World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was observed at Prodigals Home, Fellowship Colony in Dimapur under the theme “Reach Every Woman of Trafficking: Leave No One Behind”, DIPR informed.
Addressing the event, Legal cum Probation Officer (LCPO) Moajungla shed light on the issues, challenges, and available services related to human trafficking. Nagaland has been identified as a significant point of origin for trafficking in India, and the North East region remains vulnerable due to wealth disparity and limited employment opportunities.
Disturbingly, 83% of missing individuals are below 18 years old, with 13% of the missing cases in Nagaland linked to trafficking in persons. In the past six years, 28 victims have been rescued, of which 26 were females. Perpetrators increasingly exploit onsite recruitment and social media to lure victims into industries like hotels, parlours, and spas with false promises of attractive salaries. Once their objectives are fulfilled, they erase all traces of their activities, making it challenging to trace and bring them to justice.
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Several factors contribute to human trafficking in the region, including migration from villages to urban areas in search of better opportunities, unemployment, poverty, lack of education, substance abuse, runaway and homeless children, mental health issues, prostitution, demand for cheap labour and sex, lack of human rights protection, conflicts, natural disasters, and unsafe migration options.
Victims of trafficking endure inhumane living conditions, physical abuse, deprivation of basic healthcare rights, and are even vulnerable to organ trade and sex trade enslavement.
LCPO Moajungla emphasized the common challenges in combating trafficking, including victims’ reluctance to report cases due to shame, stigma, fear, trauma, and threats from high-profile perpetrators or trafficking networks.
The event was chaired by EAC (Sadar) Dimapur District, Khiuzan Kaurinta, and featured several speakers addressing the role of the police in preventing human trafficking, legal mechanisms to tackle the issue, and the significance of civil societies in the fight against trafficking in persons.
The program was organized by Dimapur District Administration and District Hub for Empowerment of Women, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and Sakhi-One Stop Centre (OsC), in collaboration with Childline Dimapur, to raise awareness about the pressing issue of human trafficking and the need for collective efforts to combat it.
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is observed on 30 July every year.
