The Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR) hosted an ‘Interactive Group Discussion of Stakeholders’ on World Day Against Trafficking in Person with special focus on children in Guwahati on Monday.
The event was supported by the British Deputy High Commission Kolkata.
It witnessed participation from the State Social Welfare Department, state legal authority, several NGOs, academics, members from Childline and the state police including R Chandranathan, IPS, Spl DGP (Railway), Assam and Surendra Kumar, IPS, IGP,CID Assam.
The stakeholders acknowledged the seriousness of the issue in Assam which is a source transit point and destination for trafficking in person.
The State is particularly vulnerable because of it’s border with Bangladesh and Bhutan.
The trafficking zones in the state include the tea garden areas in upper Assam and places like Sonitpur, Morigaon, Udalguri, Kamrup(M) and Hojai.
A documentary film ‘Taken’ on trafficking was screened at the event highlighting the causes and effect of problems of survivors.
Dr Sunita Changkakoti, Chairperson ASCPCR pointed out poverty, lack of awareness and unsafe migration were the main causes of trafficking in women and children for forced labour and commercial sexual exploitation.
Speaking on the occasion, Shahida Khan, the Deputy Head of Mission, British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata mentioned that human trafficking was a global problem affecting all countries including UK.
Almost every country in the world was affected by trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims, Changkakoti said.
She said there are 10-13000 victims in the UK. In response the UK has developed extensive knowledge and expertise over the years through developing Strategy and subsequent landmark legislation (Modern Slavery Act 2015).