Sex workers won’t be criminalised

Why in the news ?
  • The Women and Child Development Ministry sought to defend its Anti Human Trafficking Bill, and asserted that the proposed law did not criminalise consenting adult sex workers and migrants.
 
Details
  • The Bill has been passed by Losk Sabha and is expected to be tabled in Rajya Sabha.
  • The opposition parties have demanded that the Bill be put through legislative scrutiny and be sent to a Standing Committee.
  • As per the official statement, the Bill is clear in excluding consenting adults from its purview.
  • While it criminalises trafficking for the purpose of pushing a woman into sex work, it does not punish the act itself. 
  • The proposed legislation has faced criticism from several quarters, including UN experts, for conflating trafficking with sex work and migration.
Other Key features of the Bill
  • National Anti-Trafficking Bureau:  
  • The Bill provides for the establishment of a National Anti-Trafficking Bureau to investigate trafficking cases and implement provisions of the Bill. 
 State Anti-Trafficking Officers: 
  • Under the Bill, the state government will appoint a State Nodal Officer.  He will be responsible for:
(i) follow up action under the Bill, as per the instructions of the State Anti-Trafficking Committee, and
(ii) providing relief and rehabilitation services. 
The state government will also appoint a Police Nodal Officer at the state and district levels. 
 
  • Anti-Trafficking Units: 
  • The Bill also provides for the setting up of Anti-Trafficking Units (ATUs) at the district level. 
  • ATUs will deal with the prevention, rescue, and protection of victims and witnesses, and for the investigation and prosecution of trafficking offences. 
  • Protection and rehabilitation:  
  • The Bill requires the central or state government to set up Protection Homes. 
  • These would provide shelter, food, counselling, and medical services to victims. 
    • Anti-Trafficking Relief and Rehabilitation Committee:  
    • The Bill provides for the establishment of Anti-Trafficking Relief and Rehabilitation Committees (ATCs) at the national, state, and district levels. 
    • These Committees will be responsible for:
    (i) providing compensation to victims,
    (ii) repatriation of victims, and
    (iii) re-integration of victims in society, among others.
     
  • Time-bound trial:  The Bill provides for setting up designated courts in each district, which will seek to complete trial within a year.
  • Penalties: 
  • Source
PIB, The Hindu, PRS



Posted by Jawwad Kazi on 31st Jul 2018
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