Delhi (AsiaNews) – Today, 8 September, feast day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Indian Catholic Church celebrates the Day of the Girl Child, an opportunity to highlight the dignity, freedom, and rights of girls, which are too often trampled upon.
For the Archdiocese of Bombay, this day offers an opportunity to strengthen a "culture of safety" to protect minors and vulnerable adults.
A timely and urgent message
An article published by The Assam Tribune reports that Arunachal Pradesh police have traced or rescued 38 people, 34 girls and four adults, during an investigation into an alleged case of child trafficking and illegal placement.
Four alleged brokers have been arrested, with the latest identified as Rupali Padung. Police are investigating the transportation and placement of the victims, financial transactions, and electronic evidence.
The girls were traced to several locations in Arunachal Pradesh, including Aalo, Mechuka, Pasighat, Naharlagun, Itanagar, and Longding, as well as neighbouring Assam.
The investigation is being conducted in collaboration with the Child Welfare Committee and the District Child Protection Unit, which are providing assistance, counselling, and rehabilitation support.
Police have not released the identities of the minors, for their safety.
Reports from the Arunachal investigation indicate that police are examining these very issues, including the role of parents and guardians and the circumstances under which the children were allegedly placed with other people.
Beyond the numbers: a structural and deep-rooted problem
For decades, Christian institutions in India have been present in places where public services are limited, with schools, hostels, hospitals, social welfare centres, women's groups, parish networks, and religious congregations.
This presence comes with a responsibility to ensure that boys and girls entrusted to Church institutions not only receive an education, but are also truly protected.
For its part, the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) has emphasised the need for "inclusive, equitable, and safe" spaces for girls and women, highlighting issues such as gender inequality, early marriage, human trafficking, and unsecured human rights.
The 34 girls rescued in Arunachal Pradesh are not just a number in a police investigation. The United Nations has repeatedly emphasised that every girl deserves equality, opportunity, and dignity. Furthermore, the world body warns that women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected by trafficking and numerous forms of violence.
Greater awareness against trafficking
Dr Pascoal Carvalho of the Bombay Diocesan Committee for Human Life, a former member of the Pontifical Academy for Life, spoke to AsiaNews about the matter.
“The rescue of these 34 children in a trafficking investigation is a deeply disturbing reminder that children remain among the most vulnerable victims of exploitation,” Dr Carvalho said.
“Human trafficking,” he added, “is not merely a criminal act; it is a grave violation of human dignity because it treats a human person, especially a child, as a commodity. Every child has an inherent dignity and an inviolable right to life, protection, education, family and a safe future.”
For Carvalho, on the occasion of the Day of the Girl Child, the Church and society must go beyond simple celebration and assume a deeper commitment to protection and prevention so that girls are never considered a burden, a source of cheap labour, or someone whose future can be bartered for financial gain.
Instead, girls are persons with a God-given dignity, a voice and a future. To this end, “We need greater awareness among parents and communities, vigilance against trafficking networks, effective safeguarding mechanisms, and compassionate rehabilitation for children who have already experienced exploitation,” the doctor explained.
Rescue is just the beginning. According to Dr Carvalho, justice must be accompanied by healing, education, rehabilitation and the restoration of the child's dignity.
“Ultimately, our success should not be measured only by the number of children we rescue, but by whether we create a society in which children cannot be trafficked in the first place,” he explained.
Defending human life means defending children under all circumstances. “Protecting the girl child is therefore not merely a social responsibility; it is a profound expression of our respect for human life, human dignity and the future of our society,” he noted.
