New Delhi, 25 August 2004

Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Justice A.S. Anand has called for the need to have a proper policy at the National, State and District level to deal with the problem of trafficking in women and children, which includes rescue, rehabilitation and their reintegration in the society. He was speaking at a function held in New Delhi to release the Report of the National Workshop to "Review the Implementation of Laws and Policies Related to Trafficking: Towards an Effective Rescue and Post-Rescue Strategy". He said that it is essential to have a specialized anti-trafficking structure within the police set-up at the National, State, District and Taluka level, which does not exist at present. In his speech, he pointed out that anti-trafficking measures have to take into account the role of traffickers and steps to rescue, rehabilitate and reintegrate the victims of trafficking. The issue of granting bail to the rescued victims, their stay in short-stay homes and imparting vocational training needs to be addressed so that the victims do not slip back into their old profession. He also stated their rehabilitation should be such that they become a part of society.
On child sex tourism, Justice Anand said though it is of recent origin it exists in India and has assumed alarming proportions. While the law prohibits children being employed in hazardous industries, he said that activities that use children as domestic workers/ helpers cannot in a strict sense be defined as 'hazardous' and hence the word 'hazardous' should be deleted. He also called for prohibition of employment of children saying this contravenes their right to education, which is compulsory till the age of 14.
The report which is a result of the National Workshop jointly organized by NHRC and PRAYAS, an NGO, at Mumbai on 27 & 28 February 2004 highlights the lack of shelter homes for rescued victims at the Taluka level, absence of trained social workers and councillors, lack of inter-departmental coordination. It has recommended amendments in the existing laws, need to address the issue of citizenship rights to rescued women and their right to assistance from the point of rescue and rehabilitation.
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