Dimapur, August 21(MExN): Human trafficking has reached epidemic proportion globally and is a multi –billion dollar criminally organized business next only to arms and drugs. Although Human Right activists have many organizations under scanner, this highly organized business is getting out of control. Demand has also gone up due to the growing sex industry, for exploitable labour, and child pornography. A new source of demand is coming up for young women as brides and concubines as a consequence of widening gender gaps in densely populated countries like India and China. Some of the main reasons for the supply of victims are poverty, unemployment and some are forced into it.
In the North- Eastern part of India, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland are the most severely affected. In Nagaland, many children are brought from Assam on the pretext of providing work as domestic help. Some are forced to stay in hotels and are sexually exploited. The money derived for service is divided between the pimps and the hotel owners. Dimapur and Kohima have become major transit points in Nagaland.
In other parts of the country also, North East girls are in high demand generally due to their vulnerability and because of their fair complexion.
In a one day workshop organized by Nagaland Baptist Church Council (Women Department) today, at the Community Training Centre- Bethesda, Ela K, Director Prodigals Home, underlined the issues of Human Trafficking in particular context of Nagaland. She also spoke about the role of women in preventing HIV/AIDS/ Drug Abuse. Ela highlighted the fact that many women are in some ways directly and indirectly responsible for children turning to drugs and prostitution. The main reason according to her being, the discrimination of domestic help and physical abuse meted on them, causing them to run away from homes. The program was supported by Constella Futures in collaboration with Project Orchid.
.jpg)
