Ahwaan Bal Mukti Aandolan –
A CAMPAIGN AGAINST TRAFFICKING & COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN

A trafficked child has no childhood, no identity, no life to call his/her own. The seriousness of the issue begins and ends over here.

Various studies have documented the extent of the crime. For instance, ILO estimates 15% of the country's estimated 2.3 million prostitutes to be children. (US Dept of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices India- 2000, February 2001). Other studies also indicate that of the estimated 9,000,000 prostitutes working in India, 30% or 2,700,000 are children. A further 10% had started their 'career' in prostitution before they were 18 years of age. These children are trafficked mainly from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal (ECPAT International, A Step Forward, 1999). There are also deep-rooted traditional dynamics involved in a good number of cases of caste-based prostitution (Bedia, Gujjar, Banchhara caste groups etc.).

The nature of this crime against children is so grave that it damages them physically, psychologically, socially & emotionally –robbing them of their childhood, limiting & caging them for their entire lives, in short completely dehumanizing them forever.

Trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation are the two significant interconnected crimes against children requiring urgent attention in the path towards realizing our vision of a beautiful childhood for all children.

PROGRAM MISSION:

The issue of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children has been an area of concern for certain international bodies, different civil society organizations and various field workers. But it has hardly been part of the public debate, stirred the youth of the nation into action, entered the domain of corporate social responsibility or elicited political support. AHWAAN’s present campaign seeks to alter this particular situation and make the society sit up and take notice of this growing menace.

It is only in the presence of social & political consciousness that the true “rescue”, “rehabilitation” and “re-integration” of victims can take place. Hence the campaign is divided into three phases –first two phases focusing on creating mass consciousness & mobilization and the third phase focusing on the Rescue & Rehabilitation of victims.

Ahwaan Bal Mukti Aandolan – YEAR 1

Phase I:          July, 2008 – September, 2008:
FOCUS ON ADVOCACY & MASS MOBILIZATION

Phase II:        October, 2008 –January, 2009:
RESEARCH & FOCUS ON ADVOCACY THROUGH FILM

Phase III:       February, 2009 –June, 2009:
RESCUE AND REHABILITATION OF VICTIMS

CAMPAIGN AGENDA – PHASE I

The campaign will have various activities spanning over the months of July through September, 2008 and culminate in a mass rally. The activities planned for this duration are: 

• Awareness and advocacy through plays in Delhi and outside
• International Signature Campaign
• Education of college and school students about the issue and mobilization against it
• Competitions on the theme: T-Shirt designing, slogan writing and poster-making for school and college students
• Presentations at various institutions and platforms
• Online awareness programs and competitions
• Partnership with other stakeholder organizations & institutions
• Drafting of a comprehensive bill to prevent trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children and reintegrate victims into mainstream society

MASS RALLY ON September 28, 2008

This will bring together activists, concerned citizens, civil society organizations, students and professionals from various fields like law and politics along with members of various vulnerable groups not only from Delhi but from across the nation, to speak out in one voice at one platform. The program will include a march from India Gate to Jantar Mantar, followed by various activities like street plays, an open forum (aimed at direct communication between law-makers, law-enforcers, politicians one the one hand and the common public on the other), a candle-light protest, screening of documentaries, audio-visual presentations, speeches and discussions.

• Mass March –from India Gate to Jantar Mantar
• Panel Discussions and Interactive Sessions –amongst representatives of various stakeholder groups and other participants of the rally
• Presentation of the proposed Bill
• Cultural Programs
• Candle Light Protest

CAMPAIGN AGENDA – PHASE II

This phase of the campaign will see the inclusion of a new medium for advocacy –the film. Various documentaries have been produced on important social issues but these remain critically acclaimed, art film and essentially part of the marginalized movie genre. If we have to bring the issue of trafficking & commercial sexual exploitation to the mainstream public debate, a film would have to be produced that retains the authenticity of a documentary but includes the attractiveness of a mainstream film. This is the main agenda for Phase II.

Thus this phase will include the following:

• A documentary with a difference –creating a new tool for advocacy
• Research & Documentation
• Expansion of youth mobilization program