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Sex workers won’t be criminalised

The Women and Child Development Ministry sought to defend its Anti Human Trafficking Bill, and asserted that the proposed law did not criminalise consenting adult sex workers and migrants.

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Why in the news ?

  • The Women and Child Development Ministry sought to defend its Anti Human Trafficking Bill, and asserted that the proposed law did not criminalise consenting adult sex workers and migrants.
 

Details

  • The Bill has been passed by Losk Sabha and is expected to be tabled in Rajya Sabha.
  • The opposition parties have demanded that the Bill be put through legislative scrutiny and be sent to a Standing Committee.
  • As per the official statement, the Bill is clear in excluding consenting adults from its purview.
  • While it criminalises trafficking for the purpose of pushing a woman into sex work, it does not punish the act itself. 
  • The proposed legislation has faced criticism from several quarters, including UN experts, for conflating trafficking with sex work and migration.

Other Key features of the Bill

  • National Anti-Trafficking Bureau:  
  • The Bill provides for the establishment of a National Anti-Trafficking Bureau to investigate trafficking cases and implement provisions of the Bill. 
 State Anti-Trafficking Officers: 
  • Under the Bill, the state government will appoint a State Nodal Officer.  He will be responsible for:
(i) follow up action under the Bill, as per the instructions of the State Anti-Trafficking Committee, and
(ii) providing relief and rehabilitation services. 
The state government will also appoint a Police Nodal Officer at the state and district levels. 
 
  • Anti-Trafficking Units: 
  • The Bill also provides for the setting up of Anti-Trafficking Units (ATUs) at the district level. 
  • ATUs will deal with the prevention, rescue, and protection of victims and witnesses, and for the investigation and prosecution of trafficking offences. 
  • Protection and rehabilitation:  
  • The Bill requires the central or state government to set up Protection Homes. 
  • These would provide shelter, food, counselling, and medical services to victims. 
    • Anti-Trafficking Relief and Rehabilitation Committee:  
    • The Bill provides for the establishment of Anti-Trafficking Relief and Rehabilitation Committees (ATCs) at the national, state, and district levels. 
    • These Committees will be responsible for:
    (i) providing compensation to victims,
    (ii) repatriation of victims, and
    (iii) re-integration of victims in society, among others.
     
  • Time-bound trial:  The Bill provides for setting up designated courts in each district, which will seek to complete trial within a year.
  • Penalties: 
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