The document discusses human trafficking in South Asia. It notes that South Asia has the largest human trafficking market in the world, with over 150,000 people trafficked annually according to UN reports. While countries have signed international agreements like the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, domestic laws are still lacking and inconsistent in addressing and preventing human trafficking. The document calls for a rights-based approach focused on protecting individuals, as well as measures like increasing uniformity in legal frameworks, improving living conditions to reduce vulnerability, ensuring access to justice, and strengthening bilateral agreements.

1. CROSSING
BORDERS &
BOUNDARIES:
TRAFFICKING
IN SOUTH ASIA
SUYASH VYAS
MAY 17, 2021

2. Overview
• The problem of Trafficking
• (Threats: individual rights, exploitation and
national security)
• Geographical viz. Economy unison
• Recent trends of Transnational Organised nature
• Why South Asia?
• (1.5 lakh annually UN Regional Report on South
Asia, UNODC: largest market)
• SHIFT IN APPROACH: RIGHTS BASED
APPROACH

3. The Problem of
Regional Trafficking
Nexus
Indian subcontinent & Transit Regions
(Pak-Gulf & Myanmar-East Asia)
Porous border conditions (Bengal, Assam)

4. • Pre 90s (securing borders against external aggression & national interests )and post 90s (end of cold
war: protection of individuals in relation to state security)
• UN Human Dev Report 1994: “Human Security”
• Root cause redressal: Jennifer Lobasz Treatment by destination country adds to human insecurity
• South Asia: State Security > Human Security
• Need for a Human Security Framework
THE RIGHT BASED APPROACH

5. INTERNATIONAL
UN Convention Against TOC, 2000: Protocol to
prevent suppress & punish trafficking in persons, esp.
women & children
Ratified by only India in South Asia. Even India does
not fulfil requirements: Criminalization & Residence
CEDAW & CRC only ratified by Ind & BD in Indian
subcontinent
Ground Reality: Overlooked international standards
and apply domestic law
REGIONAL
SAARC Convention on Trafficking, 2002:
focus on sexual exploitation leaving other
forms ignored
Non uniformity in domestic laws
Need for revision
Substantive safeguards not procedural
India-BD MoU 2015
Legal Regime

6. ONE:
Uniformity in Legal
Framework
TWO:
Ground level reality check
THREE:
Reduction in poverty &
illiteracy
FOUR:
Access to justice
FIVE:
Increase in bilateral
agreements
Key Takeaways