UNODC is cosponsor of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS - UNAIDS
Manual for Training Police on Anti Human Trafficking Released by UNODC ROSA and Centre for Social Research (CSR), on 18 April 2008
Contributed by Swasti Rana, Consultant, Project S16 and Pinky Pradhan, Communication and Advocacy Officer, UNODC
Mr. Gary Lewis releasing the Manual. Also present Dr. Ranjana Kumari, Director, CSR and Ms. Anju Dubey, CSR
A Manual on
Training Police on Anti Human Trafficking was jointly released by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Centre for Social Research (CSR) on 18 April 2008 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The Manual was released by Mr. Gary Lewis, UNODC Representative for South Asia.
The Manual has been designed especially for police trainers who will in turn enable police personnel to understand the importance of approaching human trafficking from a multi - disciplinary human rights perspective, with emphasis on issues of child rights as well as victim and gender sensitivity. It will be used by all police training colleges across the country. The
Anti Human Trafficking project of UNODC played an active role in putting the manual together.
Mr. Gary Lewis during his address
"This training manual will form an integral part of all kinds of police training through out the country. It has a distinct focus on dealing with the subject in a human rights framework, with an engendered perspective and victim centric approach", said Mr. Lewis.
Most of the trafficking survivors in their state of vulnerability and risk exhibit a behavioural pattern that can easily be misunderstood. The Manual stresses on the negative perception of police against the victims/survivors and aims to act as a reminder to the police to work as 'delivery agents' ensuring that justice and basic rights of the survivor are delivered. It also aims to change the long held stereotypes that have viewed trafficked persons as criminals.
According to Dr. Nair, who was the Project Coordinator of the Anti Human Trafficking Project, the Manual will be got translated into regional languages through the intervention of the office of the Bureau of Police Research and Development, so that it becomes more relevant for the state police agencies. He also mentioned that the manual will ensure that trafficked women or children are not harassed or intimidated, restoring their faith in the police and thereby making the rehabilitation of the victims faster. "While the law demands viewing trafficked persons as vulnerable victims in need of protection and support, assumptions and stereotypes that result in the judgment and accusation of trafficked persons are still widely prevalent and in dire need of change," said Dr. Ranjana Kumari, Director, Centre for Social Research.
Dr. P. M. Nair, IPS Officer
This Manual for training police on Anti human Trafficking (AHT) is a part of the series of tools brought out by UNODC ROSA, under its human trafficking project S16. This project is a joint initiative of the UNODC and the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs. The overall aim of Project S16 (set up in 2006) is to reduce the number of trafficked persons into, in and from India by further strengthening the capacity of Indian law enforcement officers. The immediate objective is to strengthen the technical capacities of law enforcement agencies and officers in India to prevent trafficking in human beings. Currently, the project is being successfully implemented in 5 states - Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. Most of the law enforcement programmes relate to setting up of AHTU, training police and prosecutors, developing standard operating procedures for better law enforcement and improving law enforcement networks with the anti-trafficking NGO communities.
Mr. Gary Lewis releasing the Manual. Also present Dr. Ranjana Kumari, Director, CSR and Ms. Anju Dubey, CSR
Mr. Gary Lewis during his address
Dr. P. M. Nair, IPS Officer