India Country Report - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

In this connection Gap Inc, a leading corporate sector organization, intensively
involved in tackling the problem of trafficking especially in the supply
chains in the garment industry where women and children are trafficked and
exploited, organized in collaboration with MWCD and UNODC a Summit on
‘Issues of Trafficking in Garment Supply Chain’ on 15 th March, 2008 in New
Delhi. Representatives of top international brands sourcing from <strong>India</strong>, their
key suppliers in the country, Apex Apparel Export Bodies and the civil society
groups, attended the Summit. One of the recommendations received at the
Summit from among the others, was to constitute a multi stakeholder ‘Think
Tank’, which will have members representing the garment and textile industry,
Government, UNODC, international organizations and NGOs.
To strengthen
infrastructure and
programmes of homes,
MWCD, in collaboration
with UNODC, will engage
the corporate sector in
improving the condition
of homes (e.g. homes
under schemes such as
‘Swadhar’, short stay
homes and ‘Ujjawala’).
As follow-up to the above Summit, in June 2008, MWCD set up a ‘Think-Tank’
on public private partnerships to prevent and combat trafficking of women
and children with the objective of developing short, medium and long term
strategies to prevent trafficking of human beings the especially women and
children, and to explore the possibility of training and skill building of persons
from SHGs and women in vulnerable areas. The members of the ‘Think Tank’
include line Ministries such as the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Labour,
Ministry of Home Affairs, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights,
corporate houses such as Confederation of <strong>India</strong>n Industry (CII), Federation of
<strong>India</strong>n Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and The Associated Chambers
of Commerce and Industry of <strong>India</strong> (ASSOCHAM). Special representatives from
apparel and garment industry, tourism industry and international organizations
such as IOM and UNODC are also part of the ‘Think Tank’.
In the first meeting of the ‘Think Tank’ held on 23 rd July, 2008, it was decided
that core groups (industry-wise) would be set up to develop long term, medium
term and short term action plans. MWCD, in collaboration with UNODC and
corporate sector, would undertake an awareness campaign on trafficking.
Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK), in collaboration with UNODC, would develop and
implement pilot projects for skill building and training of vulnerable women.
On successful implementation, the projects will be expanded to other parts of
the country. To strengthen infrastructure and programmes of homes, MWCD, in
collaboration with UNODC, will engage the corporate sector in improving the
condition of homes (e.g. homes under schemes such as ‘Swadhar’, short stay
homes and ‘Ujjawala’).
As a follow-up, the core group on Apparel and Garment Industry has been
formed and has held its first meeting. The apparel and garment industry
representatives have agreed to collaborate with MWCD and UNODC to develop
‘Guidelines for Monitoring Ethical Production Processes in the Garment Supply
Chain’. Further, pilot projects would be taken up in vulnerable districts for
promoting sustainable livelihood through skills up-gradation and employability
linked training for identified vulnerable groups. The RMK would be the key
partner in this endeavour. The Apparel Export Promotion Council (APEC)
expressed its interest to support a nation wide media awareness campaign on
anti-human trafficking.
50 <strong>India</strong> <strong>Country</strong> <strong>Report</strong>