Annual Report - National Human Rights Commission

Annexure 12
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exploitation in such communities. At the same time, the rehabilitation of women and girls who
have been trafficked and exploited needs to be given special attention. Rehabilitation efforts
may go against the cultural norms in existence in the community and, therefore, can be successful
only if they are properly monitored, as is seen in the Delhi case study where the Delhi High
Court intervention was instrumental in helping the rehabilitation of Bedia girls of Rajasthan.
Intervention to Prevent Trans-border Trafficking
The SEVA model of setting up a Rights Awareness Centre at the Indo-Nepal border has been
successful in preventing trafficking under the garb of migration. While not interfering with
migration, the strategy of making the migrants aware of their human rights has succeeded in
preventing trafficking of girl children. Such models could be replicated in other areas on the
border by involving the NGOs which are working on issues related to cross-border trafficking.
Role of Media
The media has a large role to play in mobilizing public support and involvement for preventing
and combating trafficking. Due to its outreach and its ability to mould public opinion, it is a
powerful tool of social change. Therefore, there is a need for involving the media in a sustained
manner. Investigative journalism on trafficking needs to be promoted. However, media publicity
should take into consideration the rights-approach and ensure that there is no violation of the
rights of the victims and survivors. And so, there is a need to develop minimum standards for the
media. The NHRC may consider facilitating appropriate agencies to bring out guidelines in this
regard. Moreover, there is a need for linkage of mediapersons across the borders so that they can
work on a common platform, especially with respect to prevention of trafficking. Multilateral
agencies could help in establishing and facilitating this linkage.
Protection of Victims and Survivors
Urgency of Rescue Operations
The study has pointed towards the urgency and essentiality of carrying out rescue operations.
The large majority of survivors and victims are eager to be rescued and rehabilitated. During the
field work, it has come to notice that there are more than 500 children languishing in brothels, as
stated by the brothel keepers themselves. Moreover, a vast majority of the interviewed victims in
CSE in the brothels have expressly stated their eagerness to be rescued and rehabilitated. No
doubt the non-rescue of these trafficked persons, more so of children, compounds the human
rights violations. Therefore the urgency to rescue and rehabilitate them.
Handbook on Do’s and Don’ts
In order to ensure that the police officials at the grassroots level are aware of the dos and don’ts,
especially from the human rights perspective, in dealing with matters relating to trafficking, and
to bring in accountability, it is essential that they are provided with guidelines on the do’s and
don’ts that are to be followed before, during and after rescue. This should have a checklist
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