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Justice Songkhupchung Serto, Portfolio Judge, Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, speaking at the colloquium on human trafficking in Kohima on May 27.[/caption]
Kohima, May 27 (EMN): With the aim to sensitise and hold comprehensive discussion with judicial officers and police, “Judicial colloquium on human trafficking” was organised by Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, in association with Ministry of Home Affairs and Department of Law and Justice Nagaland at the conference hall of Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, on May 27.
Delivering keynote address, Justice Songkhupchung Serto, Portfolio Judge of Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, urged upon the police and judges to adopt reformative measures and change the paradigm for integration of persons in distress as someone who will contribute to society. He also asked to sensitise the society on human trafficking and encouraged the police and judges to be agents of change.
Justice Songkhupchung Serto further urged Nagaland, being a Christian state, to perform better in terms of law and order so that the nation can learn from the state.
Speaking on ‘law-court practices relating to sex trafficking-law/ court practices relating to labour exploitation and juvenile justice,’ KPA Illyas, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, urged the police personal to develop good intelligence and monitoring network to contain human trafficking.
In the event of raiding brothels, he asked the police personnel to plan strategy by way of segregating victims from perpetrators and also ensure the presence of women police and independent witness.
Stating that crime rate is less in the State because of the strength of the society, he requested taking up such colloquium on continuous process to address the issue.
Speaking on ‘dimensions challenges and existing responses on human trafficking,’ Ms Ela, Director Prodigals Home, Dimapur, termed some visible forms of human trafficking in Nagaland to child domestic labour, illegal or false child adoption, commercial sexual exploitation, trafficked out in the name of free education, training, jobs, marriage, missing cases and debt bondage.
She lamented that ignorance or lack of awareness, poverty, poor parenting or dysfunctional families, poor education system particularly the government institutions, lack of coping skills of vulnerable population, poor governance etc. were some factors that made children, youth and women vulnerable to human trafficking.
Ms K Ela called for comprehensive and coordinated effort in planning and action by looking into vulnerable factors.
Speaking on ‘voice of trafficked survivors - role of NGO in victim protection,’ rescue, care and support, she urged the gathering to ensure security and protection to vulnerable, speedy justice to victim, fair trail to accused and adequate reformation efforts, inspire and build up faith among common people towards law enforcement and justice delivery system and empower the local grass root community with information and support system.
Speaking on ‘role/ programmes of government in prevention and rehabilitation,’ Z Nyusietho Nyuthe, Director State Child Protection Society, Kohima, informed that there are three open shelters in Kohima, Dimapur and Phek, short stay homes, 36 children homes.
There was discussion after each session, while the concluding remarks and vote of thanks was pronounced by Mrs Y Longkumer, NJS Registrar Gauhati High Court, Kohima bench.
