Bring male victims under one anti-trafficking law

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FE Report
Speakers at a seminar Thursday demanded ratification and updating of the Emigration Ordinance 1982 to prevent human trafficking as thousands of people are being whisked away to different countries every year.
They underlined the importance of coordinated efforts among the government, NGOs and international organisations to successfully tackle the multi-dimensional issue.
They made the demand at a seminar titled 'Framing the Problems of Human Trafficking: Challenges and Way Forward' at the BIAM auditorium Thursday.
They urged the government to protect male victims alongside women and children under a uniform law. Although the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act of 2000 was amended in 2003, no such change was made.
The plea comes as the male persons are nowadays being trafficked to various destinations, especially in the Gulf countries, where the demand is high, taking advantage of the existing law which does not protect them.
Though woman and child victims can file cases under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000 and can get redress, the male victims cannot.
They have to take the course of law under the penal code which is a lengthy procedure, one of the speakers said.
"The government should bring the male under the same law so that they can get justice as easily as the women can."
Centre for Women and Children Studies (CWCS) organised the seminar where Dr Robin Haarr, associate professor, Criminal Justice and Police Studies, College of Justice and Safety, Eastern Kentucky presented keynote paper.
She talked about the causes and dynamics of human trafficking, importance of awareness raising, rehabilitation, protection and safe migration.
She said when migration goes wrong it is also one kind of trafficking and therefore safe migration should be ensured.
NBK Tripura, Additional Inspector General of Police and national project director of Police Reform Programme, highlighted different programmes taken by the police to combat human trafficking.