Event, July 30: Combat Trafficking of Women in Southasia

On Sunday, 30 July, the annual World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Sapan’s monthly discussion will focus on the trafficking of girls and women in Southasia.

Title: Combat Trafficking of Women in South Asia
Date: 30 July 2023, Sunday
Time: 10 am ET / 3 pm GMT / 4 pm CET / 7 pm PKT / 7.30 pm IST / 7:45 pm NPT / 8 pm BDT

The trafficking of women for sex is a grave issue that affects millions around the world, including Southasia. Each year thousands of women around Southasia are sold within their countries, across borders, and also trafficked to the Middle East and other areas. 

The US State Department has listed Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Maldives and Bhutan in the second-tier watchlist for human trafficking, while Afghanistan is in the third tier. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, over 150,000 people are trafficked annually in Southasia, of whom 65% are women and girls (44% and 21% respectively).  

Poverty, lack of education, gender inequality, and social discrimination contribute to the vulnerability of Southasian women and girls. Traffickers deceive them with false promises of employment opportunities, only to sell them into brothels across national borders.

According to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report, Nepal is a substantial source country for women and girls trafficked for sexual exploitation. More than 50 Nepali women and girls are trafficked into India every day. The UNODC report also notes that some 300,000 people are trafficked annually from Pakistan. 

Similarly, with its immense population and diverse socio-cultural landscape, India confronts considerable blockades in addressing sex trafficking. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) of India reported that 2,189 cases of human trafficking were registered in 2021, which is 27.7% higher than 2020. 

Bangladesh, another country deeply affected by women trafficking for sex, struggles with its densely populated areas and socio-economic challenges. According to a report by UNICEF, an estimated 400 Bangladeshi women and girls are trafficked monthly. Additionally, various studies estimate that approximately 300,000 Bangladeshi children and women between 12-30 were trafficked to India alone in the last ten years. 

Efforts to combat sex trafficking in Southasia have been ongoing for some time. The complex nature of the problem requires a multi-faceted approach. Government and international organisations have tried to address the issues through legislation, law enforcement initiatives, and collaborations with local organisations. However, challenges persist, including corruption, weak legal frameworks, and limited resources.

To raise awareness and promote discussions on this pressing matter, Sapan is organising a webinar on 30 July titled “Combat Trafficking of Women in Southasia.” This webinar highlights the root causes, impact, and potential solutions to combat women trafficking in the region. We hope to foster collaborative dialogue and create meaningful change by bringing together experts, activists, and stakeholders.

The objective is to identify core causes and possible solutions by exploring the three elements of sex trafficking: the act, means, and purpose; to explore and discuss effective strategies for prosecuting, protecting, and preventing women trafficking; and to advocate for policy changes and coordinated efforts at national and regional levels.

Well-known activist Khawar Mumtaz, former chair of Pakistan’s National Commission on the Status of Women, will host the meeting.

Panelists include:

• Author, publisher and journalist Mehr Husain in Lahore
• Sabin Shrestha, executive director of Forum for Women, Law and Development, Kathmandu
• Activist Ruchira Gupta, founder of the survivor organisation NGO Apne Aap in India and author of the just-published novel I Kick and I Fly
• Sigma Huda, the first UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh
• Sharli Mudaliyar, legal researcher and doctoral scholar at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, specialising in criminal justice social work for victims of trafficking

Award-winning poet Malinda Seneviratne, a freelance writer and former Editor-in-Chief of The Nation, Sri Lanka, will moderate the discussion.

Speakers’ detailed bios at this link.

Register to receive a personal Zoom link in your email.

Or tune into YouTube Live. The video will also be shared on Facebook.

This is Sapan’s 18th webinar — part of our almost-monthly Sunday series ‘Imagine! Neighbours in Peace’, a title borrowed from an unpublished volume by Chowk.com.

Past discussions have focused on issues ranging from the climate crisis and rights of the incarcerated, to gender-based violence, public health, resistance culture, and human rights in Southasia.

The Sapan Founding Charter – translated in various Southasian languages – affirms a commitment to peace and justice in the region and calls for a visa-free Southasia, or at least soft borders, ease of visa, or visa on arrival. 

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