Anil Kapoor, star of the Oscar-winning film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and US TV thriller ‘24’, has partnered with CNN’s Freedom Project to expose one Indian region's secret tradition of trafficking. The result is a new documentary that premiered on CNN International on 24 September.

In ‘Trapped by Tradition: A CNN Freedom Project Documentary’ Kapoor visited Bharatpur, a district in Maharashtra state in his native India where many young girls and women are sent to work as prostitutes, often by members of their own family. This frequently happens as soon as the girl reaches puberty. Locals mark this rite of passage with a coming-of-age ceremony called Nathni Utarna - which translates as taking off the nose ring. This signifies that a girl is ready to be sent into the sex trade, and that she is considered ready to sleep with her first client.

Kapoor has been involved in the fight against human trafficking for several years through Plan India, an organisation that is working on the frontlines to protect children against abuse and exploitation. He identified poverty, illiteracy, family pressures and geographical location as contributing to the perpetuation of trafficking females for family honour and commercial gain. “I feel that this practice continued over generations only due to lack of education. Educating these girls and their parents can eliminate this practice entirely,” said the 51-year-old actor.

Caste-based

In 2008, Indian NGO Sanlaap produced a report on this practice in the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh which they describe as ‘Caste based prostitution - a traditional social system in India, where parents and brothers initiate their daughters and sisters in to prostitution, procure clients for them and thrive on their income. India so far is the only land where women/girls are worshipped as well as marketed by their own parents and brothers as a commodity in the name of caste and suffer inequalities and shame for no fault on their part.’

The practice highlights an extreme example of sexual exploitation through caste. Kapoor identified the origins in Devadasi, a ritualised prostitution where young girls are dedicated to a goddess, and then sold for sex when they reach puberty. Almost all Devadasi are Dalits. Find out more about the issue here and what we are doing about it here. The film also highlights the important role that education plays in combating human trafficking and slavery. Find out more about our schools and how you can Free A Dalit Child through sponsoring their education.

Anil Kapoor’s documentary ‘Trapped by Tradition’ is being repeated on CNN here in the UK on Sunday 25 September at 12pm, Monday 26 September at 2am and Tuesday 27 September at 10.30am. Keep an eye out for further repeats.