Integrating human trafficking victims

At a seminar held in Naogaon recently by a Rajshahi based rights group, speakers have stressed the need for cohesive efforts to integrate victims of human trafficking into mainstream society. This is indeed a laudable effort because without a social place, people who had the misfortune of being trafficked won’t be able to come back to normal life. There is reason to attach grave importance to proper integration because if the victims feel a sense of stigma they will, over time, develop a feeling of mounting shame, leading to depression plus suicidal tendencies. It’s a sad fact that while society laments the fate of many women and girls who have been victims of trafficking and other exploitation, it has been lethargic in creating an atmosphere through which unfortunate people can swiftly go back to general social existence.

There is ample evidence showing manipulation of victims of human trafficking with many looking at rescued trafficked women with askance. In other cases, female victims had to tolerate sexually suggestive comments, their hopes of pursuing a life like others facing jeopardy. We are not wrong to state that such segregation stems from an inherent belief that rescued trafficked victims have been morally tainted. Unless this profoundly rooted prejudice is tackled, victims of trafficking will only see their woes increase.

For starters, let’s stop labelling distressed victims in public, allowing them to blend in unobtrusively. We are not aiding tormented souls in any way by parading them in front of society. Secondly, more international organisations need to come forward with skills developing programmes to support victims to be equipped for a profession. Thirdly, there is the need for a mass awareness programmes starting from the school level in order to counter the many dogmatic ideas that exist surrounding victims of trafficking.

Many victims often harbour a damaging notion that since their lives have already been scarred, there is no use trying to go back to a normal life. Such wrong conceptions, usually compounded by general apathy by society, usually lead victims to wade into a macabre world involving crime, drugs, prostitution and disease.

Public awareness is pivotal because such victims, already emotionally vulnerable, can easily be deceived by unprincipled groups. Perhaps a drive can also be launched by the district level police department with support from the DC’s office. Also, another prudent move would be to seek the assistance of the leading telecom companies of the country to use their glitzy advertising campaigns to incorporate human rights messages. This will be corporate social responsibility and publicity at the same time.

 

Integrating human trafficking victims

At a seminar held in Naogaon recently by a Rajshahi based rights group, speakers have stressed the need for cohesive efforts to integrate victims of human trafficking into mainstream society. This is indeed a laudable effort because without a social place, people who had the misfortune of being trafficked wont be able to come back to normal life. There is reason to attach grave importance to proper integration because if the victims feel a sense of stigma they will, over time, develop a feeling of mounting shame, leading to depression plus suicidal tendencies. Its a sad fact that while society laments the fate of many women and girls who have been victims of trafficking and other exploitation, it has been lethargic in creating an atmosphere through which unfortunate people can swiftly go back to general social existence. There is ample evidence showing manipulation of victims of human trafficking with many looking at rescued trafficked women with askance. In other cases, female victims had to tolerate sexually suggestive comments, their hopes of pursuing a life like others facing jeopardy. We are not wrong to state that such segregation stems from an inherent belief that rescued trafficked victims have been morally tainted. Unless this profoundly rooted prejudice is tackled, victims of trafficking will only see their woes increase. For starters, lets stop labelling distressed victims in public, allowing them to blend in unobtrusively. We are not aiding tormented souls in any way by parading them in front of society. Secondly, more international organisations need to come forward with skills developing programmes to support victims to be equipped for a profession. Thirdly, there is the need for a mass awareness programmes starting from the school level in order to counter the many dogmatic ideas that exist surrounding victims of trafficking. Many victims often harbour a damaging notion that since their lives have already been scarred, there is no use trying to go back to a normal life. Such wrong conceptions, usually compounded by general apathy by society, usually lead victims to wade into a macabre world involving crime, drugs, prostitution and disease. Public awareness is pivotal because such victims, already emotionally vulnerable, can easily be deceived by unprincipled groups. Perhaps a drive can also be launched by the district level police department with support from the DCs office. Also, another prudent move would be to seek the assistance of the leading telecom companies of the country to use their glitzy advertising campaigns to incorporate human rights messages. This will be corporate social responsibility and publicity at the same time.