Our partnership with Rescue:Freedom

India has long suffered from a significant human trafficking problem. Studies and surveys sponsored by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in India estimate there are about 3 million women and children in sexual slavery in the country, of which an estimated 40% are children. Currently, it is believed that as many as 2,000 women and children are trapped in sexual slavery in the city of Pune, India alone.

Our partnership established a new program aggressively aiding in the rescue of women and girls trapped in sexual slavery in Pune. A team of experienced and trained professionals went in undercover into brothels to gather needed information on the location of children being exploited. Then victims were rescued in coordination with local police. Following the rescue, 18 women and were transitioned to restorative residential programs including the Rescue:Freedom safe home operating locally. To help ensure the conviction and sentencing of traffickers, all relevant information gathered during each rescue was shared with prosecutors.