Contributor: Swasti Rana, Project Associate, Anti Human Trafficking 

Human Trafficking :

Police Officials Undergo Training To Combat Biggest Social Crime

from left to right:

Dr. DJ Singh, The Dean and Senior Deputy Director, Punjab Police Academy

Dr. Geeta Sekhon, Project Coordinator, UNODC ROSA

Shri RS Gill, IPS, Director General of Police cum Director, Punjab Police Academy

Shri BK Garg, IPS, Deputy Inspector General of Police

One of the police officials receiving the participation certificate from The Director General of Police cum Director, Shri RS Gill, IPS

After drugs and arms trafficking, the trafficking of human beings is the third most profitable enterprise for transnational organized criminal groups. It is a growing threat to social security and peace and is estimated to be a $32 billion industry worldwide. India too is witnessing emerging trends of human trafficking in the form of women trafficked as sex slaves especially in the prosperous northern belt, namely Punjab and Haryana. The trend of trafficking women into these states as sex slaves exists because of preference for male child. According to the UNFPA report, 62,000 sex-selective abortions were recorded in Haryana during 1996-98, while the figure in Punjab was about 51,000. Young women are trafficked from Bengal, Northeast and Bihar to states like Punjab and Haryana where they are sexually exploited until they bear a male child.

Ministry of Home Affairs Govt. of India, Bureau of Police Research & Development, New Delhi and Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur in collaboration with UNODC Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) conducted a three day training of trainers (ToT) for Punjab and Haryana police officials in the Punjab Police Academy at Phillaur from 4-6 March 2009. This training is the first one of a series of ToTs which will be followed by regional ToTs across India.

The Director General of Police cum Director, Shri RS Gill, IPS; the Deputy Director, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Shri BK Garg, IPS; the Dean and Senior Deputy Director, Dr. DJ Singh; the Deputy Director, Shri MK Farooqui, IPS along with officials were present at the occasion. The visiting team from UNODC was headed by Dr. Geeta Sekhon, Project Coordinator. More than 30 participants from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and U.T. Police participated in the training programme. Punjab Police Academy Phillaur Director cum DGP Punjab RS Gill, in his Valedictory Adress said that there should be common collaborative efforts to collectively deal with this serious problem. He also emphasized for regular sensitization of police personnel concerning the procedures and strategies to apprehend the culprits.

The specialized regional level training of trainers programme sensitized the police personnel on the procedures and strategies to apprehend the culprits, in better handling of human trafficking cases and effective victim support with the help of trained counselors and psychiatrists. The practical and interactive sessions like role play were used to cover different aspects of human trafficking like 'Law and Procedures on CommercialSexual Exploitation', 'Significance of Psycho - Social Counseling', 'Human Trafficking', 'Role of Police in Pre-rescue and During Rescue Period', 'Preventing and Combating Human Trafficking', 'Role of Forensics and Medico - legal Issues' and 'Procedure and Trafficking for Exploitive Labour and Other Exploitations'.

ToTs such as this are an engaging and innovative method to strengthen the response on anti human trafficking. It is crucial to develop a cadre of master trainers in law enforcement regime who are aware and understand the gravity of human trafficking and how to deal with it. The role of local police is pivotal in uncovering human trafficking crimes. Local law enforcement officers are often in the best position to identify victims because of their close ties to communities also because they are first to respond to crisis situations and while investigating other crimes, (e.g. drug raids, money laundering, etc) they may be dealing with a trafficking situation. The problem arises if they don't know what to look for while investigating such cases. Their lack of awareness and training can seriously hamper trafficking-related cases which need quick and effective action.

It is here then that ToTs such as this one, become significant as they build capacities of police officials and increase their understanding on human trafficking. These master trainers then will train other police officials. Each trainer becomes an investment that will have a multiplying and cascading effect. This will gradually develop a nation wide network of highly skilled resource trainers who can also help in lobbying, advocacy efforts and public awareness about human trafficking. Most importantly training programmes such as this one provide a forum to discuss and learn about human trafficking, share experiences among police officials and gain feedback on the effectiveness of the training sessions.

Participants of the three days specialized regional level training of trainers programme on human trafficking for police personnel.

1 Report- UN Calls for World Efforts to Combat $32 Billion Human Trafficking Industry view salem-news.com

2 Study by UNFPA on Sex-selective Abortions and Fertility Decline : The Case of Haryana and Punjab Sep 2001

For further information please view http://pndt.gov.in/writereaddata/mainlinkfile/File118.pdf