Govt must disband transborder gangs and generate employment to stop human trafficking
11 November 2022
UN
Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons Siobhán Mullally called
for greater accountability, and stronger regulation of the recruiting
agencies while expanding livelihood opportunities and extending
protection to victims without discrimination. Child trafficking is a
significant risk, which must be addressed through expanded child
protection and increased efforts at birth registration.
At home, the
government has taken various steps to promote safe migration and
prevent human trafficking. Yet, the risks of human trafficking remain
high. About 12 million Bangladeshis work abroad and the remittance they
send plays a critical role in the country's economy. Besides, climate
change causes the displacement of thousands of people, making women and
children especially vulnerable to exploitation. Therefore, continued
development of exit strategies to eliminate child labour, in particular
in high-risk sectors like hospitality and tourism, domestic work, brick
kilns, and agriculture, is essential.
Improving livelihoods for
families, and expanding access to education, and training opportunities
for children will be important. Trafficking of women and girls for
purposes of sexual exploitation within Bangladesh and cross-border, in
particular to India, is a serious and urgent concern. Boys are also
trafficked within Bangladesh, but receive limited assistance or
protection from the state, and are often at risk of both sexual
exploitation and exploitation in criminal activities.
False job
offers, very high recruitment fees, and failure to protect migrant
workers in all stages of migration allow trafficking to persist.
Returned migrant workers with significant debt are at continued risk of
exploitation and face reprisals and threats because of difficulties in
repaying debts and securing new employment. While countries of
destination have a responsibility to prevent trafficking and protect
migrant workers, Bangladesh, as a country of origin, must also
strengthen its action to prevent such recruitment practices and to
remedy the gaps in protection.
To stop trafficking, the government must disband the transborder gangs, arrest the ringleaders and generate enough employment.
