is produced before the Child Welfare Committee within 24 hrs of taking him/her into custody. In case, the Child Welfare Committee is not available, then he/she should be produced before concerned Magistrate for relief.
• The child has immediate access to standardized counseling, health care and legal aid. On behalf of the victim, the Personnel from the NGO, including Social Worker or Protective/Children Home should sign the vakalatnama (or the consent for a lawyer’s representation).
• A social worker accompanies the child whenever he/she leaves the place of safety.
• A counselor is present whenever a child is giving testimony in the Court.
• The concerned Magistrate or the members of the competent authority as the case may be, visits the rescue home once in every fifteen days to conduct legal proceedings.
• The child is prepared by explaining to him/her about court proceedings, so that he/she is aware of the procedures and is mentally well prepared. After every hearing of the case, the child should be informed about the court order, if any, so that he/she is kept fully updated on his/her case.
• It is recommended that trafficking cases be fast tracked under Speedy Trial to reduce the trauma and suffering of the child.
D. STRATEGY FOR REHABILITATION (for functionaries in the Protective/Children Home)
1. Ensure that the child is informally welcomed and is introduced to other residents and shown around. She should be shown to her room and her locker where she can keep her personnel belongings. It is advisable that for the first few days, she should be given space for privacy and if possible kept separately from the others or with those who have been rescued like her.
2. Provide a welcome kit that includes a change of clothes, towel, undergarments, chappals/slippers and toiletries (soap, oil, hair brush/comb, tooth brush, paste, powder, rubber band, shampoo, sanitary napkins etc.), to the child on arrival.
3. Explain to him/her the rules and regulation of the Protective/Children Homes and their objectives, once he/she settles down,. This will make him/her feel comfortable and secure in his/her new environment. Also, explain to the child his/her responsibilities and duties during his/her stay in the Home.
4. A registered medical doctor should examine the child for any ailments, allergies, skin rashes and psychological disorders or problems. Routine blood, urine, lung X-rays and stool tests should be carried out. In case, the child is suffering from any aliment, she should be given appropriate medication as prescribed by the doctor and there should be continuous follow-up on her condition.
5. Talk to the child and find out whether he/she is interested in continuing with her education and accordingly, admit him/her to a regular school or make arrangements for non-formal education or tutoring so that she can catch up with his/her studies. In any case, the child should be given some basic education which will help his/her to be independent when he/she leaves the Home.
6. Provide the child with vocational training, including marketing strategies that are marketable, sustainable and practical. (Please check that providing a child with vocational training and marketing strategies is not contravening any child rights or child labor laws).
7. Prepare the Child for his/her repatriation/integration with his/her family. No rescued child should be sent back to his/her family without ensuring social acceptance, family support, to prevent re-trafficking and further exploitation.
Delhi Magistrate booked under Immoral Trafficking Act
- Delhi Magistrate booked under Immoral Trafficking Act
19:52 HRS IST
Panipat, Aug 27 (PTI)
A Metropolitan Magistrate from Delhi and three others, including a young girl, were today booked under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act by Haryana police.
R K Aggarwal, posted in Tis Hazari Court, was detained and two other acquaintances and a girl were arrested after police raided a house at Samalakha's Punjabi colony in Panipat following a tip-off, Investigating Officer (IO) Inspector Satpal Malik said.
The three "picked up the girl from Delhi-Karnal bypass" and brought her to the rented house where the police "caught the accused red-handed," he said.
Aggarwal, his acquaintance Subhash Dhuvan, Dhuvan's Hisar-based relative Shamsher and the girl, who hails from Kolkata, have been booked under the Act, the IO sai
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Preventing 2nd generation trafficking
Miss India World 2009 Pooja Chopra visited red light area
Mumbai: Winner of Femina's beauty contest Pooja Chopra who will be representing India at Miss World 2009 contest in December this year visited the red light area of Mumbai.
The purpose behind her visit was to interact with the children of sex workers who are studying in a school set up for them and encourage them.
She feels that these children are not fortunate enough to have a decent social tag so must be encouraged to study and progress in life. This visit was organised be Apna which works for the welfare of sex workers.
The children were delighted to have a beautiful celebrity take out time to come visit them. The children thanked her by presenting beautiful drawings sketched by them.
�A small gesture can go a long way in shaping someone's life. Perhaps this visit by Pooja Chopra might help these children of sex workers to be motivated and do well in life.
The purpose behind her visit was to interact with the children of sex workers who are studying in a school set up for them and encourage them.
She feels that these children are not fortunate enough to have a decent social tag so must be encouraged to study and progress in life. This visit was organised be Apna which works for the welfare of sex workers.
The children were delighted to have a beautiful celebrity take out time to come visit them. The children thanked her by presenting beautiful drawings sketched by them.
�A small gesture can go a long way in shaping someone's life. Perhaps this visit by Pooja Chopra might help these children of sex workers to be motivated and do well in life.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
CBI: Tirupati, Shirdi in Nexus Too
Human traffickinjg - Tirupati, Shirdi in Nexus Too
By: Anshuman G Dutta
Date: 2009-05-21
They are traditional soul-cleansing destinations. But pilgrim towns Benaras, Tirupati and Shirdi have instead become hubs of global human traffickingNineteen-year-old Seema (name changed to protect her identity) had come to Benaras on a pilgrimage. It was the city's religious importance that had persuaded her parents in Nepal to allow their young daughter to travel to a foreign country.
Sin City: Pilgrims at one of the ghats of BenarasBut instead of angels, Seema met the demons here. She was held captive, gang-raped and then pushed into the flesh trade.Fortunately, Seema was rescued by an NGO and a group of students from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) who have decided to cleanse the holy city's unholy underbelly.Non-government orgnisations working in Benaras say 500 to 700 girls are brought to the city from Nepal and Bangladesh to be pushed into the flesh trade every year. Later, these girls are taken to Mumbai, Delhi and other metropolitan cities. That's not all. Between 20,000 and 40,000 people are brought here to work as bonded labourers while about 1,000 children are turned into beggars every year.But Benaras is not the only Indian town of religious importance that has become a ripe picking ground for human traffickers. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has revealed cities like Benaras, Tirupati and Shirdi attract human traffickers who find easy targets from among the large number of people who visit these places.
Hotbed Benaras "Seema was only 17 when she was brought to Benaras. She fought her captors and resisted even in the face of near-starvation and physical torture. But her will snapped after she was gang-raped by the members of a human trafficking racket," said Dr Lenin Suryavanshi, director, People's Vigilance Commission on Human Resource, one of the most prominent NGOs working in Benaras.According to Suryavanshi, the Benaras-based gangs "cater" to clients in all the big cities of the country. Children and girls are also brought to Benaras from Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa.
"While most of them are forced into prostitution and begging, many are made to work as bonded labourers as well. Many of them work in the bricks kilns around Benaras," said Suryavanshi.The CBI and NGOs also informed that the racket is thriving between Benaras and Mughalsarai. "There is no denying that human trafficking is rampant in these parts but no own knows how deep-rooted it is. Regular raids are being carried out but the police hardly get any proof as the gangs keep moving along with the kids and girls," said a senior police official from Benaras, wishing anonymity.CBI has an eye on Tirupati and ShirdiThe CBI, in a recently conducted seminar on human trafficking, revealed that religious towns like Benaras are happy hunting grounds for international gangs as well.
"India is being used as source, transit point and destination by global human traffickers," said CBI director Ashwani Kumar at the seminar, organised in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC).A senior CBI official was more specific. "Benaras and Tirupati are two of the most active destinations for both inter-country and intra-country human trafficking. All kind of human trafficking networks child labour, flesh trade and begging rackets are being operated from these cities," said the officer."There is a complete list of religious places from where begging and prostitution gangs are operating. Shirdi is one such town in western India where gangs force children and women into begging," he added.Another senior CBI official said that the investigating body is actively monitoring these religious places to take stock of the situation."So far no one knows the exact strength of the trafficking rackets being operated from these cities. It's being run in connivance with international gangs," he said, wishing not to be named.Unholy factsNGOs working in Benaras say 500 to 700 girls are brought to the city from Nepal and Bangladesh for prostitution every year. Between 20,000 and 40,000 people are brought here to work as bonded labourers, while about 1,000 kids are turned into beggars.
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By: Anshuman G Dutta
Date: 2009-05-21
They are traditional soul-cleansing destinations. But pilgrim towns Benaras, Tirupati and Shirdi have instead become hubs of global human traffickingNineteen-year-old Seema (name changed to protect her identity) had come to Benaras on a pilgrimage. It was the city's religious importance that had persuaded her parents in Nepal to allow their young daughter to travel to a foreign country.
Sin City: Pilgrims at one of the ghats of BenarasBut instead of angels, Seema met the demons here. She was held captive, gang-raped and then pushed into the flesh trade.Fortunately, Seema was rescued by an NGO and a group of students from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) who have decided to cleanse the holy city's unholy underbelly.Non-government orgnisations working in Benaras say 500 to 700 girls are brought to the city from Nepal and Bangladesh to be pushed into the flesh trade every year. Later, these girls are taken to Mumbai, Delhi and other metropolitan cities. That's not all. Between 20,000 and 40,000 people are brought here to work as bonded labourers while about 1,000 children are turned into beggars every year.But Benaras is not the only Indian town of religious importance that has become a ripe picking ground for human traffickers. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has revealed cities like Benaras, Tirupati and Shirdi attract human traffickers who find easy targets from among the large number of people who visit these places.
Hotbed Benaras "Seema was only 17 when she was brought to Benaras. She fought her captors and resisted even in the face of near-starvation and physical torture. But her will snapped after she was gang-raped by the members of a human trafficking racket," said Dr Lenin Suryavanshi, director, People's Vigilance Commission on Human Resource, one of the most prominent NGOs working in Benaras.According to Suryavanshi, the Benaras-based gangs "cater" to clients in all the big cities of the country. Children and girls are also brought to Benaras from Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa.
"While most of them are forced into prostitution and begging, many are made to work as bonded labourers as well. Many of them work in the bricks kilns around Benaras," said Suryavanshi.The CBI and NGOs also informed that the racket is thriving between Benaras and Mughalsarai. "There is no denying that human trafficking is rampant in these parts but no own knows how deep-rooted it is. Regular raids are being carried out but the police hardly get any proof as the gangs keep moving along with the kids and girls," said a senior police official from Benaras, wishing anonymity.CBI has an eye on Tirupati and ShirdiThe CBI, in a recently conducted seminar on human trafficking, revealed that religious towns like Benaras are happy hunting grounds for international gangs as well.
"India is being used as source, transit point and destination by global human traffickers," said CBI director Ashwani Kumar at the seminar, organised in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC).A senior CBI official was more specific. "Benaras and Tirupati are two of the most active destinations for both inter-country and intra-country human trafficking. All kind of human trafficking networks child labour, flesh trade and begging rackets are being operated from these cities," said the officer."There is a complete list of religious places from where begging and prostitution gangs are operating. Shirdi is one such town in western India where gangs force children and women into begging," he added.Another senior CBI official said that the investigating body is actively monitoring these religious places to take stock of the situation."So far no one knows the exact strength of the trafficking rackets being operated from these cities. It's being run in connivance with international gangs," he said, wishing not to be named.Unholy factsNGOs working in Benaras say 500 to 700 girls are brought to the city from Nepal and Bangladesh for prostitution every year. Between 20,000 and 40,000 people are brought here to work as bonded labourers, while about 1,000 kids are turned into beggars.
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Friday, May 15, 2009
Eunuch convicted for raping minor
Eunuch convicted for raping minor
15 May 2009, 1650 hrs IST, PTI
MUMBAI: The sessions court on Friday sentenced a eunuch to ten years rigorous imprisonment on charges of raping a minor girl and immoral trafficking. Additional sessions judge P V Ganediwala convicted the eunuch Rekha Lamb (42), who has been diagnosed with AIDS, on charges of rape and under various sections of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act. Another accused, Sarfaraj Siddiqui (23), who had paid Rekha to sleep with a minor girl, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by the court. On February 16, 2007 the Trombay police had raided Rekha's residence in suburban Chembur and had found Siddiqui and a minor girl in the front room in a compromising position and Rekha in the kitchen with another minor girl. According to the statement of one of the girls, she used to do household chores at Rekha's house since last year when one day Rekha raped her. Since last three to four months, Rekha has been getting customers to her house for sexual favours with the two girls, the prosecution has said. Public prosecutor Usha Kiran Makasare examined nine witnesses in the case including the two girls and Rekha's neighbour who had informed the police about the racket.
15 May 2009, 1650 hrs IST, PTI
MUMBAI: The sessions court on Friday sentenced a eunuch to ten years rigorous imprisonment on charges of raping a minor girl and immoral trafficking. Additional sessions judge P V Ganediwala convicted the eunuch Rekha Lamb (42), who has been diagnosed with AIDS, on charges of rape and under various sections of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act. Another accused, Sarfaraj Siddiqui (23), who had paid Rekha to sleep with a minor girl, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by the court. On February 16, 2007 the Trombay police had raided Rekha's residence in suburban Chembur and had found Siddiqui and a minor girl in the front room in a compromising position and Rekha in the kitchen with another minor girl. According to the statement of one of the girls, she used to do household chores at Rekha's house since last year when one day Rekha raped her. Since last three to four months, Rekha has been getting customers to her house for sexual favours with the two girls, the prosecution has said. Public prosecutor Usha Kiran Makasare examined nine witnesses in the case including the two girls and Rekha's neighbour who had informed the police about the racket.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Trafficking of Indian ladies to Middle East
Date:30/06/2008
Andhra Pradesh -
Kadapa Three held on charge of human trafficking
Special Correspondent
KADAPA: Rayachoti police arrested Pasupuleti Veera Nagaiah, Jeelani and Mahaboob Basha and remanded them on charges of resorting to human trafficking, Kadapa Superintendent of Police Mahesh M. Bhagwat said on Sunday. The police are making efforts to apprehend Nazeer, who was allegedly involved in trafficking of women to Kuwait in the past.
A 40-year-old woman victim (whose name the police withheld) of Gorlamudivedu village in Rayachoty had approached Pasupuleti Veera Nagaiah collected Rs. 40,000 from her promising to send her to Kuwait as a maid servant. He sent her to Kuwait through an unauthorised agent Jeelani of Rayachoty and his brother Mahaboob Basha, the SP told a press conference. In Kuwait, Nazeer, another brother of Jeelani, sold the victim to a brothel house, where she was confined for 10 days along with some other women, he stated. The victim managed to escape through a bathroom window of the brothel house and approached the police station and were jailed as they did not possess relevant documents, he said. Complaint lodged
The victim and another woman of Rayachoti and three women of West Godavari contacted the Indian Embassy and they were sent back to India, Mr. Bhagwat stated. The victim lodged a complaint and on its basis, Rayachoti Urban police registered a case under section 420 IPC, section 24 (1) AP Immigration Act, sections 3, 4 and 5 of Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act against Jeelani, Pasupuleti Veera Nagaiah, Mahaboob Basha of Rayachoty and Nazeer, resident of Kuwait, the SP said.
He appealed to people not to approach unauthorised agents. People aspiring to go abroad should obtain insurance from Pravasa Bharathi Bima Yojana. They could contact the Indian Embassy in Kuwait if they encountered problems
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Prostitution of boys at India's pilgrim sites called rampant
Prostitution of boys at India's pilgrim sites called rampant
By DPAMar 10, 2009, 10:16 GMT
New Delhi - Sexual exploitation of boys in three of India's major pilgrimage centres is pervasive and on the rise, a study released Tuesday said.
The study focused on male children in prostitution at Hindu temple sites of Puri in eastern Orissa state and Tirupati and Guruvayoor in southern Andhra Pradesh and Kerala states.
It was conducted by Ecpat, an international network that aims to stop sexual exploitation of children, and Indian non-governmental organization Equations.
The study found that in these centres, development of tourism had led to sexual exploitation of children, in the form of child abuse, child trafficking, child prostitution, child sex tourism and child pornography.
'There is a dearth of information on male child sexual exploitation and prostitution due to the assumption that most sexual exploiters are men and therefore their victims are women or girls. However, this is not true,' said S Vidya, a coordinator with the Equations.
'The double standards that society has about homosexuality and the fact that it is criminalized in India only makes the problem less visible.'
In Tirupati, which receives mostly Indians, a survey of boys aged between 6 and 18 years revealed that sexual abuse of boys is rampant due to demand from domestic tourists. Pressure on boys to earn a living for the family was cited as a reason why they were forced into prostitution.
'Family members saw less risk when male children are involved in selling sex as compared to girls, as the social stigma is less and the fear of pregnancy does not exist,' the report said.
In Puri, boys interviewed reported that both domestic and foreign tourists were involved in the sexual exploitation.
'A number of massage parlours and health clubs have mushroomed in Puri that primarily cater to foreign and domestic tourists, where prostitution takes place involving both adults and children,' the study said.
In Guruvayoor, child sexual abuse was less visible but discussions with locals revealed that several boys were involved in prostitution, selling sex to domestic tourists and locals.
The groups urged the Indian government to set up agencies to safeguard children and tighten laws to stop child sex tourism, including severe punishment for convicted offenders
By DPAMar 10, 2009, 10:16 GMT
New Delhi - Sexual exploitation of boys in three of India's major pilgrimage centres is pervasive and on the rise, a study released Tuesday said.
The study focused on male children in prostitution at Hindu temple sites of Puri in eastern Orissa state and Tirupati and Guruvayoor in southern Andhra Pradesh and Kerala states.
It was conducted by Ecpat, an international network that aims to stop sexual exploitation of children, and Indian non-governmental organization Equations.
The study found that in these centres, development of tourism had led to sexual exploitation of children, in the form of child abuse, child trafficking, child prostitution, child sex tourism and child pornography.
'There is a dearth of information on male child sexual exploitation and prostitution due to the assumption that most sexual exploiters are men and therefore their victims are women or girls. However, this is not true,' said S Vidya, a coordinator with the Equations.
'The double standards that society has about homosexuality and the fact that it is criminalized in India only makes the problem less visible.'
In Tirupati, which receives mostly Indians, a survey of boys aged between 6 and 18 years revealed that sexual abuse of boys is rampant due to demand from domestic tourists. Pressure on boys to earn a living for the family was cited as a reason why they were forced into prostitution.
'Family members saw less risk when male children are involved in selling sex as compared to girls, as the social stigma is less and the fear of pregnancy does not exist,' the report said.
In Puri, boys interviewed reported that both domestic and foreign tourists were involved in the sexual exploitation.
'A number of massage parlours and health clubs have mushroomed in Puri that primarily cater to foreign and domestic tourists, where prostitution takes place involving both adults and children,' the study said.
In Guruvayoor, child sexual abuse was less visible but discussions with locals revealed that several boys were involved in prostitution, selling sex to domestic tourists and locals.
The groups urged the Indian government to set up agencies to safeguard children and tighten laws to stop child sex tourism, including severe punishment for convicted offenders
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Trafficking: Lens on women's role
Trafficking: Lens on women's role
8 Mar 2009, 0505 hrs IST,
8 Mar 2009, 0505 hrs IST,
Ratnottama Sengupta, TNN
KOLKATA: In Bappaditya Bandopadhyay's Kaal, a male actor inducts four helpless young females into the flesh trade. In Hollywood films Human Trafficking and Trade, again, it's men Russians, Mexicans, Poles, Czechs, Filipinos who steal, trick, lure, lock up, brutalize, and repeatedly sell women mothers, daughters, sisters, even wives.
KOLKATA: In Bappaditya Bandopadhyay's Kaal, a male actor inducts four helpless young females into the flesh trade. In Hollywood films Human Trafficking and Trade, again, it's men Russians, Mexicans, Poles, Czechs, Filipinos who steal, trick, lure, lock up, brutalize, and repeatedly sell women mothers, daughters, sisters, even wives.
Typically, organized crime is a male activity, right? Not really, says United Nation's Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, released to mark International Women's Day. Men make up over 90% of the prison populations of most countries. They are perpetrators of the most violent crimes, terror acts, drug-related horrors. Surprisingly, data from 46 countries suggest for the first time that women play key roles in human trafficking, a trade where two-thirds of the victims are women, and about 13% are girls. Estimates suggest that close to 8 million women and children are trafficked around the world, and two-thirds of these are in the sex trade.
The term sex worker' hides the fact that few choose it as a career option where legislations regarding minimum standards of wages don't apply.
A woman's price varies with age, and there are no retirement benefits. Instead, they face brutalities, forced penetration, repeated abortion, insomnia, even AIDS. The worst part is that the victims' are apprehended as criminals, while the traffickers and buyers of sex get away scot-free. Sexual exploitation is by far the most common form 79% of trafficking, the third most lucrative after trade in arms and drugs. It's the most visible in city centres and along highways, be it in Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangkok, Berlin, London or New York.
But by no means is it the only form of forced labour. We know of slumdogs forced to beg on Indian streets, or of bonded labour. How many know about those used in warfare, or for organ removal? "We are unable to segment today's slave market'," says Antonio Maria Costa, ED, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Break-ups say little about demand and supply, or about relative prices of children used for begging or for rag-tag armies of killers. What pushes illegal immigrants into American sweatshops?
"It is unclear whether the enterprises' are driven by compulsions in source countries or demands in destinations," says Costa. However, the report as much as the films in the festival, that was hosted by Apne Aap, American Center and ICCR, reveals that in source countries, locals win the trust and acquire victims, then control them by threatening retaliation against kids and aged parents. In high-income destinations, though, the offenders are more likely to be foreigners.
"Diaspora population from source regions is often the conduit for moving victims," Costa said. Care for some more revelations? Many African countries have no law against trafficking, or criminalize only child trafficking. In India, while sex with a minor is punished as rape, women victims are penalized for soliciting'. Not all high-income countries have comprehensive legislation, either. So, "the fight against the lucrative exploitation of fellow humans essentially remains an individual national initiative," said Costa.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Giving a purpose to life
Giving a purpose to life
D. Chandra Bhaskar Rao
D. Chandra Bhaskar Rao
Sharmila goes all out to help young girls caught in the pincer grip of prostitution rings
Proud moment: Probationary sub-divisional police officer G. Janaki Sharmila receiving cash award from Superintendent of Police Mahesh M Bhagwat.
KHAMMAM: Chasing leads on flesh trade gangs, she entered places where even her male peers would hesitate to venture into. Putting herself often at risk by confronting people of all sorts, she proved that she was made out to shoulder special tasks and not the mundane stuff.
G. Janaki Sharmila, a probationary sub divisional police officer has been in the thick of action grabbing attention of the media and the public during her brief stint of six months in the district. Her main target
Ms. Sharmila has gone all out helping young girls caught in the pincer grip of prostitution rings that enjoyed the patronage of powerful clientele. Brothels luring poor girls into prostitution were her targets and she is thankful to her bosses for tasking her with the drive against human trafficking.
An Intermediate student forced into prostitution by a notorious gang along with a girl of the same age group was rescued by the police team led by Ms. Sharmila on December 24 last. The two girls were considered for special assistance by the administration, thus enabling them to lead a normal life.
Another gang in the flesh trade trapped a teenaged girl from a village in the district cashing in on her urge to make it big in life. The girl was in for a rude shock to know that she was pregnant. Khammam accounts for a good number of cases of forced prostitution and gullible women are being lured into the racket.
There is some let-up now, thanks to the crackdown, which is mainly because of this gutsy woman in uniform.
Quick and to the point in conversation, she says she joined the police service with a purpose by topping the Group 1 examination.
She gave up a job with a handsome package of Rs. 12 lakh in the HRD wing of a software company because of her “urge to reach out the helpless.” She lost her one-year-old child Snigdha in a road accident at Nagarjunagar in 2004.
This turned out to be her moment of transformation.
G. Janaki Sharmila, a probationary sub divisional police officer has been in the thick of action grabbing attention of the media and the public during her brief stint of six months in the district. Her main target
Ms. Sharmila has gone all out helping young girls caught in the pincer grip of prostitution rings that enjoyed the patronage of powerful clientele. Brothels luring poor girls into prostitution were her targets and she is thankful to her bosses for tasking her with the drive against human trafficking.
An Intermediate student forced into prostitution by a notorious gang along with a girl of the same age group was rescued by the police team led by Ms. Sharmila on December 24 last. The two girls were considered for special assistance by the administration, thus enabling them to lead a normal life.
Another gang in the flesh trade trapped a teenaged girl from a village in the district cashing in on her urge to make it big in life. The girl was in for a rude shock to know that she was pregnant. Khammam accounts for a good number of cases of forced prostitution and gullible women are being lured into the racket.
There is some let-up now, thanks to the crackdown, which is mainly because of this gutsy woman in uniform.
Quick and to the point in conversation, she says she joined the police service with a purpose by topping the Group 1 examination.
She gave up a job with a handsome package of Rs. 12 lakh in the HRD wing of a software company because of her “urge to reach out the helpless.” She lost her one-year-old child Snigdha in a road accident at Nagarjunagar in 2004.
This turned out to be her moment of transformation.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Delhi High Court orders probe into child trafficking
Delhi High Court orders probe into child trafficking
New Delhi, Jan 22 (ANI): Concerned over the increasing number of child trafficking cases, the Delhi High Court on Thursday ordered senior police officials to investigate the case and present the results by Friday.
A division bench of Chief Justice AP Shah and Justice Sanjeev Khanna said, "This is a very serious matter and needs to be investigated by a senior level officer of the Delhi police".
The court heard Public Interest Litigation filed by the NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan blamed the placement agencies for the illegal trafficking of girls and advised compulsory registration of all such agencies.
Senior lawyers H S Phoolka and Kavita Tiwari, advocating for the NGO, told the bench that the girls were forced into prostitution and the boys into illegal activities.
Bachpan Bachao Andolan, in early January, claimed of rescuing thirty-five girls and four boys from various placement agencies in the capital.
Though child trafficking is growing rapidly in India, there is no reliable data available on the issue in India.
According to figures provided by the National Crime Records Bureau, in 2004, as many as 2,265 cases of kidnapping and abduction of children qualified as forms of trafficking and were reported to the police.
Of these, 1,593 cases were of kidnapping for marriage, 414 were for illicit sex, 92 for unlawful activity, 101 for prostitution and the rest for various other things like slavery, beggary and even selling body parts.
Most of these children (72 per cent) were between sixteen and eighteen years of age. Twenty-five per cent were children aged eleven to fifteen years.
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are the states from where the maximum numbers of children are trafficked to other states.
Intra state/inter district trafficking is high in the states of Rajasthan, Assam, Meghalaya, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra while States like Delhi and Goa are ‘receiver’ states.
Trafficking of children from the North-Eastern states of India and the bordering countries in the north-east is a serious issue but has so far not drawn public attention.
Children are trafficked for several reasons including sexual exploitation; adoption; entertainment and sports (for example, acrobatics in circus, dance troupes, beer bars; as camel jockeys); marriage; labour; begging, organ trade (though only anecdotal evidence of this is available); drug peddling and smuggling. (ANI)
New Delhi, Jan 22 (ANI): Concerned over the increasing number of child trafficking cases, the Delhi High Court on Thursday ordered senior police officials to investigate the case and present the results by Friday.
A division bench of Chief Justice AP Shah and Justice Sanjeev Khanna said, "This is a very serious matter and needs to be investigated by a senior level officer of the Delhi police".
The court heard Public Interest Litigation filed by the NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan blamed the placement agencies for the illegal trafficking of girls and advised compulsory registration of all such agencies.
Senior lawyers H S Phoolka and Kavita Tiwari, advocating for the NGO, told the bench that the girls were forced into prostitution and the boys into illegal activities.
Bachpan Bachao Andolan, in early January, claimed of rescuing thirty-five girls and four boys from various placement agencies in the capital.
Though child trafficking is growing rapidly in India, there is no reliable data available on the issue in India.
According to figures provided by the National Crime Records Bureau, in 2004, as many as 2,265 cases of kidnapping and abduction of children qualified as forms of trafficking and were reported to the police.
Of these, 1,593 cases were of kidnapping for marriage, 414 were for illicit sex, 92 for unlawful activity, 101 for prostitution and the rest for various other things like slavery, beggary and even selling body parts.
Most of these children (72 per cent) were between sixteen and eighteen years of age. Twenty-five per cent were children aged eleven to fifteen years.
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are the states from where the maximum numbers of children are trafficked to other states.
Intra state/inter district trafficking is high in the states of Rajasthan, Assam, Meghalaya, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra while States like Delhi and Goa are ‘receiver’ states.
Trafficking of children from the North-Eastern states of India and the bordering countries in the north-east is a serious issue but has so far not drawn public attention.
Children are trafficked for several reasons including sexual exploitation; adoption; entertainment and sports (for example, acrobatics in circus, dance troupes, beer bars; as camel jockeys); marriage; labour; begging, organ trade (though only anecdotal evidence of this is available); drug peddling and smuggling. (ANI)
Sunday, January 11, 2009
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