TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: As the destination state for commercial sexual exploitation faces a major challenge to put a halt to this thriving black market, local authorities also struggle to prevent re-trafficking of victims with kingpins resorting to a new methodology – porn films – forcing the vulnerable girls back in the industry.
NGO Anyay Rahit Zindagi (ARZ) conceded failures to thwart victims from re-trafficking while it also claimed that majority of the victims want to free themselves from illegal sex trade.
“There are cases where traffickers video-record prostitution acts of the victims and threaten to make it viral. The victims, left with no choice are forced into the prostitution ring again,” ARZ Director Arun Pandey said during a coordination meeting of Goa Source/Country Anti Human Trafficking organizations on Tuesday.
The revelation follows a comprehensive study by the NGO on the case details of 300 rescued CSWs over a period of three-and-half years, from year 2010-2014 till date.
The findings, which have been shared with the Goa police and other stakeholders in a bid to combat the menace, discovered that a significant 8.3 percent of the total victims were re-trafficked into prostitution. “Other factors such as non-adjustment mainly due to addiction, lack of bonding with people back home, unable to fulfill demand of the family, non-acceptance in the society, need of employment and debts are also major contributors,” the study further revealed.
Though ‘threat by traffickers’ constitutes just eight percent; the trend, Pandey added, is dangerous with the emergence of online porn. The study also showed that 40 percent victims escape re-trafficking but 30 percent fall in the trap. There is, however, no information about the rescued victims coming under the remaining 30 percent with authorities fearing they might also be re-trafficked.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Dr O P Mishra pointed out that traffickers continue to remain anonymous despite several brothels being raided and victims rescued. He went on to add that the victims, who are trafficked under different circumstances, face economic displacement following the raid that breaks its earning survival. “They should be rehabilitated to ensure their source of living is not impacted,” the IPS officer suggested.
The social organization is among few such institutions that offers economic alternatives to the rescued victims through its mechanized laundry unit which currently has 100-odd workers employed. ARZ’s study on the subject was carried out to assist the government, non-government agencies in the State and the source states and countries to formulate policies, plan strategies and design interventions to address the problem of human trafficking for CSE in Goa.
A statistical analysis of CSE situation in Goa titled ‘Trafficking of Women and Children for CSE in Goa’ was released during the two-day long meeting, which was also attended by representatives from source countries Bangladesh, Nepal Russia and former Russian States.
