A significant gap between rescue and prosecution, affecting child victims of crimes

The gap between rescuing child victims and prosecuting offenders is a major obstacle in addressing crimes against children, leading to issues like child labor, trafficking, marriage, and abuse. This was a key topic at the State Level Consultation on ‘Human Trafficking in India: Strengthening Convergence and Prevention Mechanisms’ held in Chennai. The event was organized by Just Rights for Children with the Department of Children Welfare and Special Services and aimed at improving collaboration and prevention strategies against child trafficking and other child-related crimes. 

Just Rights for Children is the largest network of over 250 NGOs throughout India. In a recent reporting period, the network rescued over 56,000 trafficked children and initiated more than 38,000 legal actions against offenders. In Tamil Nadu, partner NGOs have rescued over 3,500 children from various forms of exploitation and initiated formal action in about 500 cases since 2023. 

S. Santhana Kumar, from the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority, highlighted those even small reductions in trafficking are significant, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among law enforcement, schools, and NGOs to create awareness and vigilance. Dr. M. Casimir Raj from the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Protection of Child Rights noted the interconnected nature of child trafficking as part of a broader crisis of abuse. He stressed the need for responsibility and policy monitoring to fortify child rights. 

M. Ragavendran from Southern Railway pointed out the visible signs of trafficking at railway stations and the need for parents, communities, and institutions to be proactive in the prevention efforts. He insisted on the importance of understanding and implementing existing laws through cooperation among departments to enhance protections for children against trafficking. 

Despite having a strong legal framework to combat human trafficking, challenges remain, such as poor coordination among agencies, ineffective rehabilitation systems, and slow judicial processes that delay justice and can further traumatize victims, according to Rajeev Bharadwaj from Just Rights for Children. The consultation included discussions on improving legal and policy frameworks and emphasized the necessity for a coordinated action plan to eliminate child trafficking, as it constitutes the third largest crime in the world, with children being particularly vulnerable.