Anti Human Trafficking Unit Booklet

District Child Protection Ofcers in Telangana

Maharashtra 512

CasesregisteredunderHUMANTRAFFICKING

Minors - 49 (5 Boys; 44 Girls)

Adults - 463 (1 Men; 462 Women)

Telangana 439

Minors - 32 (24 Boys; 08 Girls)

Adults - 407 (14 Men; 393 Women)

Andhra Pradesh 171

Minors - 101 (16 Boys; 85 Girls)

Adults - 70 (17 Men; 53 Women)

Indian Penal Code Section 370 denes Human Trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit.

• Men, women and children of all ages and from all backgrounds can become victims of this crime, which occurs in every region of the world.

• The traffickers often use violence or fraudulent employment agencies and fake promises of education and job opportunities to trick and coerce their victims.

• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 111 has recognized trafficking for prostitution as an organized crime.

The Staggering Reality

• Human trafficking is the third largest organized crime in the world.

• $150 billion + per year, making it one of the most lucrative criminal activities.

• 40.3 million trapped in modern slavery.

• 4.8 million in forced sexual exploitation, including prostitution, pornography.

• A total of 2250 cases of Human Trafficking were registered in 2022.

• Atotal of 6036 victims have been reported to be trafficked.

• A total of 6693 victims have been rescued from the clutches of traffickers.

Understanding Human Trafcking in India

Common Forms

SexTrafficking : Forced prostitution, pornography, sex tourism. LabourTrafficking : Forced labour, bonded labour, use of children in hazardous industries domestic work.

ChildTrafficking : Forced labour, sex trade OrganTrafficking : Organ trade, begging rackets.

Vulnerabilities & Risk Factors of victims

• Poverty and lack of economic opportunities.

• Gender discrimination and violence against women.

• Lack of access to education.

• Natural disasters and conflict situations.

• Social exclusion and marginalization.

Traffickers exploit these socio-economic vulnerabilities, luring victims with promises of employment, better life, only to trap them in cycles of abuse and exploitation.

Addressing root causes through empowerment, awareness and robust law enforcement is key to combating this menace in India.

Sexual exploitation

Organ removal

Forced begging

Child soldiers

Forced marriage

Forced labour

Debt bondage

Domestic servitude

HOW TO CONTROL HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Travel Patterns

• Groups travelling under surveillance of handlers

• Children accompanied by unrelated adults

• Last-minute travel without luggage/belongings

Recruitment Tactics

Offering job opportunities through informal channels “Receivership” system - Handing over victims to handlers, use of Social Media, online recruitment.

Control Measures

• Confiscation of travel/identity documents

• Restrictions on communication and movement

• Show of physical violence, threats

Vigilant observation of such indicators at railway premises can enable timely identification and interception of potential trafficking cases. Multi-stakeholder coordination and passenger awareness are crucial

IDENTIFICATION OF VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING

Vulnerable areas

- Routes connecting poorer source states/regions to cities.

- Rail networks near borders with human trafficking corridors.

- Station areas with lack of monitoring/visible policing.

- Areas densely populated by marginalized groups.

Traffickers exploit lack of awareness and accessible transportation to easily move victims across state borders. Improved surveillance and coordination along key rail routes is critical. By identifying and securing these trafficking hotspots and vulnerable areas, Indian Railways can disrupt criminal networks and prevent human exploitation

Signs and Indicators

- Physical and behavioural indicators of potential trafficking victims.

- Signs of traffickers' modus operandi.

Behavioural Indicators

• Appearing fearful, anxious, submissive

• Avoiding eye contact, restricted mobility

• Unable to answer basic personal questions

• Not making eye contact

• Language spoken different than the accompanying adult

Physical Indicators

• Poor hygiene, lack of medical care

• Bruises, injuries, signs of physical abuse

• Malnourished, fatigued appearance

• Lack of personal belongings or travel documents

• Seemingly sleeping throughout the journey/druggged

PROCESS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

HUMAN TRAFFICKING & SMUGGLING

PUSH & PULL FACTORS

Legal Framework

OVERVIEW OF THE LEGAL FRAME WORK AROUND HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN

National Laws

- The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956

- Sections 366A, 366B, 370, 370A of Indian Penal Code

- The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986

- The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015

- The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976

- POSCO

International Commitments

- UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

- Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons

- SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children

Penalties and Consequences

- Rigorous imprisonment up to life term

- Financial penalties and attachment of properties

- Offenses made non-bailable

- Provisions for victim compensation and rehabilitation

For instance, trafficking of children attracts a minimum of 7 years' rigorous imprisonment under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

India has strengthened its legal framework through amendments and new legislation in recent years to combat all forms of trafficking. Strict enforcement is key.

MOU BETWEEN RPF, BBA & NCW

In a significant step towards eradicating human trafficking, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has signed MOUs with two

• Bachpan Bachao Andolan in 2022.

• National Commission for Women in 2024.

The collaboration aims to

Share critical information and intelligence

Build capacity of RPF personnel and Railway staff Jointly combat trafficking through “Operation AAHT”

RPF, BBA & NCWIndia Join Forces for #TraffickingFreeNation

Operation AAHT & NanheFariste

RPF’s Efforts

• Rescued over 50,000 children from trafficking since 2018 under "Operation Nanhe Farishte".

• Launched "OperationAAHT" for targeted anti-trafficking operations.

• Established 740+Anti-HumanTrafficking Units across India.

Operation AAHT

• Rescue of victims from the clutches ofTraffickers, apprehension of traffickers.

• Intensive drives are being conducted against Human Trafficking through trains coming from East & North India over South Central Railway.

• Conducting decoy checks by the teams under the leadership of Post incharges.

• RPF is tracking the movements of traffickers by collecting the inputs from BBAAuthorities to their arrest by GRP.

• In 2022, 46 victims were rescued with the arrest of 9 traffickers, while in 2023, 507 victims were rescued with the arrest of 184 traffickers, marking a remarkable 1002% increase in rescue and arrest of traffickers.

Operation NanheFariste

• All drives with an objective of Rescuing children in need of care and protection.

• RPF is acting like a bridge between Child Help Desks / NGOs and parents for repatriating the missing children.

• Over 3000 children were rescued over South Central Railway during the year 2022 & 2023.

Together, we can dismantle trafficking networks and create a #TraffickingFreeNation

Role and Responsibilities

Here are the key roles and responsibilities of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) in combating human traffficking

RPF’s Mandate in Combating Human Trafcking

Given its pan-India presence and mobility across states, RPF plays a crucial role in:

- Identifying potential trafficking victims and perpetrators at stations/trains.

- Conducting rescue operations and interceptions.

- Gathering intelligence on trafficking routes, trains and networks.

- Creating awareness among rail passengers and staff.

To enhance effectiveness, RPF actively collaborates with Law Enforcement Agencies:

- State police, Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs).

- Central agencies like CBI, NIA for interstate cases.

- Border guarding forces at vulnerable crossing points.

Coordination and convergence with other Stakeholders

• NGOs working in victim rehabilitation and prevention.

• Child rights organizations like Bachpan BachaoAndolan.

• CWC, DCPU/ChildLine, Labor departments, legal agencies for victim support.

• Regular Coordination and convergence meetings with stakeholders at unit level/Division Level.

• Railway Childline for coordinated rescue and care.

• Ensure to take legal actions (FIR/ GD) at GRP in all the Rescue operations in coordination with BBA - Follow up with BBA, CWC, DCPU for further rehabilitation of rescued children.

Through robust coordination and intelligence sharing, RPF aims to strengthen security, disrupt trafficking networks and provide victim assistance across India's rail network

Myths & Reality

Myths Reality

Victims will immediately ask for help and identify themselves

Only females are trafficked

Only children are trafficked

Due to an extreme lack of trust, self-blame, shame, fear of arrest, threats of harm to family and/or other "grooming" methods used by the traffickers, victims tend not to immediately ask for help. This allows trafficking to occur in the open.

Men and boys are also victims of trafficking. Most males are not only trafficked to perform acts of labour but also trafficked in the commercial sex industry.

It is a mis concept that only children are trafficked. Even adults are subjected to trafficking for various reasons.

Traffickers target victims they don't know Traffickers need not be unknown people to the victims. Sometimes, it is the close relatives or friends of the victims who turn out to be traffickers.

Human trafficking involves moving, travelling or transporting a person across state or national borders

If children are being trafficked with the consent of parents, that will not fall under the purview of trafficking

Trafficking can happen within a town or city or state too. It is not necessary that trafficking involve cross border movements across countries or states

Even if parents are giving consent for bonded labour or sexual exploitation of their children or for trafficking in any other form, still it will be considered as a form of trafficking only despite the consent of the parents.

Trafficking victims are held against their will, locked up, and physically unable to escape captivity.

Persons who knowingly engage in illegal activities cannot be considered victims of trafficking

Although this is sometimes the case, more often, victims stay in trafficking situations for many reasons. Some lack the basic necessities to physically get out (like money, transportation, or a safe place to live), some are afraid for their safety, and some have been so effectively manipulated that they do not realize they are under the control of a predator.

Initial consent to commercial sex or labour prior to acts of force, fraud or coercion is not relevant to the crime. If a person is forced, defrauded or coerced to perform commercial sex acts or labour against his or her will, he/she might be a victim of trafficking.

Anti Human Trafcking operations by RPF South Central Railway