State to observe World Day Against Trafficking

Dimapur, July 29 (EMN): State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW) has announced to observe the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on the global theme “Let’s act now to protect and assist trafficking victims.” On the occasion, SRCW informed to execute the ‘Blue Heart Campaign’ against human trafficking. The 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. The United Nations (UN) 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.” A SRCW release said human trafficking is a world menace, in which humans are 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 organised crime after drugs and arms trade across the globe. In India, the Northeast states including Nagaland comprised one of the most vulnerable regions, where cases of human trafficking are increasing every year, though many go unreported, it stated. SRCW lamented that trafficking of Naga girls is on the rise at an alarming rate, with Nagaland being a source, destination, and transit state for human trafficking. Quoting Nagaland Police data, it stated that in Nagaland a person goes missing every fourth day, where 83 percent are below the age of 18 years, while 13 percent reportedly trafficked and 35 percent untraced. It added that human trafficking has taken another form within the State, wherein many children from poorer communities are lured and brought to become domestic workers in homes. 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 comprised 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 (ILO) 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. Looking at the issue within our State, SRCW felt that effective strategies and preventive measures are required to bring this to an end. It has lauded the work carried out by the State Women Commission in reaching out to all the districts in creating awareness about human trafficking. It also called for convergence of all stakeholders such as – allied departments, law enforcement agencies, the church, NGOs and other relevant agencies, and most importantly, the communities in order to curb human trafficking which has become a glaring threat to the society. Since its inception, SRCW has been doing its bit by holding consultative meetings, workshops and awareness programmes on the issue. 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. On the occasion of World Day Against Trafficking in Humans, SRCW called upon all citizens to “act now to protect and assist trafficking victims.”