Dalit Freedom
Dalit Freedom Network UK is campaigning to bring freedom, hope and justice to India's Dalits through the prevention of trafficking, and through on-the-ground anti-trafficking projects1. The work in India is focused on prevention, along with the rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of the victims of trafficking. The UK campaign is a response to the request of Dalit leaders in India to support this work. Although there are Dalits throughout the Subcontinent and in other parts of the world, we are focusing on India where there are most Dalits. Together we want to break the chains of this ancientmodern slavery.
[advocacy and awareness]
DFN UK is raising up Dalit Freedom Champions and Dalit Freedom Action Groups so that together we can increase public awareness and understanding of the issue of Dalit trafficking. We can also lobby MPs and other people of influence to offer help and expertise to those bodies and organisations tackling trafficking in India. This major programme involves highlighting the issue and orchestrating a movement to bring about change. Together we can increase awareness and influence the decision makers in the UK, as requested by Indian Dalit leaders, to help encourage change in India. With our Indian and international partners we are calling for better anti-trafficking laws in India, more effective enforcement of these laws, higher standards of care for trafficking victims, and moves to transform attitudes and communities so that trafficking becomes totally unacceptable. [Read more...]
[anti-trafficking projects]
India’s Dalits want more than just talk – they want action which makes a real difference. This is why on-the-ground development projects are central to our approach. These projects are particularly geared to preventing Dalits and Tribals (from India’s indigenous tribes who also fall below the caste system) from being trafficked and to bring about community transformation. Increasingly, they include projects designed to help with rescuing, rehabilitating and reintegrating victims of trafficking. Projects include:
Click on each of the above to find out more.
In addition to four refuge shelters, we have established* over 100 Dalit Education Centres across India, educating nearly 25,000 Dalit and underprivileged children, plus, hundreds of periodic regional medical camps, 60 Community Health Workers, dozens of Economic Development programmes 1,800+ Self-Help Groups and 70 Vocational Training centres. Together, these activities are already providing a holistic approach to community transformation.
As part of these projects, DFN UK from time to time sources professional help from the UK. We are also keeping a watching brief on trafficking from India into the UK through our links with other UK anti-trafficking bodies.[current campaigns]
From time to time, DFN UK will focus on specific campaigns to help bring an end to the trafficking of Dalits. Our initial focus includes tackling the trafficking of women and girls into ritualised prostitution. [Read more...]
You can play your part in the fight against the trafficking of Dalits. Together we can End Dalit Trafficking.
*Our anti-trafficking projects are run by our Indian partners, Operation Mercy India Foundation
Panel photo: RACHEL ROBICHAUX. Used by kind permission.
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alit Freedom Network UK is launching a campaign to break the bonds of ancientmodern slavery, fighting injustice to bring an end to Dalit trafficking