Today, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was observed at Prodigals Home Fellowship Colony in Dimapur under the theme "Reach Every Woman of Trafficking: Leave No One Behind" on 29th July 2023.
During the event, Legal cum Probation Officer (LCPO) Moajungla addressed the issues, challenges, and available services related to trafficking. It was highlighted that Nagaland has been identified as a major point of origin for human trafficking in India, and the North East region remains vulnerable due to wealth disparity and lack of employment opportunities.
Reports indicate that 83% of missing individuals are below 18 years old, with 13% of the missing cases in Nagaland attributed to trafficking. In the period from 2015 to 2021, 28 victims were rescued, out of which 26 were females. The perpetrators have increasingly been using onsite recruitment and social media to lure victims into industries like hotels, parlors, and spas with attractive salaries. Once their mission is accomplished, the perpetrators erase all traces of their activities by deleting websites and accounts.
Various factors contribute to human trafficking in the region, including migration from villages to towns and cities in search of better opportunities, unemployment, poverty, lack of education, substance abuse, runaway and homeless children, mental health issues, prostitution, demand for cheap labor and sex, lack of human rights protection, conflict, natural disasters, and unsafe migration options.
The victims of trafficking endure inhumane living conditions, poor diet and hygiene, physical abuse, and deprivation of basic healthcare rights. They are even vulnerable to organ trade and are subjected to sex trade enslavement.
Moajungla highlighted the common challenges in combating trafficking, such as victims' reluctance to report cases due to shame, stigma, fear, trauma, and threats from high-profile perpetrators or mafia involved in trafficking.
The event was chaired by EAC (Sadar) Dimapur District Khiuzan Kaurinta, and several speakers addressed the audience on the role of police in preventing human trafficking, legal mechanisms to tackle the issue, and the significance of civil societies in the fight against trafficking.
The program was organized by Dimapur District Administration and District Hub for Empowerment of Women, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and Sakhi-One Stop Centre (OsC), in collaboration with Childline, Dimapur.
(Akamla, IA Dimapur)
