Ranjan K Baruah
(With direct inputs from UN publication and feedback may be sent to bkranjan@gmail.com)
One of the worst crimes against humanity is none other than human trafficking. People are trafficked and a few people make money by exploiting their human rights and other rights. We are aware that human trafficking is not a new issue but has been prevailing for ages. In previous years or decades there were many reasons for human trafficking and more or less the reasons are same even today. People are trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labour, forced begging, forced marriage; for selling children and as child soldiers, as well as for removal of organs. If we look at the global report then we shall find that women make up 49% and girls 23% of all victims of trafficking. Sexual exploitation is the most common form of exploitation (59% share) followed by forced labour (34% share) and most victims are trafficked within their countries' borders – those trafficked abroad are moved to the richest countries.
The Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons (Trafficking in Persons Protocol) defines 'Trafficking in Persons' as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, as guardian of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Protocols thereto, assists States in their efforts to implement the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (Trafficking in Persons Protocol). UNODC has collected information on about 225,000 victims of trafficking detected worldwide. Globally countries are detecting and reporting more victims and are convicting more traffickers.
Inter-Agency Coordination Group Against Human Trafficking (ICAT) was formally established in March 2007. In 2010, the General Assembly adopted the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, urging governments worldwide to take coordinated and consistent measures to defeat this scourge. In 2013, the General Assembly held a high-level meeting to appraise the Global Plan of Action and member states also adopted resolution A/RES/68/192 and designated July 30 as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons. This resolution declared that such a day was necessary to "raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights."
This year, focus on the first responders to human trafficking. These are the people who work in different sectors - identifying, supporting, counselling and seeking justice for victims of trafficking, and challenging the impunity of the traffickers. During the COVID-19 crisis, the essential role of first responders has become even more important, particularly as the restrictions imposed by the pandemic have made their work even more difficult. Still, their contribution is often overlooked and unrecognized.
António Guterres, Secretary-General of United Nations on his message said that "the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated many global inequalities, created new obstacles on the path to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and left millions of people at greater risk of being trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labour, forced marriage and other crimes." He also added that "if the world is to put human dignity and human rights at the centre of the COVID-19 response and recovery, we need to do more to protect trafficking victims and prevent vulnerable people from being exploited by criminals."
Ms Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC in her message said that "COVID-19 has amplified trafficking dangers. Loss of jobs, growing poverty, school closures and a rise in online interactions are increasing vulnerabilities and opening up opportunities for organized crime groups." She also added that "yet in these difficult times, we see the best of humanity: frontline heroes, men and women risking their lives and going above and beyond to provide essential support for human trafficking victims."
The present crisis has bought many questions in front of us. Many people working outside the state or region have come back but we need to document all details and find out whether anyone is missing because if anyone is not traced then many doubts come to our mind. From May 2020, North East India Bishops Council (NEIRBC) commission for ecumenism in collaboration with Hope Charitable Foundation, an NGO based in Dimapur were operating a help line. "Majority of the returnees are men and women with families. Although we do not have any official data of girls who are staying back there are thousands of them in various parts of Indian towns and they might be easy targets for traffickers," said Fr. Tom Mangattuthahe, a collaborator of the helpline services.
During COVID-19 nationwide lockdown there were 3 cases of child trafficking intervened in Kokrajhar district of Assam. These girls from Sonitpur district of Assam were rescued by Ahmedabad Police in the month of July. It is a matter of concern that in spite of having lockdown trafficking networks worked and they could transport while the nation has restricted the movement of human beings. "I am afraid prolonged lockdown can devastate the livelihood of rural folks and particularly returnee migrants – due to no work and earning they may be used as agent for luring more women and girls once the train and bus services will resume", said Digambar Narzary, founder of Nedan Foundation which has been working actively in the state for decades on the issue of human trafficking.
There are no doubts that of all of us have to collaborate if we want to bring an end to human trafficking. Government, civil society, NGOs, media, business houses, faith-based institutions and even individuals must come forward and extend their support to frontline workers working against trafficking. Let us together bring an end and make the world free from human trafficking.