Guria Swayam Sevi Sansthan
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Mission Statement
Based in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Guria tackles the issue of human trafficking with novel methods. It is uniquely multi-dimensional. We respond to immediate suffering as well as investigate the root causes of prostitution: poverty and inequality. We mainly focus on 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh state, which are the most vulnerable within the state, as source, transit, and destination areas for human trafficking. But we keep our minds open to the entire state including the Indo-Nepal borders, 8 state borders and Intra- state trafficking. We believe in a multi-faceted approach to fighting this deeply entrenched problem. We are involved in legal aid and intervention, victim rescue and rehabilitation, NFE (non-formal education) centers in the red light areas of Varanasi and Mau, a boat school on the Ganges River, police sensitization programmes, rural womens’ empowerment, activism and research. We strongly believe that through grassroots and prevention work, it is possible to end this modern form of slavery.
About This Cause
Founded in 1993 by Ajeet Singh, Guria has been on the forefront of the eradication of human trafficking for 23 years. The blue print of the foundation was laid out in 1988 when Mr. Singh adopted three children of a woman from a red light area. The milestone is astonishing as Mr. Singh was only 17 years of age. Guria has filled the absence of an organisation in India that works towards trafficking and exploitation of women and children since its inception. What sets Guria apart is that not only do we strive to rescue victims, we also strive to fight the organized forced prostitution racket completely. Over the years of its working, Guria has managed to develop a multidimensional approach to fight sex trafficking successfully. Ultimately, Guria has a single purpose: to save peoples’ lives. To achieve this benchmark, we employ a holistic grass-roots approach guided through our three main goals: 1) to prevent human trafficking and unsafe migration, 2) to end child prostitution, and 3) to prevent second generation prostitution. For Guria, these goals have never been an isolated issue with a simple solution. Rather, we understand that human trafficking requires a holistic and multi-pronged approach. It is vital that efforts are led by the community in order to achieve long term change. Ending the slavery of women and their children in brothels will be achieved by ending their dependency on the criminal nexus – the criminal network of traffickers-brothel keepers-pimps-corrupt officials and police. This break-up of the criminal nexus will depend continuous education, health, availing government support programmes, vocational training, emotional support, dignity and protection of already victimized women and children from corrupt police and criminals. Guria’s strategies for ending child prostitution, preventing second generation prostitution and trafficking / unsafe migration will move at a parallel and often cross cut and supplement each other. Also key to Guria’s strategy is that ageing and previous victims of trafficking and exploitation as well as adolescents are supported so that they do not become a vested interest themselves-this is a very complex situation. Guria recognizes that overall the critical mass for a change will depend upon the mobilization of civil society and people’s participation in the fight against human trafficking/unsafe migration at all levels within the source, transit and destination points for human trafficking. To supplement this, Guria have taken up rescue and legal intervention to take things to a logical conclusion. Considering the almost absence of the rule of law and delay in justice delivery we have also embarked upon a successful innovation of providing witness protection and focusing on bail rejections. Another innovation is our strategy of converting grass-roots level interventions into Public Interest Litigations (PIL) to bring about a change at the policy level – this will be the final factor which ensures success in our fight against human trafficking and exploitation. Thus, the work that Guria does runs a full spectrum of actions. Guria has strived to intervene in various sectors to achieve our primary goal of rescuing women and achieving a world safe for all women. Through the various activities, Guria has become successful in achieving these goals. Guria works under the following broad areas of intervention: Rescue Education and Alternative Livelihood Healthcare Legal Work Worldwide Awareness Campaigns Advocacy Prevention Sensitization Cross Border Trafficking Networking Under Ajeet’s leadership, Guria’s innovations are numerous: Guria began with the adoption of 3 children from the redlight area by Ajeet at the age of 17 & lived for over 14 years in a Bedia village with traditional family based prostitution as a part of the community. Guria’s successful strategy has created the first sustainable child prostitution free Red light area. Legal interventions in 1747 criminal cases against human traffickers, over 600 bail rejections achieved (based on a hon’ble Supreme court writ by Guria) and siezed 70 brothels worth carores of rupees. As an extension of the criminal cases, Guria has filed a total of 14 Public Interest Litigations (PILs) in the hon’ble Supreme Court and hon’ble High Court to combating human trafficking. Released bi-annual national status report on police misconduct in 100 cases of sex trafficking, rape and child prostitution in which the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh ordered an enquiry. Witness protection (relocate rescued survivors) to 164 rescued victims, creation of spy camera videos as evidence and livelihood/govt. entitlements to 1397 rescued victims Created India’s first ever cultural group of 30 women in prostitution who perform traditional music and dance as a means of rehabilitation and awareness. Launched a worldwide Freedom Now awareness campaign against human trafficking in over 20 countries – www.freedomnowcampaign.org This strategy that Guria has implemented, through Ajeet’s watchful eye, has resulted in much success. Rescued 2023 persons from slavery including commercial sexual exploitation and bonded labour. Guria has been nominated as the member of the Central Nodal Agency to combat trafficking – Govt. of India, Standing Committee on combating trafficking in women & children for sexual exploitation – Govt. of India, State Advisory Board- Govt. of UP on effective implementation, evaluation, advice on the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, inter-ministerial committee - the govt. of India for preparing a comprehensive legislation on various aspects of Human Trafficking and also regularly invited for suggestions for the Hon’ble Juvenile Justice Committee, Allahabad High Court. Uttar Pradesh government has nominated Guria to support in the execution of Operation Smile (regarding Rescue and Restoration of children) being lead by DWCD and home dept. Sensitized Judiciary (11 states judges and bar associations), Police, Bar Associations through National Legal Services Authority of India, NIPCCD to ensure rule of the law (Strengthening Democracy) Guria provided suggestions to the parliament standing committee on the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Amendment Bill 2006, Child Policy 2011 and The Protection of Children from sexual Offences Bill, 2011 Involved and garnered support from U.N. Economic and Social Council Report on Human Rights Defenders 2006, Asian Human Rights Commission Urgent Appeals(Hong Kong),FRONTLINE(Ireland), Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, UN Rapporteurs on Trafficking and sale of Children and UN Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Geneva. 11 members of U.S.Congress and State Department delegation visited Guria to discuss Guria’s work and share learning on human trafficking. Member in two enquiry committees set up by National Commission for Women for probing women/girls being trafficked for prostitution Guria is currently supporting the education of over 350 children, of which 180 have been admitted to formal schools - total children supported now over 1190. Organizing a landmark sensitization meetings of over 25,000 women every year; many from villages of eastern Uttar Pradesh and vulnerable trafficking source areas uniting against crimes of child prostitution, rape and sex trafficking; 200 victims and their families attended and presented their cases. 800 km Varanasi to Nithari Padyatra - Longest foot march against trafficking. We also involved victim families who had lost their children and they were part of our report on missing children in eastern UP. Created India’s first ever cultural group of 30 women in prostitution who perform traditional music and dance as a means of rehabilitation and awareness. They have performed in prestigious venues across India. Guria also supports volunteers from Princeton University, Smith College as well as other US programmes including Alliance for Global Education, Where There be Dragons, Leap Now, Carpedium and has built collaborations with Cambridge University and School of Oriental & African Studies (London). Campaign against trafficking through film Umraojaan. Since the film was devoted to girl child & trafficking the producer Mr J.P. Dutta invited Guria at the release of the film and offered the donations to Guria which would be collected by auctioning the costumes of Aishwarya Rai (Miss world)etc 120 children have adopted alternative source of livelihood outside the red-light area In terms of legal achievements, Guria filed a new public interest litigation in the hon’ble Supreme Court on rescue of 1.2 million minor girls from the brothels all over the country, filed public interest litigation in the hon’ble high court against illegal detention of minor rescued girls in police stations, filed a public interest litigation in the hon’ble high court for justice and compensation to a 3 year old rape victim of Varanasi, achieved a landmark judgement in the hon’ble supreme court against bail for human traffickers; previously they could walk free, often for years, and carry on tampering evidences, intimidating witnesses and targeting new victims, as their legal cases continued, and countless other achievements. Whilst Guria is a locally led NGO working at the grassroots level, the organization has gained national and international recognition for its work. Guria’s work is frequently highlighted in national press including The Times of India , the Hindustan Times , The Week Magazine, India Today, The Outlook etc Even the BBC, CNN, New York Times, Daily Mail have covered. Recently Guria collaborated with the Thompson Reuters Foundation in producing the report ‘Putting Justice First: Legal Strategies to Combat Human Trafficking in India’ which was launched with Ajeet Singh as a key note speaker in Mumbai in May 2015. Guria’s outstanding and innovative work has won awards including Man of the Year 2011 by the leading Indian Magazine The Week, Real Heroes award by CNN-IBN, and the Nari Shakti award by the President of India for the year 2015.