Trafficking of Women and Children- is it happening?

By Rajesh Khongbantabam *

The term 'Trafficking' is yet to acquired a social issue in the context of Manipuri's women and children as most incidence or cases go unnoticed or unreported but it does cause a sensation when isolated instances are publish in local paper, which is rare.

This could be due to the lack of adequate programmes or awareness or rather initiative on the part of Government sector as well as voluntary organization. Most voluntary organization working in the field related with HIV/AIDS and other infectious disease go overboard in focusing on IDUs, MSM, and FSWs, PLHA etc.

As far as the historical perspective is concerned, the magnitude of Burmese war with the kingdom of Manipur dating back to 17th Century led to the forcibly transportation of a sizeable men's workforce en-masse causing a devastating impact on the erstwhile kingdom's economy.

This nature of trafficking from historical point of view could be one of the references as far as cross border trafficking is concerned.

The voluntary organizations working to address the issues on women and children lacked clarity on the interpretation of trafficking and as such confusion arises when their clients were interviewed who were supposed to be victims of trafficking.

During a recent study conducted by PHI, (a research based organization) under UNDP, a total number of 23 respondents were interviewed as a part of the assessment using a uniform interview schedule in the three districts of Manipur i.e. Imphal West, Churachandpur and Chandel districts and Dimapur district in Nagaland.

From the representative sample it was found that there are victims of trafficking as young as 5 years. Out of the sample, 13.6% of the respondents were in the age group of 5-9 years.

Another 13.6% in the age group of 10-14 years, 9.1% in 15-19 years, 27.3% in 20-24 years, 18.2% in 25-29 years, 9.1% in 30-34 years and another 9.1% in 35-39 years. It can also be seen from the findings that most of the respondents fall into the age group of 20-29 years. It indicates that the victims of trafficking are mostly at their sexually most active and economically most productive age group.

A chief functionary of a research based NGO working Imphal district of Manipur stated,

"It is not aware and they frequently ask what is trafficking? Drug trafficking is a well-known area but knowledge on human trafficking is completely nil. People do not know the word "trafficking"

(In-depth/Imphal West/2007)

Another social activist said,

"People are unaware of trafficking. Knowledge of trafficking is totally nil among general population. Even there are a few number of staff member in concern Government department and in NGOs who knows about trafficking. Regarding the response, general population does not accept the victims of sex trafficking. They treat these victims as symbol of ill men. Even they desire to kill these victims by firing, or burning. They do not think about the reasons of this problem and how to prevent this big problem of the society"

(Indepth/Moreh/2007)

The exact figure of Manipuri's women and children introduced to sex work and other illegal activities as a resultant of human trafficking is not known and even the data available from a few voluntary organizations working in the areas are strikingly limited and hypothetical.

On contrary to the above facts and belief, the trafficking of girls and women has been in existence over the past few years. Nevertheless, such kinds of activities are done in a very hidden and clandestine manner and as such at present, viable data are lacking on the number of girls and women trafficked.

Several difficulties limit establishing the number of persons trafficked from the state to other parts of the country and from Myanmar to the state and to the other parts of India with Manipur as a main transit route. The recording of the number of trafficked victims in the state is inadequate due to poor knowledge about the issue and poor existence of the available services regarding the issue.

It is universally acknowledged that conflicts and crisis always give greater impact on women than men. From armed, ethnic, communal, religious and nationalist conflict to domestic violence, for women, it's a continuum of violence engulfing their lives leading to escalating number of displaced women and girl child.

Ethnic clashes and prolonged armed conflict resulted to displacement of hundreds and thousands of people including minor girls. In absence of any rehabilitation programmes for these people, many are still homeless and many other come to Imphal in search of any available job.

Many, especially the girl and women for providing job as domestic helper and other, also lure them. However, many of them fall into hotel-based brothels for sexual exploitation.

Again From the report of ASR-CSWs 2005 conducted by PHI, it is found that out of the total 230 respondents who were recruited as respondents for the study, 104 (45.2%) of the respondents were influenced by others to enter into sex work against their will. Among them 16 (17.4%) of them were forced into commercial sex work by threatening or cheating.

Many girls from the hill districts affected by the ethnic clashes are deported to places like Imphal. They were brought to Imphal with promises to provide a job such as housemaid, helper in office or hotels and ultimately forced them into commercial sex work.

Before they were forced into commercial sex work, they were made to habituate into using drugs. Many brothels usually run by both men and women are flourishing in and around Imphal.

Human trafficking for sexual exploitation is becoming a major cause of concern in Manipur. Apparently, a number of girls and women are trafficking into the sex trade by persons known to them including relatives, family members and in-laws.

Trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation is now becoming a major issue, which the authority and the civil societies have not acknowledged and neglected for years.

Unlike the cases reported in other part of the world where victims are used for begging or camel race, it is unusual to find such nature in the state. But rather such victims are used for the purpose of domestic servant, housemaid, baby sitters, serving in local brew store work or for some extraordinary reasons like some NGOs utilising them for the purposes of taking Grant-in-Aid.

---

* Rajesh khongbantabam is a key correspondent of HDN (Health & Development Network, Thailand) and writes about AIDS inflicted and help available for them. He is based at Imphal.
This article was webcasted at e-pao.net on 14th May 2009.

---