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Our Mission 

 

To end sex-trafficking of women and children.

Objectives...

  • To support community based initiatives of those trapped by the sex industry.
  • Mitigate the circumstances of those caught in prostitution.
  • Develop leadership among the affected to end sex- trafficking.
  • Prevent inter-generational prostitution.
  • Build linkages between grassroots activism and policy makers on issues related to ending sex trafficking.

  • Create awareness in society on discrimination against women and girls, particularly on issues related to sex trafficking, prostitution, sex, sexuality and violence against women and girls.

Milestones...

    Apne Aap’s most important projects from March 2005-March 2006 are:

    • Education and health care in easily accessible community centers for 1208 youth and women in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Forbesgunge, Bihar.
    • Night crèche in the Bhiwandi red-light area for children of women in prostitution
    • Soup kitchens for women and girls in the four red-light areas of Mumbai, Bhiwandi, Kidderpore and Forbesgunge
    • Development of training manual to address the Demand to trafficking in consultations with police officials in Mumbai and Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
    • Conference On Corporate Social Responsibility with the Confederation of Indian Industries (Eastern India) and US Consulate to address human trafficking in Persons.86 corporate representatives, 74 NGOs representatives from all over India, 10 academician and government officials and 31 media persons attended the workshop.
    • Art-therapy for children in red-light areas that has resulted in a book called The Place Where we live is called a Red- light Area to help policy-makers understand children’s view points on AIDS and prostitution.

Core values...

Our actions are informed and framed by two Gandhian beliefs- Ahimsa and Antodaya.

 
  • Antodaya(uplift of the last wo/ man): Antodaya, lexically means the awakening of  the last person. Change is possible and sustainable only if it is lead by the last wo/ man and affects and elevates the lives of the poorest of the poor. Apne Aap will ONLY undertake work that touches this person-in this case the prostituted child or woman.

  • Ahimsa (Non-violence) : Sex trafficking and prostitution are forms of violence against women. Any attempt to end sex trafficking and deal with prostitution would first of all require our own internalization of principles of non- violence.