Human trafficking, especially of children, is a scourge in society said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday while addressing a two-day international conference on women trafficking. He appealed to the international community to forge an alliance to end the menace.
Over 300 delegates from 20 countries are participating in the conference, which has been organised by the Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSWC) in partnership with International Justice Mission, India.
Mr. Fadnavis said that the Maharashtra government has taken strict action against human trafficking and cases of child trafficking have fallen from 50% to less than 5%. “Maharashtra has formed special cells in 12 vulnerable district and set up special courts to hold trials in cases of trafficking. I am happy that the rate of detection has been high and the rate of conviction has been 50%, which is good compared with other States.”
The Chief Minister also hailed the efforts of the Maharashtra and Mumbai police to rescue children from traffickers. He said 10,000 victims of child trafficking had been freed by the police under a special initiative, Operation Muskan.
Mr. Fadnavis told the delagates, “I would like to assure you all that whatever the outcome of the conference, whatever strategy you devise, we will be part of it and implement it to take it forward.”
Women and Child Development Minister Pankaja Munde said, “Women cannot be treated as commodities. They have to get their legitimate identity.”
Ms. Munde said that according to the Crime in India report 2015, Maharashtra stood second in the list of highest number of trafficked women. “We need to make our women powerful,”she sadi. “Globally, a woman is treated as a commodity. But we will have to tell them that we are a community and not a commodity.”
Actor Akshay Kumar said 19,223 women and children were trafficked last year against 15,448 in 2015. Chairperson of MSWC Vijaya Rahatkar said, “Over the next two days, we will deliberate on women trafficking, its impact, victims and their rehabilitation, how to deal with the issue, best practices worldwide and the need of stringent laws. I am confident solutions would emerge to be improve status of women in society.”
