SOLD
Sex Trafficking is a major issue around the world, especially in India. Sex trafficking is the act
of sexual exploitation of women and children for financial gain. It is a multi billion dollar industry that
has been growing rapidly each year. Trafficking generates $9.5 billion yearly (The Covering House, Sex
Trafficking Statistics). Hundreds of people are illegally trafficked daily for the act of sexual exploitation
(Apne Aap organization). Ruchira Gupta is one of many activists, working to end sex trafficking. She has
started Apne Aap, an organization to support women worldwide, specifically in India, to work on stopping
sex trafficking through empowering victims, activating volunteers, and raising awareness.
Gupta is fighting trafficking by empowering victims through Apne Aap. Apne Aap works to
ensure that women know their essential rights: the right to legal protection, education, a dignified
livelihood, and safe and independent housing. By knowing their rights, women
can help protect themselves from slavery. “Our mission is to increase
choices for at-risk girls and women in order to ensure access to their rights,
and to deter the purchase of sex through policy and social change” (Apne Aap
organization). Gupta began her career as a journalist, working for the
Telegraph Newspaper. When she was a reporter covering the demolition of a
mosque in northern India, she was attacked and sexually assaulted. This drove
Gupta to start Apne Aap, and raise awareness among everybody. Women have a say, and should not be
treated like toys who can be sold for sex.
Secondly, Gupta activates volunteers by “bringing together clusters of SEGs (Self
Empowerment Groups) to form networks with the capacity and numbers to advocate for their rights and
for anti-sex trafficking policies at a national level” (Apne Aap organization). These networks then join
with women’s groups and other human right groups, to make a wave of change and to create awareness
among many. Eventually, other sets of individuals (such as doctors, judges, and religious organizations)
will join the networks and help change attitudes worldwide, so that it is never acceptable to buy another
human being. Apne Aap seeks to bring together 500,000 people in the next five years, to lead this large
movement. Apne Aap is having representatives go into red light districts, and approach women and girls
who are victims of prostitution, at risk of prostitution, and survivors. “Empowering women to gain
independence is just the beginning. We have already brought more than 15,000 women together across