Women and children prime targets for trafficking in Nagaland, says W Nginyeih Konyak

DIMAPUR – The chairperson of the Nagaland State Commission for Women, W Nginyeih Konyak, stated on Sunday that females are the primary targets for human trafficking in the state, and teenage boys and girls are particularly at risk of becoming victims of sex trafficking and forced labour.

Speaking during the observation of the ‘World Day Against Trafficking in Persons’ under the theme ‘reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind’ at the Nagaland Police headquarters in Kohima, Konyak called attention to the vulnerability of thousands of men, women, and children to trafficking, with the most marginalised groups of society frequently becoming the primary targets.

She revealed that human trafficking ranked as the third-largest international crime, with around two million women and children being trafficked each year, as per some estimates. She also shed light on how conflicts, humanitarian crises, socioeconomic inequalities, and climate change further exacerbate the risks of trafficking worldwide.

Even in Nagaland, she said, disadvantaged individuals, including children and females, have been vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking for ages.

She mentioned that human trafficking is a severe crime and a grave violation of human rights, affecting security, safety, and the rule of law globally, and stressed the importance of collective efforts from stakeholders such as churches, apex tribal bodies, and the state government in combating trafficking through education, awareness, and strict implementation of laws.

She also called for comprehensive support services for the victims’ recovery and protection, along with efforts to rehabilitate and empower survivors.

DIGP Narola Sophie also addressed the audience, focusing on the causes, effects, strategies used by traffickers, and difficulties encountered in combating human trafficking.

She emphasised that human trafficking is the fastest-growing crime globally, with Nagaland facing numerous cases, although many incidents go unreported due to victims’ fear of stigmatisation and hassles with the reporting process.

The event featured presentations on Mission Vatsalya and Mission Shakti by Renchumi Imti, programme manager for SARA, and Lanurenla Imchen, manager for women helpline 181, respectively.

The Department of Social Welfare, Nagaland State Commission for Women, Nagaland State Social Welfare Board, SHEW Mission Shakti, Mission Vatsalya, and Nagaland Police collaborated to organise the event, which aimed to raise awareness and strengthen responses to combat human trafficking in the region.

About six thousand women trafficked annually in India

Longleng: DC Longleng Dharam Raj stated on Saturday that women should be aware of some important human trafficking prevention strategies and noted that annually in India, between 5,000 and 6,000 women are trafficked. These trafficked women are treated as commodities, with 95% of them forced into prostitution against their will.

Speaking during the ‘World Day Against Trafficking in Persons’ observation event at VDB hall, Longleng, organised by the district administration, Longleng, in collaboration with BBBP Longleng, the District Hub for Empowering Women (DHEW) Longleng, and one stop centre (OSC) Longleng, Raj said that the monetary proceedings through trafficking are illegal and the money ends up funding illegal things like terrorism, militancy, drugs, etc. where one crime gives birth to another crime.

Therefore, he said, if trafficking itself is stopped, it would also be detrimental to some other crimes.

He noted that most women who are between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five are vulnerable to trafficking and added that once a person enters into this trade, whether on purpose or not, it is simple to make easy money but very difficult to exit the scenario. The shame associated with human trafficking is not tolerated in society, and the time has come for everyone to let go of these stigmas, he said and asked why dignity should only apply to women.

He cited that it is the person who trafficked the victim into these unlawful activities is to blame, not the woman or girl, and added that in crimes against women, society often blames the victim, reflecting a problematic mentality that needs changing.

Stating that changing societal attitudes is a collective responsibility, particularly for men, he pointed out that another area of focus should be educating young women and girls to avoid engaging in activities that only provide temporary sustenance and that there are various ethical ways to provide for one’s family, and one must also consider the future.

Panel lawyer of LDLSA P Monyei Phom, OC of Longleng Police Station UBI Marsosang, and DCPO Longleng Ketobu Vitsu also spoke on the occasion.

The programme was attended by students and representatives from Phomla Hoichem, women wards, churches, the women help desk (police), the Phom Students’ Conference, the district child protection unit (DCPU), and the legal services authority.

OSC Kohima dealt with 28 cases of trafficking

Kohima: The ‘World Day against Trafficking in Persons’ was also observed in Kohima.

The event was organised by the district administration in collaboration with DHEW Kohima, OSC Kohima, and the district child protection office (DCPO), Kohima, under BBBP Kohima, at Midland panchayat hall on Friday.

Delivering the keynote address on the occasion, SDO (Civil) Kohima, Nockpai Konyak, stated that the public needs to be enlightened on the issue of human trafficking and urged all to be alert in order to prevent such cases from happening in society.

Legal cum probation officer, DCPU, Kohima, Megoneituo Kielienyu, elaborated on the various provisions under the POCSO Act, such as sexual exploitation and punishments, and also stressed the importance of child protective services in Nagaland like childline during his speech on the POCSO Act, child care, and protection during the event.

Speaking on the issue of trafficking against women and children in Nagaland, a case worker at OSC Kohima Repabenla Longkumer, explained the different types of human trafficking, and mentioned that the OSC has so far dealt with 28 cases of human trafficking. He added that because of the customary courts, most cases were not registered.

The programme was chaired by Vikeduozo Sorhie, gender specialist, DHEW, Kohima, while the vote of thanks was proposed by Tsau Paphino, vice-chairman, Midland Colony.

“Anti-human trafficking unit available 24/7”

Phek: Phek district observed ‘World Day Against Trafficking in Person’ at the DC Office conference hall on Saturday. The event was organised by the district administration, DHEW Phek, in collaboration with the OSC Phek, DLSA, DCPU, and Phek Police under BBBP Phek.

On the occasion, the additional superintendent of police, Phek, Honkin Chang, encouraged participants to raise awareness about human trafficking, strengthen preventive measures, and improve the identification of victims in the district. He further requested that the public stay vigilant about trafficking and report any incidents to the police. He informed that the anti-human trafficking unit is available 24/7.

Jitsiasa Nyusou, the centre administrator of OSC Phek, highlighted the availability of services and support given to victims of trafficking during the event, while Povezo Puro, DCPO Phek, shared information about POCSO and JJA relating to children in need of care and protection.

Retainer lawyer Vethothi Vero spoke about the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act 1956, Nagaland State Victim Compensation Scheme 2012 relating to victims of human trafficking, and the role and functions of the legal services authority to assist victims of human trafficking in his speech.

The event was attended by various NGOs, churches, women’s societies, and colony representatives.

Every fourth day, a person goes missing

Wokha: Along with the rest of the nation, the Wokha district also observed ‘World Day Against Trafficking in Persons’ at the GHSS Wokha auditorium on Sunday.

The theme speaker for the occasion, additional SP Wokha K. Soriso, addressing the programme, said that human trafficking involves the transfer, harbouring, or transporting of people through force, fraud, or deception for the purpose of exploitation and profit.

He said it often happens so people can escape poverty, improve their lives, support families, and find jobs, and in the process, they become trafficking victims. To address trafficking, he stated people should promote awareness through institutional capacity building, train law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges, and advise drafting relevant legislation and strengthening anti-trafficking elements.

Highlighting trafficking statistics for Nagaland, Soriso revealed that every fourth day, a person goes missing in the state. Of the 87 missing person cases registered over the past three years (2017–2019) across various districts, 83% were under 18 years old. He recommended raising awareness to end this problem. Representatives from the Lotha Eloe Hoho and other civil society organisations also gave short speeches. The keynote address was delivered by SDO (C) Nuhuta Tunyi.