The Andhra Pradesh government launched the Society for Protection and Empowerment of Women and Children and an Integrated Child Protection scheme on Wednesday to facilitate effective protection of women and children by synergising the service chain of government, non-governmental organisations and private sector.

It also released a protocol on minimum standards of care in homes for victims of sex trafficking to effectively combat trafficking of women and provide all care and support to the victims.

Andhra Pradesh is the first state in the country to set up the society for women empowerment as well as frame the protocol against trafficking, according to chief minister K Rosaiah, who launched these programmes at a two-day workshop organised by the Women Development and Child Welfare Department here today.

"There are several laws for the protection of women but unfortunately they are not being effectively implemented, resulting in growing violence against women.

As many as 10,000 cases of dowry harassment (domestic violence) are being registered in Andhra Pradesh every year while there is an increase in incidence of women and children being trafficked.

Every year, an estimated 20,000 women and children are being trafficked from AP alone," the Chief Minister noted.

"Trafficking of human beings for sexual exploitation is a heinous crime which goes against all tenets of society and the nation. Most important of all, it is a crime against the basic human rights of the victims," Rosaiah said, adding that his government was committed to prevention of trafficking and also the welfare and rehabilitation of the victims.

The Women Development and Child Welfare Department is collaborating with Prajwala, an anti-trafficking organisation, for implementing the protocol on minimum standards of care.

The Society for Protection and Empowerment of Women and Children would have a state-level steering committee comprising ministers of different departments and a general body consisting of secretaries of departments and others. At the district-level the society would be headed by the respective district Collectors.

Ministers Botsa Satyanarayana, Danam Nagender, director general of police R R Girish Kumar, WDCW Department principal secretary Chaya Ratan and other top officials attended the event.