According to government figures, there are 3 million commercial sex workers in India, of which an estimated 40% are children, so the need for anti-trafficking work is huge. In Madhya Pradesh, entire communities practice and perpetuate forced prostitution of children. These young girls grow up believing that their identity and fate is linked only to their sexual exploitation. Freedom Firm seeks to combat this problem by providing rescue, restoration and justice for trafficked victims.
In Madhya Pradesh, there are communities such as the Bedia, Nath and Kanjar communities that force their daughters into prostitution at a very young age. These children are brainwashed into believing that their identity and future lie in prostitution and that they don't have the option to become anything other than sexual slaves. They are part of a largely apathetic society that condones this practice and affords impunity to perpetrators of trafficking crimes.
By working with local law enforcement agencies to rescue these young girls from the brothels they are held captive in, we will sensitize local authorities on this issue, and provide freedom and the chance of a new beginning for rescued victims. By filing legal charges against the perpetrators of these crimes and providing aftercare and legal support to victims, we hold perpetrators accountable for the abuse and trauma they have caused these young girls.
The deterrent effect that is created each time a girl is rescued and her brothel keeper or trafficker is held accountable and convicted, will lead to a significant reduction in the number of children who are forced to prostitute. By working alongside local law enforcement as well as judicial and welfare systems and creating awareness of anti-trafficking laws, protocols and rights, we will also bring systemic change and the decline of child sex trafficking in India.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
