'Human trafficking is the biggest and most profitable organized crime'
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 31, 2011: A series of seminar on "human rights, human trafficking and challenges faced by North East migrants in mega cities of India" organized by the Delhi based All India Christian Council in collaboration with North East Support Centre and Helpline culminated today in Imphal with a string of proposals to mitigate the challenges thrown up by human trafficking vis-�-vis North East India.

The seminar which was participated by over 200 key public and civil society representatives, witnessed expert resource persons sharing their views based on figures and narratives gathered from the fields.

Dr Sam Paul, National Secretary for Public Affair of All India Christian Council spoke on fundamental rights of every citizen of India and challenges of human trafficking.

"Human trafficking is the biggest and most profitable organized crime next to drug and arms trafficking," he said.

"Human trafficking agents target areas affected by communal violence and socio-political conflicts to recruit young men and women.

North East India being affected by socio-political, economic and communal violence for the last many decades, now trafficking agents have targeted to recruit young men and women with false promise of jobs and free education".

Madhu Chandra, Spokesperson of North East Support Centre and Helpline, spoke on the topic North East Migration and Challenges in Mega Cities.

"Due to socio-economic and political crisis, young generation of North East India started migrating to mega cities in search of employment and better education.

They have been exploited in mega cities particularly in Delhi and NCR," he said while highlighting the Dhaula Kuan gangrape case of a Mizo girl on November 23 midnight.

"Our North Eastern State governments must come forward to take up the matter with their counterparts in Delhi government and UPA government," he proposed.

Dr Leban Serto, Coordinator of Peace Education, Martin Luther Kings University, Shillong, discussed the role of civil society in tackling the challenges of human trafficking.

The challenge of human trafficking is the greatest challenge the State of Manipur is facing, it must be addressed by civil society bodies, NGOs and religious groups along with State government, he said.

"Victims of racial attack and sexual violence in Delhi and NCR are discriminated by law enforcing agencies when complains are lodged," he argued, "majority of whom are from Manipur State and we appeal Manipur State chief minister O Ibobi Singh to take note of the suffering his people are facing in Delhi and take up the matter with the concerned government to address the challenges".

The seminar was earlier held at Dimapur in Nagaland hosted by Dimapur Baptist Pastors Fellowship on January 28, at Kakching in Manipur on January 30 hosted by All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations.

All India Christian Council and North East Support Centre and Helpline have appealed all religious bodies, including church and mission organizations, civil societies to get involved in addressing the challenges of human trafficking along with government machineries.

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