Country: India

Organization: Prajwala

Innovation: Human trafficking is the grossest violation of human rights.This trade in human misery is a collective shame for not just the civil society but all those human beings who have been given the mandate to provide,protect and nurture human dignity.As a civil society initiative an organisation has a crucial but only a limited role to play in combating trafficking.Prajwala in its anti-trafficking interventions gradually realised that until and unless the State did not take ownership for the problem there is not going to be any sytemic impact to counter this organised crime.A State level Anti-Trafficking Policy is required which will not only state commitment to combat trafficking but will also ensure budgetary allocation.

Impact: After three years of consistent campaign through various means including media campaign,publishing an action research on inter-state trafficking,lobbying with different stake holders(home minister,secretaries of various departments and the civil society )Andhra Pradesh became the first state in the country to have a anti- trafficking policy.The policy which has all components ranging from prevention,anti-trafficking measures,rescue,economic empowerment,health care services,education and child care,housing and civic amenities,legal reforms and rehabilitation and relief fund is implemented in all the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh through its district anti-trafficking committte chaired by the Collector.Trafficking is an accepted state problem

Tipping Point: When the State acknowledges and accepts a problem instead of denying it we have reached the tipping point.But most of the time state is run on whims and fancies of individuals.And therefore to consistantly keep the momentum so that nobody loses focus has become the biggest challenge for us.Definitly we have reached a tipping point where there is no going back,but everything on paper need not be implemented.So within the limitations of a civil society initiative developing strong networks and collaborations with other stake-holders respecting space and territories and still continuing to keep the movement together is the biggest challenging today.It also is a challenge to ignite human passion to continue the mission.

Replication: Many State Governments like Orissa are already looking at the possibility of replicating the policy.Prajwala is nominated as advisor to Govt of Orissa to build the capacities of the state officials to do the same.After this policy has come out many other states such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have come up with similar policies.Prajwala has also filed a Public Interst Litigation in the Supreme Court which is also forcing many other states to look at the policy closely and asess for replication or adaptation.Many civil society partners are using this policy to lobby in their respective state for a similar policy.As a special invitee in the National Committe to combat trafficking we are sure to lobby for a national policy on similar lines.

Sustainability: Any State Policy can be sustainable so long as the civil society pressure is consistenly maintained.Our next step is to camapign and lobby for this policy to become a law which will remain whether an organisation survives or not.The law will also force the state to allocate clearcut budget for the same.With a strong NGO network and civil society movement we are confident that it will become self- sustainable in the long run.Join us in this movement to make it possible.Let us remember our commitments are vital but so long as the State does not take accountability we all will become just centers of excellance gratifying our own needs and the powerful organised criminal networks will flourish.

Position in the Human Trafficking Mosaic of Solutions:

Factor: Corruption and Inadequate Government Policy

Principle: Ensuring Law for All