Protect women from sex trafficking in Mumbai

India is widely regarded as having one of the world's largest commercial sex industries. There are roughly 3 –10 million women in prostitution in India. The majority of them in between the age group of 15 and 35. Many women have been trafficked or forced into sex work and their innocent children. Despite regulations and degrees of bans, it is imperative to identify that prostitution exists as a promising industry, especially in situations of poverty and social inequalities. In India, it is nowhere close to becoming extinct.

The police and the legal system contribute to prostitutes being seen more as the perpetrators of crime than being at the receiving end of it. The possibilities of rape, violence, and trauma that clients can cause to sex workers have been neglected. Moreover, since the work is seen as “immoral” or “dirty”, any disease caused by poor sexual hygiene and menstrual hygiene — most significantly HIV- AIDS and cervical cancer — does not receive proper medical attention. In a country like India, which is severely marred by poverty, destitution, hunger, and inequalities, survival is the top priority. Mumbai contains the largest red-light district in Asia. El Shaddai Charitable Trust started a project in Turbhe Navi Mumbai on 25th February 2021. We serve the community of women and children who are a victim of human trafficking.

Our team is continuously involved in outreach work in the red light district. Many counseling sessions have been arranged to help these women who are caught up in prostitution. Last three months our team has done a tremendous job as they were able to set five women free of prostitution through intensive counseling and regular follow-ups. Currently, sixty women and children are taking the benefits of our literacy programs. Keeping in mind the poor condition of healthcare facilities and the resultant vulnerabilities that sex workers endure, every month medical camps are organized wherein 50+ women are taking benefit of the same.

For women who are HIV-positive, regular counseling sessions are arranged on medication and healthy food intake. Women and girls at risk of abuse and trafficking underwent life skill programs on personal hygiene and also these women are supported with monthly groceries as additional help. If their families are under risk and economical compulsion to be engaged in trafficking, they are easily cheated and engaged in trafficking. As a result of your support, we are able to protect these women from trafficking and facilitate their rehabilitation.

Links:

• https://www.childrescue.net/