Ranchi, Aug 26: The Judicial Academy, Jharkhand, organised a state-level conference on human trafficking and human rights in Ranchi, bringing together members of the judiciary, police, prosecution, government departments and other stakeholders to discuss ways to strengthen the legal and institutional response to trafficking.
The conference was held at the Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Auditorium of the Judicial Academy and focused on the protection of survivors, effective investigation and prosecution, rehabilitation and prevention of re-trafficking.
Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava of the Jharkhand High Court inaugurated the programme and outlined the challenges involved in tackling human trafficking while ensuring that the rights of survivors are protected.Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad, Judge of the Jharkhand High Court and Executive Chairman of the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority, attended the event as the chief guest.
He stressed that the response to trafficking should not end with rescuing victims or prosecuting alleged offenders.He highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach covering recovery, rehabilitation, social reintegration and measures to prevent survivors from becoming victims of trafficking again.Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay, Judge of the High Court and Judge-in-Charge of the Judicial Academy, also participated in the programme.
Justices Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi and Anil Kumar Choudhary addressed the gathering and called for a human rights-based and survivor-sensitive approach to trafficking cases.The speakers emphasised the need for better coordination between investigative agencies, courts, prosecutors and support institutions.
They also highlighted the importance of legal aid, medical assistance, compensation, witness protection, rehabilitation and livelihood opportunities for survivors.A special session featured survivors of human trafficking who shared their experiences of exploitation, rescue and the challenges of rebuilding their lives.
The survivors were felicitated by Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay and other High Court judges, who stressed the importance of education and social reintegration.Dr P.M. Nair, former Director General of the National Disaster Response Force and former Nodal Officer on Anti-Human Trafficking at the National Human Rights Commission, spoke about emerging patterns of trafficking and the challenges faced by agencies involved in combating the crime.
Supreme Court advocates Rachna Tyagi and Madhulika Mohta discussed legal issues arising during the trial of trafficking cases and matters related to the rehabilitation of survivors.Senior Jharkhand government officials Manoj Kaushik and Kiran Pasi also shared their perspectives on the legal and administrative challenges associated with trafficking and survivor rehabilitation.
Two publications were released during the inaugural session. One focused on the legal framework governing human trafficking and important judicial decisions, while the other provided a Standard Operating Procedure and model format for inquiries into custodial deaths.
The conference concluded with a vote of thanks by Rajesh Sharan Singh, Director of the Judicial Academy, Jharkhand.The programme underlined the need for a coordinated approach in which prevention, investigation and prosecution are accompanied by long-term protection, rehabilitation and empowerment of trafficking survivors.
