SHE SPEAKS EDITION 6.0 Speaks on ‘Sex Trafficking of Girls and Women in the Indian subcontinent’

New Delhi: On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Aambra Foundation held the 6thEdition of its triannual seminar, She Speaks at India International Centre, New Delhi. The seminar titled ‘Sex trafficking of Girls and Women in the Indian subcontinent’ shed light at the issue of sex trafficking in India through real life incidents, social activism and academic perspectives. A true story of a trafficking survivor who stood strong during the most testing times was also be shared at the seminar.

The seminar included a panel discussion between Kamla Bhasin, noted Feminist and Author; Dr Nupur Ray, academician; Ashok Sajjanhar, Diplomat and Former Ambassador; Divya Arya, Women’s Affairs Journalist and Amod Kanth, Social Entrepreneur and Social Activist. The panel was moderated by Vinita Bakshi, Author and Founder of She Speaks. Amitabh Shrivastava narrated a trafficked girl’s story of inspiration and aspiration.

The event was attended by dignitaries from the Embassy of Mexico, noted journalist Mrinal Pande, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax Deepshikha Sharma and Rekha Surya, renowned vocalist.

Speaking at the seminar, Kamla Bhasin, noted Feminist and author, shared her thoughts saying, ‘Trafficking should be attributable to men. So long as the demand exists, the supply will continue to exist”. Going further, she also added, “I’m vertically divided on the issue of trafficking, essentially between the two schools of thought. One, to legalize it and call it sex work and second, to fight it. I say this because if sex work is a career option, I wouldn’t want my daughter to take it up.”

In her address on the International Women’s Day, she added, “we need to acknowledge our fore-mothers because of whom the forefathers exited”.