Reducing Child Trafficking in India: The Role of Human Rights Education and Social Work Practice

Abstract

Child trafficking is one of the cruelest crimes that could ever be committed. Not only is it a criminal offense throughout the world, but it is also a violation of several human rights and child rights. The present article explores the meaning, objectives, and consequences of this abhorrent act along with its prevalence globally and in India. However, the crux of the article is on the role of human rights education and social work practice in arresting the growth of child trafficking in India. Human rights education in India is the need of the hour, especially since it has the capacity to not just enlighten the public about their human rights and the rights of children, but also because it can motivate professionals to shoulder their responsibility and work to reduce the prevalence of child trafficking in the country. Human rights education can also empower vulnerable communities who have been historically denied of their dignity, to rise and protect their children from such crimes. Among other things, the author has also discussed the three major models of human rights education and how it can be used to address the issue of child trafficking. Finally, the role of social workers in addressing this issue has also been discussed. Human rights education and social work practice have several facets in common that have the capability to greatly reduce the prevalence of child trafficking in the country. Keywords: child trafficking, human rights, human rights education, social work practice, India