Imphal, October 01 2009: Media persons who attended the two-day Capacity Building Program for Journalists on Their Role in Addressing Human Trafficking Issues expressed the need to have a proper network between the implementing agencies of the government, NGOs and the media in general in order to address the issues relating to human trafficking in Manipur.

The two-day capacity building programme was held under the initiative of Manipur Press Club and Shillong based Impulse NGO Network at the conference hall on the first floor of the club premises near Major Khul today.

On the opening day of the programme today, many media persons mostly young ones highlighted their grievances while reporting human trafficking cases or issues in Manipur while some of them questions on ignorance of trafficking laws or acts by the state machineries not to speak of young journalists.

Some of media persons wanted to know the facts sheets of trafficking in the region as well as across the country besides raising questions on projecting trafficking news items as headlines and the discussion goes on.

Prominent activist and pioneer in human trafficking issues, Hasina Kharbhih who is the team leader of the Shillong based Impulse NGO network also shared similar sentiment saying," Yes, we're also looking for it and we're taking it up very soon".

National Commission for Women's expert committee member on women and trafficking Hasina also observed that women and children of the north east were trafficked to other parts of the country.However no one is aware of it as trafficking itself is multi-faceted.

"They(north easterners) do moves out because of economic sustainability and many Manipuri girls were exploited at different levels",says former vice-chairperson of Meghalaya state commission for women.But why north-east-why they(recruiting agencies)'re targeting north east girls is a big question,she felt.

Earlier in the day Irengbam Arun,Secretary Manipur Press Club highlighted the need to hold such a capacity building program for the local journalists in order to address the issue.

"We hope we'll get some light on the issue at the end of this two day gathering",Arun said.

Jubita Hajarimayum,Secretary Ereima Gender Empowerment Resource Centre talks about her organisation's initiative on the Anti-Human Trafficking Campaign in Manipur while Sushil Huidrom of Centre for People's Concern focused on basic facts about human trafficking and related legal issues.In her presentation,Jubita quoting news reports informed that there are about 37 trafficking cases in the state since January to August this year.

L Pishak, Secretary Sustainable development Centre,Impulse district partner,Manipur also shared his experience on unreported trafficking cases and the vulnerability of human trafficking in the state in this era.The workshop will conclude tomorrow with a brain storming sessions on the role of media and NGOs in combating the trafficking issue in the region besides discussing child trafficking and child rights.

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