SURVIVORS SPEAK
India’s MPs urged to back antihuman trafficking bill
Chennai/Mumbai — Human trafficking survivors are urging Indian parliamentarians to support proposed legislation to fight the crime, after an opposition leader said it could be used to target consenting adults working in the sex industry. Congress party leader Shashi Tharoor called for further consultations before the bill is presented to parliament. He raised his concerns to Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi in a petition endorsed by thousands of sex workers, hundreds of activists and 30 civil society groups. Trafficking survivors and activists have rejected the petition, saying the draft legislation focuses on victims and the law would not be used against sex workers unless they were forcing others into the practice. Campaigners noted the bill had been drafted after years of consultations. "We urge the government not to hold back passage of this law," said a 23-year-old who was trafficked as a teenager. "Our lives depend on this and we cannot be held hostage to dem...
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