Guwahati: Assam Social Welfare Minister Akon Bora on Wednesday said stern measures have to be adopted to address the issue of human trafficking and that awareness has to be created among the masses about the social evil.
Speaking at the two-day Regional Conference of North Eastern States and Sikkim on ‘Addressing Trafficking of Women and Children’ here, Bora said his Social Welfare Department was committed to extend all possible help to organisations actively involved in combating the menace.
The Minister also said there was the need to identify the various factors contributing to the growth in the number of trafficking cases in the region and that they need to be addressed effectively.
The conference was organised by the Assam State Commission for Women in collaboration with the National Commission for Women, New Delhi with technical support from UNICEF, Assam Field Office.
On the occasion the Minister released a booklet ‘Crime Against Women and the Legal Provisions’ and a VCD on an awareness song produced by the Assam State Commission for Women.
Chief Secretary Jitesh Khosla said the Government of Assam was committed towards combating the issue of trafficking of women and children and laid stress on the need for a multi-pronged strategy to effectively tackle the problem.
The Chief Secretary also said increased social awareness and mobilisation of the masses was important in helping combat this social problem.
Khosla called for joint efforts of the State Police force and various organisations involved in battling this menace as expertise available with the stakeholders can help in working out a comprehensive approach towards addressing the issue of human trafficking.
National Commission for Women Member Laldingliani Sailo called for inter-state cooperation and concerted efforts in battling human trafficking given the grave nature of the crime.
She urged on identifying the various evolving dimensions of flesh trade and the legal hurdles associated with it and said the conference can go a long way finding solutions to these related issues.
Stressing on rehabilitation of trafficking victims, Sailo called for seeking practical solutions to the multifaceted problems arising out of the menace of trafficking of women and children.
Assam State Commission for Women Chairperson Meera Barooah said the problem of human trafficking must be tackled from a human rights perspective and stressed on the need to promote and protect women’s rights and empowering the survivors. (PTI)
