India Charities Pushing Forward to Disable 'Tradition' of Sex Trade
As a quickly developing nation, much of Indian society is caught between the trap of traditionalism and modernization.
A special report will be aired over the weekend on how Indian charities are working to stop the tradition of sex trade in their country.
The two-part segment, which will air on CNN Saturday and Sunday, is called “Trapped by Tradition,” and will be narrated by “Slumdog Millionaire” star Anil Kapoor.
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The purpose of the segment is to display how Indian charities are working diligently to dismantle the sex trade tradition that began centuries ago as a religious obligation but continues today as a result of economic circumstances.
Many women interviewed on the segment discuss their lives as prostitutes and explain that prostitution enables them to provide financial support and even become the sole breadwinners for their families.
The segment follows local charities such as Plan India that have been working to change attitudes about sending daughters into prostitution.
Plan India has set up programs in 11 states across India to protect children from abuse and exploitation. The charity has programs that rescue and rehabilitate victims, and has also set up schools to teach young girls that they have economic choices beyond joining the sex trade.
The CNN segment follows Kapoor in his journey through local villages speaking with direct victims of the practice. Kapoor comments at the end of the journey, “I am hopeful, optimistic we can end this tradition.”
Violence against women, in all its forms, is a particular problem in India.
Rape is considered the fastest growing crime in the country and a recent survey conducted by Rape is considered the fastest growing crime in the country and a recent survey conducted by TrustLaw ranked India as the fourth most dangerous country in the world for women, mainly due to the high levels of sex trade and trafficking of women.
India is said to have more than 100 million people in the country involved in trafficking, and charities working to break down the traditional attitudes that keep women at risk will likely be a key factor to improving the situation of women and ensuring continued economic and social growth for all of Indian society.
