Human Trafficking in India a Trenchant Prevention and Management through Collaborative, Participatory and Empowerment Approach

Author: Sethi, Resham

Abstract: Human trafficking is an organized crime where people are forced and enticed into exploitation, irrespective of the victims’ movement being involved, for profits and money. It is a violation of human rights where the state needs to have a multi-dimensional approach and strategy to prevent and eliminate trafficking. The paper attempts to analyze the situation of Human Trafficking and its root causes in India, such as high poverty, gender-discrimination, religious and cultural practices, lack of education and socioeconomic opportunities, social deprivation, conflicts/natural disasters and violence. It throws a light on legislative gaps in the Indian Trafficking Laws, with special reference to ‘Immoral Trafficking( Prevention) Act, 1956’, in not addressing trafficking for any other purpose outside sexual trafficking and conflating sex work to sexual trafficking The objective of this paper is to analyze human trafficking and its situations, types, root causes, the legislative gaps and suggest preventive and management measures through collaborative, participatory and empowerment approaches.

Keywords: human trafficking, root causes in India, Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act, 1956, collaborative, participatory, empowerment approach