Mumbai, May 5 (IANS): A new report that highlights the legal challenges faced by victims of human trafficking and modern slavery in India was released here on Tuesday.

"Putting Justice First: Legal Strategies to Combat Human Trafficking in India" -- the report by the Thomson Reuters Foundation and the Freedom Fund was based on research done with the support of anti-trafficking organisations, lawyers and survivors of human trafficking.

"The report identifies a number of significant impediments within the Indian legal system that are preventing trafficking trials from taking place like the lack of protection for the victims and their families, and poor investigation and persistent confusion related to the correct applicability of existing laws," a statement said.

The report calls for the implementation of key recommendations like training community members as para-legals to provide initial legal support and counselling to victims, especially in the rural communities.

It further advocates providing trafficking survivors with practical and legal support for the duration of their legal proceedings, which includes ensuring physical safety, transportation for pursing legal cases, and help accessing economic entitlements.

The report also calls for building effective partnerships between legal firms and NGOs that are assisting survivors while providing practical information and support to media professionals to increase coverage of modern slavery.