10 Dec., 2009, New Delhi: In a petition by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) against child trafficking in the Supreme Court, BBA has demanded a comprehensive legislation and policy against trafficking for all forms of exploitation including forced labour, procedures for rescue and rehabilitation of victims of trafficking and prosecution of traffickers under explicitly stringent laws, etc.
In India, the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act (ITPA) is the only piece of legislation dealing with the crime of trafficking but unfortunately it only considers trafficking as prostitution and not in accordance with International Policies and guidelines including the Palermo Protocol of 2001 (signed by India). This is despite the fact that "Traffic in human beings and begar and all similar forms of forced labour" are prohibited as a fundamental right under Article 23 of the Indian Constitution.
The Govt. has been considering an amendment to the ITPA, however, the proposed amendments do not address the concerns of BBA on issues pertaining to trafficking for forced labour especially procedural guidelines against it. On the 9th Dec., 2009, the question was heard at length by the Supreme Court and the court has asked the govt. to respond before next hearing.
R.S.Chaurasia, Chairperson BBA said, "BBA is against all forms of exploitation of men, women and children including commercial sexual exploitation, forced labour and all such slavery like practices. We have filed this petition against trafficking within India as well as across international borders with the intention of developing better policies against all forms of trafficking." |
