ICYO

YOUTH INFORMATION

                           No: 2007/55

(E-Newsletter from network of youth organizations in India)

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ICYO - Platform of 356 Youth Organizations in India.       

ICYO - India’s largest network of urban and rural youth.

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Regional Study on Anti Trafficking
Legal Frameworks Released in Kathmandu

 

The Regional Study for the Harmonization of Anti Trafficking Legal Framework in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal with International Standards was released in press meet organized on 16 August 2007 in Kathmandu, Nepal.

 

Prof. Dr. Kamal Krishna Joshi, Chairperson, University Grant Commission, Nepal unveiled the Regional Study for the purpose of official release. Prof. Dr. Nomita Aggarwal, President SALS Forum (Chief Consultant of the Regional Study); Mr. Stefano Ellero, Regional Coordinator of the project- Developing a Right Based Approach for Anti Trafficking Action in South Asia; Mr. Joseph Aguettant, Delegate, Tdh Nepal; Mr. Ferenc Weigl, Delegate for the European Commission to Nepal; Mr. Kailash Prasad Subedi, Under Secretary, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Nepal delivered remarks as Special Guests for the program.

 

Dr. Yubaraj Sangroula, Executive Director of KSL, applauded the vigorous efforts made by consultants and researchers of India, Nepal and Bangladesh to successfully accomplish the unparalleled Regional Study on Anti Trafficking Legal Frameworks. He then made highlights on the findings and recommendations of the Regional Study that was conducted under the project entitled Developing Rights Based Approach for Anti Trafficking Actions in South Asia. He recalled that numerous activities have been conducted in name of anti trafficking but many of them are guided from activists' perspective thus creating misunderstanding of the trafficking as only a problem of women and prostitution. He added that problem of human trafficking should not be limited within the purview of women and prostitution otherwise it will not address the issues of victims and trafficking as slavery like practices.

 

"While commencing the concept of the project, it was thought on how to punish culprit, rehabilitate the victims and protect human rights of victims. The Regional Study is grounded on such rights based approach and makes recommendations for collaborative efforts of three countries in protecting and promoting rights of the victims of trafficking", he added. He also mentioned that 24 laws schools of India, Nepal and Bangladesh have been collaborating to adopt the rights based anti trafficking curriculum introducing the Regional Study as Course Book for the same. Lastly, he urged the donors to acknowledge the potentiality of academic institutions and not to limit their access and support to NGOs only.

 

Mr. Joseph Aguettant, Delegate, Tdh Nepal highlighted that the Regional Study is unprecedented for different reasons as it brings legal frameworks of three countries together, and acts as watershed for the future programs and interventions in the field of human trafficking. He said that trafficking is being proliferated as an organized crime and industry of placement. Traffickers are seen more active and cautious and victims are being revictimised.

 

Citing a case study of a twenty-five years old trafficking survivor form Calcutta to Kathmandu, he further added that rights based approach has two components: rights holders and duty bearers. Any victim of trafficking deserves the right to be protected and law enforcement agencies are the duty bearers. Those duty bearers should be willing to listen what victims have to say and maintain high standard of confidentiality. He also mentioned about the 'Power Girl Project', a pilot project for providing training to survivors being conducted in Calcutta, and added that such framework of legal awareness to survivors should also be incorporated in rights based approach.  Trafficking is not only cause of the violation but also a consequence, he concluded.

 

Prof. Dr. Nomita Aggarwal, President, SALS Forum said that the Regional Study is only the beginning step as trafficking is the ongoing problem and consistent efforts should be made for at least few years to achieve the concrete results. She highlighted that the Regional Study has made crucial recommendations and it is the governments of the respective countries to address the identified lacunas and implement the recommendations if they are seriously motivated to eliminate the 'social evil'.

 

Prof. Aggarwal said that the Regional Study has made effort to think of alternatives to address the problem and SALS Forum believes in 'no border' because interventions are necessary beyond borders and no social and legal issues can be studied without human rights perspective. She also ensured that the university teachers, professors from law and non law schools can do excellent research as it has been proved by the Regional Study. Contributions of academic institutions would be useful and productive for progressive social transformation. She said that even no project is given, the activities will not be halted and above 50,000 students will be taught and trained on rights based anti trafficking issues. SALS Forum is making the horizon wider and broad to intervene in the issues.

 

Prof. Aggarwal also presented the objectives and interventions made by the SALS Forum. SALS Forum is constituted to strengthen the quality of legal education and promote exchange of ideas and experiences among South Asian Law Schools and similar institutions in matters of legal education in general and human rights studies in particular. In this respect, the forum is coordinating with 24 law schools in three countries and abroad to provide orientation on rights based approach to anti trafficking actions and adopt the rights based anti trafficking curriculum. Concluding her remarks she, on her capacity as a Chief Consultant, also appealed everyone to feel free to provide any comments or feedbacks on the Regional Study.

 

Mr. Stefano Ellero, Regional Coordinator of the project said that the Regional Study is milestone of the project, which is multi layered and not limited to border. "We are working with local partners of India, Bangladesh and Nepal to fight against the evil of society and the Regional Study would serve as a foundation to head further programs and interventions at grassroots levels. Standard Manual to evaluate and monitor human rights measures will be developed for law enforcement agencies as next activity on the basis of the Regional Study", he added.  

 

 Mr. Ferenc Weigl, Delegate for the European Commission to Nepal thanked the scholars, students and researchers involved in the Regional Study. He said that the Regional Study is an outcome of effective coordination. The findings and recommendations of the Study would benefit all working in the related sectors such as donor agencies, policy makers and government etc.

 

He added that the government must be able to address the problem and protect its citizens. Human beings cannot be subjected to tricks of perpetrators. He said that international donor communities may support well with technical assistance and other supports but it is the concerned government to actually bring such assistance in practice. He hoped that the recommendations would be followed by the actions in which key hands would be of concern authority.

 

Mr. Kailash Prasad Subedi, Under Secretary, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Nepal expressed thanks for the genuine efforts being made in producing the Regional Study. Government of Nepal has recently enacted a new Human Trafficking and Transportation Control Act in line with the organized crime convention and their international instruments. He added that the new Act has incorporated important issues such as compensation to victim, right to self defense, access to camera court etc.

 

After releasing the Study, Chief Guest, Prof. Dr. Kamal Krishna Joshi expressed his gratitude to KSL and SALS Forum for promoting culture of undertaking such significant research study for the progressive change of the society. He believed that the study will help bringing common issues in academic courses in the South Asian region. He emphasized that human trafficking is an epidemic and requires effective medicine. Hence, strong legal measures with wider education can only curb the problem.

 

The program was concluded with vote of thanks by Assoc. Prof. Prakash K.C of KSL and dissemination of the Regional Study to the distinguish guests and participants. (KSL E-Bulletin 85)

Youth Information is published by

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Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) is a registered non-profit, non-governmental network organization, committed in developing areas of mutual cooperation and understanding among different youth voluntary agencies, youth groups, clubs and individuals working in the field of youth welfare in India. 

ICYO functions as an umbrella organization of youth NGOs in India. It's family consists of
over 356 organizations spread in 122 districts of 22 states from different corners of India.

Our goal:
To improve and extend the youth work and services through Youth Organizations;
To enhance and demonstrate youth work in the society;
To promote effective youth programmes;
To organize network of civil society organizations working towards the development of youth work;
To organize seminars, conferences, workshops, trainings;
To maintain international relation with organizations promoting young people in their programmes and activities

Affiliation: 

Consultative (Roster) Status with ECOSOC, United Nations;
Consultative Status with Commission on Sustainable Development;
Full Member of World Assembly of Youth (WAY); Asian Youth Council (AYC);
Youth for Habitat International Network (YFHIN); CRIN, South Asia Youth
Environment Network (SAYEN), Member of Indian Network for Combating Trafficking (INCT)

Affiliate group of ECPAT International, Thailand;
ATSECE-DELHI, Indian Partner of AIDS Care Watch Campaign;
Steering Committee member of World Bank's YDP Network;
Working relation with Indian Association of Parliamentarians (IAPPD);
International Medical Parliamentarians Organizations (IMPO);
Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD);
World Youth Foundation, Malaysia