The Consultation was convened by ODANADI, with the support of SARI/Equity, on 28 and 29 April 2006, as part of a series of state-level consultations in India spearheaded by members of the “Advocacy Core Group”. (The latter consists of prominent members of Indian civil society whose task it is to make the two Regional Protocols – Victim Witness Protection and Minimum Standards of Care and Support for Victims of Trafficking and Other Forms of Violence - a “living reality”.) The Consultation was jointly organised with Just Trust – ODANADI’s local partner.

Ms. Anjana Chatterjee, Political Specialist, U.S Consulate, inaugurated the Meeting. The Honorable Justice Karpagavinayagam, High Court; Mr. Peria Karrupu, Principal Judge; Mr. Akbar Ali, Member Secretary, State Free Legal Aid Cell; and Mr. Abdul, Registrar of Magistrates, presided over the proceedings. Participants included representatives from the Social Defense Department; Social Welfare Department; Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Board; Police from the C.B-C.I.D Anti-Trafficking Cell and Anti-Vice Squad; Advocates; NGOs with shelter homes and short stay homes under the Swadhar Scheme; and donor agencies. Mr. James Sundar, Faculty, Loyola College, moderated the sessions.

While Ms. Chatterjee referred to the two Regional Protocols as “milestones” in protecting women and children and punishing the traffickers, the Honorable Justice Karpagavinayagam called them “motivating tools” for agencies – both governmental and non-governmental –intimately involved in the care and protection of survivors/victims of trafficking and violence. Acknowledging the urgent need for minimum standards in the government vigilance homes in Tamil Nadu, representatives of the Social Welfare and Social Defense Departments agreed that the Regional Minimum Standards Protocol could serve as a useful guide.

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