July 30 is World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Kohima, July 29 (MExN): Nagaland State is a source, destination and a transit point for trafficking in persons. This was revealed in a press statement State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW), Nagaland Chapter, coinciding with the United Nation’s World Day against Trafficking in Persons.
It also claimed that trafficking of Naga girls and women is rising at an “alarming rate.” In India, North East states, including Nagaland, comprise of one of the most vulnerable regions where cases of trafficking in persons are allegedly increasing every year, though most cases go unreported.
“The Nagaland Police data indicates that in Nagaland, a person goes missing every fourth day, where 83 percent are below the age of 18, 13 percent have been reportedly trafficked, and 35 percent are untraced,” stated Meneno V. on behalf of the SCRW.
Further, trafficking in persons “has taken another form” in Nagaland State where “many children from poorer communities are lured and brought to become domestic workers in homes.”
The Women Helpline in Nagaland (181) has recorded several cases of abuse of domestic workers as well as domestic violence against women. The SRCW is the nodal agency, implementing the Universalisation of Women Helpline Scheme. All women and girls in distress can dial the Women Helpline (181) for help in any crisis situation.
SRCW today stated that in keeping with the 2017 UN theme, “Let’s act now to protect and assist trafficking victims.”
On this World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the UN has initiated the Blue Heart Campaign against Human Trafficking. This initiative aims to support and strengthen the engagement and the participation of the public. The logo in shape of a blue heart stands for the sorrow of the victims and the coldness of the offenders.
Taking note of the issue in Nagaland State, the SRCW maintained that “effective strategies and preventive measures are required to bring this to an end.”
“The work carried out by the State Women Commission in reaching out to all the districts in creating awareness about human trafficking is commendable. Convergence of all stakeholders, such as – allied departments, law enforcement agencies, the Church, NGOs and other relevant agencies, and most importantly, the communities, is crucial in order to curb human trafficking which has become a glaring threat to our society,” the Resource Centre affirmed.
What is trafficking in persons?
The United Nations member states adopted a resolution and designated July 30 as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons in 2013. The 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.”
Trafficking in persons is a world menace, with human beings being traded, most commonly for the purpose of forced labour, sexual slavery or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others. It is the third largest organized crime after drugs and arms trade across the globe.
At the global level, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released a report in December 2016 on the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons whereby, it was found that Women and Children comprise 71% of human trafficking victims. As per the report, women and girls are trafficked for marriages and sexual slavery while men and boys are exploited for forced labour in mining sector, as porters and as soldiers. The International Labour Organization estimated around 21 million victims of forced labour around the World.
With the world adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as of September 2015, through goals 5, 8, and 16, it calls for an end to trafficking and violence against children, the need for measures against human trafficking and to strive for elimination of all forms of violence against and exploitation of women and children.
On this World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the UN called for attention to an international problem. It appealed for fighting against trafficking in persons by proclaiming this day in 2013 to inform about the situation of the victims and to stand up for their rights.
