Media is considered the fourth Pillar of Indian Democracy and it acts as a watchdog to raise public issues, mould opinions and make people responsible for their actions and thereby work towards the social change in the society.

Swaraksha Anti-Human Trafficking (AHT) program has been working with different stakeholders including media for the last four years at the Indo-Nepal border. The need for multi-stakeholder helped the partners for a better convergence to address the cross-border Human Trafficking issue. Working with Law enforcement agencies, Border forces CWC and other like-minded NGOs to counter Human trafficking at the border had not only developed good coordination, but it had sensitized them on their responsibilities and to respond to them whenever it is required.

Media being one of the most important stakeholders of the Swaraksha AHT Program has become the voice for the victims or the supporting agencies to address the Human Trafficking issue more effectively. Caritas India and its Partners, Diocesan Social Work Society (DSWS), Lucknow and DEHAT invited the representatives of Print and Electronic media of Baharaich to sensitize and involve them in the fight to combat the cross-border Human Trafficking issue which has increased as an impact of Covid-19 Pandemic. Around thirty media representatives from the leading media houses including Amar Ujala, Dainik Jagran, Swatantra Bharat, Times of India, IBN 7, ABP News, DNA News, DD News, PTI news,  UTI news, NBT News, Rashtriya Sahara News and many regional newspapers attended the workshop.

“Media can become the voice for the voiceless and it is mandatory for media to be cautious before handling the cases of Human Trafficking,” shared Animesh William, Caritas India Program officer with the media representative while facilitating the role of Media in Address Human Trafficking. He focused his orientation on the role of media to be complacent when they come across any human Trafficking victims rescue.

Animesh shared that the media has a significant role to play in rejecting harmful messages regarding human trafficking. He stressed that media outlets also have a responsibility to protect victims and survivors by refusing perpetrators virtual or physical access to current or potential victims. Regarding reporting on Human trafficking cases, he said that media should do continuous awareness-raising, enabling visibility, ensuring responsible reporting, preventing through independent investigation are the great role and responsibilities the media has in mobilizing public support and involvement to help prevent and combat trafficking. Speaking about the reach and the ability to mould public opinion, media can act as a powerful tool for social change. By writing an article or broadcasting an item focusing on trafficking in persons, the media not only educate the public but also throw light on an issue typically shrouded in darkness.

The DOs & DONTs for the media were also shared with the media while handling the sensitive cases of Human Trafficking victims and any other issue related to child abuse. Animesh informed that the Protection of victims is at the heart of all anti-trafficking measures. Journalists, photographers, and media houses must protect potential and actual victims (and third persons) by altering the image, personal story, and identity.

The media persons were made familiar with different laws which can be applied while media coverage on sensitive cases. Section 21 of the Juvenile Justice Act was defined to all participants, which speak on obscuring the identity of the victims in which if the victim is the child, the name of the victim, his photograph, his school details and his house address will not be disclosed or published in any media so that the identity of the child is not revealed in public. If any of the media breach this law, they will be charged with the penalty of twenty-five thousand rupees. Likewise, if the victim is a sexually exploited woman, her identity cannot be disclosed in any media. If it is done by any of the media there is a provision of two years imprisonment in Indian Penal Code Section 228A. Section 23 of the POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) was also shared with a media person which speaks on hiding the identity of any Child and not reporting any of the personal details in any media. If anyone does this there is a provision of six months to one year of imprisonment or Penalty of fine or both.

Towards the end of the session, the role of media was highlighted in stopping the exploitation of children or women, any form of Human Trafficking for child labour or child marriage or any kind of child abuse. Not to use sensational Headlines for any news coverage and not to publish any wrong news or article related to any victim of Human Trafficking which will give a negative impact on their mind, Media should always be alert and cooperate for creating the society a better place for children and women to live.

DEHTA Team staff shared on the gender-sensitive reporting. The media representatives were oriented on how they must be very sensitive while reporting on any case related to the women victim. They were asked to refrain from asking questions that violate the dignity of survivors and to try to counsel or support the victim through their rehabilitation.

Media representatives ANI also addressed the participants on victim-friendly reporting and suggested focusing more on perpetrators so that more prosecution and sentence can be announced for the accused from the court. From NDTV,  Senior Journalist said that we need to focus more on the Rehabilitation process which is a big challenge.

The media workshop proved successful in building a good rapport and exchanging major initiatives of the  Caritas India Swaraksha programme with the media