IAS/UPSC Coaching Institute  

24 Dec 2025 : End the exploitation

 Editorial 2: ​End the exploitation

Context

Child trafficking demands sustained, collective action by both the government and civil society.

 

Introduction

Child trafficking represents one of the most brutal forms of modern slavery, exposing deep gaps between law and lived reality. The Supreme Court’s warning highlights how organised crime, sexual exploitation, and weak enforcement mechanisms continue to endanger children. Despite protective laws, failures in prevention, prosecution, and rehabilitation demand urgent, coordinated action from the State and society.

 

Child trafficking: a stark judicial warning

  • Child trafficking remains one of the gravest forms of modern slavery in India.
  • In a December 19 judgment, the Supreme Court of India described it as a “deeply disturbing reality”, noting the continued sexual exploitation of children by organised cartels despite existing laws.

 

Case and judicial findings

  • The Court heard a case involving a minor sexually exploited by a trafficking gang in Bengaluru.
  • It upheld convictions under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, stressing that such crimes violate dignity, bodily integrity, and constitutional child protection.

 

Understanding organised trafficking

  • The Bench highlighted the layered structure of trafficking networks involving recruitment, transport, harbouring, and exploitation of minors.
  • These networks operate across multiple levels, making detection and prosecution complex.

 

Guidelines on child testimony

  • Courts must show sensitivity and latitude when recording a child’s testimony.
  • Minor inconsistencies should not undermine credibility, as children may struggle to narrate trauma with precision.
  • A trafficked minor is not an accomplice; her testimony deserves the same credence as that of an injured witness.

 

State, society, and enforcement gaps

  • The Court underscored the shared responsibility of government and civil society to act decisively.
  • While laws exist, enforcement needs strengthening—empowering anti-trafficking units and passing a comprehensive anti-trafficking Bill.

 

Data and conviction deficit

  • According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 10,659 trafficking cases were recorded between 2018–2022, but the conviction rate was only 4.8%—a major deterrence gap.
  • Post-rescue rehabilitation must go beyond compensation to include long-term care and reintegration.
  • Prevention and protection are paramount; keeping children in school till 14 years as envisaged by the Right to Education Act is critical.

 

Digital-era challenges

  • With the digital space, trafficking has become shape-shifting and adaptive.
  • Authorities and social organisations must be prepared to counter all evolving forms of exploitation, including forced child labour.

 

Conclusion

The Court’s observations must translate into systemic reform. Stronger investigations, higher conviction rates, sensitive judicial processes, and meaningful rehabilitation are essential. Beyond punishment, the focus must shift to prevention, education, and child protection, especially in the digital age. Only sustained government resolve and civil society engagement can dismantle trafficking networks and safeguard children’s dignity.