UNODC is cosponsor of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS - UNAIDS
Conference of NGOs from the states to develop the compendium of best practices by NGOs on Anti Human Trafficking (AHT), 05 September 2007
Background and context
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional Office for South Asia in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, is implementing project IND/S16 on
"
Strengthening Law Enforcement Response to Human Trafficking".The project aims to intensify efforts to combat trafficking through capacity building of law enforcement (police and prosecutors) in five states - Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.
Participants at the Conference including the UNODC and the HAQ team
One of the major strategies of the project is to produce manuals, tools and resource books that can be utilised by the law enforcement agencies and all other stake holders in the process of anti human trafficking. There are several initiatives by NGOs (including the civil society agencies, social activists), corporates, media, etc. in addressing the various dimension of human trafficking, including prevention, protection and prosecution. Dissemination of such best practices can benefit other stake holders, facilitate replication where ever possible and strengthen the anti human trafficking initiative by all concerned.
For this purpose, the project is documenting the best practices initiated, practised or facilitated by NGOs. This will include all initiatives undertaken by NGOs -
Whilst synergising their activities with Law Enforcement Agencies in all matters related to law enforcement on Anti Human Trafficking (AHT), [
prosecution and prevention].
In matters relating to rehabilitation and reintegration of the victims [
protection].
Case studies on public private partnership, victim support and other anti human trafficking concerns.
The 'Good Practices' which will be included in the Compendium will cover all the following aspects -
Prevention of trafficking - at Source - Transit - Destination, that is on all the routes of trafficking.
Prosecution of offences - including investigation, identification of traffickers and other offenders, arrest and detention, interrogation, prosecution, conviction, post - conviction activities, confiscation of assets of offenders, etc.
Protection of victims - including identification of victims, care and attention during rescue and post - rescue situations, counselling, networking with different agencies for rehabilitation of victim, taking steps for rehabilitation, preventing trafficking, empowering vulnerable sections, addressing adolescents on trafficking, gender rights, HIV and other issues related to trafficking.
Media reporting and its impact on NGOs in anti human trafficking.
NGO partnerships with the corporates and how such 'Good Practices' have impacted prevention / combating trafficking.
The Conference
HAQ: Centre for Child Rights, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi, has been tasked with preparing this compendium. They have started collating materials. In order to facilitate this process, UNODC, along with HAQ centre organized a conference of NGOs working on AHT on 05 September 2007 at Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. A total of 24 NGOs from all over India participated at the conference. The participants were welcomed by Ms. Enakshi Ganguly, Executive Director of HAQ. Dr. P M Nair, Project Coordinator, along with Dr Geeta Sekhon and Swasti Rana from United NationsOffice on Drugs and Crime facilitated the Conference. Mr. Gary Lewis, Representative of UNODC addressed the participants and spoke about the significance of sharing such experiences which showcase the good work and at the same time bring out new ideas for emulation by others in the field. Mr. Lewis also informed the participants of the impending GIFT Conference and the larger anti trafficking campaign that would follow in the year to come. Ms. Nandita Mishra, Director in the Ministry of Women and Child Development addressed the participants and informed them of the new scheme launched by the Ministry for supporting NGOs in providing care and protection to victims of trafficking. The positive outcome of the conference was that around 50 case studies were discussed and shared which demonstrate NGO - Corporate collaboration in the fight against anti human trafficking. The NGOs displayed enthusiasm in informing the participants of the initiatives undertaken by them in synergising their activities with corporates and other business houses. The gaps in the case studies and the topics for new case studies were identified and all participants committed to themselves that they would forward their case studies, in full, with all value additions, to the HAQ Centre (attention Ms Geeta:
menongeeta@vsnl.net or Ms Bharti Ali on
info@haqcrc.org and to UNODC on
pm.nair@unodc.org)
