Combating Human Trafficking

 

 Combating Human Trafficking[1]

 Mr. Govind Prasad Thapa, DIG

 Human trafficking is a growing menace. This sickening industry is flourishing. On one hand, it has to be dealt with wider and stern laws and, effective enforcement while at the same time, we have to protect the rights of victims and support their rehabilitation. It all requires wide vision, closer understanding, cooperation, coordination and honest commitment of the nations concerned. It also requires the concerted efforts of many agencies and individuals. As the problem is international, we need international measures to deal with it.

 There are several issues, regarding this crime, which require clarity. Among them, the definitions of the term trafficking, prostitution, migration, and repatriation need a clear perspective.

 It is said that the definition of trafficking is not universal today. There is no unanimity on it. There is a need for identifying the characteristics of the word  ‘trafficking’ and universally defined it. Previously trafficking was more or less concerned with prostitution in women and children only. But these days trafficking has been for various other reasons too. Prostitution may be one of them. It is, also, not limited to women and children only. The current definition of trafficking usually includes the non-consensus movement of people within or across borders for the purpose of exploitation of labor.

 The economic, social, and cultural factors seem to have compelled people to migrate for better livelihoods and better conditions across borders. The poor education and lack of awareness among most women and children have made them dependent on brokers and their relatives. These brokers often abuse and exploit them at the origin, transit, and destination point in the name of assistance. It only worsens the situation. On one hand, there is demand for the right to free movement in search of better economic activities, and on the other, there is every possibility of abuse and exploitation.

 The migration may take place with the full consent of affected persons. Then the ‘consent’ becomes a very important and deciding factor in such a situation. We have to be very cautious while investigating such cases. We should be able to distinguish ‘voluntary migration’ from ‘trafficking’. But again it is a very difficult part. The affected person may have gone with full consent to work in a foreign country but not to work in slavery-like conditions. Therefore the consent could be out of intimidation, coercion, fraud, and out of the influence of power or authority. We have to be very much sure while investigating cases of such nature. We must be particularly concerned whether the consent was voluntary or otherwise.

 It is rather difficult to find out the mens rea and actus reus elements while conducting investigations of such crimes. Many cases have failed in the courts because of the absence or lack of evidence against the suspect. A minor, who is taken to a destination (with or without consent) to work, may not produce anything of evidential value to substantiate the investigation. In such a situation the prosecution may not be ascertained. Very often, suspects go scot-free in circumstances of absence or lack of evidence.

 Another issue, which is directly related to trafficking, is the right to choose a profession. There has been growing demand for the freedom to choose one’s profession. Which, if we concede, would allow choosing prostitution as one’s profession. We ought to be very much clear about prostitution. We must have a clear perspective on whether it is a problem of morality, labor, human rights, migration, public law, and order, or crime. There is confusion and very often the views of non-governmental organizations and States differ. Once we are clear about it then we can be in a position to treat it accordingly.

 There is also a demand for the right to migration for livelihood. The demand calls for the complete withdrawal of restriction and intervention. But, at the same time, the right to protection from slavery-like practices must be respected and addressed. Then, first of all, the modality to punish offenders in an extraterritorial jurisdiction, without challenging the rights of an affected person needs to be developed.  The countries of origin, transit, and destination have to agree upon a suitable modality bilaterally or multilaterally.

 The issue of repatriation or return of affected persons to their origin states is equally complex. There is an appeal that the repatriation of affected persons should be done on the basis of the voluntary consent of the affected person; that the affected person should be provided with all rights to legal matters, assistance, restitution, and compensation. There is equally great pressure upon States that affected person’s concerns should get preference to legal matters. So there is a need for a clear national and international perspective on these issues too.

 There has been strong criticism against the existing criminal justice system. Today, our criminal justice system is considered ineffective to deliver justice to many victims. The system is being criticized for being too autocratic and formal, expensive, unfair, slow, and humiliating.  There is a demand for a new paradigm of victim protection to be part of jurisprudence and judicial process. There are several agencies associated with the system but their efforts are not coordinated. The criminal justice system should be made more accessible and less intimidating for people who are victims of crimes. Police, as well as other law enforcement agencies, need to develop a more positive, sympathetic attitude towards them.

 It is said that the crux of the problem of trafficking is the appalling poverty in the villages followed by the lack of education and awareness. Most of those girls, who were sold, did not know what kind of life they would lead in the new destinations. Policing and administrative matters may help but ultimately the key to solving the problem lies in alleviating poverty and generating employment opportunities. There is also a need for improving our familial, social, and cultural beliefs, rites, and customs.

 Considering all these push and pull factors in trafficking, a short-sighted strategy is never going to help control this crime. A clinical, rather than symptomatic, approach will have to be given preference. For that reason, we need to be more organized, systematic, committed, concerted, and coordinated in our thoughts and actions.

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[1] Workshop on Trafficking in Women and Children in South Asia, Aswin 1, 2056, Kathmandu, Nepal

 

देशभर ११ लाखभन्दा बढी बालश्रमिक

 

देशभर ११ लाखभन्दा बढी बालश्रमिक

शिवहरि घिमिरे

नयाँ पत्रिका, २०८० असार ६ बुधबार 

 

तराईमा ड्रपआउटको समस्या बढ्दै, व्यावहारिक शिक्षाका नाममा लगाइने श्रमको सीमा तोक्न माग 

बालश्रमलाई कानुनतः निषेध गरिए पनि देशभर बालश्रमिकको संख्या घट्न सकेको छैन । केन्द्रीय तथ्यांक विभागका अनुसार देशकै राजधानी तथा मुख्य सहरमा १४ वर्षभन्दा मुनिका बालश्रमिकको संख्या ठूलो छ । विभागले सन् २०२१ मा गरेको अध्ययन (अनुसार ११ लाख (१५.३ प्रतिशत) बालश्रमिक छन् । यो १७ वर्षभन्दा मुनिका बालश्रमिकको तथ्यांक हो । यसमध्ये झन्डै एक लाख श्रमिक काठमाडौं उपत्यकाभित्र कुनै न कुनै श्रम शोषणमा परेको तथ्यांकमा उल्लेख छ । 

 

विभागका अनुसार ११ लाखमध्ये दुई लाख २२ हजार बालबालिका देशभर जोखिमपूर्ण क्षेत्रमा काम गरिरहेका छन् । अझ मधेस र सुदूरपश्चिम प्रदेशमा बालश्रमिकको संख्या अधिक छ । दुई प्रदेशमा झन्डै पाँच लाख बालबालिका श्रमशोषणमा परेको तथ्यांक छ । यो क्षेत्रमा विद्यालयबाट ड्रपआउट हुनेको संख्या पनि बढेको छ । बालबालिका बालश्रममा लाग्नुको मुख्य कारण पारिवारिक आर्थिक अवस्था कमजोर देखिएको छ । 

·       कानुन छ, कार्यान्वयन छैन :
अहिले बालश्रमिक राख्नुहुन्न भन्ने कानुन त बनेको छ, तर कार्यान्वयन छैन । विभिन्न नाममा बालबालिका श्रममा लाग्न बाध्य हुने गरेका छन्, कसैले जानीजानी बालश्रमिक राखिरहेका छन् । सरकारी संरचनाले बालश्रमविरुद्ध प्रभावकारी काम नगर्दा पढ्ने–लेख्ने उमेरमा बालश्रमिक हुन बाध्य हुनुपरेको हो ।

बालश्रमविरुद्धको अभियानमा काम गर्दै आएका गुरु सुवेदीका अनुसार बालश्रमविरुद्धका विषयलाई कानुनमा समेटिए पनि त्यसको कार्यान्वयन भने चित्तबुझ्दो छैन । मधेस क्षेत्रमा जीविकोपार्जनसँग बालश्रम जोडिएकाले यो क्षेत्रमा बालश्रम अन्त्य गर्न कठिन हुने देखिन्छ । ‘अहिले बालश्रमिक राख्नुहुन्न भन्ने कानुन त बनेको छ, तर कार्यान्वयन छैन । विभिन्न नाममा बालबालिका श्रममा लाग्न बाध्य हुने गरेका छन्, कसैले जानीजानी बालश्रमिक राखिरहेका छन्,’ उनले भने, ‘सरकारी संरचनाले बालश्रमविरुद्ध प्रभावकारी काम नगर्दा पढ्ने–लेख्ने उमरमा बालश्रमिक हुन बाध्य हुनुपरेको हो ।’

कानुनतः १४ वर्षभन्दा मुनिका बालबालिकालाई कुनै पनि श्रममा र १८ वर्षभन्दा मुनिका बालबालिकालाई जोखिमपूर्ण कार्यमा लगाउन पाइँदैन । यदि कसैले त्यसरी श्रममा लगाएको छ भने त्यो बालश्रम शोषण मानिन्छ । तर, कानुनी रूपमा व्यवस्था भए पनि देशभर बालश्रमिकको संख्या बढ्दो छ । कतिपय बालबालिकाको जन्मदर्ता नहुँदा विद्यालयले भर्ना नलिएको, कतिपय परिवारमा कलह तथा झगडा, आर्थिक अवस्था कमजोर, साथी–संगती, अभिभावक र संरक्षक नहुँदा, चेतनास्तर कम हुँदालगायत कारणले बालबालिका बालश्रम गर्न बाध्य हुने गरेका छन् । 

बाल अधिकारकर्मी सुवेदीका अनुसार तराईका जिल्लामा रहेका विद्यालयमा ड्रपआउटको समस्या बढेको छ । बालबालिका श्रममा जान स्कुल छाड्ने गरेको र स्कुलले पनि उनीहरूलाई सहज हुने गरी भूमिका ननिभाएको उनको भनाइ छ । बा(लबालिकाको क्षेत्रमा काम गर्दै आएको संस्था आसमान नेपालका अनुसार केही सरकारी विद्यालयले समेत विभिन्न बहानामा विद्यार्थीसँग शुल्क लिन थालेपछि कतिपय बालबालिकाले विद्यालय नै छाड्ने गरेका छन् । नेपालको संविधान २०७२ को भाग ३ धारा ३९ बमोजिम बालबालिकालाई गुणस्तरीय शिक्षा प्रदान गर्ने मौलिक हकको अधिकार सुनिश्चित गरे पनि यो समस्या तराईका जिल्लामा बढी छ । 

हाल देशभर श्रम, श्रमिकका हक–अधिकार र बालश्रमिकबारे अनुगमन गर्ने ११ वटा श्रम कार्यालय छन्् । तर, यी निकायले बालश्रमिक अन्त्यका लागि प्रभावकारी भूमिका निभाउन नसकेको बाल अधिकारकर्मी मणिराम आचार्यले बताए । उनका अनुसार बालश्रमिक निषेधित क्षेत्रमै बालश्रमिक राखिए पनि सरकारी निकायले अनुगमन र श्रमिक राख्नेलाई कारबाही गर्न सकेका छैनन् । केही सरकारी निकायले बालश्रमिक राखेका संस्थाबाट अलग गराए पनि उनीहरूलाई पुनस्र्थापना गर्न सक्दा बालबालिका पुनः बालश्रममै फर्कन बाध्य छन् । यसबाहेक केही शैक्षिक संस्थाले व्यावहारिक शिक्षा दिने नाममा बालबालिकालाई काममा लगाउने गरेकाले यसको सीमा तोक्नुपर्ने अधिकारकर्मीको भनाइ छ । 

बालश्रमबारे मापदण्ड नबनाउँदा केही विद्यालय, निजी संघसंस्थाले व्यावहारिक सिकाइका नाममा बालश्रम गराइरहेको अध्ययनले समेत देखाएको छ । यसअघि कृषिविज्ञ तथा हाल बाल यौन दुराचार मुद्दाका आरोपी मदन राईले सञ्चालन गरेको फाउन्डेसनमा व्यावहारिक शिक्षाका नाममा बालबालिकालाई श्रममा प्रयोग गरिएको थियो । हाल देशभरका धेरै विद्यालयमा व्यावहारिक तथा सीपयुक्त सिकाइ सुरु भएकाले उक्त सिकाइको दुरुपयोग हुन सक्ने अवस्थालाई ख्याल गर्दै स्थानीय निकायले मापदण्ड बनाउन आवश्यक देखिएको अधिकारकर्मीको भनाइ छ ।