10 New Anti-Trafficking Clubs Launched In Mumbai Colleges To Empower Students

 On 30 July, World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, 10 Anti-Human Trafficking Clubs (AHTC) were launched by colleges in Mumbai city, to encourage student leadership in the awareness and prevention of human trafficking. The Clubs are championed by the Mumbai Suburban District Legal Services Authority, Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission and non-profits The Movement India & Justice Ventures India, as part of the Nyay Network.

The United Nations theme for this year is ‘No Child left behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking’. Globally, one in three victims of human trafficking is a child, reports the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (GLOTIP) by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Here in India, at least three girls were reported to be trafficked in India, every day of 2022, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau data (2023).

The launch of these 10 AHTCs aims to bring together government bodies, nonprofits and citizens to combat human trafficking as a united front. Present at the launch of the 10 AHTCs were: Satish Hiwale, Secretary of the Mumbai Suburban District Legal Services Authority (MSDLSA) and Shri Nitin Patil IAS, Secretary - Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission, along with Principals, National Service Scheme Programme Officers and student leaders from the 10 participating colleges.

The 10 AHTCs launched today are in St Andrew's College of Arts Science and Commerce, Rizvi College of Arts Science & Commerce - Junior College, Chandrabhan Sharma College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Lords Universal College, Nirmal Education Society's Nirmal Degree College of Commerce, Nirmal Education Society's Nirmal Junior College of Commerce and Science, Nagindas Khandwala College of Commerce & Arts, Bhagubai Changu Thakur College of Law, Bhavan's College (Degree), Bhavan's College (Junior). AHTC strives to empower students with knowledge and practical ways to fight all forms of human trafficking, support law enforcement and civil society and uphold the constitutional mandate to protect vulnerable lives in India. Some of the activities that AHTCs perform through the year are: conduct poster-making competitions, street plays, flash mobs, social media campaigns or a debate competition on campus to raise awareness about human trafficking; lead the ‘Walk for Freedom’ on campus, organise a legal awareness session and group discussion on key Constitutional tools such as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act; raise resources in kind for shelter homes rehabilitating survivors of trafficking; volunteer at a local anti-human trafficking organisation; provide opportunities for sale and exhibition on campus of products made by survivors of trafficking; visit a shelter home and spend time investing in soft skills training for survivors; among others.

In the previous academic year, five additional AHTCs were launched and they will continue operations into this academic year as well. The colleges are Valia Chhaganlal Laljibhai College of Commerce and Arts, Lala Lajpatrai College of Commerce & Economics (Autonomous), John Wilson Education Society's Wilson College (Autonomous) and Rizvi College of Arts Science & Commerce (Degree). Of these, Valia College was Mumbai’s first AHTC, launched in January 2023 and has completed over a year of operations.

Also present at the Launch event were founders, directors and senior leadership from 10 prominent non-profits in the anti-human trafficking space in Mumbai: NGOs Oasis, Rescue Foundation, Savera, Pratham, Kshamata, Apnalaya, Vision Rescue and Vipla Foundation.