Education crucial in rehabilitating trafficking victims: Child rights body

New Delhi, July 30

To observe ‘World Day against Trafficking in Persons’ today, an NGO, ‘Just Rights for Children Alliance’, unveiled ‘TACT – Technology Against Child Trafficking’ at a national convention here.

To prevent exploitation, we need targeted awareness in every district amp; state so that migrant workers are aware of their rights and their employers know their responsibilities. — Shikha Goel, Addl DGP, CID, Telangana

With 250 individuals from 16 states participating in the event, key figures from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the Railway Protection Force, various police departments, and government officials spoke on the occasion. This diverse assembly underscored the urgent need for a unified approach to tackle trafficking.

Priyank Kanoongo, Chairperson of the NCPCR, highlighted the role of education in rehabilitating survivors. “Education is key to ensuring the rehabilitation of survivors and bringing them back into the mainstream,” Kanoongo said. Appreciating advancements in infrastructure and digital monitoring, he said, “We are well-positioned to monitor every movement. All we now need is the active support of state governments for safe migration.”

Bhuwan Ribhu, founder of the Just Rights for Children Alliance, emphasised the need for the integration of survivors into every aspect of the anti-trafficking efforts, from intelligence gathering to tracking financial transactions linked to trafficking networks.

Shikha Goel, Additional Director General of Police, CID, Telangana, spoke on the importance of safe migration. “Migration is the engine to progress, and safe migration is key. Migrants are the nation builders, and ensuring their dignity is our collective responsibility,” Goel said. Proposing the establishment of a national helpline for migrant workers, she said, “We need targeted awareness in every district and state so that migrant workers are aware of their rights and their employers know their responsibilities.”

The TACT initiative includes creating a global database of traffickers, tracking illegal payments, partnering with tech firms to identify trafficking patterns, enhancing global migration portals, and providing psychological aid to survivors.