Context:
In September 2023, during the Annual General Meeting and Biennial Conference of the Asia-Pacific Forum on Human Rights in New Delhi, President Smt. Droupadi Murmu emphasized the interconnectedness of human rights and the imperative to address environmental concerns. She urged equal attention to be given to healing Mother Nature, emphasizing that Indian philosophy extends beyond human rights to encompass the protection of every particle in the universe as a manifestation of divinity.
Relevance:
GS 2-
- Issues Relating to Development
- Government Policies & Interventions
Mains Question:
While the world is extensively talking about development indicators, human trafficking is still predominant, and needs to be tackled globally. Elucidate. (15 marks, 250 words).
Human Rights and the History of India:
- Basavanna, an esteemed sage from southern India, advocated for individual liberty and equality through the “Anubhava Mantapa,” a collective assembly disregarding class and gender.
- India’s historical contributions include the world’s first people’s representative government in Vaishali nearly 2,800 years ago and the recognition of universal adult franchise rights in the Constitution.
- India, following a human-centric and inclusive approach to development, shares its experiences globally under the ethos of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.“
Current Status of Human Rights:
- Despite global discussions on development indicators, the severe issue of human trafficking, a grave violation of human rights, persists and necessitates worldwide attention.
- This silent crime often goes unnoticed, particularly in today’s complex and prevalent socio-economic challenges, leading to various forms of trafficking in vulnerable communities.
- While India has made efforts, existing legal frameworks fall short due to societal vulnerabilities.
Way Forward:
- Addressing human trafficking requires a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to amplify voices and establish coordinated social justice and entrepreneurial systems.
- Social entrepreneurship emerges as a powerful tool to reduce vulnerability and address trafficking, with potential to rehabilitate survivors in high-traffic areas.
- By building organisations and changing systems, social entrepreneurs contribute to prevention and economic stability for those at-risk and survivors.
- To achieve true systemic transformation, the anti-trafficking movement must innovate, focusing on awareness, skills, self-employment, empowerment, support, education, and dignity for potential victims and survivors.
- Establishing a dialogue on survivors’ involvement in legislation, social entrepreneurship, and public policies is crucial for effective prevention.
Conclusion:
A multi-stakeholder dialogue is recommended to gather opinions on combating human trafficking in India through social entrepreneurship, emphasizing the need for timely action to create enterprises that provide innovative solutions nationally and internationally.
