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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