NGO Anyay Rahit Zindagi (ARZ) Co-Founder Arun Pandey on Friday claimed Goa has the highest registration of sex trafficking cases and rescue of girls in India, but the conviction rate is zero.
“We are not surprised by the NCRV 2021 stating that Goa registers highest number of human trafficking cases and largest number of girls across India have been in rescued here in Goa,” Pandey told reporters.
“The police have to be congratulated because it is only because of them that so many cases have been registered and a large number of girls have been rescued,” said Pandey.
“Unfortunately if we see the data, there is zero conviction which means the traffickers who had been arrested have not been convicted nor jailed or punished.”
“We have failed miserably on the conviction part because only if these people face punishment, it can act as a deterrent to such acts and people will not engage trafficking,” said Pandey.
Pandey appealed to the government to review aspects into the prosecution of sex traffickers and take steps to encourage participation of victim girls in trials if the sex trafficking activity has to be stopped in Goa.
