Context: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) adopted a protocol to strengthen cooperation in preventing and combating growing menace of human trafficking, especially women and children.
Key highlights

• The Nineteenth Meeting of Prosecutors General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)Member States was hosted by India.
• The next (20th) meeting will be held in the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2022.

Salient Features of the protocol are

• To strengthen cooperation in preventing and combating growing menace of human trafficking
• To continue exchanging the national legislation to combat the menace of human trafficking
• To provide protection and assistance in victims of trafficking within their competence.
• To develop cooperation between the educational (training) organizations (institutions) of the SCO member states in the field of training and advanced training of prosecutors, whose competence include combating trafficking.
• To conduct bilateral and multilateral activities on combating the threat of human trafficking.

India’s effort to combat human trafficking
Constitutional and Legislative Measures

• The Constitution of India, under Article 23 (1), prohibits trafficking in human beings or persons.
• The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) is the premier legislation for prevention of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.
• Criminal Law (amendment) Act 2013 provide for comprehensive measures to counter the menace of human trafficking including trafficking of children for exploitation in any form including physical exploitation or any form of sexual exploitation, slavery, servitude, or the forced removal of organs.
• Protection of Children from Sexual offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, which has come into effect from 14th November, 2012 is a special law to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
• It provides precise definitions for different forms of sexual abuse, including penetrative and non-penetrative sexual assault, sexual harassment.

There are other specific legislations enacted relating to trafficking in women and children

• Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
• Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976
• Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986
• Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994
• Sections 372 and 373 of IPC deal with selling and buying of girls for the purpose of prostitution.
• State Governments have also enacted specific legislations to deal with the issue. (e.g., The Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012).

Administrative measures and interventions
Anti Trafficking Cell (ATC)

• Anti-Trafficking Nodal Cell was set up in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2006 to act as a focal point for communicating various decisions and follow up on action taken by the State Governments to combat the crime of Human Trafficking.
• International Conventions:
• India has ratified the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime (UNCTOC).
• India has ratified the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution.
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bangladesh on Bi-lateral Cooperation for Prevention of Human Trafficking in Women and Children, Rescue, Recovery, Repatriation and Re-integration of Victims of Trafficking was signed in June, 2015.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

• SCO is an intergovernmental Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance.
• It is the world's largest regional organisation in geographic scope and population.
• The SCO is the successor to the Shanghai Five, a mutual security agreement formed in 1996 between China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.
• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organization, comprising of 8 Member States namely the Republic of India, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan. Iran is the ninth and the newest member of SCO.

Note: Iran was officially admitted as a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The decision to admit Iran as a full member was declared in the 21st summit of the SCO leaders in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

• The SCO is governed by the Heads of State Council (HSC), its supreme decision-making body, which meets once a year.
• The headquarters is located in Beijing, China.

The main objectives of SCO are to:

• Strengthen relations among member states.
• Promote cooperation in political affairs, economics and trade, scientific-technical, cultural, and educational spheres as well as in energy, transportation, tourism, and environmental protection.
• Safeguard regional peace, security, and stability.
• Create a democratic, equitable international political and economic order.

Road Ahead for India in SCO

• The country’s start-up companies should be encouraged to lead the charge for creating new linkages within SCO region.
• As a leader in the field of traditional medicines, India should collaborate with interested SCO parties.
• India should encourage cooperation in the micro, small and medium enterprises sector in agriculture, energy, education, pharmaceuticals and information communication technology.
• Given the salience of Buddhist connections in SCO countries, priority should be accorded to tourism.
• A granular dialogue on a trade and investment promotion programme is essential through sectoral working groups of the SCO business council.