Survivor's Conferences

A collection of testimonials from our Survivor’s Conference held in New Delhi, India November 2009.

‘I never see such open sky and light before’; said Naina now 18yrs old, after Apne Aap rescued her from the red light area at the age of only fifteen. She was completely traumatized and had lost all of her self esteem. She had tremendous mood swings and did not have any mind-body coordination. Because she is the prime witness of her case Bihar was not safe for her, so she was shifted to West Bengal.

With confidence she said that after five years ‘I will be a trainer in videography and doing further studies, after ten years I will start to do documentary film and have continue my journey as trainer and after fifteen years I will marry and I will have my own institution also making the documentary film. I will give everything to my children which I miss in my child hood.’ She also says that ‘now I have no grievance against my mother, because I know the pain she gone through until I was not rescued. I can feel her trauma. I was rescued because of my mother’s appeal to Ruchira Aunty. Ruchira aunty, Tinku aunty and my mother rescued me from Katihar red light area. I love and respect my mother,’ Naina, member of Apne Aap Women Worldwide, Bihar and West Bengal.    

“Traffickers, pimps, brothel madams are getting girls into the red light area who want to exploit and profit from selling them. I know of houses in the red light area where young girls are bought and sold. In this profession, when a girl is young she can earn money but as she ages her income decreases. The women get addicted to alcohol and drugs and have to service several clients a day. There is always a danger of HIV /AIDS.”  Chunni, member of Apne Aap Women Worldwide, Bihar.

“In the red light area women face abuse, murder, beatings from both the pimp and the buyers. They feel that they could live with dignity if they get a chance to opt for another job which is respectable. From my side I know embroidery. I am one of the members of SHG who will be able to have another job in the near future. We need skill development and people who can initially sponsor our programs. We know that we can take money, as loan from a bank.
We have right to live with dignity and also the right to speak, to food, to safe shelter” Meenu, a member of Apne Aap Women Worldwide West Bengal.

Watch out this space for a National Plan of Action that will be released soon, detailing the action that survivors have articulated their demand to right to education, right to safe housing, right to legal protection and right to a dignified livelihood.