'Women, Church leaders have major role in checking human trafficking'

'Women, Church leaders have major role in checking human trafficking'
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 02 2010: Next to drug related crimes human trafficking is on rise globally.

It is a crime that involves a group of individuals, experts at the one day sensitization programme on the role of church and women leaders in checking human trafficking held here at State Guest House Sanjenthong revealed.

Children and women are the most vulnerable to human trafficking.

Human trafficking is done for prostitution, sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery and human organ trade, they said.

They also expressed concern on the increasing child trafficking in the state and called for checking the same before it reaches an alarming level.

The sensitization programme was organised by the State Social Welfare Department in association with the Child Committee.

Commissioner (Social Welfare Department) Letkhosei Haokip who graced the inaugural function as chief guest observed that the human trafficking case in the state is increasing citing that the main reason behind it as lack of awareness to all section of the society.

It will not be possible to check the crime by giving awareness at the school and colleges by the teachers but it awareness need to be spread across the cross section of people through church leaders and women leaders as they are connected with the masses.

In the church, people of all age come for worship.

So, spreading the awareness through churches will guarantee the best result.

Many state children are trafficked outside the state in the name of providing jobs.

Church leaders and their close associates will at least have some indication when there is an attempt to traffic children to other places as many of them are trafficked in the name of religion, he observed and appealed to them to extend co-operation to the authority in controlling human trafficking.

Social Welfare Director, S Sharatkumar stressed the need for cooperation of NGOS and other civil societies in checking and controlling the human trafficking in the state.

A concerted effort of the department with them could check the trafficking.

If need be, family counseling can also be taken up to make the parents aware of the mode of human trafficking.

Speaking as resource persons, Mala of Child Line said human trafficking is a crime which is on the raise next to crimes related to religion and drug addicts.

This crime is not committed by an individual but it involved a group or several groups of people.

In the global context, 2.5 million people are victims of human trafficking as estimated by the International labour organisation and traffickers are earning a handsome amount of Rs 28 million dollars as profit from the trade.

As per UNICEF report, 30 percent of the women engaged in commercial sex were those below the age of 18 years.

The impact of this trade is slowly being felt in the state too, Mala expressed concern.