Skip to content Skip to navigation

3rd Annual Trafficking-in-Persons Conclave begins from Dec 6

3rd Annual Trafficking in Persons Conclave - press meet. Photo: UB Photos

The American Center, Kolkata Thursday announced the "Anti Trafficking-in-Persons Conclave 3: Moving Forward Together" in Guwahati. The Conclave will be organized in association with the Impulse NGO Network an organization which has been working to combat the problem of Trafficking in Persons in North East India for over 15 years.

The two day international conclave commencing December 6 aims to establish and expand collaborative partnerships in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar to prevent the exploitation of women and children and protect the victims of human trafficking, while enhancing border trade relations. The first two Anti Trafficking-in-Persons Conclaves were held in Kolkata.

Addressing the press, Rachel Sunden, Deputy Director, American Center Kolkata said that the Consulate has been working with different entities that focus on Anti Trafficking along with the press to address the issue. She said, “Any kind of work cannot be done in isolation without the active participation of the governments, best practitioners, non-governmental organizations and the media. Northeast India.”


Bollywood actor Victor Banerjee addressing at the Igniting Innovation in Market Access, Corporate and Social Enterprise Approach 

Visiting Helen LaFave, US Consul General, American Center, Kolkata, responsible for the Consul activities in Eastern India including Bihar, Jharkhand and Northeast India said that she thinks Northeast India is an interesting place to work on Anti Trafficking-in-Persons and other developmental issues. Referring to the work done by the Impulse NGO Network in the area of trafficking she said that the method applied by it has been internationally recognized for its replicable model. She said that since the US has a history of slavery, it understands well the parameters of Anti Trafficking and had laws in place for it. US too has instances of trafficking and the US State Department takes interest to report accurately on Trafficking-in-Persons, what governments and organizations are doing to rid Trafficking-in-Persons. It is important to shed light on Trafficking-in-Persons and we are interested. Since Trafficking-in-Persons is a cross-border phenomenon in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal and we want to work together with partners to address the issue including the law enforcement agencies, the governments, best practitioners and the media, she said.

Hasina Kharbhih, Founder, Impulse NGO Network and founder of the current CEO of Impulse Social Enterprises speaking the occasion that Northeast India is not a destination point but a transit point with its transnational boundaries. She stressed on the necessity of multi-partners and stakeholders to address Anti Trafficking-in-Persons.

Impulse NGO Network was first to take up the issue of Anti Trafficking-in-Persons in Northeast India beginning 2003. The endeavor received support from the US Consulate which has been continuing.

The Conclave will consist of various sessions, where government delegates, law enforcement officials, NGOs, Chambers of Commerce representatives, business leaders and the media from all the 5 countries along with international organization representatives and experts, will discuss and strengthen international and regional collaboration.


PROGRAMME SCHEDULE

Friday, 6th December 2013 

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

  • Inaugural
  • Gifts and Light of lamp 
  • Welcome Address  
  • Introductory Note 
  • Overview of Human Trafficking Scenario in the South and South East Asian regions

 

Address from Special Guest 

  • Address  Guest of Honor  
  • Address from Chief Guest 

Vote of thank

Chairperson

Speakers:

  • Rachel Sunden, Deputy Director, American Center, Kolkata
  • Hasina Kharbhih, Chair of Board, Impulse NGO Network/MD, Impulse Social Enterprises 
  • P.M. Nair IPS, Director General (Rtd.) National Disaster Response Force & Civil Defense, Govt. of India
  • Helen LaFave, CG, U.S. Consulate
  • Cristina Albertin, Representative, UNODC Regional Office for South Asia
  • S. Suresh Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
  • Ratna Prabha, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India
  • Shri Tarun Gogoi, Hon’ble Chief Minister of  Assam 

Chairperson

 

11:00 a.m. –  11:30 a.m.

Session II

Status of Adopting and Implementing the UN Trafficking Protocol

  • Introduction to the Protocol and regional overview in adopting the Protocol
  • The importance of adopting the Protocol

Interactive Panel

  • About adopting and implementing the Protocol; sharing activities and experiences
  • Moderator:
    • Mr. Bijo Francis, Executive Director, Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong

 

Speakers:

  • Mr. Bijo Francis, Executive Director, Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong
  • Cristina Albertin, Representative, UNODC Regional Office for South Asia

 

  • Panelists:
    • S. Suresh Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
    • Ratna Prabha, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India
    • Government representation from Myanmar (names to be confirmed)

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Session III

Need for SOPs regarding Repatriation of Cross-Border Human Trafficking Victims

 

  • Repatriation of human trafficking victims 
  • Experience of repatriation (India)
  • Experience of repatriation (Bangladesh)
  • Victim-friendly approach in repatriation

 

 

Interactive Panel

  • The status of the finalized SOP between India and Bangladesh
  • Should there be multilateral or bilateral SOPs in the region?
  • The connectivity issue – repatriation between India and Myanmar overland?
  • What are the existing SOPs already between the countries? – avoiding overlapping and ensuring consistency
  • The possibilities to initiate the SOP development process – what needs to be taken into consideration

Moderator:

  • P.M. Nair IPS, Director General (Rtd.)

 

Speakers:

  • P.M. Nair IPS, Director General (Rtd.)

 

  • Indrani Sinha, Director, SANLAAP
  • Salma Ali, Director, BNWLA
  • Florrie Burke, Chair Emeritus of the Freedom Network

 

Panelists:

  • S. Suresh Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
  • Ministry of External Affairs, India
  • Roksana Hasin, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Bangladesh
  • Ministry of External Affairs, Bangladesh
  • Ministries of Home and External Affairs, Nepal, Myanmar and Bhutan (names to be confirmed)
  • Consul General, Nepal
  • Mr. K. Varma, Special Secretary (Retd), Government of India

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Session IV

Collaboration across the borders between the Law Enforcement through Anti-Human Trafficking Software

 

 

  • Anti-Human Trafficking Units of India

 

  • Anti-Human Trafficking Unit – North East Indian experience
  • Case study of human trafficking case intervention and management
  • Anti-Human Trafficking Software
  • Launch of the Anti-Human Trafficking software 

 

Interactive Panel

  • Networking between AHTUs
  • Networking across the international borders
  • Networking among the stakeholders
  • Further strengthening networking by incorporating Anti-Human Trafficking Software, exploring future solutions for the future
  • Knowledge sharing dialogue with a special emphasis on cross-border human trafficking

 

 

Moderator:

  • Hasina Kharbhih, Chair of Board, Impulse NGO Network/MD, Impulse Social Enterprises

 

Speakers:

  • S. Suresh Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
  • Mukesh Sahay, IPS, ADGP, CID,

Guwahati, Assam

  • Miranda Ingtipi, APS, ASP

CID, Assam

  • Mehernosh Shapoorjee, Digital5
  • Jayanta N. Choudhury, IPS, DGP, Assam

Peter James Pyngrope  Hanneman IPS, DGP, Meghalaya

 

Panelists:

  • P.M. Nair, IPS, Director General (Rtd.)
  • Govind P. Thapa, Additional Inspector General of Police (Retd), Nepal
  • B.R. Rana, IGP (CID), Meghalaya
  • Md. Shah Alam, Additional DIG (CID), Bangladesh Police
  • Law Enforcement, Bhutan
  • Kyaw Win Thein, Police Col., Anti-Trafficking Unit, Myanmar Police Force

 

Additional Panelists:

  • Elias Lotha, IPS, DIG, Human Rights, Nagaland
  • Sonam Yankeela Bhutia, Sub Inspector, AHTU, CID, Crime Branch, Sikkim
  • Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur to be confirmed

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

  • Session V
  • Mature Media – Responsible Response towards Human Trafficking
  •  
  • Interactive Panel Discussion
  • Selected media coverage

Moderator:

  • Arijit Sen, Senior Editor, CNN-IBN 

Panellist:

  • Mrinal Talukdar, Joint Editor, DY365
  • Kunal Majumder, Assistant Editor
  • Sein Win, Journalist, Myanmar
  • Akhilesh Upadhyay, Kathmandu Post
  • Kuenzang Choden, Reporter, Bhutan Times 

Additional Panelists:

  • Taba Ajum, Sub Editor, Arunachal Times
  • Vanlalrema Vantawl, Zalen, Mizoram
  • Sukham Nanda Singh, People’s Chronical
  • Thomas Lim, Editor, Meghalaya Times
  • Amit Patro, Editor, Sikkim Express
  • Syed Sajjad Ali, Editor, Indigenous Herald
  • Goeffrey Yaden, Editor and Publisher, Nagaland Post

4:30 p.m. – 5:20 p.m.

  • Session VI
  • Prosecution, collaboration across the borders
  • Panel Discussion

 Prosecution of human traffickers

 

 Issues to be discussed include:

  • Challenges of prosecution on human trafficking cases
  • Collaboration necessity with other stakeholders
  • Cross-border collaboration opportunities and challenges

 

Moderator:

  • Bhuwan Ribhu, Advocate and National Secretary of Bachpan Bachao Andolan

 

Speaker:

  • Florrie Burke, Chair Emeritus of the Freedom Network

 

Panelists:

  • Doma Bhutia, Director, Human Rights Law Network , Sikkim Branch
  • Justice Md. Miftah Uddin Choudhury, Supreme Court of Bangladesh
  • Saptarhishi Biswas, IJM, Kolkata
  • Aung Thane, Supreme Court advocate, Legal Performance Aid Centre, Myanmar
  • Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre, Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Assam

5:20 p.m.  – 5:30 p.m.

  • Concluding Session
  • Outcomes of the Panel Discussions
  • Development of a Follow-Up Plan of Action

 

  • Vote of Thanks
    • Hasina Kharbhih, Chair of Board, Impulse NGO Network/MD, Impulse Social Enterprises
    • Rachel Sunden, Deputy Director, American Center, Kolkata
 

 

7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

  • Presentation
  • Dance performance and a brief demonstration to rehabilitation and trauma healing mechanism
  • Dinner
    • Florrie Burke, Chair Emeritus of the Freedom Network
    • Kolkata Sanved
 


7th December 2013, Saturday

 

9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

  • Welcome address 
  • Introduction to the days programme
    • Rachel Sunden, Deputy Director, American Center, Kolkata
    • Hasina Kharbhih, Chair of Board, Impulse NGO Network/MD, Impulse Social Enterprises
 

9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

  • Session VIII
  • Civil Society Partnership to Address Trafficking in Persons  
  • Addressing prevention and policing through capacity building and trainings 

 

Issues to be discussed:

  • Civil Society Organizations networking among themselves also across the borders
  • Necessity to collaborate also with other stakeholders including the law enforcement.
  • Sharing experiences of process of networking, the successes and challenges achieved as well as identifying methods how to strengthen the collaboration.

 

Moderator:

  • Deependra Chamlagain, Director, Samriddhi, Nepal 

Speakers:

  • Florrie Burke, Chair Emeritus of the Freedom Network
  • Tashi Rapten Barfungpa, Director, Hope
  • Sunil Mow, Chairman / Director, Athupopu Social Foundation / HRLN 

Panelists:

  • Hasina Khabrhih, Founder/Chair of Board, Impulse NGO Network
  • Salma Ali, Executive Director, Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers' Association (BNWLA)
  • Maung Mang Win, General Secreatry, YMCA
  • Renew, Bhutan (name to be confirmed) 

Additional Panelists:

  •  Sreelekha Ray, Executive Director, Voluntary Health Association of Tripura
  • Doma Bhutia, Director, Human Rights Law Network , Sikkim Branch
  • L. Pishak Singh, Secy, Sustainable Development  Centre, Manipur
  • Jubita Hajarimayum, Secretary, Ereima Gender Empowerment Resource Centre, Manipur
  • Chenithung Humtsoe, Executive Director, Bethesda Youth Welfare Centre, Nagaland
  • Miguel Queah, Founder/Chairman, UTSAH, Assam
  • Nirney John Chettri, General Secretary, MARG, Darjeeling

10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

  • Session IX
  • The role of Service Providers in addressing protection of human trafficking survivors 

 

Issues to be discussed:

  • Minimum standards
  • Adequate protection
  • Networking with other stakeholders
  • Sharing experiences

Moderator:

  • Florrie Burke, Chair Emeritus of the Freedom Network 

Panelists:

  • H.M.Shangpliang,M.C..S. Director of Social Welfare, Meghalaya
  • Director Sri Rajib Lochan Duarah , IAS Directorate of Social Welfare
  • Indrani Sinha, Director, SANLAAP
  • Sabin Gurung, Maiti Nepal
  • Bhutan/Bangladesh to be confirmed
  

11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

  • Session X
  • Experience sharing of Civil Society Organizations

Moderator:

  • Manish Subharwal, Impact

Panelists:

  • Anupam Das, Apne Aap Women Worldwide
  • Niloy Basu, Bangla Natak
  • Christophe Plais, Terra Indica
  • Prayas JAS Society (name to be confirmed)
  • PLAN India (name to be confirmed)

 

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

  • Star Power Session
  • Panel Discussions
  • Announcing winners of the competitions
 

3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

  • Fashion Show
  • Music Concert
  • Short films/documentaries about Human Trafficking between the bands
 

Add new comment

Random Stories

Mohilary unfurls tricolour in Kokrajhar

26 Jan 2018 - 10:45am | AT News
KOKRAJHAR: BTAD chief Hagrama Mohilary unfurled the tricolour and took salute of the March past of army, police and para military forces at the Kokrajhar Govt HS School Playground on Friday. In his...

Major breakthrough in Meghalaya – HNLC Chairman surrenders

24 Jul 2007 - 12:03pm | editor
Shillong: Julius Dorphang, the chairman of the dreaded Hymmetrip National Liberation Council (HNLC), a Khasi militant organisation based out of Meghalaya surrendered alongwith four others before the...

No Congman to join BJP!

13 Jul 2015 - 5:26pm | AT News
No Congress leader will join BJP on Tuesday if Anjan Dutta is to be believed.Just before leaving for New Delhi to attend Sonia Ganshi’s iftar party, the APCC president said that no Congress leaders...

ABSU protests in Kokrajhar, Chirang

25 Aug 2014 - 7:20pm | Hantigiri Narzary
Protest continued in Lower Assam as well in the state against killing of Priya Basumatary, a Class X student by NDFB(S). Hundreds of students, activists and commoners participated in silent...

Other Contents by Author

The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity Assam’s (KMSSA) General Secretary Akhil Gogoi on Sunday was taken into custody by Pan Bazaar Police from outside the Guwahati Press Club premises for first instance violation of PR Act 126. Anti-corruption campaigner Akhil Gogoi along with some 40 members and supporters was at that time about to proceed to Dighali Pukhuri to lead a democratic sit in protest in support of Gandhian Anna Hazare’s demand for the ratification of Jan LokPal (Ombudsman) Bill for the second consecutive day since Saturday after calling short a Press Meet on non industrialization of Lower Assam at Guwahati Press Club when the incident took place. Akhil Gogoi who for...
The Unity Education Foundation, Guwahati recently in association with the Gandhi Smriti & Darshan Samiti, New Delhi organized a daylong National Seminar titled "Gandhism: Understanding peace and the way to maintain it" at Hotel Nakshatra Conference Hall in an effort to explore and employ Gandhian principles to address conflict resolution. The Seminar attracted a large number of students and local dignitaries. Speaking on the occasion Hem Bhai, CEO Gandhi Sandhana Ashram Guwahati said that there is nothing called Gandhism which is a pertinent fact of Gandhian philosophy. Gandhiji himself denounced it and therefore Gandhiji cannot be contained in ‘ism’. ‘The future of...
In a bid to confirm discontentment, state wide representative body of the indigenous Muslims the All Assam Goria-Moria-Desi Jatiya Parishad again came heavily on the Congress. At a Press Conference in Bhagawati Prasad Baruah Hall in Guwahati on May 29 the AAGMDJP General Secretary Hafizul Ahmed said that during the 2 term governance of the Congress the voice of the constituent communities of the indigenous Muslim volume of Assam have been blatantly overlooked. He cited veterans Syeda Anwara Taimur, Mâhdi Alam Bora and others of being suppressed and sidelined despite years of constancy by the Tarun Gogoi led BPPF Government. Furthermore, the forthcoming Assembly Election Manifesto of...
The perplexity involving the crisis associated with the privileges of the different communities which form the indigenous Muslim populace of Assam was broadly discussed Thursday at Natya Mandir, Sivsagar. This was an effort to gather consensus regarding uplift, recognition and representation of the indigenous Muslims spread across upper Assam, mid Assam and lower Assam in politics, education, socio-economic policy making and community centric development programs. The conference which attracted some 300 people from different parts of upper Assam had Senior Advocate Guwahati High Court and invited speaker Nekibur Zaman saying that it was during his association with the Assam Agitation that...
Constituted with more than 30 lac people the Goria, Moria, Desi communities who represent the indigenous Muslim bulk of Assam consider themselves deprived and neglected by the successors of Dispur. Expressing this in a Press Conference at Bhagawati Prasad Barua Bhavan today the All Assam Goria Moria Desi Jatiya Parishad (AAGMDJP) said that in the days gone by the Congress Government in power have failed to implement steps for the overall development of more than 90% of the converted indigenous communities who constitute the indigenous Muslim mass of Assam. It was held that despite their indigenouity the Goria, Moria and Desi communities categorically appear to have been taken for granted...
Assam’s various indigenous tribes and communities unified under Assam Sanmilita MahaSangha (ASM) sat for an 11 hour long sit in hunger strike demonstration outside the Dispur Secretariat today to commiserate with Manipur’s Birangana Irom Sanu Sharmila’s demand to scrap the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958. Iron Lady Sharmila is on indefinite hunger strike since the year 2000 completing 11 years almost to do away with the Black Act. In a Press Release the MahaSangha stated that the AFSPA 1958 is a direct copy of the British Empire’s 1942 Special Military Power Act. The colonial Britons imposed this Act to suppress India’s Mass Movement of 1942. After...
The Moslem tendency to acquire erstwhile Assam as a factor for their geo-political credit faced stiff resistance not only from the different tribal kings of the times but also from the Shan Tai Ahoms who managed to establish their settlements from 1228 AD under the kingship of Chou Lung Su Ka Pha. Interestingly the east-wandering group of Shan Tai Ahoms who chanced upon present day Assam was not just a new race and later a political entity amidst the native population but much of a foreigner like the Moslems. The Moslems set foot on this land some twenty three years prior to the out casted Shan Tai Ahoms who after several years of intra class fights for supremacy were compelled to migrate...