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The Indian State of West Bengal and the border countries of Nepal and Bangladesh count a very high rate of trafficked children for sexual exploitation. Despite the efforts of NGOs and local authorities, there is still a strong need to put in place more efficient procedures that will allow children to fully benefit from their rights and potentially, send them home safely. Terre des hommes , together with its Indian partner, continue to combat cross-border trafficking but call for more efforts and changes.
One of the highest rates of sexual exploitation cases
Today, West Bengal is the most unsafe place for women and girls in India. It tops the list of states where the highest number of cases against women and girls are registered (National Crime Bureau Report 2012). It’s also a transit and destination point for girls from other parts of India as well as from Nepal and Bangladesh. Due to its porous border with Bangladesh and an open border with Nepal, West Bengal receives a significant number of children, most of whom are forced into situations of sexual servitude. Most cases of trafficking are unreported, making it very difficult to estimate the exact number of cases. Furthermore, the clandestine nature of the traffickers themselves makes the situation on the ground hard to pinpoint.
Legal procedures need to be faster and more flexible
Tdh has acted against child trafficking in West Bengal since 2005, with a significant focus on combating cross-border trafficking. Thanks to a project implemented by Tdh and its local partners in West Bengal and Nepal, 1262 girls were rehabilitated, repatriated and/or reintegrated in the past 4 years.
Fighting cross-border trafficking requires a long term effort and profound changes in local attitudes, at all levels:
In spite of ongoing efforts by many NGOs, authorities and UN agencies, border security officials’ attitude needs to change to ensure the safety and protection of trafficked children’s instead of infringing into their rights;
India and Nepal need to put together a bilateral agreement to ensure a safe return of the trafficked girls to their respective country. At the moment there is no formal understanding between the two countries with respect to cross-border trafficking. As a matter of fact, Tdh, along with its partners in the field, has already developed some Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and is planning to organize a series of events to promote its acceptance by both countries;
The SOP that is in place in case of trafficked Bangladeshi women and children between Bangladesh and the states of West Bengal and Maharashtra needs to be strengthened and closely monitored at a ground level. The SOP should focus on the survivors’ specific needs rather than taking acts based on a system. For example, SOPs need to be flexible with children who don’t want to return to their home countries but prefer to stay in the destination countries;
Legal procedures are too long and extend the situation of victimization for children. West Bengal needs to set up fast track courts or children’s courts as provided in the different laws related to child trafficking in order to contribute to a faster recovery and return of the survivors to their community.
Authorities and UN agencies together with Tdh need to further develop effective responses to the growing phenomenon of child trafficking – both internal and cross-border. Protective measures are required to ensure the rights of every child from either West Bengal, Nepal, Bangladesh or anywhere in India.
