International FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2017 17 Studying law helping sex slaves find justice MUMBAI: Ishika never thought that being sold by her parents to a brothel in Kolkata at the age of six would inspire her to pursue a career in one of the most presti- gious professions - law. But after being rescued from sexual slavery, Ishika, now 24, has spent more than a decade trying to get justice against her traffickers. Despite the drawn-out case, she has not given up hope of seeing her abusers behind bars. “I will become a lawyer and take up cases of traffick- ing victims and fight them effectively,” said Ishika, one of nearly 20 sex trafficking survivors who will study law under a program launched by an anti-trafficking charity yesterdsy . “I was rescued 13 years ago but my case is still going on,” Ishika, who asked to be identified only by her first name, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “I often feel I am the accused and not the victim. I do not want other trafficking victims to go through this.” ‘School for justice’ Of an estimated 20 million commercial sex workers in India, 16 million women and girls are victims of sex NEW DELHI: In this photograph taken on April 4, 2017, an Indian devotee offers food to a cow during the Ram Navami trafficking, according to campaigners. But fewer than festival at the Shri Ram Hanuman Vatika temple. —AFP two in five trafficking cases ends in a conviction. The US State Department said in its 2016 Trafficking in Persons report that investigations, prosecutions and convic- tions for human trafficking were low in India even India police arrest 3 for though the government has stepped up its law enforcement efforts. Free A Girl Movement said under its “School for Justice” program, young women who cow vigilante murder had been trafficked for sex as children would be guided through the college admission process and their educa- NEW DELHI: Police said yesterday directly involved in assault on the vic- Modi’s BJP government. tion and other expenses provided for. they have arrested three people for tims,” Prakash told AFP. “(The) new vision for India that “It is a long-term program to empower sex traffick- murder over the death of a Muslim Slaughtering cows is illegal in Narendra Modi ji is propagating... is a ing survivors and help them become public prosecu- man attacked while transporting cows many Indian states and some also vision where only one idea will pre- tors in the future so that they take up cases of child in northern India, where vigilantes require a licence for transporting vail,” said Rahul Gandhi, vice president trafficking and child prostitution,” said the charity’s patrol the streets to protect the ani- them across state borders. Prakash of the opposition Congress party. “Any spokesman Francis Gracias. Campaigners say prosecu- mal Hindus consider sacred. Pehlu said police have registered a murder other idea, anybody who doesn’t listen tors representing rescued victims are often unable to Khan, a 55-year-old farmer, died of his case against all three and have arrest- to and agree with Narendra Modi, has connect with their plight or help them to sufficiently injuries on Monday after hundreds of ed 11 survivors of the attack, charging no place in India,” he told reporters express themselves in court - which weakens the case vigilantes attacked his cattle trucks on them under various sections of outside parliament. At least 10 Muslim and often results in acquittals. a highway in Alwar in the state of Rajasthan’s cow protection law. men have been killed in similar inci- “Rescued girls do not understand the legalities of Rajasthan. Vigilante squads that roam India’s dents across the country by Hindu the case such as what sections of the law were applied Police are still trying to identify highways inspecting livestock trucks mobs on suspicion of eating beef or and why,” said Tapoti Bhowmick of charity Sanlaap, most of the 200 vigilantes who for any trace of the animal have prolif- smuggling cows in the last two years. which helps rescued girls like Ishika complete their attacked Khan and injured six others erated since the Hindu nationalist In 2015 a Muslim man was lynched by school education. “They (rescued girls) can represent as they transported dozens of cows Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to his neighbors over rumors that he had cases of trafficking better in court as they have them- into a neighboring state. Alwar police power in 2014. slaughtered a cow. Police later said the selves suffered the pain and trauma it causes,” Chief Rahul Prakash said they arrested Rajasthan’s BJP home minister meat was mutton. Last month a hotel Bhowmick said. Ishika has already started studying three late Wednesday after examining Gulab Chand Kataria told reporters manager was beaten by a mob and his English, mathematics and other subjects in preparation video footage shot by onlookers and earlier that both sides were to blame restaurant sealed in Jaipur after Hindu for the entrance exam to a law college, which she broadcast by the media. “We saw the for the incident tomorro. Khan’s death vigilantes accused him of serving beef. hopes will one day help her win her case. “The brothel videos and identified at least five peo- sparked outrage yesterday in India’s Last year, Modi criticized the cow-pro- madam and my trafficker have remained free all these ple who were at the spot. We called upper house of parliament, where tection vigilantes and urged a crack- years that I have spent at a shelter home. I want traf- those five people to the police station opposition lawmakers shouted slo- down against groups using religion as fickers to fear law, and me,” she said. —Reuters and found that three of them were gans against Prime Minister Narendra a cover for committing crimes. — AFP China protests to India over Dalai Lama visit BEIJING: China said yesterday that it has lodged by the Dalai Lama to relevant areas and opposes an official protest with India over the visit of the the attempt by relevant countries to arrange a exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to platform for the Dalai Lama to hold anti-China contested territory along the two countries’ bor- and separatist activities,” Hua said, adding that der. The Dalai Lama travelled to Arunachal China had “launched representations” over the Pradesh, parts of which Beijing claims as South visit with the Indian ambassador to China and Tibet, earlier this week for teachings at local with the country’s foreign ministry. The Dalai monasteries. Lama fled to India after a failed uprising in 1959 “Inviting and approving the visit of the Dalai but is still deeply revered by many Tibetans. Lama to disputed areas between China and India Beijing says its troops “peacefully liberated” has damaged our interests and China-India rela- Tibet in 1951 and accuses the Nobel Peace laure- tions,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua ate of seeking Tibetan independence through Chunying told a regular press briefing. Beijing “spiritual terrorism”. He says he merely wants claims that the religious leader is bent on split- greater autonomy for his homeland, where many DIRANG: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, center in yellow robes, returns ting Tibet from China and has previously con- accuse the central government of religious after teachings at the Thupsung Dhargyeling Monastery. —AP demned the planned visit. “We oppose the visit repression and eroding Tibetan culture. —AFP .