It is with great pleasure we would like to inform that Prajwala, an anti trafficking organization based in old city of Hyderabad has won the AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development for its efforts to “Combat Trafficking of Women and children through Community Partnership”. The Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND) announced the winning projects of its International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects, 2007. The Prize Committee approved the winning projects in its Ninth Meeting, which was held under the chairmanship of HRH Prince Turki Bin Talal Bin Abdul Aziz, Personal Representative of HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, AGFUND President, on Wednesday 5 September 2007, at AGFUND premises in Riyadh.
Prajwala is a pioneering anti-trafficking organization based in the old city of Hyderabad. In the last 11 years Prajwala has rescued hundreds of women and children from all over India from prostitution and successfully rehabilitated them. It has been also successful in preventing over 5000 children from entering prostitution through its education program. As a leading advocacy organization Prajwala is relentlessly pushing for new policies for the welfare of trafficked victims and has been instrumental in bringing out quite a few welfare measures for the benefit of victims of sex trafficking both in the state of Andhra Pradesh and also nationally.
Prajwala wishes to thank all its friends, supporters and well wishers for their unconditional support in the Prajwala mission
LETS JOIN IN THE MOVEMENT AGAINST TRAFFICKING (MAT) LETS PREVENT ANY HUMAN PERSON FROM BEING TRAFFICKED
Dr Sunitha Krishnan, Founder, Prajwala
LAUNCH OF MAT Movement Against Trafficking
In collaboration with Durgesh, Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), Andhra Pradesh, Prajwala launched a nationwide movement against trafficking (MAT).The MAT logo and the tattoo sticker was released by the Honb’le Minister For Women Development and Child Welfare Mrs Rajyalaxmi during the valedictory function of the South India Consultation on Standards of Care on 18th Aug 2007. Speaking on the occasion Mrs Rajyalaxmi spoke passionately on the need to combat trafficking and sticking the tattoo sticker of the MAT logo on her palm she proclaimed that this logo will signify our resistance to human trafficked and hoped that every single person in the society will sport the logo. The movement aims to create a large mass consciousness against human trafficking. With an aim to create a society that is zero tolerant to trafficking MAT will address all stakeholders in the society including legislators, celebrities, students, teachers etc. PRAJWALA LAUNCHES ITS NEW WEBSITE
It is with great pride and joy we would like to announce the launch of our new website www.prajwalaindia.com Designed by Rajesh Touchriver this new face of Prajwala we hope is more user friendly and appealing. Please give us your valuable feedback on our website. Dr Sunitha
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In a landmark judgement given in the 5th Addl MSJ Court, Hyderabad, two traffickers were convicted for the first time in Andhra Pradesh.
Based on the testimony of a victim, Prajwala filed a complaint in Gopalpuram P.S. The minor victim was sex trafficked by one Shankar and Swapna. She was commercially sexually exploited for over 5 months from where she escaped and reached Prajwala.
The Circle Inspector Md Ismail after hearing the victim’s version lodged a FIR (Cr No 297 of 2006 U/S 366 A, 376 IPC and Sec 3,4,5 of ITPA). After the legal formalities of medical examination, age verification, etc., statement 164 was recorded one week after the FIR was lodged. Both the accused were apprehended in the month of October. As the victim was pregnant at the time of rescue and there were a lot of threats to her life with the joint efforts of the police and very specially the CID the victim was sheltered in a safe place and provided all protection. The trial began in May 2007. Before the trial the victim was prepared for the court room environment and also on the nature of questions that would be asked. In one such session the public prosecutor also participated. Both victim and Dr Sunitha Krishnan were prime witnesses for the case.
Despite the hostile environment in the court the victim witness was very powerful. This was largely due to pre-trial preparations.
On 26-6-07 the Honourable Judge pronounced her verdict. For accused 1 Shankar, 7yrs RI and Rs 2000 fine under Sec 376 IPC, 2yrs RI & Rs 2000 fine U/S 4 ITPA & 5 yrs RI & Rs 2000 fine U/S 5 ITPA. Accused 2, Swapna 1yr RI U/s 4 ITPA, 3 yrs RI and Rs 200/ fine U/s 5 ITPA.
This is the first conviction in the State of Andhra Pradesh for trafficking crime. And again for the first in the state conviction has happened from both IPC and ITPA. Prajwala wishes to thank UNODC and very specially Mr PM Nair for sensitizing the law Enforcers and Public Prosecutors. This case is a testimony of the paradigm shift in the minds of enforcement agencies. Committed officers made a difference. Our gratitude to Md Ismail the Inspector who lodged the case, Mrs Radha Rani and Mrs Varalaxmi the Public Prosecutors, Mr Bhaskar,Director of Prosecutions, Mr Ratan,Addl DGP, Nodal Officer, AHTU, Mr Umapati, IG,CID and Mr Mahesh Bhagwat,SP, Women Protection Cell whose tireless efforts ensured conviction. A special mention of court constable Mr Subba Rao who was a great source of support in ensuring victim witness protection.
