PANJIM: In one of the first of its kind, a Kenyan girl rescued from Sex Trafficking by Goa police was repatriated back to her country on February 9, with the assistance of CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) posted at Mopa and Mumbai Airport.
In September, 2023, an international sex racket was busted in Goa after a complaint was filed by Arz.
Further, on December 13, last year, two Kenyan girls were rescued by the Anjuna police after the Enforcement Directorate complained of how hawala transactions were carried out from ill-gotten money that was earned from commercially sexually exploiting Kenyan girls.
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Mapusa, inquiring in the sex trafficking case, to ensure that the victims return to their home country safely, directed Arz, to arrange for their repatriation. The order asked Arz to coordinate with the CISF, Mopa airport, to ensure that the victim boards the flight in Goa and also the onward flight from Mumbai to Kenya.
Arz, while making arrangements for the repatriation of the two victims, found that one of the victims did not have money to buy tickets.
Arz bought the tickets of the rescued victim and with the help of the National Commission for Women, New Delhi, contacted the Commandant, CISF, Mopa Airport, for assistance in repatriation. NCW in the past has conducted training programs on sex trafficking with the CISF in Goa and other parts of India and engaged Arun Pandey, Director, Arz, as one of the resource persons.
On the written request of Arz, the Commandant, CISF, Mopa Airport, made the arrangement in Goa and Mumbai for a victim friendly repatriation. The staff of the protective home, Goa, and the Goa Police handed over the custody of the victim to the CISF at the Mopa Airport late evening on February 9, 2024, and the CISF Mopa in coordination with the airlines and their counterpart in Mumbai ensured that the victim boards the Nairobi, Kenya flight early morning on February 10.
Arz confirmed that the victim girl has reached her country safely and is working on her after care to ensure that she is reintegrated and not re-trafficked.
“Arz during its course of work has found that, generally, the victims of sex trafficking, who are foreign nationals, do not return back to their country. The traffickers ensure that the victim does not return by arranging for the victim not to board the flight to exit India, and instead, continue in the business. The engagement of CISF in the repatriation of victims of foreign national will ensure that the victim returns back to their country. It will also work as a deterrent to the traffickers. I hope the Goa experience is shared with CISF all across India as a good practice. Arz is grateful to the National Commission for Women, Delhi and Commandant, CISF, Mopa Airport and his team for intervening at the request of Arz and ensuring that the victim has returned safely and successfully to Nairobi, Kenya,” a statement from Arz said.
