Written questions submitted by Lord Alton on human trafficking and bonded labour in relation to the Delhi Commonwealth Games

People Trafficking

Questions

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of media reports that human trafficking of women and girls, particularly from the north-eastern states of India into Delhi, increased in the lead-up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games, they have made representations to the Government of India about those reports; if so, with what result; and what help the United Kingdom has offered to the Government of India to help prevent such trafficking.[HL4749]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We have not made specific representations about these reports. However, the UK Government are committed to working with international partners to address the problem of human trafficking. Through the EU we continue to encourage India to ratify and implement the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its Protocol on People Trafficking. We will continue to raise the most pressing human rights issues through the EU-India human rights dialogue.

The EU has run three projects during the period 2000-2010 on human trafficking in India, focusing on both interstate trafficking in India and regional trafficking in south Asia.

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of media reports that human trafficking of women and girls, particularly from the north-eastern states of India into Delhi, increased in the lead-up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games, athletes, officials and spectators from the United Kingdom were warned that women and girls in the sex trade in India have been trafficked.[HL4750]

Lord Howell of Guildford: Athletes, officials and spectators were not warned specifically about reported trafficking of women and girls in the sex trade in India ahead of the Commonwealth Games. We provided travel advice to British nationals attending the Games focused on their personal security, health and safety.

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of media reports that human trafficking of women and girls, particularly from the north-eastern states of India into Delhi, increased in the lead-up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games, any lessons have been learnt from Delhi's experience in advance of the 2012 London Olympics.[HL4822]

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Neville-Jones): The Government are aware that in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympics criminals may seek to profit from the Games by increasing their activities, including in relation to human trafficking.

Intelligence on organised crime, including human trafficking, is regularly reviewed as part of the Olympics organised crime threat assessment. Current intelligence and available research evidence do not indicate an increased threat of human trafficking in relation to the London 2012 Olympics.

However, if this situation changes, our response will draw on lessons to be learnt from the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of media reports that human trafficking of women and girls, particularly from the north-eastern states of India into Delhi, increased in the lead-up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games, they have made representations to the Government of India about the reported cases of child labour in the construction of the Commonwealth Games facilities as a result of debt bondage.[HL4823]

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have not made specific representations about the reported cases of child labour in the construction of the Commonwealth Games facilities. However, child rights remain a high priority in our work to promote equality and tackle discrimination in India and the UK Government engage on this issue with relevant authorities. Through the EU, we continue to encourage India to ratify and implement as a priority International Labour Organisation Conventions 138 and 182 relating to child labour and to withdraw its reservation to article 32 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which explicitly prohibits child labour.

We will continue to raise child rights issues with the Indian Government through the EU-India human rights dialogue.

Source: Lords Hansard 13 Dec 2010 Column WA142/3