Two significant achievements in the fight against human trafficking were recently made in India:
- A new Amendment to the existing Bonded Labor Abolition Act
- The launch of the Trafficking of Persons: Law and Procedure Manual
The Amendment expands the existing law to cover 30 different types of trafficking used by perpetrators, and aids law enforcement efforts to crack down on more instances of the crime. It also aligns with United Nations Trafficking protocol, making it easier to bring to justice cases that are linked internationally. Recent cases are already seeing a strong response from the Judiciary under the new amendment, such as rejecting bail for offenders.
The “Trafficking of Persons: Law and Procedure Manual” helps officials dealing with trafficking cases. The book launch was made possible through IJM’s collaboration with the Anti-Human Trafficking wing of the Criminal Investigation Department of Police (CID).
On December 12, 2014, representatives from the Sabre Bangalore office joined members of the International Justice Mission (IJM) and 23 non-governmental organizations from across the Karnataka state to celebrate these achievements. Sabre India team members have supported IJM as part of the Sabre’s efforts to fight human trafficking through Passport to Freedom.
Speakers for the event included Veteran Freedom Fighter Mr. HS Doreswamy, Honorable Former Chief Justice of India Mr. MN Venkatachaliah, and Mr. Soumendhu Mukerjee and Mr. Pranob Mohanty, who are both high-ranking police officers of the CID department. In their speeches, these leaders confirmed that the level of awareness around human trafficking in India is building and that positive progress is being made.
In recognition of their dedication to save children, women, and bonded laborers from the clutches of criminals, IJM awarded several police and local government officials with the honored distinction of “Champions of Justice.”
The IJM team also recognized Sabre for its commitment to the fight against trafficking and thanked them for the ongoing support through trafficking awareness initiatives.