Kolkata sex workers march against trafficking of women and children

The rally started from Abinash Kabiraj Street (Sonagachi) at around 12 noon, including a walk down through the lanes of  Sonagachi, and ended at Parichay(College Street).

The event was attended by around 1200 sex workers, primarily from various red light districts in Kolkata.

A statement from Durbar read: "The main theme  of the event was to stop trafficking and violence perpetrated against women and children with a hope that in the new year (2018) we would be able to break the relentless sexual harassment, physical and psychological violence against women in addition to the trafficking of men, women and children."

It also focused about self proclaimed Godmen, who under the guise of various social and religious activities, inculcate trafficking and forceful sexual exploitation of girls and women across the states.

Bharati Dey, mentor of DMSC, in her speech shared the past experience of Durbar's and Endeavour's fight since 2015 against the exploitative tactics of ‘Adhyatmik Ishwarya Vishwa Vidyalaya’ (Spiritual University), which they slammed as 'skilled in duping girls and women to run an institute for sexual exploitation of women'.

Speaking about the role of the government, the NGOs said that they are happy with the upcoming anti-trafficking bill, but have doubts over the contents of the said bill.

A Durban statement said, "The new act might not be looking into all varied kinds of trafficking including the exploitative practices of various 'religious outfits' who are running big business of trafficking and sexual exploitation in our country."