Right to mobility
People's right to movement is recognised as a human right. Constitutions of various countries including ours have recognised this right as a fundamental one. However, state authorities, both at the departure and destination end try to impose restrictions on this movement through various means and modalities.
A section of NGOs in Bangladesh have been crying on the issue of trafficking in women and children. However, they are apparently silent on the issue of exploitation and abuses in the process of labour migration. There are obvious reasons for this: to have funding from western donor countries or agencies to work in the trafficking sector.
The donors have their own interests. They are trying to put restriction on the movement of people to their end from the south. Sometimes, they refer to their security concerns with those restrictions. In most of the cases these are found invalid.
There is a significant development over the decade or so: in response to the huge funding from the western donors, a good number of NGOs in the third world including Bangladesh joined the so-called 'anti-trafficking crusade'. Even those who were previously working in the area like family planning, agriculture and social forestry have assembled themselves in the new row.
I don't know how much awareness they could have been able to raise among common people on the issue of human trafficking which is a demand-driven phenomenon. But it is a fact that those 'NGO leaders' have pocketed millions of dollars and euros through implementation of some ' flimsy programme' of awareness raising.
I have no doubt that women, children and even men are being trafficked out from the country. Even, if the number of the victims is only one that needs to be combated. However, I could not accept the 'number-game' with regard to 'trafficked victims put forward over the years by a section of NGOs which do it intentionally and even unintentionally. However, they do not take note of the consequences. The figure (without any authentic source) presented by even by a local NGO or media is taken up by international media and agencies and get places in the reports of various human rights NGOs and states.
The problem of trafficking needs to be intervened in a different way. That is: people's access to livelihood options, basic services, and having prospective futures and rule of law. Alongside, the opportunity for safe migration could minimize the menace of human trafficking and smuggling if any.
Therefore, the target should be ensuring people's safe migration. That is very much absent. The western countries and agencies are not interested in facilitating safe migration, rather they want to stop trafficking through restricting immigration systems and border controls, which ultimately contributed to compromising people's rights to mobility.
Authors like Laura Maria Agustin argue that where freedom of movement is restricted by stiff laws and stringent border controls, many aspiring migrants have little choice but to seek assistance from the dodgy middlemen. She further argues that the anti-trafficking crusade is restricting international freedom of movement. She justifies that the figures of trafficked victims are based on 'sweeping generalisations and frequently on speculations'. This is very much correct in our context.
This is the high time for a country like Bangladesh to promote and ensure citizens' access to safe migration with dignity and protection in the destination countries. Given the huge volume of potential migrants and demand overseas, there is no room for delay.
It is unfortunate but true that some of the senior government officials on different occasions just read out the script ignoring the consequences of what is reportedly supplied by the NGOs concerned.
These groups of officials vie for overseas trip or other facilities compromising the interest of the State and people at home. They are far behind in terms of capacity and moral stand in negotiating with their counterparts from donor agencies or states.
There is an urgent need to bring all the different entities working on counter trafficking and safe migration issues in Bangladesh to enhance collaboration, share information and experiences and strategies for a common plan of action. There is the need of accountability and transparency. The government has to take the lead. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is reportedly supporting the relevant ministry and agencies in Bangladesh in enhancing their capacities to ensure safe migration.
The media needs to be cautious while reporting on the issue of trafficking. Journalists need proper training in this regard.
I would like to put forward the following recommendations for immediate implementation: adopt a national migration policy, extend opportunity for acquiring skills, language training for potential migrants. Effective legislation in both the sending and receiving country is needed to safeguard the rights of the migrant workers. Crack down on unscrupulous recruiting agencies and agents, create a community knowledge base which will help the potential migrants to make an informed choice.
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