Anti-Trafficking Bill of 2018 : Key Highlights

Bhuwan Prakash

The poverty, illiteracy and lack of livelihood options lead to trafficking in humans in the form of physical exploitation, forced labour, begging etc. Mainly, children and women are easy targets of traffickers. Looking at the aggressiveness of such offences, Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection, Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018 has been placed for its approval. Key aspects of the Bill have been discussed in this article.

1. Introduction

Trafficking of persons is one of the major crimes that violates human rights. Though various laws have been framed for the offences relating to trafficking of persons, a need was felt to frame a comprehensive legislation that covers all aspects of trafficking of persons, including those that are aggravated in nature and thus, the Bill has been prepared in consultation with several Ministries, State Governments, NGOs, experts and others. The Bill named 'Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection, Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018' has been approved by the Cabinet and introduced in the Parliament. The Bill addresses the most insidious crime affecting women and children to a great extent among others. It also provides for care, protection, rehabilitation and repatriation of victims to prosecute offenders and create economic and social environment for the victims and for matters connected therewith.