PROTECTING INNOCENCE: LEGAL PERSPECTIVES ON CHILD TRAFFICKING IN INDIA

AUTHOR – SHRESHTHA PAWAIYA, LLM STUDENT AT AMITY UNIVERSITY MADHYA PRADESH

 BEST CITATION – SHRESHTHA PAWAIYA, PROTECTING INNOCENCE: LEGAL PERSPECTIVES ON CHILD TRAFFICKING IN INDIA, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (10) OF 2025, PG. 944-947, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

Abstract

Child trafficking continues to be a critical human rights issue in India, affecting thousands of children annually. Despite constitutional provisions, multiple statutory safeguards, and international treaty obligations, enforcement gaps and systemic failures have limited the effectiveness of anti-trafficking measures. This research paper critically examines the Indian legal framework on child trafficking through a humanized lens, exploring how existing laws interact with real-world conditions faced by survivors. It analyzes key statutes, judicial pronouncements, policy mechanisms, and international commitments while identifying gaps in rehabilitation, enforcement, and victim protection. The paper emphasizes the urgent need for a coordinated, survivor-centric approach to eradicate trafficking and fulfill India’s constitutional promise of justice and dignity for all children.