Director of Prosecution B. Ramakoteswara Rao on Saturday called for evolution of a robust system that would protect the legal rights of victims of sexual exploitation and bonded labour, and emphasised the need for prosecutors to approach such cases with empathy towards the victims.

Also, he highlighted the importance of eliminating the gaps in evidence in the slavery and human trafficking cases in order to speed up the legal processes.

Inaugurating a zonal workshop on Human Trafficking and Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 1976, jointly organised by the Directorate of Prosecution and International Justice Mission (IJM), here, Mr. Ramakoteswara Rao said the role of prosecutors was not only to ensure stringent punishment for the offenders but also to facilitate legal rehabilitation of the victims, and suggested that the legal process should be centered around the victims, and pointed out that true success lay not in winning the cases but in delivering justice to them (the victims).

IJM State Program Director Clement David said the prosecutors who raise their voice on behalf of the victims were the true torchbearers of social change, and that such sessions should strengthen the humanitarian perspective.

Deputy Directors of Prosecution M.K. Vijayalakshmi (Krishna district), Barkath Ali Khan (Guntur) and Nakka Sharada Mani (West Godavari), Jeevanjwala Association general secretary K. Thenmozhi and others were present.