Guwahati: To prevent human trafficking; legal advocacy, technological interventions, and strategic collaborations were the need of the hour, felt speakers at the North East India Conference of NGOs on human trafficking.
The conference initiative was organised under the banner of United Christian Forum North East India (UCFNEI) in collaboration with Hope Charitable Foundation (HCF) on September 19 under the chairmanship of Bishop Thomas Pulloppillil, President, UCFNEI. The objective of the conference was to create a solidified network to foster collaboration in combating human trafficking in North-East India.
Bishop Thomas Pulloppillil in his presidential address affirmed, “We can and we should end human trafficking from North-East India”.
In the opening remarks, Mr. Allen Brooks the spokesperson of UCFNEI, observed, “We are amidst a pandemic that is ravaging across the globe causing irreversible damages with far-reaching and devastating consequences. With our economy in shambles, industries in lockdown, and employment hitting beyond rock bottom levels, it is but anyone’s guess where we are all heading for?”
Brooks continued that the issue of human trafficking, is highly conducive and fertile for human poachers to cast their net to lure innocent and girls, women, boys, and men into this nefarious business. The internet has been a boon in these challenging times but it has now also become a favourite tool being used by the perpetrators as a very successful medium to penetrate homes and prey upon children. “Under these challenging circumstances, the question before us all is, ‘What can we as a Church and society do to address this growing menace?’ The Bible tells us in Psalm 82:3 ‘Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the right of the poor and oppressed’. Yes, we have a role, a mandate, and a duty towards our people, and we can begin by following the 4P’s i.e. Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnership to achieve our goal.”
In his keynote address, advocate Rosalynn L. Hmar from Mizoram felt, “All the districts of Mizoram do follow strict vigilance in collaboration with the government agencies, the State of Mizoram is a model in tackling human trafficking.”
Special invitees of the conference, Young Mizo Association (YMA), presented its activities to combat human trafficking. Some of the concrete steps taken by YMA to combat human trafficking were; ensuring reliable places of work by YMA members and subcommittees, information booklets on anti-human trafficking, Creation of awareness through media and conferences.
Besides YMA, other NGOs that took part in the conference with their activities and networking designs: Caritas India represented by Ruth, IDEA by Enakshy Dutta, 7 Sisters Home – Anna Barla, LCHR – Fr. Anup SJ, GOLD Assam- Dr. Rajeeb Kumar, NEDAN Foundation – Digamber Narzary, Set Them Free Network – Sr. Prema, IMPULSE – Barriphylla Lyttan, PUSH – Rohit Balla, VANI – Arjun Philip, YMCA Malaysia – Fr. Thomas George and IJM was presented by Mr. Mathew Joji.
Other recommendations of the Conference were:
- Human trafficking has different dimensions and no organization can do alone and a formidable alliance in North East India is a must.
- Concrete steps need to be done to disrupt the human trafficking networks that rob human beings of their lives and their freedom.
- A comprehensive model that puts victims at the centre of anti-human trafficking activities and the need to help the survivors to restore their freedom, to prevent more victims, and leveraging data and technology to pursue traffickers wherever they operate are certain pathways.
- It takes a family and a village to raise a child, hence the necessity for collaboration and communities coming together to end human trafficking is crucial, whether by building awareness, strengthening child protection systems, supporting victims of trafficking, or advocating for anti-trafficking policies.
- Need to respond to social weaknesses that make victims of human trafficking vulnerable to exploitation, such as gender inequalities, underemployment, and family conflicts.
- Greater need to work with governments, the private sectors and civil society organizations to respond to human trafficking.
- Need to strengthen the network with South East Asian counties.
Dr. Rini Ralte from United Theological College, Bangalore moderated the sessions. The opening and the final hymns were sung by Xavierite Campus Ministry, St. Xavier’s College, Jalukie, Nagaland. The welcome address and invocation prayer was led by Rev. W. C. Khongwir from PCI, Meghalaya.