Gap in human trafficking laws: Meghalaya Governor

Gap in human trafficking laws: Meghalaya Governor

Shillong, July 09: There is a "huge gap" in enforcement of laws on human trafficking, a situation that is made more complex by underaged girls being forced to pose as adults, Meghalaya Governor M M Jacob has said. "Laws might be in place but there is a huge gap in their enforcement and implementation. Corruption and nexus with the traffickers and lack of sensitisation are some of the reasons for apathy," Jacob said while inaugurating a South Asia Regional Consultation on rights-based anti-trafficking programme here on July 7. Enumerating the reasons for trafficking and prostitution among women and children, he said consumerism, globalisation, discrimination against the girl child, lack of earning members in a family, lack of employment in rural areas, large-scale migration, landlessness, caste factors, insecurity and instability of the labour market, conflict situations and even natural calamities like floods could lead to it. To check trafficking, vigil should be stepped up and the government has a definite role to play in this aspect. Additional police personnel trained in handling trafficking should be given the job of rescuing women and children and returning them to the mainstream, he said. The two-day meet was attended by the US Consul General in Kolkata, Henry Victor Jardin, the representative of UNODC in India, Gary Lewis, senior law enforcement and BSF officers, NGOs and others.