‘Human trafficking is business of stealing freedom for profit’

EAC Imliwapang Aier with participants during the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2019 programme held at GHSS Mon on July 30. (DIPR Photo)

MON, July 31 (MExN): World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2019 programme was held under the theme ‘You can free me’ at GHSS Mon on July 30. 

During the function, Centre Administration OSC, Lily Konyak stated that human trafficking is the business of stealing freedom for profit which can affect any one of any age, especially women and children are targeted by the traffickers. Many victims fall into the trap through promises of jobs in call centres, beauty parlour in the big cities with handsome salary, but at the end they are put into prostitution and forced labour.  

Anyim Konyak, Case worker, Sakhi One Stop Centre spoke on the aims and objectives of OSC. She stressed on the integrated support & Assistant for Women affected by violence under one roof. She also shared on the services provided by the OSC like medical assistance, police assistance, Psycho-Socio support, legal aid, Shelter and video conference. She informed that one can call women helpline no 181 if they face any problem relating to women violence. Women police from District Executive Force performed a skit during the programme.

Meanwhile, awareness programme on human trafficking was held at various places under Mon Town. On July 27, Inter School Singing Competition was organised at Mission Centre KBBB, Mon. On July 29, a programme was held at Tin Ali Junction, Mon. Speaking on the occasion, Women Welfare Officer, District Level Centre for Women, Mahila Shakti Kendra Mon, Ngepshom Konyak stated that Human Trafficking is giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation. She also mentioned that the three most common types of human trafficking are sex trafficking, forced labour and debt bondage.

Further, she said that sex trafficking often affects women and children and involves forced participation in commercial sex acts,  forced labour known as involuntary servitude and debt bondage is another form of human trafficking in which an individual is forced to work in order to pay debt.

Other highlights of the day included a skit on human trafficking by Women Police, dance by various schools and songs.
Various awareness programmes on human trafficking programme was led by EAC Imliwapang Aier which was jointly organised by Mon District Administration, District Executive Force, and District Level Centre for Women (DLCW) and Team Amigos in Mon.