IOM has launched a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) manual for Indian police officers investigating cases of human trafficking. The manual is designed for district level police officers to help them to conduct systematic investigations and provide witness protection for victims.

IOM facilitated the development of the model SOP manual through a series of consultations at state and national level, involving law enforcement officials, prosecutors, government officials, civil society organizations and international organizations.

Sound investigation is key to ensuring effective prosecutions that result in the conviction of traffickers, according to Anju Gupta, the senior Indian Police Service officer, Uttar Pradesh cadre, who wrote the manual, which was commissioned by IOM.

The manual outlines the appropriate sequence of procedures, the rights-based approach needed in investigating trafficking cases, and the role of other stakeholders in the Indian legal context.

India experiences both internal and cross border trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labour, but the scale of the problem is difficult to estimate.

Speaking at the launch of the manual in New Delhi, IOM Regional Representative for South Asia Rabab Fatima said that the complexity of the trafficking problem called for "robust, but humane police intervention."

She called for an approach that "on the one hand protects victims and prevents stigmatization and possible re-trafficking, while on the other hand brings the trafficker to account through successful prosecution." 

Government Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken launched the manual and said that India follows a policy of Zero Tolerance against human trafficking in women and children for sexual exploitation and has constitutional safeguards and legislation against the crime.

Welcoming the manual, he said that "The Government of India would like to make use of this piece of work to take forward its counter-trafficking agenda for creating awareness among stakeholders about the issues." 

He listed as priorities building the capacity of law enforcement agencies; improved reporting to identify the incidence and nature of trafficking in India; and improved sharing of knowledge among government agencies involved in areas including victim support, rehabilitation and repatriation.

For more information please contact:

P. Nagasayee Malathy
IOM Hyderabad
Tel.  +91-40-66106651
E-mail: pnmalathy@iom.int