World Day against Trafficking in Persons observed in Hailakandi

July 31: World Day against Trafficking in Persons was observed in a befitting manner in Hailakandi on Thursday. Subdivisional Officer cum Incharge District Social Welfare Officer, Jyotirmoy Daimary, who was the chief guest at the function, underscored the importance of creating awareness in society, particularly among children, about human trafficking and the traps leading to it.

He said this while inaugurating the district-level observance of World Day against Trafficking in Persons at Ujjwala Home. Mahila Shakti Kendra in association with One Stop Centre and Woowichee jointly organised the function. Daimary said legal aid to women and victims of human trafficking is being provided free of cost. He underlined the need for generating awareness at all strata of society as cases of human trafficking and sexual exploitation were steadily on the increase in the country.

Officials and participants in the programme touched upon various aspects of human trafficking, including child trafficking, forced child labour, commercial sexual exploitation, legal aid options available to victims of trafficking, role of NGOs in combating human trafficking and generating awareness and role & responsibilities of citizens. The officials urged the victims to contact Women Helpline No.181, Childline No.1098 and Police Emergency Service No.100 for necessary help and assistance.

General Secretary, Woowichee, Kabir Ahmed Choudhury, Centre Administrator of One Stop Centre, Nasrin Sultana Mazumder, District Coordinator, Mamta, UNICEF, Sahid Ahmed Laskar Women Welfare Officer, MSK, Pomi Patikar and District Coordinator, MSK, Pinak Kanti Paul attended the programme.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has been observing World Day against Trafficking in Persons on July 30 since 2013 to raise awareness of the plight of trafficking victims and to promote and protect their rights. The theme of this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons focuses on first responders to human trafficking. According to the UN, the first responders are those who work in different fields like identifying, supporting, counselling and working to provide justice for victims of trafficking. The first responders also include people who are working to challenge the impunity of traffickers.

According to International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates, more than 2.1 crore people are victims of human trafficking globally, and every country is affected by it. Women and girls comprise 71% of the human trafficking victims.