Human trafficking during corona
With growing cases of coronavirus victims, also are increasing trafficking incidents of women and minor children. Since the coronavirus lockdown, millions of people have lost their livelihood sources. To cover up their loses, many people from vulnerable families in India and other countries are stepping into this crime of child and women trafficking.
As per predictions of International Labour Organisation (ILO), coronavirus pandemic is likely to mitigate efforts of decades to tackle the ill of child trafficking. And the world may see highest number of cases over two decades, in result of the virus outbreak. Traffickers’ cruelty level is at peak when they are attempting to exploit the local vulnerabilities during Covid times.
Human trafficking in cities during corona
Metropolitan cities like Delhi and Mumbai have reportedly become the hubs of child trafficking in India. A number of children are being rescued by state child protection and child rights commissions from hazardous workplaces or workshops. They find them working at scrap shops or cracker and brick factories.
Migrant workers have moved out from Delhi, Mumbai and other big cities after coronavirus lockdown to stay in their hometowns. So, child traffickers are luring vulnerable and poor people in metro cities. They are making false promises of new work, better livelihood, better living standard or family support sources.
While hearing a plea against such rising cases recently, Supreme Court alerted the governments and authorities. Diluting labour laws by states during corona is not appropriate as this will weaken crucial safeguards to people, it said. And regions may see a surge in cases of child labour, child trafficking, labour exploitation and labour abuse, it added.
States with highest rise in child trafficking
The states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Assam reported highest spike in child labour and human trafficking incidents. Many parts of these states are battling with a number of vulnerabilities. These are poverty, unemployment and extreme weather conditions, apart from the coronavirus pandemic.
Expecting a rise in child trafficking cases, West Bengal has already launched a dedicated helpline to help those in need. Draught in Odisha and flood in Assam have led both the states to one of the darkest times of women and child trafficking.
A large number of child labour and human trafficking incidents in flood affected areas of Bihar have alarmed the state authorities amid the Covid 19 pandemic. In Jharkhand, child trafficking cases saw a 600% surge in response to most of the poor migrant families losing their sources of livelihood.
Women, children major victims of trafficking
Not the small babies or older children for child labour are the major targets of organized traffickers. According to research of UN Office on Drugs and Crimes, 70% victims of trafficking are girl children and women. One child is being trafficked every half a minute for sex, slavery or organ harvesting, says another study.
As many as 40,000 children are abducted every year, of which over 25% remain un-traced, says data of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). More gloomy is the women trafficking data of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). That says, 2,23,621 women got missing in 2018, compared to 1,74,021 in 2016.
In 2019, the figures of child and women trafficking went up considerably in comparison to the previous years. Moreover, the darkest reality is that trafficking incidents are likely to rise manifold in corona times. As the traffickers are capitalizing on new vulnerabilities, more highs in this data may arrive in the coming months of 2020.
In India or many parts of the world, the decades of efforts to contain such crime have been lessen in a few months of Covid 19 outbreak. There is a need of collaborative measures by global agencies, governments, concerned authorities and Non-Government Organizations. So that increasing child and women trafficking can see a fall at the soonest.
