UNODC in partnership with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, hosted an Inter-Stakeholder Consultation on Combating Human Trafficking. The Consultation brought together key stakeholders from the government, civil society, media and the corporate sector. The objective of the consultation was to collectively define the way forward for combating human trafficking, by focusing on prevention and rehabilitation through social and economic reintegration of rescued persons into the mainstream.
Mrs. Sneh Lata Kumar, Executive Director, Rashtriya Mahila Kosh
The consultation was presided over by Mrs. Renuka Chowdhury, Hon'ble Minster for Women and Child Development and was also addressed by Shri. Vayalar Ravi, Hon'ble Minister for Indian Overseas Affairs.
The workshop opened with a welcome address by
Mrs. Sneh Lata Kumar, Executive Director, Rashtriya Mahila Kosh.
Mr. Gary Lewis, Representative UNODC ROSA ,
Mr. Gary Lewis, Representative UNODC ROSA
initiated the day's proceedings, pointing out that human trafficking is not simply a crime, but a violation of basic human rights which largely victimizes women. He emphasized the need for different stakeholders to join hands and fight the uncivil act of human trafficking. Mr. Lewis particularly mentioned the key role that the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) under the able guidance of the Hon'ble Minister, Smt Renuka Chowdhury was playing in prevention of human trafficking. He further lauded Shri Vayalar Ravi, Hon'ble Minsiter for Overseas Indian Affairs for his commitment towards combating human smuggling. He reiterated UNODC's commitment to combating human trafficking and summed up his address with the following quote
"When all is said and done, more is said than done … Let us do".
Shri. Anil Kumar, Secretary MWCD
In his address, Shri. Anil Kumar, Secretary MWCDtalked about the several multi-sectoral strategies that the ministry has initiated, for combating human trafficking. He said that the ministry pro actively seeks to collaborate with a range of stakeholders. He shared about the Ujjwala scheme which looks at engaging a range of stakeholders and relates to the rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and repatriation of victims.
Shri. Vayalar Ravi, Hon'ble Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs
Shri. Vayalar Ravi, Hon'ble Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs began by identifying the following three key interventions as necessary for building an integrated anti human trafficking response.
1. Setting up an Institutional Mechanism for Combating Trafficking.
2. Initiate a Forum to take forward the civil society and corporate partnership.
3. Undertake a national level study to assesses the different economic and social vulnerabilities that lead to women and children being exploited.
From the policy perspective, he stressed the need to transform international migration into an organized process to combat illegal migration. The Minister noted that the outcomes of the day's deliberations pertaining to the Ministry for Overseas Indian Affairs would be actively considered for implementation.
Smt. Renuka Chowdhury, Hon'ble Minister of State, Independent Charge, Ministryof Women and Child Development started out by saying that the assembly of people for this workshop was to her, a statement of commitment of all those gathered to address the issue of trafficking. The Minister reiterated that trafficking is a demand and supply driven situation. She stressed on the need to look at the basic rights of victims, their need for health, education, and livelihood. She emphasized on the need for society to accept women's right to participative in decision making, actively involve in economic activities, through entrepreneurship, skills training, employment. She referred to the efforts the ministry was making for the skill training and skill up-gradation of women going beyond the traditional mould and including various stakeholders such as corporates in the process. She endorsed Shri. Ravi's point about the need to collectively address the right to the movement of individuals along with the movement of goods and services in this globalised world, in order combat human smuggling which compounds the problem of human trafficking.
Session 2: Journey towards empowerment
The highpoint of the consultation was the session on sharing of experience by survivors entitled -Journey towards empowerment. Two survivors of trafficking shared their stories about how they have been able to successfully overcome the trauma, stigma and victimization, with the right kind of support and interventions. They talked about how getting an opportunity to alternative livelihood has given them a new identity and self esteem to face the world. This session attracted GAP Inc. to commit to work collaboratively with the survivors and the MWCD to possibly replicate/scale up such initiative.
Session 3:Discussion on the role of various stakeholders
The next session was an interactive dialogue with different stake holders on addressing the existing gaps on anti human trafficking programs and identifying new partnerships towards meeting new and emerging challenges.
The discussion looked at the following 5 areas
Role of civil society: addressing counter trafficking measures within the larger developmental agenda.
Role of local governance bodies: increased involvement on issues related to gender and vulnerabilities.
Role of law enforcements agencies: sharing of good practices.
Role of media: perspectives on rights based reporting.
Role of corporates: increased involvement on supporting livelihood, awareness and preventive programmes
The following key suggestions emerged from this discussion
Prevention and focus on addressing the root social and economic causes of trafficking.
Address the demand side of human trafficking and find solutions to the question: what fuels the demand for trafficking?
Establish a surveillance mechanism with the support of local communities and local governance bodies to track missing women and children.
More sensitization and awareness generation for law enforcement agencies, judiciary as well as individuals.
Stronger punitive action for traffickers.
Linking livelihood training and skill building with micro credit through the governments Rashtriya Mahila Kosh program.
Involvement of local governance bodies in identification of families which are vulnerable and possible migrants to link them up with existing government schemes that provide for income generation like the NREGA.
Look at the possibility of using Panchayats as resource centre for migrant women and children who can access information at the source, enroute and also at their destination.
Given the success of Child Line, take the programme forward at the State level to make it accessible to larger numbers of people.
Improve the existing institutional facilities for rescued persons and establish more shelter homes for women and children.
Training police not only on laws related to trafficking but also impart perspective changes on the issue of trafficking and women in specific.
To replicate the UNODC AHTUs to reach out to the villages and source areas.
Increase and accelerate the setting up of infrastructural facilities for providing services to victims of trafficking.
Engage with the local media in improving reporting on human trafficking. And proved opportunites for the media to go for field visits to sensitize them and thus get the right and positive stories out to the people.
Increased involvement of the corporate sector to strongly support livelihood linked rehabilitation programs and also address issues relating to human trafficking within their own supply chain.
Closing Session: Way Forward
The workshop concluded with the recommendations and the way forward to look at the present scenario.
Smt. Renuka Chowdhury, Hon'ble Minister of State, Independent Charge, Ministry Women and Child Development
Smt. Renuka Chowdhury, Hon'ble Minister of State, Independent Charge, Ministryof Women and Child Development in her concluding remarks highlighted the following as possible steps that could be taken up in the future:
Initiate a Forum to take forward the civil society and corporate partnership though Public Private Partnership.
Initiate inter-state consultations towards building a perspective on setting up a Institutional Mechanism for Combating Trafficking.
Possibly set up a national authority to combat trafficking.
Put in place an impact analysis to look at vulnerabilities which force people to migrate including issues of food security, income, livelihoods, human security and rights. Address rural urban migration issue in a just manner and see how migrants can be integrated better with dignity.
Understand the linkages between illegal migration and trafficking.
Ms. Manjula Krishnan MWCD highlighted the following action points which were also being taken up by the MWCD:
Under the ITPA, demand for a central nodal authority which will hopefully will go through shortly. She suggested regional consultations on what kind of authority would be useful to make it an effective body.
Find ways to integrate the youth through the NCC, NYKS and NSS by training cadets on anti human trafficking.
Similarly target faith based groups such as the Art of Living, universities and colleges.
Ms. Nandita Baruah, Coordinator UNGIFT South Asia, UNODC closed the workshop by offering the Vote of Thanks.
Mrs. Sneh Lata Kumar, Executive Director, Rashtriya Mahila Kosh
Mr. Gary Lewis, Representative UNODC ROSA
Shri. Anil Kumar, Secretary MWCD
Shri. Vayalar Ravi, Hon'ble Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs
Smt. Renuka Chowdhury, Hon'ble Minister of State, Independent Charge, Ministry Women and Child Development
