ENDING CHILD TRAFFICKING: NATIONAL CONSULTATION, ‘TACT’

More than 250 participants from across 16 states, with strong representation from border states, joined a national consultation organized by national Just Rights for Children partner Bachpan Bachao Andolan on ‘Safe Migration to Combat Trafficking’ in New Delhi on July 30, 2024.

Human trafficking is the third largest organized crime after drugs and arms. A 2024 report from the International Labour Organization found that the annual global profits from forced labour and forced sexual exploitation are estimated at $236 billion, with 27.6 million victims of human trafficking on any given day in 2021 - a third of whom are children.

During the event, ‘TACT: Technology Against Child Trafficking’ was announced by Just Rights for Children. This initiative plans to tackle child trafficking through five pillars of action.

• Intelligence sharing: creating and sharing a global database of traffickers

• Financial tracking: tracing illegal payments through banks and financial institutions

• Tech collaboration: partnering with tech firms to identify technology-driven trafficking patterns

• Safe migration: strengthening global portals for safe migration and ensuring access to government schemes

• Survivor support: providing psychological first aid to survivors, and working with them to enhance information flow about traffickers.

Speakers also discussed critical strategies and policies which can prevent child trafficking from happening in the first place, with a heavy focus on public services such as full enrolment in education, and ensuring children stay in school.