GlobalGiving.org: A New Home for victims of sex-trafficking in India

Request for Approval for New Prajwala Fundraising Campaign

Lanna Walsh — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:22:52 GMT

Survivors of Sex Trafficking (Credit: PBS)

Rebuild their home, Rebuild their lives: A New Home for victims of sex-trafficking in India

Six hundred survivors of sex trafficking are being forced to relocate because of the construction of a new mall in Hyderabad. They have three months to buy land to build a new shelter.

This August, 600 survivors of sex trafficking will be forced to relocate because of the construction of a new mall in Hyderabad. Funding is urgently needed to secure land to build a new shelter for the women.

As the organization struggles to find a solution, securing land in a suitable location is difficult. The current shelter is located in the heart of the city giving women easy access to education and jobs. A remote location will inhibit the organization’s efforts to reintegrate women into the workforce.

The organization has successfully found 4 acres of land close to the city of Hyderabad, enabling these women to keep their jobs. A new shelter will be built there and will serve as a safe haven for the survivors who seldom find acceptance in society.

These women have been rescued and rehabilitated by Prajwala, an anti-trafficking organization for 11 years. Prajwala has provided shelter and services for such women. The organization has given education, vocational training, and employment that have helped these survivors find the acceptance and confidence they need to lead independent lives.

Links:

Organization Website

HYDERABAD INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AWARD

Reena Lal — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:50:05 GMT

PRAJWALA

HYDERABAD INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AWARD FOR ANAMIKA –THE NAMELESS

“ANAMIKA –THE NAMELESS” a bold film on sex trafficking made by Prajwala and Touchriver Pictures continues to be gathering accolades and appreciation. In the recently held “Hyderabad International Film Festival” it was adjusted best Documentary Film. The competitive section had more than 150 entries from 35 countries.

We write to thank all our partners and friends for their consistent support.

It is your firm support that enabled us to screen ‘ Anamika- The Nameless’ for over 1.5 million men, women and young adults.

Your support has strengthened our “Movement Against Trafficking.”

* Prajwala Family

Awareness Rally By Transition Center

Reena Lal — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 09:50:12 GMT

Prajwala Anti-Human Trafficking Organization

Awareness Rally By Transition Center Held On 18th Oct 2007

Second generation Intervention Transition schools are bridge schools that support a child in difficult circumstances to develop coping skills necessary to reintegrate in the mainstream society. The transition schools provide holistic healing in terms of psycho- social and scholastic needs of the child. The schools aim to mainstream a child, back to the society with effective coping and survival skills.

Community Social Response On 18th Oct 2007 as part of community awareness programme children of six transition centers organized a social awareness rally for the surrounding communities of the schools.

Each transition center took a silent march to spread public awareness on the following issues. The objective was to educate and empower the community / slums at large on how to prevent its occurrence and respond effectively to the problem when it comes to their attention. Public announcement material such as banners, pamphlets, slogans on placards was developed by children and teachers on the following issues.

1.Girl Child 2.Prevent Chikungunya & Dengue [caused due to mosquitoes] 3.Pollution & Make your city clean and Green 4.Eradicate Child labour 5.Clean the water before drinking

The rally started from the school compound and the children walked along the roads covering the community surrounding the schools. Community people responded by reading the message and interacted with teachers and children. The positive response from the community people encouraged the children to take up an issue every month to create awareness in the community.

International Award for Prajwala

Reena Lal — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 05:36:38 GMT

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 Movement Against Trafficking (MAT)

Dr. Sunitha Krishnan — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:30:32 GMT

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

Links:

New Prajwala Website

Landmark Judgement--14 Years Conviction for Traffickers

Prajwala — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:37:18 GMT

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.

Monthly news bulletin

Reena lal — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 13:14:34 GMT

We would like to share out monthly news bulletin with our partners and friends through Global Giving.

Please see the attached newsletter with information about Prajwala activities.

Attachments:

Prajwala monthly news bulletin (PDF)

Upcoming Marriage of Survivors

Reena lal — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:36:47 GMT

We would like to share with our friends and partners the marriage of Survivors will take place on 23rd March 2007, Seven girls will take vows and oath on this auspicious day, it happens to be our Founder members Late Bro. Jose Vetticatil's birthday. This event was planned to take place earlier but due to untimely death of one of our survivors Safiya [died in child birth] we decided to have one batch of survivor’s marriage on 23rd March. The second batch of 18 survivors will take place after three months.

We will post details after the event takes place and keep our friends updated about Prajwala activities .

Award for Dr. Sunitha Krishnan

Prajwala Family — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 21:49:30 GMT

Dear Friends/ Partners , It is our pleasure to share with you that National Legal Services Authority[ NALSA] and the Institute for Gender Justice have jointly decided to honor Dr Sunitha Krishnan for her remarkable contribution towards empowering citizens, Governments and Nations with voluntary support, Knowledge of legal and human rights , social justice , reform and developmental social action with gender justice as a core issue .The function will be held at The Ashok Hotel, ITDC, Chankayapuri, New Delhi on 8th March 2007 at 6:30 P.M .

Hor’ble Mr. Justice K.G Balakrishnan, the Chief Justice of India shall be the chief Guest on this occasion. - PRAJWALA FAMILY

National Award for Dr. Sunitha Krishnan

Prajwala — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 18:23:19 GMT

Dr. Sunitha awarded by Mrs. Chowdhury

Dr. Sunitha Krishnan, co-founder member of Prajwala was awarded the 2003 Stree Shakti Puraskar Award by Government of India, Ministry of Women and Child Development on 19th Nov 2006 at Delhi , by Mrs. Renuka Chowdhury , Union Minister for State for Women and Children Development [Independent Charge ], for her tireless work and effort in fighting for human trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual exploitation in India and throughout Asia.

Fundraiser for 50 Brides of Prajwala

Sunitha Krishnan — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 02:34:53 GMT

On October 23rd, 06, anti-trafficking advocates will host a fundraiser benefiting 50 brides (to be wed this December) in India who have rebuilt their lives after being rescued from sex trafficking by the organization Prajwala.

Attachments: