By Shirley Bobby | Head of Fundraising
Thank you for your interest in this project! During the months of June, July and August 2020, our teams were in regular contact with our field teams with whom we conducted refresher trainings on issues that are disturbingly occurring in increased numbers during the COVID-19 lockdown: child marriages and child trafficking.
Our team covered the following areas in our trainings with our field teams: the challenges of human trafficking, the need to raise awareness on human trafficking, the dangers of social media and trafficking, POCSO and other laws, and more.
OPERATION MUSKAAN
We participated in Operation Muskaan organized by the Women's Safety Wing of the Telangana State Police to discuss approaches towards the updation of records of missing children and found children. This learning and partnership builds our anti-trafficking work throughout the country to raise awareness on child safety and preventing crimes against children.
OUR ANTI-TRAFFICKING HELPLINE
During the lockdown, our anti-trafficking helpline (the only one of its kind throughout India to handle cases of trafficking) received calls from states across the country, including states where we have not conducted our prevention-based Safe Village Programs to raise awareness on the dangers of trafficking and the methods to prevent it.
During the lockdown, our helpline served as a great tool for distressed communities to reach out to us and share their struggles and challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. They were comforted, encouraged and were happy for the help that was extended to them by the team.
WORLD DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
On the occasion of World Day Against Trafficking In Persons observed on July 30th, Operation Red Alert of My Choices Foundation organized a multi-nation and multi-sector conference. The Asian Anti-Trafficking Forum brings together anti-trafficking NGOs, senior police personnel, researches and scholars in the sector from India, Bangladesh and Nepal to discuss the current trafficking scenario and the various ways to collaborate in the effort to defeat human trafficking.
CASE STUDIES
We received a distress call on our helpline from a distraught mother whose 15-year-old child was kidnapped. The people responsible threatened to harm the child if the family took any action or reported to the police. The child was trafficked for a forceful marriage.
Our field teams immediately sprung into action by seeking the support of the local government bodies and Childline. Through timely coordination and hard work, they rescued the child who was safely returned to the family. Appropriate action was taken on the people responsible and the child is being protected to ensure that only upon turning 18 years of age, will marriage even be considered.
AS THE LOCKDOWN ENDS
We have created new and updated Flip Charts for our field teams to take with them to the villages as they conduct the programs to give the people an effective visual of what they are on the lookout for and what they are working together as a village to protect. The main new feature is the crucial information on COVID-19 and ways to keep healthy and safe.
As the COVID-19 lockdown ends throughout the country, our field teams are taking the greatest care and precautions to follow global standards of safety as we begin conducting our prevention-based Safe Village Programs to prevent the trafficking of children.
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By Shirley Bobby | Head of Fundraising
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