Human trafficking is greatest human tragedy: CJI Dipak Misra
Terming human trafficking as "the greatest human tragedy", the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra said that the menace was on the rise and people involved in it considered human beings as a commodity. Justice Misra, addressing an "International Conference on Human Trafficking" in New Delhi, said the younger generation has to be the torchbearers against human trafficking. Here are more details.
Human trafficking today is slavery of past: CJI Misra
"Human trafficking is the greatest human tragedy that has fallen upon us. It has to be avoided and the younger generation has to be the torchbearers against it. Human trafficking constitute(s) a great menace to the present and the future generation," CJI Misra said. He said slavery was the human trafficking of the past and it exists even today in a different
Human trafficking is a growing industry
"Slavery is human-trafficking of the past which existed and exist(s) in a different way today. People who are involved in human-trafficking, think that human beings are commodities. This is a growing industry which is not visible. It's a different kind of syndicate," Misra said.
SAARCLAW and Justice and Care have organized the event
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in Law (SAARCLAW) and Justice and Care, a multi-disciplinary anti-human-trafficking organization, organized the international conference and conducted a panel discussion on "Legal and Technological Perspectives for Solutions within South Asia". Nepal Supreme Court judge Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla, in her special address, said that technology has created a market for human trafficking, making the victims more vulnerable.
Nepal's Justice Sapana Malla on technology and human trafficking
"Technology has become a strong tool in the hands of perpetrators. It has made the victim more vulnerable, it is also creating market and is also exploiting victim. We need to discuss how to control and use technology to fight human trafficking," Justice Pradhan Malla said. "At the same time, technology has also created an opportunity to empower people and authorities," she added.
Customers of sex trafficking should be criminalized: Justice Gita Mittal
"Trafficking exist(s) not because of a few thousand people commit it but because millions of people stay silent about it," said Delhi HC's Acting Chief Justice, Justice Gita Mittal. She said effective prosecution of human trafficking kingpins must be undertaken to eradicate the crime. Adding that trafficking is completely demand-driven, Mittal explained the need to emulate the Nordic model which criminalizes sex trafficking customers.
Attorney General of India KK Venugopal's address
Meanwhile, Attorney General of India KK Venugopal mentioned various statutes in the Indian legal system to curb the human trafficking. "We are hoping SAARCLAW (acts) as a catalyst in bringing together the citizens of SAARC countries as we are having a common heritage by culture and in some cases language," he said. The international conference saw the presence of various SAARC country judges.
Use of technology in human trafficking not extensively documented
"The use of technology in human trafficking is not extensively documented. However, experimental and anecdotal evidence shows that Internet and other digital technologies are being used for the same," said Adrian Philips, the Legal Head of Justice and Care.
