Training Program for Community Leaders on Human Trafficking & Child Protection System in Moreh
Source: IT News

Moreh, April 27 2019: FXB India Suraksha in association with Centre for development Activities (CDAC) organized a one day awareness program for Community Leaders on Human Trafficking and strengthening child protection activities in Moreh at Conference Hall of Meitei Council Office Moreh, Manipur on Friday.

The main objective of the programme was to bring together community leaders representing different communities such as Meitei, Tamil, Punjabi, etc in Moreh and discuss on the major role the leaders play in strengthening mechanisms to ensure protection and safety of the children as well combating trafficking of persons from the bordering region.

32 representatives participated during the training programme.

The programme was conducted as part of project Mukti-an Anti Trafficking initiative to combat human trafficking and child sexual abuse in Manipur implemented with the support of ECPAT Luxembourg since 2015 in Imphal and Ukhrul.

Training Program for Community Leaders on Human Trafficking & Child Protection System in Moreh

The day long training programme started with note by Satya Prakash, Program Manager, FXB India Suraksha introducing the purpose and objective of the training programme.

He stressed upon the fact that Moreh due to its geo-political location and sharing border with Myanmar in itself stands vulnerable in terms of trafficking of persons and smuggling of persons.

The recent case where around 55 Nepalese women and men were rescued in Moreh in a suspected case of trafficking in the month of February is very alarming.

Moriangthem Sushilkumar, founder Centre for Development Activities (CDAC), Wangjing Manipur adding his thoughts to the inaugural session highlighted the importance community can play in combating human trafficking and child sexual abuse in the district.

He shared as an important stakeholders it is our prime duty to be active participants in this initiative to protect our children.

Taking the programme forward, Mr.Sunil Meitei, Project Officer, FXB India Suraksha initiated the session discussing about abuses against children with special emphasis to child sexual abuse.

He shared why protection of children is important and how there are different rings of responsibilities at family, community, institutional and national level in ensuring a protective environment for children.

He also shared the ways of action to be taken whenever there is any kind of emergency situation and immediate action is required.

He also went on discuss the various provisions under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 which criminalizes any form of abuse such as uncomfortable touch, penetrative, showing pornographic content, passing sexually abusive comments etc.

as sexual offences.

Mr.Satya Prakash, Programme Manager, FXB India Suraksha addressing the question put forward by the participants on the laws and policies available in the country to address child protection, shared about the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 which is the strongest law available for the complete welfare of children.

He also urged the community leaders to come together to reach out to larger number of population and aware them on the issue and encourage them to report any kind of abuse happening with the children and addressing it with utmost care and sensitively.

Ms.Pranjita Borah, Programme officer, FXB India Suraksha in her session spoke about Human Trafficking, vulnerability of persons, modus operandi of traffickers and how community members can play their role in being vigilant in preventing and combating trafficking in persons.

A movie titled "Annie" was also screened for better understanding of the social crime.

A similar training programme was conducted with the community members and religious leaders representing 12 Units of Hill Tribal Council, Moreh was held on April 24, 2019 at the Conference Hall, HTC Office, Moreh, Manipur.

55 persons attended the programme.

A group activity was also conducted with the participants where they were asked to share their views on what role they would play as community members in strengthening child protection systems in their own communities, the support they would need from Government and other institutions.

Good suggestions and recommendations were laid forward during the activity.