Maharashtra's women commission will ink an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for rescue and rehabilitation of women who are victims of sex trafficking, acid attack and domestic violence, its chief has said. "We have had serious talks with the UNDP wing working in Maharashtra to work for rescue and rehabilitation of the women trafficked for sexual exploitation, victims of acid attack or domestic violence.

"We are going to sign an MoU with the UNDP in the next 15 days," said Vijaya Rahatkar, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW). Under the pact, one of the key areas would be to impart skills to the affected women so as to help them sustain themselves financially, she said. "In a bid to curb the menace of women trafficking overseas, we approached the Ministry of External Affairs, which has agreed to hold joint meetings with the Airports Authority of India, immigration department, the state government and the MSCW," she said.

Rahatkar was speaking yesterday at an international conference on women trafficking organised by the commission in partnership with the International Justice Mission, India. On Thursday, the Maharashtra government and the Hotel Industry of India signed an agreement, under which they will cooperate in curbing women trafficking.

The commission believes hotels are a breeding ground for trafficking of women, said Rahatkar, a former Aurangabad mayor.