Trafficking and prostitution

Someone else's concern?

Trafficking and prostitutionTrafficking

‘The transference of a person from one place to another; with the sole purpose to exploit them. Either by coercion or force.’

According to U.N, approximately 2.5 million people are being trafficked around the world at any given time, 80% of them women and children. 98% of these trafficked into sexual exploitation

The realities of Women and children being trafficked

How do people become victims?

There are four basic ways in which traffickers recruit a person into sex work:

o Complete coercion through abduction or kidnapping [relatively rare];

o Deception by promises of legitimate employment;

o Deception through half truths, such as their employment will be inentertainment, dancing or stripping;

o Although being aware they are going to work in prostitution, they are not made aware of the extent to which they will be indebted, intimidated, exploited and controlled

(Ford 2001, p.31).

How do people become victims?

Trafficking and prostitutionProstitution:

‘A person who engages in Sexual intercourse for compensation, ie material goods or money’

o40 Million prostitutes world wide

o3 Million Prostitutes In India (Ministry for women and child development)

o1.2 million Child prostitutes in India (UNICEF)

oIn Delhi's most established red light district GB road, it is estimated that there is 4500 prostitutes working daily.

200 women & girls enter the sex trade in India

every day…

…of these, 160 do so under coercion（The Nowhere Children” by Neha Dixit, Tehelka Magazine, 1 November 2008）

Why trafficking, why prostitution?

oBecause there is high demand and where there is demand there is money to be made.

32 billion US dollars a year (International Labour Organisation)

oIt has been estimated that one in ten men world wide will visit a prostitute in their life time

The issues of women associated with trafficking and prostitution

o HIV/AIDSo Rape and horrific violence and tortureo Death – Suicide or murdero Drug/alcohol dependencyo Loss of Identityo Abolished Self esteemo No hope

Reality of Prostitution

The government and Trafficking

• The Government of India prohibits some forms of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation through the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act (ITPA)

• India’s Central Bureau of Investigation incorporated anti-trafficking training into its standard curriculum

• Children rescued from trafficking may housed in government shelters and are entitled to 20,000 rupees ($450)

The Government and prostitution

• Section 8 of the ITPA permits the arrest of women in prostitution.

• Lack of formal training for police

• Some victims may be arrested and punished for acts committed as a result of being trafficked.

A change for the better?• The government of India has proposed a new law, under which

• (i) soliciting will no longer be a crime,

• (ii) there will be no eviction of sex workers,

• (iii) clients of sex workers could land in jail and face penalty of upto Rs 50,000,

• (iv) living off earnings of sex workers is illegal,

• (v) anybody who rents place to sex workers will be arrested and will be penalised for Rs 10,000.

Corruption..

NGOs

• Rescue operations• School for children born into brothels• Health and education centres for women• Provide work, and opportunities to lean a trade.• Raising awareness• Supporting women and children through

rehabilitation• Working with border controls

The road to freedom