Annual Report - National Human Rights Commission

Summary of Principal Recommendations and Observations
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Department that except for few, which were new initiatives, the others were already in existence.
It is hoped that the Department of Women and Child Development as well as the Ministry of
Home Affairs would take appropriate action on the recommendations made in the Final Report
on the Issue of Trafficking by the Advisory Council of Jurists of the Asia Pacific Forum of
National Human Rights Institutions and inform the Commission about those at the earliest.
(Paras 8.11, 8.12 and 8.13)
Prevention of Sex Tourism and Trafficking
19.37 The Commission is conscious of the fact that trafficking in women and children is a
complex and multifaceted phenomenon interwoven with sex tourism. The NHRC’s Report
on the Action Research on Trafficking in Women and Children in India also highlights this
fact. As tourism industry encompasses a whole range of allied sectors, such as, airlines, hotels,
restaurants, travel and tour agencies, the Commission, as was reported in the annual report for
2003-04, had conducted a one-day Sensitization Programme on ‘Prevention of Sex Tourism
and Trafficking’ in the year 2003 in Mumbai. The recommendations that had emanated from
this Programme were accepted by the Commission and as per its directions these were also
forwarded to the Tourism Secretaries and the Secretaries in-charge of Women Welfare of all
the States and Union Territories for taking appropriate action. In this connection, the Commission
has received Action Taken Reports from Governments of Sikkim, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu,
Manipur, Punjab, Meghalaya, Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and NCT of
Delhi. The Commission intends to monitor the follow-up of the recommendations made in
the above Workshop and is hopeful that all those States/Union Territories who have so far not
complied with the Commission’s recommendations would do so at the earliest.
(Paras 8.14 and 8.15)
Combating Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace
19.38 The Commission has been monitoring the implementation of the guidelines to prevent
and combat sexual harassment of women at the work place issued by the Supreme Court in
Vishaka vs. State of Rajasthan case. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in its
Memorandum of Action Taken on the Annual Report of the Commission for the year 2002-03
has categorically stated that the observations of the Commission with regard to its efforts to
combat sexual harassment of women at the work place have been noted, the Commission is
confident that Vishaka guidelines as enumerated by the Apex Court would be complied with by
all States and Union Territories in true spirit so that women are no longer subjected to gender
discrimination at the work place. The Commission also hopes that States who have yet to
amend their conduct rules and set up the complaints mechanism would do so without any further
delay. The issue was highlighted during the meeting of the Commission with the Chief
Secretaries and Directors General of Police of all States and Union Territories held on
14-12- 2004. (Paras 8.16 and 8.18)
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