Majority of the victims from A.P., say speakers at meet

Civil society organisations working for ensuring a fair deal for victims of human trafficking on Monday underscored the need for early passage of the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill.

“Thousands of people, including women and children, fall victim to trafficking in Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere in the country with sex buyers and brothel runners deceiving them in myriad ways like promising them to marry or arrange for jobs or forcibly kidnap them,” said HELP director N.V.S. Rammohan while taking part in a brain-storming session on the problems confronting the victims.

Once a new government assumed office at the Centre, they should put pressure on MPs to once again move the ‘victim-friendly’ Bill in the Lok Sabha as it could not get the nod of the Rajya Sabha after it was passed by the Lower House.

“It addresses the increasing crime against the victims, especially women and children, the most vulnerable sections of society. Currently, there is no specific law to deal with this form of crime,” he explained while making a reference to stringent punishment prescribed for traffickers in the Bill and setting up of a national investigation agency to exclusively deal with such crimes.

“We need to vigorously campaign for enactment of this piece of legislation by the new Lok Sabha as it will help improve conviction rate in such cases and ensure liberal assistance to those rescued,” he said while addressing those working with vulnerable sections of people.

Social stigma

The meeting organised by HELP Girls Advocacy Alliance decided to exert pressure on the newly-elected MLAs to ensure early passage of the Andhra Pradesh Prohibition of Purchase of Sexual Services Bill as a majority of the trafficked victims rescued from red light areas in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Pune hailed from the State.

The meeting also discussed the social stigma that haunted sex workers who quite often found it difficult to start a new life and emphasised the need for sensitising society on the plight of sex workers.