Traffickers targeting young for sex trade

Vijayawada: Young children and teenagers studying in the high school and colleges, too, are falling prey to the traffickers, who are accessing children for prostitution through the social media, cell phones and internet. 

A research conducted by Bengaluru- based NGO in six states revealed that the advent of cell phones, internet and social media, the sex trade victimising children is not restricted to prostitution of girls in red light areas alone, but has been expanded to an online space where sex offenders are accessing children for prostitution with anonymity.

Andhra Pradesh, which is one of the highest trafficking areas in the state, needs stringent laws to check trafficking and save young girls from sexual exploitation, said Roop Sen, researcher and co-founder of an NGO, Change Mantras. He addressed a workshop organised for the media at a hotel by The News Minute, Change Mantras and HELP.

Roop Sen, a researcher lamented that the demand creators for sex are changing their attitude and now looking for young girls studying in schools and colleges. He felt the tendency is very dangerous to society and it should be checked seriously by using Acts like Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) and IPC.

He said the media is always looks writing about the victims and not trying to find the real offenders, who are responsible for the victimisation of children in sexual offences. He said Andhra Pradesh stood second in the country in women and child trafficking and the state government has to deal with it strictly to prevent it.

N Ramamohan, president of the NGO, HELP, said recently, the Andhra Pradesh appointed a panel of legal experts and campaigners to study anti-trafficking laws that could be applied to sex buyers and it has made a significant move towards becoming the first state in the country to target people who purchase sex from women and children. 

He said it is very sad that there is a booming market for children in the sex industry. He said law enforcement agencies, NGOs and others should strive to check the menace of trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and children.