The Chairperson of National Commission for Women Mamta Sharma has emphasized the urgent need for creating awareness among the public about human trafficking.

Inaugurating a national conference on human trafficking in New Delhi today, she expressed concern over rising trends of human trafficking, particularly sexual exploitation of women and child through sex tourism and cross border trafficking.

Ms. Sharma said, several short terms and long term measures are needed to be taken up at all levels and media can play an effective role in this regard. She said poverty alleviation measures too will help in combating human trafficking.

Ms. Sharma said, an integrated plan of action has been worked out through a consultation process of all related central Ministries, State governments and other stakeholders and its full implementation is required to prevent human trafficking.

Co-organiser of the conference, National Human Rights Commission's Secretary General Rajiv Sharma said that 50 per cent of population constitutes of women and children and of them, 40 per cent are vulnerable to human trafficking.

He emphasized the need for implementation of ideas and suggestions given by the National Human Rights commission in this regard.

State Women commissions, human rights commissions at state level and secretaries of social welfare departments and other representatives of states and several Non Government Organisations are participating in the conference to bring out concrete recommendations to combat human trafficking.