DCW issues notices to AAP govt, Delhi police on human

Delhi Commission for Women has issued notices to Delhi government and Delhi Police to know about the efforts made by them to combat human trafficking.
In its notice issued to the Directorate of Prosecution, DCW has sought information regarding number of FIRs registered with respect to human trafficking along with their copies, total number of cases pending prosecution as on date along with number of cases decided and the number of convictions and acquittals in this regard in 2015, a DCW statement said.
In the notice issued to the Women and Child Development Department, the Commission has sought to know the status of the survey on women sex workers, which was to be undertaken for forming up a draft rehabilitation policy for trafficking victims and sex workers.

It also sought to know the status of the proposal for the construction of residential schools for children of sex workers and to facilitate their admission into the same.
The Commission sought information on the possibility of video conferencing facilities for trafficked victims, as discussed in the State Level Coordination Committee meeting on combating trafficking seven months ago, it said.
The Commission has issued a notice to Delhi Police seeking details on the status of nominating a Senior Officer to head the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) and receive intelligence inputs directly regarding the same.

The Commission has also sought year-wise data of the past three years, till date, as to how many girls or women have been rescued, with FIR numbers and brief case details where girls were rescued but no FIR was filed subsequently.

"Trafficking is growing in Delhi. Sincere and immediate steps need to be taken by both the central and state governments to stop the same," DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal said.
Further, in the meeting of the State Level Coordination Committee on Combating Trafficking, it was decided that the Health Department will set up a mobile dispensary at GB Road and extend the opening hours of the existing dispensary.
The new name has been derived from the existing law
called Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act, 1956. This follows objections raised by NGOs which said the draft did not clearly mention whether it was a proposal for a new law or an amendment of the existing one.

There is now a proper definition of trafficking which was earlier missing. The definition derives from Section 370 of Indian Penal Code.
It states, "A person is said to commit trafficking in person if he (a) recruits,(b) transports, (c) harbours, (d) transfers,(e) receives,(f) restrains,(g) buys, (h) sells, or (i) trades a person or persons or causes or abets any of these acts, or participates in the same in any manner whatsoever for the purpose of exploitation."
It also keeps the role of AHTU intact instead of creating a parallel system under an all new District Anti-Trafficking Committee as mentioned in the draft made public in May.

Changes have also been made to state that rehabilitation will take place under the Juvenile Justice Act, which has robust mechanisms for providing shelter to victims rescued. The reference to JJ Act, 2015 was missing earlier.
There are also several new propositions. The proposed legislation now has an additional criteria of "aggravated trafficking" with stricter punishment for offences under 17 different categories including trafficking of children, transgenders, exposing the victim to HIV/AIDS or where the offence results in pregnancy.
Under Section 36 there is a proposal for compensation for victims. There are also rules for protection of witnesses and victims.

This amended draft will be taken up for a fresh round of consultations next month. These consultations with stakeholders will be held in four different states. The first of these will take place on August 2 in New Delhi.