India Country Report - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

UNICEF supported Regional Anti-Trafficking Network – Andhra Pradesh
In 1997, a local NGO working with the youth was intrigued by the number
of girl children and young women going to cities like Mumbai and Pune in
Maharashtra “for work”. Most of these girls and women were reported to be
sent to brothels in these cities, mostly under the pretext of employment.
In order to have an idea of the extent of the problem, UNICEF supported a
pilot project undertaken by the NGO STHREE and the district administration
in Kadiri block, in Anantapur District. Findings of the study revealed that
most of the girls and women who went out for work belonged to tribal
communities and that they were as young as 14. It was established that
the children were being trafficked for sexual exploitation and the practice
was widespread in 24 blocks in three districts, namely Anantapur, Kadapa
and Chittoor.
It soon became evident that it was necessary to build on and consolidate
the lessons learnt from this initiative. A meeting with the administration,
the police and some important officials of all three districts was held in
July 2001 and the regional network was formally launched. The UNICEF
strategic framework of community mobilization, convergence, enforcement,
and partnerships was used as a key strategy. The network for the first
time not only brought together administrative and enforcement heads of
three districts but it also brought in convergence the different sectors
like revenue, police, education, women and child development and rural
development to look into the issue and take action collectively.
The objectives of the network were to identify key vulnerability indicators
of families and communities that lead to trafficking of children and women;
support community based activities in the districts; facilitate safe migration
of women when possible; strengthen communities to become financially
self-sufficient through development programmes and micro credits linkages;
mobilize youth into community support and surveillance committees; orient
the police on trafficking and on how to deal with rescue in a more sensitive
and child friendly way; and sensitize the judicial officers on trafficking of
women and children. The regional network focuses on prevention as its
key feature and has evolved strategies and activities, which facilitate the
prevention of trafficking from the region.
Anti-Trafficking Programmes at the State Level
Andhra Pradesh – UNICEF has played a key role in Andhra Pradesh on
building community awareness, forming community vigilance groups and
promoting child participation in anti-trafficking programmes.
Karnataka – UNICEF conducted a series of trainings and capacity building
programmes on anti-trafficking legislations, gender sensitization etc. for
the police and the judicial officers.
Maharashtra – UNICEF supported the DWCD, Government of Maharashtra in
setting up a Resource Centre.
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