Guria Newsletter Jan 2013

7/29/2019 Guria Newsletter Jan 2013

1/5

Non Formal Education (NFE) Centres

Last year nearly 300 children attended Gurias NFE centres, one of

which is in the red light area of Varanasi, one is on board a boat on

the river Ganges in Varanasi, one is in Mau district and one is further

away in Madhya Pradesh. At the centres children received

educational and emotional support including Maths and English

lessons, computer classes and help with school work. Guria

recognises art therapy and playing as important for children from

difficult or traumatic backgrounds thus a strong emphasis was placed

on creative activities such as clay model making, painting anddancing as well as games and fun activities. Regular celebrations

and trips out were organised.

We motivated 16 new self sponsored children to get admitted into mainstream schools (total 110) whilst 40 children

were sponsored to attend mainstream schools enabling vulnerable children from extremely poor backgrounds the

opportunity to gain an education and a future free from exploitation.

Children at NFE centre in Varanasi

celebrated the holiday season and the

New Year. The center shook with dhol

music, played from the rooftop of the newbuilding (Kabir House). Everyone that

attended the celebration gathered on the

rooftop around the drummers for

dancing. The traditional Indian dessert

halwa was prepared on the days leading

up to the festival and served along with a

Christmas cake. All who attended had a

great time ringing in the New Year and

celebrating the holidays!

Cutting the cake!

Guria News Update January 2013

Message from the Guria Team in Varanasi:

We hope you enjoy this newsletter which gives a brief summary of

achievements and progress at Guria over the last year. It covers

all aspects of our work which includes running Non-formal

Education Centres for vulnerable children in red light areas;

Training and Empowering women at risk; Campaigning and raising

awareness about human trafficking; and achieving Justice for

victims through prosecuting the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

We would like to thank all of our friends and supporters for their

interest, commitment and help towards our struggle for human

rights and dignity. We can only succeed with your support.

Play time at the NFE centre!


2/5

A Diwalicelebration washeld at the NFEcentre. Childrenhad a great timedecorating theGuria buildingswith streamers,drawings, dias,clay, rangoli art,

and paperchains.

Major Rescue operation

On July 27th Guria rescued 37 trafficked minor girls, forced into prostitution, in Meerut Red Light Area, a district in

Uttar Pradesh, near Delhi. As with the vast majority of trafficking victims the girls had been abducted, raped, tortured

and forced into prostitution. Most were under 18, many around 14 or 15, though some were considerably younger.

This is a significant event for Guria and a life-changing event for the victims, who are now being rehabilitated and

reunited with their families where possible. It will be a long process as most suffer from severe Post Traumatic

Stress Disorder. Sadly this represents just a tip of the ice-berg in India; a conservative estimate puts the number

minor girls in forced prostitution at 1.2 million.

Such rescues are extremely difficult and potentially dangerous in a place where the police often collude with the

criminals. This operation took several months of preparation. For the final rescue Guria had to bring two busloads of

volunteers and victim families from Varanasi, 800km across the state, to Meerut. The journey took almost 24 hours

by bus and then the volunteers had to hide, in a shelter, for a few days waiting for the optimum moment to stage the

rescue. The raid was widely reported in newspapers and almost all the national TV channels.

In total last year Guria undertook 7 rescue operations and rescued 45 minor trafficked girls from brothels.

Achieving Justice

Breaking the criminal nexus of traffickers-pimps-brothel keepers-

corrupt officials is essential in order to suppress trafficking and forced

prostitution. Tackling the perpetrators is very dangerous and a huge

obstacle is the endemic corruption in the police force and judicial

system. Several years ago Guria were able to achieve a landmark

Supreme Court Judgment on bail rejections of traffickers. This is

highly significant as previously accused traffickers could remain on

bail for as long as 20 years leaving them free to continue traffickingand intimidating victims. Last year:

36 new legal cases were filed against 84 human traffickers

(Total 222 legal cases against 652 human traffickers); and 30

new paralegal cases were filed (Total 89 paralegal cases)

12 bail rejections were secured (Total 240 bail rejections)

2 perpetrators were successfully convicted

Guria filed a bail cancellation appeal in the Honorable Supreme

Court of India.

Music & dancingfor new year!


3/5

Public Interest Litigation was filed in the High Court of

Judicature at Allahabad with reference to negligence of

the provisions under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 at the

implementation level.

Witness protection was provided to 15 people; economic

support was provided to 49 rescued victims/victim families;

livelihood support was provided to 26 rescued

victims/victim families

Awareness Raising

Human traffickers prey on the most vulnerable children and

women, often those who are struggling to survive living below

the poverty line in rural areas. A majority of victims are tricked

in one way or another with promises of a job in the city only to

find themselves being sold to brothels. The attached social

stigma is huge; it may mean they can never be accepted in

society again. Last year Guria raised awareness to prevent

trafficking in various ways.

A padyatra (foot march) was undertaken from 18th 27thFebruary through 11 villages in the Azamgarh range; 50

people were regularly walking with Guria raising awareness

against child trafficking in rural areas.

Guria held a concert entitled Pearls of Love in a village in Uttar Pradesh from 28th November to 2nd December.

Marginalised artists including women in prostitution came from across five states and performed traditional art

forms such as Bundeli Ghat and Rai dances. The performers who were all from communities vulnerable to

trafficking gained an income from the event. An audience of 250-300 attended each day; awareness of

trafficking was raised in 15-20 villages.

Pearls of LoveConcert!

Public meetings were held to raise awareness about human trafficking and unsafe migration in 31 villages; 545

people attended. Street plays and folk songs were organised in rural areas for 14 days with 60 - 70 people

participating each day and more observing. We visited 24 schools to raise awareness reaching 1,539 children.

We organised 6 documentary shows on human trafficking; 269 people attended.

Guria undertook 15 sensitisation meetings with NGOs/police/media/advocates/SSB/and other stakeholders

which were attended by a total of 1,057 participants.

Children in Mau at Gurias NFE centre


4/5

Brian and friends of Guria in Brigh

Other News

Guria has set up 8 brand new sewing machines at

the NFE centre in Shivadspur, the red light area of

Varanasi, to serve as a training facility to

empower vulnerable women at risk of trafficking.

Guria were featured in Paradigm Shift Project's

"Breaking Chains, Building Community" short film.

NGOs from India and Nepal visited Guria as part

of the India-Nepal Human Liberty Initiative

involving 27 NGOs from India and Nepal.

Knowledge, and learning were shared on issues

of trafficking, exploitation and slavery.

Guria UK attended the United Nations Convention

against Transnational Organized Crime in Vienna,

Oct 15th 19th 2012.

Fundraising for Guria

On October 23rd Brian Millington, a friend of Guria UK,

completed a 58 mile sponsored cycle from London to

Brighton to raise funds and awareness for Guria. Brian

arrived at Infinity Foods in Brighton to enjoy a well

earned cup of tea and vegan meal with Guria friends

and supporters. Guria UK raised nearly 1,500!

In November, Princeton Against Sex Trafficking (PAST)

held an event at Princeton University Unite for Guria to

raise funds and awareness about human trafficking.

Princeton students and Guria volunteers Azza Cohen,Katie Horvath, and Shaina Watrous spoke about their

experiences at Guria. Students wrote notes in English

and Hindi on postcards and mailed them to children at

Guria's NFE centre as well as enjoying South Asian

dance and music and henna designs. Through the sales

of handmade Guria cards, PAST raised over $500.

On Saturday 24th November, Maria Stahl, a friend of Guria

UK, sold hand-made jewelry and Benares scarves at the

Annual Christmas Fair of the Reigate International Women's

Club in Reigate, Surrey. The fair was very well attended andfrom sales and further donations Maria raised 500 for Guria.

A fundraiser was held in Bray, just outside Dublin, Ireland in

August. The party was hosted by Anne Davis and her

husband Seamus Young. The fundraiser raised Euro 1,800

for Guria and more importantly helped raise awareness about

the issue of human trafficking and its root causes. Leaflets

and other information were distributed to attendees along with

photos of Guria and the NFE Centre.

Azza, Katie and Shaina


5/5

How you can help

Guria is a grassroots NGO working on the frontline in the fight against human trafficking and forced prostitution thus

the great majority of their time is spent in the field working with vulnerable people leaving very little time to raise

awareness and support for the charitys work. The interest and commitment of Gurias friends and supporters is

therefore crucial; and recognition outside of India is important given the dangerous nature of their work.

If you have ideas for awareness raising or fundraising such as

sponsored events or would simply like to find out how you could

help please contact Sarah Wraight (Guria UK) and you would be

welcome to join Gurias struggle for human rights.

Alternatively you may make an online donation at the Guria UK

website or through contacting Sarah Wraight (Guria UK.) Donations

of any size are welcome. Uttar Pradesh is one of the poorest parts

of the world where even a small amount of money can make a

difference. As little as 5 will support one child to attend Guria's

NFE centre for one month and 10 will pay for all the school books

needed by a child to attend a mainstream school. 35 will pay for

one community worker to support all the children with play and

learning or 60 will pay for one local teacher to enable children to

gain an education at the NFE centre for one month.

Contact Guria click on the hyperlinks below

Guira India WebsiteorGuria UK Website

Email Guria UK:[email protected] India:[email protected]

Like Gurias newFacebook Page!

Follow the GuriaBlog

Rishikas Story

Rishika is a 12 year old girl from Shivadspur, Varanasi, who was kidnapped by traffickers last year on January

23rd while she was on her way to the market place near her house. She was trafficked across Uttar Pradesh

and sold to a brothel in the red light area of Meerut. She was then tortured, gang raped and brutalised for days

and weeks by the traffickers, brothel keepers and pimps as a way of breaking the girls spirit. She was then

forced to work as a prostitute in the brothel.

The victims father reported his missing daughter to the police who took no action; Guria pursued the case of the

missing girl from the beginning and filed several applications to higher authorities. Somehow the father came toknow that his daughter had been trafficked to Meerut red light area and upon travelling there he saw his

daughter. He immediately informed Guria who conducted a major sting operation on the brothel on July 27th

during which 37 children were rescued. However during the raid police colluded with the traffickers enabling the

criminals to steal Rishika away once again. Guria pursued the case further until they were finally able to rescue

her on 25th August. Guria forced the police to register the case and is currently fighting Rishikas case in the

district court of Varanasi. Rishika was reunited with her parents and was given victim support including witness

protection and counseling; Guria will support her long journey to rehabilitation. (name changed for confidentiality)
http://www.guriaindia.org/WebPage/index.htmlhttp://www.guriaindia.org/WebPage/index.htmlhttp://www.guria-uk.org/http://www.guria-uk.org/http://www.guria-uk.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.facebook.com/guriafreedomnowhttps://www.facebook.com/guriafreedomnowhttp://guriafreedomnow.blogspot.in/http://guriafreedomnow.blogspot.in/http://guriafreedomnow.blogspot.in/http://guriafreedomnow.blogspot.in/https://www.facebook.com/guriafreedomnowmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.guria-uk.org/http://www.guriaindia.org/WebPage/index.html

Guria Newsletter Jan 2013

Documents

Transcript of Guria Newsletter Jan 2013