Human Trafficking and Human Smuggling: Ferries
Article 3, paragraph (a) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons defines Trafficking in Persons as ―the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.” Read More
Criminalisation of Seafarers
Millions of seafarers are the backbone of the global fishing and maritime industries. They are solely responsible for the success of these industries and to enable consistent profits from their efforts for the ship owners. It is therefore imperative that all seafarers; regardless of their nationality, gender, religion and location – and regardless of whatever vessel they work on – from the lightest of fishing trawlers to the heaviest of container ships, are protected from abuses of their human rights and labor rights. Read More
India’s Strategic Statecraft with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries
The Gulf region is perhaps the most important region for India, even though the fact is less commonly recognised (Kumarswamy, 2014), as it occupies a pivotal place in India‘s political, economic, cultural, religious and strategic interests and policies. About 6.5 million Indians living in the region remit a huge amount of money to India. The amount of remittance coming from abroad was estimated to be the US $ 71 billion and around fifty per cent of the remittance is from the Gulf region. The Gulf region has always been significant to India because of geo-strategic location, availability of energy resources, home for the Indian diaspora. India‘s trade and economic ties with the region which are around the US $ 160 billion are growing. About 60 per cent of oil is imported from this region. India has a definite interest in the balanced and peaceful strategic environment in the Gulf countries which are the source of two-thirds of India‘s crude oil requirements and form the largest trading regional block for India, accounting for 23.7 per cent of Indian trade Read More
Developments In The Field Of Soft Power
Soft power is the ability to attract and co-opt, rather than coerce (hard power). Soft power is the ability to shape the preferences of others through appeal and attraction. The currency of soft power is culture, political values, and foreign policies. Read More
Book Review: The Raj At War
15th August 1947, India broke free from the shackles of slavery and servitude. This independence struggles can be traced back to the period of the Second World War. ‗The Raj at War‘ by Yasmin Khan entails gripping tales of struggle, perseverance, resilience and victory. It successfully captures the prevalent obscurity about the war and India‘s contribution. Read More
