The Odisha government is drafting a new anti-trafficking policy to improve prosecutions and provide better support for survivors [1].

This shift follows years of poor conviction rates in trafficking cases [1]. By moving away from a reactive model, the state aims to dismantle the systemic failures that have historically allowed traffickers to avoid legal accountability.

Officials said the new policy aims to overhaul the state’s approach from a reactive policing model to a systemic, survivor-centered strategy [2]. The framework focuses on comprehensive change rather than isolated interventions, emphasizing the need for a more integrated response to human trafficking.

The draft focuses on three primary pillars: systemic change, survivor support, and improving prosecutions [1]. These measures are designed to create a more cohesive legal process that protects victims, and strengthens the evidence required for successful trials.

Government representatives said the initiative is a direct response to the inability of previous models to secure convictions [1]. The new strategy seeks to ensure that survivors are not only rescued but are also provided with the necessary resources to testify and recover.

By prioritizing a survivor-centered approach, the government intends to create a safer environment for witnesses. This change is expected to reduce the high rate of case collapses that have characterized the state's legal history regarding trafficking [1].

“The new policy aims to overhaul the state’s approach from a reactive policing model to a systemic, survivor-centred strategy.”

The transition from a reactive policing model to a survivor-centered strategy suggests a recognition that legal failures in trafficking cases often stem from a lack of witness protection and support. By focusing on the survivor's needs and the systemic integrity of the prosecution process, Odisha is attempting to bridge the gap between the identification of crimes and the delivery of judicial sentences.