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

By Syed Miraz Ahmed |
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
 

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