The Ministry of Home Affairs has established an Anti-Trafficking Cell to deal with matters relating to law enforcement response on Trafficking in human beings, excluding legislative, welfare and promotional aspects, which are subject matters of Ministry of Women & Child Development. The Cell provides suitable guidelines to the States/UTs from time to time for strengthening law enforcement response in tackling human trafficking. It also acts as an interface with other Ministries like Ministry of Women & Child Development, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Ministry of Railways etc. to address the issues of human trafficking. The Anti Trafficking Cell also provides guidance and assistance to the State and UTs for holding State level conferences and Judicial Colloquiums with a view to sensitizing the concerned officers, including Police officers, Judicial officers and other stakeholders in the States and UTs about Human Trafficking. The Anti Trafficking cell is also responsible for signing bilateral /multilateral MoUs with various countries to address the issue of Human Trafficking and participation in national /international meetings/conferences.
Strengthening Law Enforcement Response in India against Trafficking
‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects and as such prevention of the crime of trafficking is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments. However, the Central Government supplements the efforts of State Governments by providing them advice and guidelines from time to time. The Government of India has provided financial assistance to all States/UTs for upgrading/setting up Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) covering all Districts of States/UTs. The Government of India has signed Memoranda of Understanding with Bangladesh, UAE, Cambodia and Myanmar on prevention of Human Trafficking and has also ratified the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime (UNCTOC) protocol on Prevention, Suppression and Punishment of Trafficking in Persons, particularly Women and Children.
Advisory to the Ministry of Labour & Employment for sensitizing office of Labour Department of all States and UTs for keeping close watch on the activities of placement agencies.
Advisory to the Ministry of Women & Child Development for taking up the matter with Department of Women & Child Development in all States and UTs for extending cooperation and assistance in rehabilitation of trafficked victims.
Advisory to the States and UTs for creating awareness and strengthening the law enforcement response for preventing and combating Human Trafficking, especially during Covid-19.
Advisory to the States and UTs for establishing Institutional mechanism for preventing and countering human trafficking at various levels – State Hqrs, District, Police Station.
Advisory on preventing and combating human trafficking- Recommendations of Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development.
Implementation of the provisions of Section 479 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) by the State Prison authorities for providing relief to undertrial prisoners
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