The problem and progress to date:
Trafficking in women and children is a matter of great concern all over the world. In South Asia. cross-border trafficking, sourcing, transit to destination is a big problem. Even more prevalent is the movement of persons within the countries for exploitation in various forms. There are no definite figures about the number of victims. Trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation is the most virulent form in South Asia.
The movement of young girls from Nepal and Bangladesh into Indian brothels is common. However, most of the trafficking takes place within India itself. There is further movement of these women and girls to the Middle East as well as other destinations. Similar movement from Pakistan and Sri Lanka has been observed. At times of hardship, this starts out as illegal migration and ends up as trafficking. Internal displacement due to conflict in some of these countries, poverty and lack of employment opportunities, increase the vulnerabilities to being trafficked.
The response to combating the crime of human trafficking by the countries of South Asia has been inadequate. There is limited awareness and although knowledge of and the willingness to speak out against trafficking has increased significantly in the past half decade, it is still only at minimal levels. In addition to the lack of awareness, existing anti-trafficking legislation in most countries is inadequate. The law enforcement response – which is meant to provide an effective deterrent to traffickers – is also weak, irresponsive and not victim-friendly.
For instance, in India, a recent survey by the National Human Rights Commission, states that only 7 percent of the police personnel have received any kind of training whatsoever. The number of cases registered or the percentage of convictions of traffickers is low. The victims are often ‘re-victimized’ when brought in contact with the law, because they are arrested on charges of soliciting. In cases when the women and girls have been rescued, rehabilitation and repatriation is not possible as the resources to do this are inadequate (even within NGO sectors) to support them. There is also an immense need for better shelter facilities for the victims.
As if this were not enough, South Asia is home to one of the largest concentrations of people living with HIV. Female sex workers (FSWs) – as a group – are an important driver of the epidemic. As has been shown in very recent research involving repatriated FSWs in Nepal, many of the FSWs who have been trafficked are at a significantly higher risk than “average” women of contracting HIV.
Except for Sri Lanka none of the other countries of South Asia have signed the UNTOC Protocol on Trafficking.
On the positive side, South Asia has shown that with modest amounts of funding and focused advocacy targeting law enforcement and the political establishment, dramatic changes can occur in the response of “governance structures” to improve the situation.
For example, through recent police training initiatives in five pilot states in India, year-on-year comparative statistics (pre-project and now) demonstrate that empowering the police to make informed decisions about the victims has led to:

• A dramatic increase in numbers of traffickers arrested
• A dramatic increase in numbers of victims rescued
• A reduction in the number of women/girls arrested for soliciting
• Greater involvement of NGOs in rescue operations and referral for treatment
• A greater willingness by the police to include such training and empowerment activities in the wider curricula of its law enforcement training academies
• An increase in the level of positive coverage (as opposed to sensationalized press stories) of human trafficking as a human security challenge in India.

This initiative has encouraged other enforcement officers to counter human trafficking to a degree that was largely unheard of even two years ago.Such action, if extended and expanded, will underpin much of the tireless and positive work by the multitude of effective NGO operations already underway providing prevention programmes, protection and shelter.

Justification:

As the guardian of the UN Protocol, UNODC is leading the initiative to cause a turning point in the fight against trafficking. This is the UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT).
The Implementation Phase will be launched following a first global stocktaking event – the Vienna Forum – to be held in February 2008. In preparation for the Vienna Forum and the subsequent Implementation Phase of UN GIFT, a number of regional events will focus on the regional characteristics of human trafficking.The UNODC Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) has been carrying out focused interventions in the field of law enforcement capacity-building and victim support in the region. The focus of work has always been squarely centered on addressing trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.Therefore, within this wider spectrum of human trafficking, UNODC will undertake, as part of the UN.GIFT initiative, a regional conference on 'Responding to Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation in South Asia'. This conference will focus on the fundamentals of law enforcement capacity building, partnership with the private sector to provide victim support, and organizational networking. The outcome of this conference will serve as a major arm in the platform for the Vienna meeting in November, as it would have raised the issue of trafficking in South Asia only a month earlier.Additionally, regional leadership will be attuned to the problem through the 'New Delhi Declaration' facilitating discussions and deliberations.

1. Round Table: Developing Business Responses to Human Trafficking
2. Round Table: Tackling human trafficking – Role of media
3. Law enforcement responses to human trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation
4. Community participation for prevention of human trafficking '
5. Protecting the victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation
6. Trafficking for forced labour – Role of corporations, law enforcement agencies and NGOs
7. Trans-national human trafficking – the importance of promoting safe migration
8. HIV/AIDS and human trafficking.

• Visibility and Advocacy: The problem of human trafficking will be prioritized in South Asia. There will be greater networking among stakeholders as a result of the conference. The conference will end with a Declaration to energize the region’s efforts against trafficking.
• Partnerships with the Private Sector: The campaign provides a focal point for forging new partnerships with business enterprises and philanthropists, and an avenue for engaging them in the fight against human trafficking.
• Knowledge: Plenary sessions, symposia and satellite sessions will all focus sharing best practices in addressing human trafficking in South Asia.
  Event:
• 2 day regional conference
• The Government of India will be partnering with UNODC in this event.
• This event will involve all SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries- namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka - plus Afghanistan, which recently joined SAARC.

• Representatives from South Asia – civil society members, representatives from Government including law enforcement. academics, and media representatives.
• Selected representatives from various international organizations and donors will also be invited to participate.
• NGO partners who are not part of the country delegations.
• Selected participants from the private sector.
• Media partners who have demonstrated an interest and a capacity to project the issue of trafficking at the regional level