Body to oversee repatriation of foreigners

New Delhi: The Organised Crime Investigative Agency (OCIA) will oversee the issues of cross border trafficking, rescue and rehabilitation and repatriation of foreign nationals and will be responsible for policy and evaluation of implementation of the policy.

The Centre submitted in the Supreme Court that a committee has been set up to consider and suggest a comprehensive legislation to tackle all aspects of trafficking. In the light of this submission the bench granted six months for the committee to submit its report.

In its report NALSA wanted the government to amend the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act to define ‘Sexual Exploitation’ to include a situation where a person under coercion and absence of free will is sexually used or abused, or explicitly portrayed, either physically, or through media (print, electronic, internet) in a sexual manner, for the benefit of another person(s), either through monetary gains, or compensation, or favours, or any other arrangement, causing unlawful gain as a result of such act to any person and includes brokering relationships that are coerced.

The petitioner said, “A large number of victims of trafficking reach a stage wherein they feel that the confines of the brothel is actually their life and means to livelihood and hence begin to acknowledge that the crime and violence inflicted on them is actually “work”.

This feeling coupled with vested interests due to economics of the trade have organised themselves in such a way where they are demanding “legalising prostitution” as a matter of right taking advantage of the vulnerability of the women indoctrinated into continue as sexual slaves.” It said, “Prevention of trafficking is critical and steps have to be taken at all levels to curb trafficking.”