Explain trafficking in humans

 Trafficking in human beings is not a new phenomenon. Women, children and men have been captured, bought and sold in market places for centuries. Human trafficking is one of the most lucrative criminal activities.

Estimates of the United Nations state that 1 to 4 million people are trafficked worldwide each year. It is one of the most tragic human rights issues. It splinters families, distorts global markets, undermines the rule of law, and spurs other transnational criminal activity.

It threatens public safety and national security. Human trafficking is a crime that exploits women, children and men for numerous purposes including forced labour and sex. There are many forms of trafficking like-trafficking for forced labour, trafficking in women for sexual exploitation, commercial sexual exploitation of children in tourism, trafficking for tissue, cells and organs, people smuggling etc.

The problem may be much more grave than what has been reported because of the reason that in human trafficking, most of the matters have not yet been properly taken care either by the parents because of their illiteracy or lack of their means. To aware the common people regarding human trafficking, World Day against Trafficking in Persons is celebrated every year on 30 July.

Trafficking in human beings or persons is prohibited under the Constitution of India under

Article 23 (1). The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 is the premier legislation for prevention of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.

Criminal Law (amendment) Act, 2013 in sections 370 and 370A has provided comprehensive measures to counter the menace of human trafficking including trafficking of children for exploitation in any form including physical exploitation or any form of sexual exploitation, slavery, servitude, or the forced removal of organs.

Further, Protection of Children from Sexual offences Act, 2012, which has come into effect from 14th November, 2012 is a special law to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. It provides precise definitions for different forms of sexual abuse, including penetrative and non-penetrative sexual assault, sexual harassment.

There are other specific legislations enacted relating to trafficking in women and children Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, apart from specific Sections in the IPC, e.g. Sections 372 and 373 dealing with selling and buying of girls for the purpose of prostitution.

A Memorandum of Understanding between India and Bangladesh on Bi-lateral Cooperation for Prevention of Human Trafficking in Women and Children, Rescue, Recovery, Repatriation and Re-integration of Victims of Trafficking was signed in June, 2015.