‘Repatriation timeline too long’: Delhi child rights body lists observations on anti-trafficking bill

Submitting its comments on the Union Government’s draft Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Care and Rehabilitation) bill, the Delhi Commission of Child Rights questioned the burden of proof on the accused and the time period for repatriation in the draft bill.

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development had invited comments on its draft bill on June 30.

The body observed that the bill proposed that all individual care plans for rehabilitation of victims are to be submitted to district Anti-Human Trafficking committees, while according to the Juvenile Justice Act, this power lies with the Child Welfare Committees (CWCs). It stated that this “erodes the power of CWCs which have professionals in the field of child rights who understand children’s psychology, needs, and have a proven track record of performance”.

The DCPCR also stated that the bill places the burden of proof to prove innocence on the accused, which chairperson Anurag Kundu said “contains no safeguards and protection of misuse, making it a draconian law open to abuse”. “Such position has been decried by Supreme Court and several High Courts in many judgements,” he added.

It also commented that the repatriation timelines are long — within six weeks for intra-state patriation, within three months for inter-state repatriation, and six months for inter-country patriation from the date of production of a victim or their dependents before the respective committee.

It further observed lack of provisions for monitoring in the bill and has asked that this responsibility be placed on National and State Human Rights Commissions in consultation with commissions for child rights and women. It has also asked that the National and State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights and Childline be included in the National and State Human Trafficking Committees “since children are vulnerable to trafficking”.