Manual for Training Police on Anti Human Trafficking

<strong>Manual</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Training</strong> <strong>Police</strong> on Anti Human Trafficking 56
5. You must ensure that the survivor is not made to feel alienated and
threatened. Remember to be a ‘friend’ but never to trespass their
zone of com<strong>for</strong>t as this may result in a breach of trust.
6. You must give due respect to the survivor and your interactions
(both verbal and non-verbal) with the survivor during rescue as
well as during interrogation must reflect this respect.
7. Avoid patronizing attitude towards the victim.
8. Some other things to remember are:
Ensure that the communication is as interactive as possible.
Keep the questions/statements simple and easily
comprehendible.
Use respectful and sensitive language.
An engaging, non-threatening, non-judgmental and
democratic stance helps in keeping the survivor com<strong>for</strong>ted.
While being responsive, you must not become overly-friendly.
You must ensure that the survivor is not made to feel
uncom<strong>for</strong>table.
Do not become overly-friendly
Listening is a huge virtue in terms of communication.
Demeaning and degrading gestures and expressions are very inappropriate and will only
alienate the survivor. Friendly and open gestures, engaging the survivor in a responsive
manner will ensure the support and cooperation of survivors as well as instill confidence in
their minds.
Note to the facilitator
You can share live case studies from the participants to highlight the above points of both good
and bad practices. However, do take care that the participants see themselves not as part of the
problem but as part of the solution. Also you may want to tell them at this stage that while
dealing with victims trafficked <strong>for</strong> CSE, it is very important to look at our own perceptions and
attitudes that influence our decisions and actions. Issues of gender sensitivity are dealt with in
the subsequent section.
c) Effective listening as a tool <strong>for</strong> communication
Over half of all communication is listening.
You must be sensitive to the needs of the survivor in relation to their circumstances and aloofness. They
do not want to be considered as a victim or another case number by police personnel, but as a person
instead. There must be a space provided <strong>for</strong> the survivor to be heard and to make sense of their traumatic
experience. It is only natural <strong>for</strong> the survivor to be threatened and not willing to talk to anyone about
their traumatic experiences. Encouraging them to do so must be done with extreme care and sensitivity.
Listening to their responses – both verbal and non-verbal – comprises a crucial part of this communication.
It will be only normal <strong>for</strong> the survivor to take some time to break the ice and feel willing to cooperate
with the police persons. Understanding this need and letting the survivor take some time is essential.
However, it must also be noted that if the survivor is unwilling to cooperate at any stage, s/he may not
respond despite the best ef<strong>for</strong>ts put <strong>for</strong>th by the police personnel. It is thus your own judgment as an
investigating officer to appreciate the survivor’s level of responsiveness.
You may want to do the following activity with your participants.
Engaging, non-threatening stance