Among many challenges facing trafficking survivors is the lack of citizenship certificate, so the government must pay serious attention to address the issue, according to Shakti Samuha, which recently bagged the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for their relentless fight against human trafficking and support to the survivors.

"Among other activities we undertake, bringing the trafficked girls back home from India is a major one. But after they come here, only a few can be successfully reintegrated into their families or society. But many even do not know their village or get to meet their family," said Sunita Danuwar, president of the organization. "In such conditions, it is very difficult for them to acquire citizenship certificate."

Danuwar recalls the time when the founder members of the organization had to struggle even to register the organization and one of the hurdles was that the members did not have citizenship. "Not having the card deprives you of so many rights and benefits let alone the feeling of lack of belongingness."

Charimaya Tamang stresses that it is the duty of the government to ensure the rights of its citizens including the trafficked victims. "That is why the government should ensure that the girls and women do not have to suffer in lack of citizenship. Many girls are of a very young age when they are trafficked outside the country. When they return home, some of them find that their families have already migrated elsewhere and sometimes the family disowns them," explained Tamang. "In such situations, the victims are unable to get citizenship. So, we want the government to understand the problem and deal with such cases accordingly."

Danuwar also added that the organization is not at all satisfied with the current compensation provided for the victims. "Only 50 percent of the fine collected from the trafficker is provided to the victim and the rest of the money goes to the state coffers. If more girls are trafficked and more culprits nabbed then the government earns more! What an irony?"

Talking to media persons on Sunday, the founder members of the organization stated that though society and the state are showing a more liberal attitude toward the survivors, girls and women still face massive challenges as they try to reintegrate into society. "Things have changed over the years. But, when we try to reintegrate the victims into society, they still face a mountain of challenges. The government must address the issue," Dunuwar said.

So far, the organization has already helped bring back many and rehabilitate 128 trafficked victims.

Published on: 29 July 2013 | Republica