Keep children safe from traffickers in India

Dear GlobalGivers,

A very happy 2018 from iPartner India 

This year we are ready to take up new challenges at a time where crimes against children continue to rise. Every day children are bought and sold like mere commodities.  

iPartner India’s support to RAHAT, a Bihar based NGO since 2013 has prevented hundreds of girls from getting trafficked. Children mostly from poor and marginalised communities are often lured and trafficked into forced labour, forced surrogacy, begging rackets, domestic help or are sold to brothels for sexual slavery.

RAHAT works with local police, border security forces, local magistrates by mobilising poor communities to spread awareness and become more informed about the dangers of child trafficking. RAHAT also trains border security forces to remain vigilant and alert especially at the Indo-Nepal borders where minor girls are trafficked through the porous borders.

As part of their advocacy work, RAHAT recently organised a workshop with various stakeholders including educational institutions, Panchayats (local governing bodies), District Magistrate, school teachers and parents on the issue of child trafficking and child marriage. During the workshop, each stakeholder renewed their commitment to contribute their service and support to ensure that children remain safe not just in their homes but also in schools and public spaces. The lack of awareness and extreme poverty help traffickers to exploit children living in slums and other backward regions in the country.

With the support from local administration, RAHAT has formed vigilante groups in the community, which has led to the rescue and rehabilitation of hundreds of trafficking survivors. In January three minor girls were trafficked while returning from school.  However, only one of the girls has been rescued. She is now reunited with her family eager to go back to school. The girls were tricked and taken to a brothel in West Bengal. The trafficker has been arrested and the search continues for the other two missing girls. Girls, in particular, remain the most vulnerable to being trafficked.

According to government data, 2000 children are trafficked annually from Bihar. The National Crime Rate Bureau data shows that in 2015, 332 cases of child trafficking were registered in Bihar, the third highest in the country.

Despite all the horrific data, iPartner India remains deeply committed to work towards preventing children from getting trafficked. Here at iPartner India, our goal is to make sure that not one child should go missing in 2018.

It is because of your love and support that we have been able to support local NGOs like RAHAT. We urge you to continue to stand with us as your personal fight in our battle to end this modern-day shame.

Thank you! You have made a real difference in the lives of the hundreds of children.

With deep gratitude,

iPartner India Team

Dear GlobalGivers,

Despite the gross number of trafficking on the rise, we are hopeful, as India has called for the adoption of a multi-pronged strategy to fight the global battle against the scourge of human trafficking. In addition, the Indian Government has also accorded highest priority to combat human trafficking.

Close to 20,000 women and children became victims of human trafficking in India in 2016, a rise of nearly 25 percent from the previous year, according to Government data. Poverty, lack of education and awareness push many children to become trafficking victims.

Every8Minutes’ partner organization Nedan Foundation in India’s North East has been working tirelessly to prevent young women and girls from getting trafficked. Assam has seen a huge rise in human trafficking in the last decade, as it shares its border with Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Child trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation are the main reasons. There are hundreds of undocumented cases where many girls have never been traced. Child disappearances have now become a daily reality in Assam and across the country.

Nedan Foundation runs a shelter home for survivors. Here girls are provided with education and skill training in traditional weaving. The home currently shelters 60 girls. As part of their annual activity, an exposure trip was organised to Guwahati. The sightseeing trips organised each year is something all the girls eagerly wait to go out and enjoy themselves. 19 survivors of trafficking visited an amusement park in Guwahati on a daylong trip. These trips help the girls to bond and help them reintegrate back into the society.

“We really had a great time, I especially liked the snow world. I have never seen snow in my life and to be able to experience playing in the snow in Assam is something I have never imagined. I hope to visit the park again” Meena*

Meena 16, resides at Nedan Foundation’s home. She was rescued while working as a domestic help. Her poor parents could not afford to support her, so she was sent away to work. Her employer exploited her and she was finally rescued by Nedan’s team. Meena is currently studying and she hopes to finish her school and pursue higher studies.

The Every8Minutes campaign has been raising its voice to break the chain of silence so that girls like Meena can exercise their basic rights to live a life, free from fear and oppression.

We need your support to help us speak out against child trafficking. Your support is crucial as we continue to support our partner organisations across the country to create awareness among local communities to take prompt action if they see any child in danger.

Thank you for being part of our journey.

With deep gratitude,

iPartner India Team