RESCUING 5 GIRLS FROM HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Networks involved in human trafficking and exploitation never stop searching for new victims.

At just 23 years old, Uma (not her real name) narrowly escaped a trap that could have affected her for the rest of her life—the same kind of trap that changes the lives of hundreds of young women who are not as fortunate as she was. She is one of two young women who were rescued during a police operation in which we took part on 17 August, on the outskirts of Mumbai. The operation was successful, and two suspected traffickers were arrested.

Several weeks after the rescue, our team remains in contact with Uma to ensure that she is safe and does not come into contact with other traffickers who may try to recruit her. This work is essential to the follow-up of her case, as sexual exploitation networks are always on the lookout for new victims.

Smiles of Bombay anti-trafficking work

The real success of this operation—and, at the same time, its most concerning finding—was that the two people arrested had mobile phones containing the contact details of more than 70 young women and over 1,000 potential clients. This means that they had already identified another 70 potential victims, whom they had most likely contacted and offered fraudulent job opportunities in order to lure them into sexual exploitation. The police are now working to trace these young women, as well as the thousand potential clients.

This is why it is always essential to follow up with survivors of exploitation. Trafficking networks are constantly active, and the safety of potential victims cannot always be guaranteed. This is the case for Uma, whose situation we will monitor particularly closely, as we are concerned that traffickers may try to deceive and recruit her again.