Action Plan on prevention of trafficking to be submitted to Govt

New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) With trafficking in human beings, especially women and children, emerging as one of the fastest growing trades, a 'National Integrated Plan of Action' to prevent and combat the menace will be submitted to the Government for implementation.

The plan, drafted after two-day of national consultations, has recommended that prevention strategies be based on existent ground realities, economic empowerment of the vulnerable sections 'at risk' by informing them about the various Government schemes, strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies and necessary mechanisms for coordination between them.

Besides, setting up of a national database or web portal by giving details of convicted or probable traffickers, capacity building of the functionaries of the Panchayati Raj Institutions, municipal corporations and NGOs and involvement of the corporate sector for preventive activities is needed.

The consultations, organised by the Ministries of Home and Women and Child Development, National Human Rights Commission, National Commission for Women and UNICEF, also defined the guidelines for rescue and rehabilitation, repatriation of trafficked victims and training and awareness programmes.

''In India the problem has many dimensions --poverty, the geo-political location of the country and many more...we need an intra as well as an international police network to prevent trafficking,'' NCW chairperson Girija Vyas told a press conference at the conclusions of the Consultations.

Dr Vyas said an integrated system of laws and fast tracks courts and monitoring at district level were also required to check the problem.

''Of the 6000 odd trafficking cases last year there were only 700 convictions... In dealing with trafficking prevention, protection, prosecution and providing help to victims should be the cardinal rules,'' she observed.

Providing details about rescue and rehabilitation guidelines, she said evolving victim friendly Standard Operating Procedures for pre-rescue and post rescue activities along with credible NGOs was a must to ensure dignity of the victims.

On rescue, victims must be provided access to legal and medical counselling and other essential services, she added.

The plan recommended that all efforts be made to ensure annonymity and privacy of victims and providing legal immunity to NGOs involved in rescue and rehabilitation work.

Regarding repatriation and reintegration of the victims, the plan suggests need to identify more 'fit institutions' and NGO for providing safe custody to the victims.

Upgrading the conditions of existing institutions and homes and a database needs to be developed to facilitate repatriation process.

It also recommended sensitising judicial officers, law enforcement personnel, government officials and functionaries and building and strengthening the capacity of NGO.

UNI