School for Justice- A Ray of Hope for Children Trafficked for The Purposes of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Abstract

Prostitution has been there in our society since time immemorial. However, the concept of children entering this flesh trade is relatively new and is becoming rampant. It refers to the sexual exploitation of a child for remuneration in cash or in kind, usually but not organised by an intermediary (parent, family members, procurer, etc.). Various reports show how India houses the highest number of children who are engaged in flesh trade. Child prostitution is one of the worst and the most unbearable abuses of human rights. The hardships involved in these cases is unimaginable. The Government of India has taken various steps to curb the problem of child prostitution. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) etc. have taken several initiatives through different programmes to deal with the problems of trafficking of children for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation. There are several international as well as domestic legislations for the protection of child rights against trafficking for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation. The Judiciary also has responded in multifarious ways to prostitution on children including defining the rights of victims and creating institutional mechanisms for their safeguards and enforcement. Despite various legislative, administrative and judicial measures being taken, the problem of trafficking of children for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation is rising day by day. Day by day the number of children falling into this so called flesh trade is increasing. Time has come where the world needs to understand that there is no point in worrying about the concerned problem without really doing something about it and taking some action globally in order to prevent these innocent kids from falling into the trap of flesh trade. To curb the practice of child prostitution the need of the hour is awareness, sensitization and education on the issue of child prostitution.