National seminar on human trafficking underway at Clark Theological College
MOKOKCHUNG, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): Three days national seminar on ‘Human Trafficking: The Dehumanizing Reality’ organized by Clark Centre for Peace Research and Action (CCPRA), Clark Theological College was inaugurated at Clark Theological College Jongshinokdang Hall on November 16.
Introducing the seminar, Principal of the College, Rev. Dr. Marnungsang observed that in such a disturbing scenario aggravated by the violent act of human trafficking there is the need for critical consciousness and intense efforts on the part of the Government, legal bodies, NGOs, church leaders, media practitioners and theological community in creating awareness as well as designing action plan with an aim to eradicate the dehumanizing threat of human trafficking.
With that sincere commitment and consciousness, this national seminar is organized, the Principal said.
Asha Sanchu, Director, Miqlat Ministry, NBCCWD, in her address observed that the story of Joseph in the Bible could be the story of first trafficked man in the Bible and world’s first known account of the human trafficking. Asha Sanchu, concluded by saying, “Human Trafficking, the dehumanizing reality we are experiencing today is not only a justice issue but a sacred issue,” and therefore invited the participants ‘to live out our theology’ by siding with the oppressed, deceived, helpless and hopeless people of our society.
Following the inaugural programme, three papers were presented during the technical session. The first paper on the topic “Trafficking in Persons: a Global Issue” was presented by Rossana Lyngdoh, Board Director, Impulse NGO Network, Shillong, the organization which is in the forefront for the past 20 years in the ministry of addressing the threat of human trafficking in India, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal.
The second paper was on the topic, “Women as Victims of Trafficking” presented by Asha Sanchu, Director, Miqlat Ministry, NBCC who was very much involved with the Nightingale International, a global organization based in Bangkok that work towards reaching out to prostitutes in the red light area and victims of human trafficking before joining Miqlat Ministry of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council Women Department.
The third paper “De-coding Human Trafficking in a Post-de-Globalizing World: Through the Prism of Christian Social Ethics” was presented by Dr. I. J. Mohan Razhu, Professor of Social Ethics, Consultant & Research Fellow, Acts Academy of Higher Education, Bangalore.
The seminar will conclude on November 18 and all together 12 papers will be presented by scholars, social activist and legal experts from all over the country. This national seminar will be followed by another Regional Seminar and Consultation on the theme, “Creative Use of the Media: Path to Peace”, jointly organized by Clark Communication and Cultural Research Center (CCCRC) and Clark Centre for Peace Research Centre and Action (CCPRA) from November 23 to 25, 2017. All together 14 resourceful papers will be presented during this 3 days Regional Seminar by academicians along with media professionals and peace activists from North East India.
This was stated by Imtiwala Imchen, Programme Coordinator, CCPRA in an official communiqué.
