सव भव तु सिखनः ु Annual Report 2022-23 abuses in the business sector, facilita ng legal and administra ve reforms, and building capacity of government ins tu ons and private sector enterprises to enable them to protect and respect human rights, respec vely. In the context of UNGP-BHR, the NHRC is uniquely posi oned in the country to act as a convener for the associated ini a ves. This role was noted in key frameworks and ini a ves -GANHRI, Working Group on Business and Human Rights and the 2018 United Na ons General Assembly Resolu on on improving accountability and access to remedy in BHR. 7.16.2 The Commission organised a Mee ng of the Core Group on Business and Human Rights, on 19 April 2022 to discuss the issues and challenges of Commercial Truck Drivers in India. The aim was to derive certain ac onable points, which could be further implemented. Jus ce Shri Arun Mishra, Chairperson, NHRC, chaired the mee ng. NHRC Core Group members, representa ves from the Union Ministries of Road Transport and Highways, Social Jus ce and Empowerment, Labour and Employment and Health and Family Affairs; All India Transporter's Welfare Associa on, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, NIMHANS and Save Life Founda on also joined the mee ng. The mee ng was divided into three Technical Sessions including Protec on from exploita on, Socio-economic welfare framework; and Physical and mental well-being of commercial truck drivers. Some of the important aspects, among others, emerged during the discussion are as follows: • Mandatory health and accident insurance to be provided to truck drivers; • Provision of truck-stops and res ng places on all Na onal Highways and Expressways with ameni es for res ng, clean food, potable water and clean sanita on; • Formal remunera on structure along with mandatory social security benefits including life insurance, provident fund, etc.; 72 • Establishing a dedicated helpline for registraon of complaints of corrup on and bribery, and • Efforts to provide basic psychological wellbeing as a relief to the sedentary and inflexible and highly stressful lifestyle of commercial truck drivers. 7.16.3 The Na onal Human Rights Commission issued an Advisory to protect the human rights of commercial truck drivers, to the Centre, States/ UT Administra ons. The Advisory has focused on four key areas, including: Protec on from exploita on, provision of ameni es to the drivers, provision of Socio-economic Security and Physical and Mental wellbeing of the commercial truck drivers. The detailed advisory may be accessed on the website of the Commission, i.e., www.nhrc.nic.in. 7.17 Human Trafficking 7.17.1 An important issue closely related, especially with the subjects of women and children, is that of trafficking, which is an organised crime. Trafficking of women and children is a ma er of growing global concern. A vic m of human trafficking is a vic m of con nuous and mul ple crimes at all stages of trafficking. In the Indian legal system, the recognised term is 'human trafficking' or 'trafficking in human being' which is prohibited under Ar cle 23(1) of the Cons tu on of India. 7.17.2 Illustra ve Cases 1.) Trafficking of children and women and their rescue by the Manipur police (Case No 20/14/0/2020) The Commission was informed that Manipur Police rescued 179 Nepalese ci zens (147 women and 32 men) from various loca ons in Manipur as they were planning to cross border from where most of them were scheduled to fly to countries like Iraq, Kuwait, Dubai and a few other countries like Oman, Kazakhstan and Lebanon. Accordingly, the Commission directed Special Monitor to visit the State of Manipur and enquire about trafficking of children and women to various countries. Chapter 7 - Thematic Areas

Select target paragraph3