Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Fighting Human Trafficking

US Ambassador to India David Mulford Article on Human Trafficking

I cannot imagine a more heinous crime than trafficking in human beings — the marketing, distribution, and in many cases, sale of women and children to be exploited and abused by others. Those who are complicit in human trafficking deserve our scorn, our rebuke, and ultimately, society's punishment for this most flagrant of human rights abuses. On Monday, the secretary of state released the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1621259.cms

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

US Trafficking in Persons Report Released,India placed in Tier 2 Watch List.

The 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report on over 150 countries is the most comprehensive worldwide report on the efforts of governments to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons. Its findings will raise global awareness and spur countries to take effective actions to counter trafficking in persons.
The annual Trafficking in Persons Report serves as the primary diplomatic tool through which the U.S. Government encourages partnership and increased determination in the fight against forced labor, sexual exploitation, and modern-day slavery.

http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2006/

Asian nations have failed to check trafficking: US

WASHINGTON: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka do not meet minimum standards to end prostitution, child labour and other categories of trafficking in human beings but are making "significant efforts" to meet minimum standards, the US State Department says in its latest annual Trafficking in Persons' report. The report alleges that India is a country of origin, transit and destination for thousands of trafficked persons.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/
uncomp/articleshow?msid=18860

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Form anti-human trafficking cell, MHA urged

ALARMED over the spate of human trafficking cases, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has asked the Home Ministry to constitute a cell within three months to combat the problem.
The directive is in keeping with the Plan of Action formulated by the MWCD (then a department) in 1998 to check the illegal trade after a judgment of the Supreme Court.

‘‘We have asked the Home Ministry to create the cell since all police forces will have to be actively involved, said Reva Nayar, Secretary at MWCD.

The matter assumes importance since the US has placed India in the Tier-II category of countries affected by human trafficking. A report by the US State Department will be released shortly evaluating the country’s performance in checking the crime. Sanctions could be imposed if the country is placed in Tier-III.
The MWCD is of the view that police officers specifically tasked to deal with trafficking will have to be designated in every state. Once the cell is in place, there will be a focussed approach and the task of coordination among different agencies will be rendered easier.
Most of the trafficking is done within the country from one state or region to another. For instance, minor girls from Assam, Bengal and Jharkhand are often sold in Haryana and Punjab fuelled by factors ranging from poverty to discrepancy in the sex ratio in the demand areas. In the process, a large number of girls also end up crossing the border from Nepal and Bangladesh.

The action plan has also suggested setting up of a nodal agency to check human trafficking on the lines of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Efforts are on to set up this agency, which will be under the administrative control of the MWCD having the role of a watchdog.

ALARMED over the spate of human trafficking cases, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has asked the Home Ministry to constitute a cell within three months to combat the problem. The directive is in keeping with the Plan of Action formu- lated by the MWCD (then a department) in 1998 to check the illegal trade after a judg- ment of the Supreme Court. ‘‘We have asked the Home Ministry to create the cell since all police forces will have to be actively in- volved, said Reva Nayar, Secretary at MWCD. The matter assumes im- portance since the US has placed India in the Tier-II cate- gory of countries affected by human trafficking. A report by the US State Department will be released shortly evaluating the country’s performance in checking the crime. Sanctions could be imposed if the coun- try is placed in Tier-III. The MWCD is of the view that police officers specifi- cally tasked to deal with traf- ficking will have to be desig- nated in every state. Once the cell is in place, there will be a focussed approach and the task of coordination among different agencies will be rendered easier. Most of the trafficking is done within the country from one state or region to another. For instance, minor girls from Assam, Bengal and Jharkhand are often sold in Haryana and Punjab fuelled by factors ranging from poverty to discrepancy in the sex ratio in the demand ar- eas. In the process, a large number of girls also end up crossing the border from Nepal and Bangladesh. The action plan has also suggested setting up of a nodal agency to check human trafficking on the lines of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Efforts are on to set up this agency, which will be un- der the administrative control of the MWCD having the role of a watchdog.
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India to act on exploitation of Gulf workers

NEW DELHI: With complaints of ill-treatment of Indian workers in Gulf countries on the rise, Government has decided to launch a crackdown on illegal recruitment and regulate emigration by making the laws stringent.

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) has decided to amend the 1983 Emigration Act to make punishment for illegal recruitment harsher by raising the minimum imprisonment to five years from the present six months.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1612188.cms

Health ministry mission to save girl child in limbo

Health ministry mission to save girl child in limbo
Aasha KhosaPosted online: Saturday,
June 03, 2006 at 0000 hrs Print Email

NEW DELHI, JUNE 2:The Health Ministry’s national mission against the illegal practice of killing of female fetuses, which has left India with 960 women to every 1000 men, is yet to take off as the ministry has not appointed an expert.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/5663.html