Question : TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

(a) whether human trafficking has increased in the country during the last three years;

(b) whether UNICEF pointed out in its recent meeting at Colombo that at least half a Million South Asian boys and girls from Bangladesh and Nepal are working in India as prostitutes despite Government`s efforts to curb sex trade;

(c) if so, the details as well as suggestions/recommendations made in the meeting;

(d) whether the National Women Commission has evolved any plan to prevent smuggling of girls and women from Bangladesh and Nepal forcing them into flesh trade;

(e) if so, the details thereof and the number of cases reported during the last three years and the current year;

(f) the steps taken and being taken to stop such illegal trafficking; and

(g) the number of sex workers liberated during the said period?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI ARJUN SINGH)

(a),(b),(c),(d),(e),(f)&(g): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a).(b).(c).(d).(e).(O & (ld OF LOK SABRA STARRED OUESTION NO. 96 FOR 7.12.2004 BY SBRIMATI KIRAN MABESBWARI AND SBRI BARIBRAU RATBOD REGARDING TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN AND CIDLDREN.

(a) There are various reports/studies and surveys on the subject, however none of them are all India reports, therefore, no conclusion can be drawn firmly from these reports. It may be added that the entire activity is clandestine in nature.

(b) The UNICEF report is based on reports of ADB, UNIFEM, Human Right Watch, and News Centre (UNICEF) etc. This report makes guess estimates of number of trafficked boys and girls from Bangladesh and Nepal. This report is speculative in nature and therefore nothing can be said conclusively about number of person trafficked.

(c) The recommendations emanating from the meeting inter alia, reiterated the commitment by respective governments with regard to combating trafficking of women and children for commercial sexu~ exploitation and sexual abuse. It resolved to continue to uphold the rights of the children to be free from sexual exploitation and abuse and renewed the commitment to zero tolerance of these violations in South Asian Region.

(d) & (e) The National Commission of Women is a recommendatory body and not supposed to formulate and execute any plan to prevent smuggling of helpless girls and women from Bangladesh. However National Commission conducted an inquiry for Women in a gang rape case at Karimganj in Assam. The major recommendation of the National Commission for Women is that it would not be possible for the BSF alone to curb trafficking of women and children from across the border. The State Police, Central Intelligence agencies, civil administration and the non-governmental organisations working in this field should work in unison to prevent this menace. There should also be greater cooperation between Bangladesh and India at Governmental level to achieve success. Some other suggestions are (1) completion of Indo-Bangladesh border fencing, (2) Stricter laws against traffickers and touts, preparation of comprehensive lists of touts and agents, (3) Establishment of Short Stay Homes to keep rescued women before they are restored to their parents/relatives, (4) Simplification of procedure of deportation of rescued victims and establishment of Mahila Desk in every Police station at the Border. Information on cross border trafficking cases is not available.

(f) India has signed and ratified SAARC Convention on Combating Trafficking of Women and Children, which envisages mechanism and operational details under which the issue of cross border trafficking will be dealt with.

(g) Such figures are not available.