Not For Sale: Rescuing Victims of HumanTrafficking

Introduction

The Project "Not for Sale" was initiated to  support the Girls, Young Children who have been victims of Child Sexual Offences, Human Trafficking or rescued from Child Labor.

After working in Maharashtra for nearly 15 years, Rescue Foundation realized the need to establish themselves in the Northern States of India.  We noticed many children especially girls were victims of Child Sexual Offences, Chld Labor or were trafficked for Commercial Sex mostly from the States of Delhi, Meerut, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh.  There were also cases of run away or missing chldren who landed up in Brothels, or on the Streets.

Rescue Foundation set up a Protection Home on the outskirsts of Delhii to Care for these children.  The Home set up is licenced by the Govt. under Women & Chlld Ministries to shelter children who need Care & Protection.

Rescue Foundation has a small team who manage the Home since its inception in 2019.  The Home operates on the following objectives :

Rescue, Rehabilitation & Restororation

Investigation & Rescue Team

A small team partners with the local Anti Human Trafficking Units across these Northern States and local NGOs to rescue children who are trapped in industrial units working in hazardous condition in full knowledge of their parents.  Besides these we have rescued several young minor girls below the age of 18 years who were either trapped into commercial or forced sex.  Many of these girls were lured into dance and singing orchestras which operate across the Northern States.  In the garb of Orchestra these young girls were forced to provide sex to customers, at times forced through physical violence or gun trotting men.

No of Rescue Operatons 6

No of Minor Girls Rescued from Human Trafficking & Forced Sex 18

Admissions & Discharge

Girls both Major and Minors were admitted to the Home.  Most of the admissions are done through the orders ot the Local Child Welfare Dept. and Police.

Discharges were done after the child completed the Rehabilitation Period, or as per the orders of the Child Welfare Dept to restore the child  to the Parents. The Child was only restored once we were convinced the parents were able to care for them and would not force them to work or be abused

Admissions

Major Girls 4

Minor Girls 32

Discharge /Handing Over to Parents

Minors 35

Care & Protection

During the Rehabilitation Period the Girls are trained in Tailoring, Basic Computers, Art & Craft, Product Making.  They have regular schedule of physical training, mediation, yoga and Zumba.

Monthly Average of Children Cared & Trained  27

Education Formal/Non Formal

Few Girls are encouraged to complete their Formal Education and the Home facilitates this process by ensuring they have a birth certificate, school leaving certicate or aadhar card (govt ID)

17 girls have been admitted to Formal School.  Some of them are enrolled in the National Open School and are coached at the Home and appear for their 10th or 12th Grade Examination

Around 40 Girls who were not ablle to attend Formal Education were given In Formal Education such as basic English, Maths, Sciences at the Home itself

2 of the girls attend College and doing very well in their studies

1 of our past Major Girl was pursuinlg her Degree Course in Science and has been handed over to her Famliy

Health

Routine Health was monitored by a visiting doctor and in case of critical illness they were referred to the local govt health centers.  Besides this there is regular health and hygiene session for every child.

Counselling

Individual and Group Counselling were conducted for all the children to help them with the stress and trauma post their rescue and during the rehabilitation period. 

Restoring to Families

In an attempt to build good relationship with the Families the Home encourages the children to speak to their Families over phone.  Few times families visit them and also some children are sent for short periods during vacation or festivals.

Lega Aid

Each child is ensured that he/she has acess to legal aid when needed.  In case they have to appear in the courts, the child along with parents is counselled to appear and testify which would hellp in penalizing the perpetrator as per the Indian Law.

Building Relations with the Govt

Over the years we have builit good partnership with 3 local Child Welfare Committees, District Child Protectaion Units.  We have conducted regular monitoring meetings with these partners, shared information. 

Conclusion

We are grateful for the support of our donors to this Project Not For Sale, we truly believe rescuing and caring for these girls has ensured that not just the girls are rescued and rehabilitated safely, but we are able to counsel and restor them to their parents in the hope that they will not be sold or trafficked.