Karnataka
|
|
|
Mangalore: City Virtual Breeding Ground for Human Trafficking
- Thu, Jan 03 2008 12:26:30 PM
Mangalore: City virtual breeding ground for human trafficking
Daijiworld Media Network –Mangalore (KM/NR)
Mangalore, Jan 03: A one-day workshop on Women Superiors' General of India (WSGI) was held at Pushpalaya, Bethany convent to discuss various strategies to counter-act the evils of human trafficking, here on Wednesday January 02.
Sr Lalitha of Bethany congregation in her presentation on "Counter trafficking in person" highlighted the dark face of forcible slavery and prostitution, which she opined together constitutes the two ugly faces of human trafficking.
In her presentation she highlighted prostitution, especially its principle in the corporate world, where a person as regarded as "use and throw away." It has to be understood that prostitution is not just women's problem but also men's problem, she declared. Moreover, it may be regarded as a taboo which cannot be easily erased, she added.
With the passage of time the face of slavery too has undergone many changes, she said and today children and women, are especially vulnerable and prone to be trafficked by inhuman means. They are deceived in various ways, such as by means of fake ID cards, duplicate passports and other illegal methods.
Once the victims are caught in the hub of the exploiters like brothel houses, they are forced into commercial sex trade and their resistance or reluctance to it is often answered by physical torture or even gang rape, she revealed.
Elaborating on the same point she said the situation inside the brothel is too oppressive to imagine. There is no job security for a commercial sex worker, moreover circumstances force them to consume drugs and alcohol. in actuality these sex workers live a very gloomy and uncertain life, she rued.
Dr Jyothi, superior general, Bethany convent in her inaugural address opined that it is about time to present an united front to counter-act human trafficking in all its ugly forms. In cities like Mangalore it must be done at the earliest as it is soon going to be under the grip of Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which may then prove to be a virtual breeding ground for human trafficking, she warned.
In all heads of 35 religious congregations had assembled as participants at the one-day workshop.