Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) The Body Shop India and international NGO ECPAT will be presenting over 300,000 petitions against human trafficking to the central government this July.

“We have never shied away from tackling controversial issues and causes that others would avoid. Indeed it was one of the dying wishes of our late founder, Dame Anita Roddick, that the ‘modern-day slave trade’ be brought to an end,” Shriti Malhotra, COO - The Body Shop India, told IANS

“We are thankful to all the people who signed the petition for their incredible support for this campaign. We are very proud to be handing this petition over to the government on their behalf in July.”

Ravi Kant of NGO Shakti Vahini said: “Every year, an estimated 1.2 million children and young people are trafficked, becoming victims of sexual exploitation and abuse. Human trafficking is the third largest international crime after illegal drugs and arms trafficking.”

“It exists in every continent, region and country in the world. The reason we have called for this action is because it means that child victims of trafficking will now have safe shelters and protection which will help their rehabilitation,” he said.

The Body Shop petition requests for legislative support for three calls to action.

First is integration of a compulsory module on trafficking in children within school curricula and teachers training programmes. Second is the strengthening of the special 24×7 nationwide toll-free helpline. Lastly, an establishment of specific shelters for child victims of trafficking.