Report: Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking visit to Delhi

[Guest guest]

Report: Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking

visit to Delhi

Brief Report on Chalo Delhi-VOCSET call for preservation of their

Rights

Nearly 30 VOCSET (Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation and

Trafficking)representatives from coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh

under the banner of VIMUKTHI (A network of VOCSET CBOs in AP)

Marched to Delhi from 17th to 2nd April.

Their mission was pressurizing the policy planners and makers for

addressing their concerns and needs. NATSAP (Network against

Trafficking and commercial Sexual Exploitation in AP) and its

partner NGOs supported the programme.

Objectives of the Visit:

To spoke on the other side of the legalization and ITP act aspects.

To pressurize the policy makers from AP for immediately passing the

ITP amendments bill

To raise their voice against the efforts of legalization of

prostitution by some sex workers collectives.

To sensitize and draw the support of other key stake holders in

their fight.

Process: Nearly 30 VOCSET representatives and 10 NGO chief

functionaries reached Delhi by 10.00am on 19th March. All of them

gathered at the conference hall and decided on the things to be put

forward and ways to take it out. They have unanimously decided to

meet the MPs followed by addressing the Media at Press club. They

have even come to a conclusion on the points to be raised in support

of their argument.

Day 1 (19th March 2006): After having their dinner all the VOCSET

representatives consecutively went on meeting MPs belonging to

Andhra Pradesh. In every meeting VOCSET representatives clearly

explained how they are being pushed corner by some madam and broker

friendly NGOs.

These organizations were constantly putting their arguments against

ITP amendments and in favor of the Legalization of the prostitution

which bothered them most and made to come to Delhi. They exactly

narrated to the MPs on how they and their children are going to face

problems with the identification and branding of Sex Worker and

Children of sex workers.

They feared that with the licensing system they will lose the

minimum rights as clients will start seeing every member of their

family as sex worker or broker or pimp. Some girls who were rescued

from the hands of traffickers explained how they were brutally

beaten and exploited by their madams and clients. Majority of MPs

expressed their shock and grief and said that they will support

these VOCSET in a possible manner.

They applauded the efforts of VOMUKTHI and NATSAP for doing a

dedicated job in favor of these gullible women. Most of the MPs

assured of looking into the matter and raising the same in the

parliament. VOCSET have submitted on memorandum with the demands.

Day 2 (20th March 2006): In the early morning VOCSET representatives

met with the Mrs. Purandarishwari, Minister of state, Human Resource

Development.

VOCSET representatives led by Radha, Convener of VIMUKTHI clearly

explained on how they were forced by some broker friendly

organizations to come to Delhi to raise their voices.

They expressed their anguish over the mind less arguments of so

called sex workers which are actually rehabilitation centers of

brokers, madams and pimps. They said that legalization will not help

in any way to any VOCSET. In fact they went on saying that no law is

denying the right of having sex for exchange of money when she has

dependents.

Mrs. Puranderishwari, queried how could legalization will harm them

as police will lose their powers to arrest or harass them. Prasanna,

executive member of VIMUKTHI, said that we are living our own lives.

Once legalization comes into effect every one in our families will

be branded as sex workers, and strongly refused to enter her

daughter into the same trade. She asked a query in reply on how

many people who are advocating and asking for legalization of

Prostitution will not stop their children from taking up the same

profession.

VOCSET representatives submitted a memorandum with their demands.

After spending nearly for 45 minutes with these victims

purandareshwari accepted that no women in the world enters into this

profession voluntarily, and it purely because of circumstances and

deception. She agreed that there is a lot of trauma attached to

his trade and societal stigma is making it more difficult to come

out of the hell. She said that she will look into these aspects and

speak to the concerned.

She assured the VOCSET representatives of helping in a possible

manner. Later these people met with Mrs. Renuka Chowdary, Mister of

state, women development and child welfare at her residence. After

listening to all the voices carefully she interacted directly with

the victims on how they are facing the problems with society and

police and how legalization will harm them.

She assured the representatives that she will not take decisions in

haste. As a person having strong belief in the democratic system she

will listen to all. As she has spoken to the pro legalization group

she said that she will talk to anti legalization group also.

She asked the representatives to come to Delhi for the meeting to

explain the same things. She assured of establishing more short stay

homes and sensitizing more officials and police to bring about a

favorable change in mind set of the key people. She also assured of

supporting the second generation of VOCSET for education and

economical rehabilitation.

She clarified that she will consult both groups before taking any

decision. In the afternoon session a Press Meet was organized at

National press club. Mrs. Radha, Convener of the VIMUKTHI chaired

the meet. She addressed the journalists about the problems being

faced by the VOCSET and their concerns. Mr. Ramamohan, convener

NATSAP translated the speech of Radha. Later all the executive

members spoke on the issue. They replied to the queries of

journalists. Apart from national and Delhi media all most all the

journalists belonging to the Telugu media attended the press

conference. In the end all the VOCSET raised slogans against the

efforts of legalization and immediately passing the ITP amendments

bill.

Out come of the Visit: The visit has clearly raised hope of

achieving their objective in the minds of the VOCSET. The visit has

clearly brought out the following issues.

Bringing fore front the arguments on the other side of the issue of

legalization and ITP amendments.

Assurance of looking into the matter by MPs and Ministers.

Pressure on the policy makers by making them to hear other side of

the issue.

Elaborative coverage by media, especially in the Telugu electronic

media.

Some of the MPs have raised some questions in the parliament on

related issues of ITP act and Legalization efforts.

Government has formed a committee to look into the matters of

legalization immediately after the Chalo Delhi.

Ms. Radha, Mr.Rama mohan

Convener – VIMUKTHI, Convener - NATSAP

Vimukthi Varalakshmi "

E-mail: <vimukthi06@...>