Annual Report - National Human Rights Commission

Annexure 12
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○
have earmarked for meeting their social responsibility could be adequately channelized to the
anti-trafficking sector.
Role of UN Agencies and INGOs
Many UN agencies have anti-trafficking as part of their mandate, either fully or partly. The
study has, however, shown than many projects and programmes are overlapping. Therefore, it
would be in the fitness of things and in the best interests of the public that the various UN
agencies avoid duplication of efforts and synergise their policies and programmes. The case of
INGOs is also no different. If the concern is for maximum and effective utilization of their
resources, they need to network and ensure non-duplication of efforts and wastage of resources.
Synergy and dialogue are called for in this sphere.
Commitment and Accountability of Development Agencies
The study has shown that poverty and other delimiting factors cause vulnerability, leading to the
trafficking of women and children. The disability factor, described in the chapter on psychosocial
intervention, is an indication of the colossal loss to the society. Despite a plethora of
developmental schemes and projects in operation by the Government of India and the state
governments for helping the vulnerable groups of society, their poor implementation is the main
reason for keeping these groups exposed to different types of exploitation, including trafficking.
Proper implementation could have brought these vulnerable sections out of this trap. There is a
need to bring in commitment and ensure accountability of these agencies. This calls for proper
monitoring and evaluation of the impact of not only of the programmes but also of the policies,
by utilizing the appropriate process and impact indicators.
Right to Development as a Human Rights Issue
The study also shows complete ignorance of the concerned parties (victims, vulnerable sections,
NGOs, civil society, etc.) to the various schemes of the government that could have been of
benefit to the vulnerable sections of society who eventually get trafficked. Once these vulnerable
groups are made aware of their rights to development and progress, dignity and individuality,
traffickers will find it difficult to prey on them. Therefore, creating awareness of such schemes
should not be considered merely a welfare activity but should be considered as human rights
issue. The NHRC could, accordingly, advise the various ministries and agencies in the union
government and state governments.
Mainstreaming Anti-trafficking into the Agenda of Professional
Bodies
Anti-trafficking and the human rights issues involved in the process should find a place in the
agenda of professional bodies. The annual Conference of the Chiefs of Police in India organized
by the MHA should have an exclusive slot for presentation and discussion of this subject. The
same should be the case with the annual meetings held at the state police headquarters and the
monthly meetings held by the district police chiefs. Similarly, meetings of the State Women’s
National Human Rights Commission Annual Report - 2004-2005
273
AR-Chapter-1-19-10-6-06.p65
293
7/17/06, 6:31 PM