The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection & Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018, was introduced by the Women and Child Development Minister, Mrs Maneka Gandhi, in the Lok Sabha yesterday. The Bill covers aggravated forms of trafficking such as forced labour, begging and marriage but omits sexual exploitation. The Bill is in violation of India’s international obligations. India is a signatory to the UN Protocol to End Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, which calls on countries to include sexual exploitation and prostitution of others i.e. pimping, as a form of human trafficking. Out of the 16 million women and girls who are trapped in prostitution in India today, a majority of them were trafficked as girls and belong to the most marginalized groups-Dalits, Adivasis, backward classes, minorities and de-notified criminal tribes. If the Bill gets passed without any changes, the girls will have no access to services as they will not be considered victims of the crime of trafficking. In addition, those who buy, sell and rape these vulnerable girls will get away scot free. On the other hand, an old law that punishes women for soliciting in a public place will continue to exist.