Awareness about the signs, causes, types, laws, and Prevention of Human Trafficking.
Human trafficking is a heinous crime, which not only affects the victim and their families but the entire society. Cases of women and children being kidnapped and sold to other parts of the country, or other countries are continuously increasing. It has become a sensitive and terrible issue in the entire world.
Victims of human trafficking often come from countries that face poverty, gender inequality, lack of education, lack of jobs, and instability. These victims often fall prey to the fake offers given to them by the traffickers. These offers include job opportunities and a better lifestyle but in reality, they are pushed into the jobs of prostitution, smuggling, and slavery, or their body parts are removed and smuggled into the international market.
United Nations has defined Human trafficking as, “The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons using the threats or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power, or a position of vulnerability, or of the giving or receiving of the payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person, having control over another person, for exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others, or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.”
[Article 3, paragraph (a), of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons].
Signs of Human Trafficking
So, if we come across a person who displays the following signs, there are high chances of him/her being a victim of human trafficking.
- Controlled Movements
- Fake Identity
- Tendency to hide their address
- No access to earnings
- Work excessively
- No Social Interaction
- Think they are bonded or debt
- Constant fear is displayed on their face
However, even after the victim is rescued, they take time to come back to their normal lives as they face a lot of trauma and still display signs of fear or even aggression.
Causes of Human Trafficking
We often think about the causes that lead to Human trafficking. Despite the growing population, and growing security, How do people become victims of trafficking? Poverty, War like situations, the Status of women in Society, and Ignorance (blindly trusting the unknowns) are some of the causes which have played a major role in the spread of Human Trafficking.
Types of Trafficking
Human trafficking is a crime that can occur in any part of the world. Today, Human Trafficking has taken many forms some of which are:
1. Sex Trafficking
Official figures state that more than 3 million prostitutes are seen in India. Women and children are lured, kidnapped, forced into prostitution, and sold in the markets to gain higher profits. Sex trafficking, therefore, forces the victims to unwillingly work as prostitutes, in brothels, pole dancing, strip clubs, pornographic movies, sex tourism, etc.
2. Labour Exploitation
This refers to a situation where the victims are exploited to work for very little or no remuneration, under the threat of punishment. A victim is coerced by the use of violence, blackmailing, retention of identity proof, threats to family members, etc. For e.g, Young children are often kidnapped and sold in other parts of the country and are forced to beg at traffic signals. The money earned through begging is taken away by their “masters”.
NewIndianExpress.com
3. Forced Criminality
This is a situation where the victim is forced to undertake criminal activities like supplying drugs, bag snatching, chain snatching, pickpocketing, kidnapping, murder, etc. Young children can easily fall prey to such activities. Most of the time, there is a high possibility of the victims being “brainwashed” and pushed into terrorism. Many terrorist camps often recruit trafficked victims and use them to fulfill their terrorist motives.
4. Organ Harvesting
Organ harvesting involves removing an organ of the body, especially kidneys, and liver, and selling them illegally in the market to earn huge profits. A person may be fooled to have a particular disease for which he is required to be admitted to the hospital. The organs are removed without even the knowledge or consent of the victim, in the guise of “treatment”.
Thus, trafficking occurs at the individual or at the group level, where not only several women and children but also men are illegally transported. They are fooled and lured, once they arrive in the country, their passport and other documents are forcefully taken away by the traffickers.
Prevention of Human Trafficking
What are the ways that can help us to protect ourselves and our families, and our friends from such a heinous crime? Lack of awareness and access to protection, and justice, make people easily fall prey to such crimes. To prevent such crimes, certain steps can be taken.
- Promote education in society.
- Strengthen individual skills and knowledge among the locals.
- Framing policies help to combat such crimes.
- Fostering positive feelings among neighbors who can unite themselves and help each other in need.
- Implementing policies that provide proper use, proper wages, and healthcare to the members of the society so that they become self-sufficient and do not fall prey to such crimes.
- Youth programs should be undertaken so that they can respond to the signs of exploitation and reach out to seek help or provide help to the victims.
Laws Against Human Trafficking in India
- Human trafficking is prohibited by the Constitution of India under Article 23(1).
- The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act,1956 (ITPA) works against commercial sexual exploitation.
- Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 has come into force wherein Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code has been substituted with Section 370 and 370 A which provides measures to counter trafficking.
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act, 2012 protects children from Sexual Abuse and exploitation.
- Other provisions like the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006, Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act,1986, Transplantation of Human Organs Act1994, Sections 372 and 373 dealing with selling and buying of girls for prostitution are also undertaken to fight Human Trafficking.
Therefore, to combat and fight such crimes, it is necessary to be aware and alert about the possibility of such occurring. So stay safe and stay aware.
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