Study Report - Women Victims of Crimes in Kerala - Kerala Police

Trafficking & Prostitution
Trading in human beings and their exploitation in varied forms by traffickers is one of the
most despicable forms of violation of human rights. Trafficking in its widest sense
includes not just exploitation of prostitution of others or forms of sexual exploitation, it
also includes forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery or trade in
human beings for removal of organs. Trafficking clearly violates the fundamental right to
a life with dignity. It also violates right to health and health care, right to liberty and
security of person, right to freedom from torture, violence, cruelty or degrading
treatment. (P.M Nair & Sankar Sen., 2003)
Trafficking in human beings, more so in women and children is one of the fastest
growing forms of trans-national organized crime. Newer and more sophisticated methods
of force and violence are being used to facilitate brokering, liasing and market linkages
for the sexual exploitation and enslavement of women and children. There exist a huge
gap in the law enforcement, vicious exploitation of women and children, lack of validated
data, inadequacy of rehabilitative measures, malfunctioning of the criminal justice
administration, virtual immunity of the traffickers and brothel keepers, societal apathy
and lack of political will. ‘Kerala has become hot spots for sex tourism as in Goa and Puri
in Orissa. Kerala Women’s Commission received numerous complaints from women
tourist about sex tourism in Kovalam’. Study emphasized the need for an extra territorial
legislation to be passed by the Central Government to try any citizen of Indian who
travels within or outside the country with an intension to have sex with children. (Sankar
Sen & Jayashree Ahuja, 2009)
'Regulation' of prostitution involves a mix of approaches including responding to
the 'nuisance' aspect of prostitution and/or adopting an unofficial position of tolerance.
The goal is 'management' by maintaining public order, rather than 'prevention'.
Implementation of a regulatory approach in Ireland since 1993 has not resulted in any
discernable weakening of the links between prostitution and organised crime. It has,
however, had a negative impact on women, as the powers given to the police to deal with
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