Advocacy

Chetana has been committed to ensuring sustainable development and the realisation of the rights of marginalised communities. We aim to raise the collective consciousness and inspire individuals to advocate for the rights of marginalised communities. Chetana is dedicated to advocating for social justice and equality in the community. Through our advocacy activities, we aim to raise awareness and promote positive change for marginalized and underrepresented groups. We engage in a range of activities, from engaging policymakers to organizing grassroots campaigns, all with the goal of creating a more just and equitable society. Our advocacy efforts are rooted in research and data-driven analysis, and we work closely with other organizations and community members to amplify our message and effect meaningful change. We aim to encourage others to get involved in the fight for social justice.

Chetana’s advocacy initiatives aim at creating spaces in communities, institutions for a dialogue on issues related to social development and sustain the empowerment of women and girls from the most marginalized communities. Chetana engages with various stakeholders at the national level, creates networks and alliances to build support for marginalized groups. Chetana leverages its work and knowledge on sustainable development goals to advocate for relevant issues in India by conducting studies and developing knowledge products on issues affecting the marginalized communities.
Awareness and advocacy of rights is fundamental for effective implementation of laws and policies which assist the delivery of the rights.

Objective:

Influence policy and decision making of various stakeholders by using persuasive and consistent methods such as seminars and consultations
Conducting research and releasing publications on contemporary challenges affecting marginalized communities and on relevant issues.
Conducting trainings to increase capacities of stakeholders

Conference on Human Exploitation and Trafficking for National Awareness (CHETNA)

The two-day conference was organized on, 4th and 5th of March 2022 in New Delhi organised by Chetana Conscience of Women in collaboration with Hansraj College, Sewa International, ICSSR, ILFAT and HRDI. More than 100 participants and 30 Distinguished panellists participated. These were expert professionals and research scholars. Further, stakeholders including Govt Officials/Departments, Police, Legal fraternity, Media, Corporations, First Responders, Civil Society Leaders, Researchers, Ground Implementers, and Policy-makers participated in the conference. Trafficking does not exist in a vacuum. There exists an eco-system of intersection with different industries both legitimate and illegitimate to facilitate trafficking. The COVID 19 Pandemic has enhanced the vulnerability of poor and marginalized families to human trafficking. India as a source, transit and destination country, in its 75 years of Independence, has striven to abolish slavery and human trafficking. Human trafficking impact can be witnessed in society, economy, health and rule of law. The scale of trafficking deals a particular blow to gender equality and women’s rights presents a strain on law enforcement and affects security and health systems. In economic terms, human trafficking results in irretrievable loss of human resources and future productivity and remittances implying a loss to development. The physical, sexual, and emotional health of trafficked persons is compromised with long-term physical and psychological issues. Human trafficking operations undermine India’s efforts to exert authority over its territory, threatening the security of vulnerable populations. The year 2021 which was celebrated as Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (आज़ादी का अमृत महोत्सव) across the country provided an opportunity for the conference encourages dialogue on the contemporary challenges confronted by stakeholders and their evolving role in combatting human trafficking. The focus of the conference was to discuss India’s progress in combatting trafficking while charting a roadmap for future collaborative and multilateral interventions. The conference witnessed the participation of more than 100 delegates and 29 speakers

Inaugural Session

The Inaugural Session saw the presence of Prof. Preeti Dharmarah Bursar, Hansraj College, Sh. Shyam Parande General Secretary, Sewa International, Smt. Jyoti Mujumdar President, Chetana Conscience of Women,
Sh. Rajesh Gogna Secretary General, Human Rights Defence International as Distinguished Guest and
Smt. Pragna Parande Member, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights as Guest of Honour while
Sh. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs was the Chief Guest of the conference. The report titled 'Hidden Tsunami: Digital Trafifkcing in India' authored by Ms. Vani Manoraj was launched in the session.

Recommendation:

Active participation with the spirit of collaboration to work towards protecting marginalised communities from exploitation and trafficking is the need of the hour
Need for sensitization of law enforcement officers to the contemporary challenges of victims of trafficking.
Need for creation of employment opportunities and education of vulnerable populations as tools to prevent trafficking on wider scale.
Need for awareness of human trafficking and its various forms amongst the public to ensure local communities protect vulnerable children and women from human trafficking.
Need for a trafficking bill to ensure protection to victims and strict compliance of the law
Government should focus on working directly with the victims of trafficking and exploitation.

Online Trafficking – Transnational Perspective

Speakers of the session were Sh.Neil Giles, Chief Executive, Traffick Analysis Hub, Prof. Siddhartha Sarkar, Working Committee Member, NITI Aayog, Government of India & Director, Centre for Human Trafficking Research, Ms. Piu Mondal, Survivor Leader, Sh. Manish Manocha, Lawyer, Cyber Law Expert.

Recommendations:

The collation of the data and accessibility of the data captured for all the stakeholder will assist in revealing the complete picture of trafficking operations.
Law to curb online trafficking was the need of the hour
A safe and sustainable use of digital devices could help combat human trafficking online
Education is key to any prevention strategy and community participation was necessary to protect vulnerable persons from exploitation of traffickers.

Existing in Obscurity: Organ trafficking and child marriage

Ms. Kriti Bharti, Founder, Saarthi Trust, Ms. Anjali Rimi, Founder, Parivar Bay Area, Sh. Saurabh Shah, Director, Power Finance Commision Ltd., Sh. Vijay Jadhav, Director, Samatol Foundation, and Sh. Mahdy Hassan, National Programme Officer, Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling, UNODC were the speakers of the session.

Recommendation:

Consider the victim as your own child and to look at the process with a preventive and curative approach.
Proper counselling, capacity building and training sessions, orientation camps, empowerment programmes, oath ceremonies should be conducted
Research needs to be conducted to address the challenges of child marriage.
Trans-woman should be seen as normal humans and to understand the burden of intersectionality because ultimately, it’s empathy that wins
Provision for deceased organ donation should be formulated through ethical and transparent regulations
Data collection to assess the severity of the phenomenon of Trafficking in Persons for organ trafficking is crucial
Open shelters at Railways Stations to make rehabilitation easier

Human Trafficking after COVID-19 - Prevention and Rehabilitation interventions

Sh. Matt Friedman, CEO, Mekong Club, Sh. Varun Pathak, Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, Delhi, Sh. P Vijayan, Inspector General of Police State Police Headquarters, Kerala and, Smt. Jyoti Pathania, Founder, Chaitanya Mahila Mandal were the speakers for the session.

Recommendation:

Strict implementation of the laws is needed for combatting trafficking
Need to integrate private sector as part of stakeholders and any anti-trafficking interventions
Regular communication and checks is the key to preventing trafficking
Implementation of laws is the most important part and this should start with the police officer, the one who registers the FIR

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – Past, present and future of anti-trafficking intervention

Speakers of the session were Sh. Ravi Kant, Founder, Shakti Vahini, Ms. Sunita Kar, Survivor Leader, Sh. Pradeep Rai, Advocate, Vice-President, Supreme Court Bar Association and, Sh. Khemlal Khaterjee, Survivor Leader.

Recommendation:

Systematic rehabilitation and protection of victims are needed to support rehabilitation measures
Listen to survivors carefully, that’s all that they wish should happen
Re-trafficking of victims is a reality which needs to be considered and proper protection should be provided to the victims.
Education is the most powerful weapon to bring children out of trafficking trap
A responsible society can help to combat trafficking problem by registering complaints because any failure of the system is the failure of society.
Authorities and agencies working for this cause to think big, to provide quality education and better employment opportunities to all the victims

Valedictory Session

Distinguished dignitaries for the closing session of the conference included Sh. Harsh Chouhan, Chairperson, National Commission for Scheduled Tribe, Sh. Abhishek Tandon, Deputy Director, ICSSR, Smt. Jyotika Kalra, Member, NHRC, Sh. Shyam Parande, General Secretary, Sewa International, and, Sh. Arun Sobti, Ministry of Home Affairs.

Recommendation:

Support research and expand the scholarship on key social issues such as human trafficking is needed
It all starts with vigilance.
We need to conduct proactive studies and analysis of social behaviour.
Enforcement is an essential part of the solution
International cooperation and commitment from all the countries across the globe.
NGOs, Govt., institutions and agencies should work collaboratively to end Human Trafficking

Probable research areas

Analysis of war and violence in human trafficking operations
Analysis of migration and human trafficking
Role of data in countering human trafficking
Mapping of existing technologies supporting countering on human trafficking
Protection to victims of child marriage
Developing legal process for the annulment of child marriages
Intersectionality analysis of victims of organ trafficking
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in countering human trafficking
Systematic Rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking
Role of vulnerability mapping as prevention measure against human trafficking

Bal Samvad

India has the largest child population in the world. With a total of 472 million as per the 2011 census, children make about 39% of India’s population. In India children are one of the most vulnerable groups of citizens. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989 is the key international instrument for child rights, which India ratified in 1992. The UN Convention contains specifically the rights of children and their parents. Article 32 to 36 are regarding protection of children from child labour, drug abuse, sexual exploitation, trafficking and other exploitation whereas; Art 37 and 40 provide for rights of children apprehended for committing a crime. This provides that they should have the right to fair trials and reintegration in society, not be detained for long periods and not be put in prison with adults. The Juvenile justice (care and protection of children) act 2015 is re-enacted to provide these rights to Indian children. There is a lack of awareness in the communities about the rights of children. Children are our future. They are the most vulnerable members of the society. Their inability to advocate for themselves deeply impacts the access to their rights. It is for this purpose that Chetana conducted a series of webinars on child rights with child right experts and stakeholders. The 12 webinars conducted discussed the challenges and created awareness on the laws protecting children. 25 child rights experts connected with the organisation. Smt. Pragna Parande, Smt, Rosy Taba, Member NCPCR and Dr. Shailendra Pandya, Member, Rajasthan SCPCR graced the webinars with their presence. Topics such as child sexual abuse, rights of disabled children, child trafficking, child labour, cybersafety, adoption, drug abuse in children, and Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 were covered during the webinar series. The webinars saw an engagement of 12500+ individuals.

Preventing Child Abuse in Cyber Sapce
Introduction to JJ Act
Making Their Acquaintance
Child rights in constitution
Rights of children with developmental disabilities
Rights of children with mental illnesses
Children and drug abuse
Child sexual abuse and POCSO Act
Understanding Adoption under JJ Act
Fight against child trafficking
Zero tolerance to child labour
Deinstitutionalisation and rehabilitation of children

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Law and Policy recommendation

Chetana has been submitting policy recommendation which are activities that help us to work towards promoting social and political change. Chetana engages in policy recommendation activities in various ways, such as publishing policy briefs, reports, reviewing legal and policy documents and white papers. These documents provide key stakeholders, including policymakers and the public, with information and recommendations on critical issues affecting communities and vulnerable groups. Our team participate in consultations and dialogues with policymakers, government officials, and other relevant stakeholders to advocate for policy change. This involves presenting research findings and recommendations, engaging in constructive discussions, and building partnerships to advance shared objectives. By engaging in policy recommendation activities, NGOs can contribute to the development of policies that promote social justice, protect human rights, and improve the lives of marginalized communities. These activities also help to strengthen the voice and agency of communities, giving them a platform to participate in decision-making processes that affect their lives. Chetana has submitted recommendations to the government of India on the Trafficking bill and the National Policy for the Persons with Disabilities.

Recommendations to the Government

Trafficking Bill 2021
National Policy for PWDs 2022

Awareness of Laws among women, is an urgent need of the hour. Local agencies, should work in this direction.
Local administration should take the help of civil society in promoting a culture of gender equality & respect for women.

The existing personal law and customary practices need to be codified.
Law enforcement agencies dealing with women’s rights should be strengthened.

Kilkari

The Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 is envisaged in a manner to ensure that the child is given family support. One of the ways this aim is realised is under the provisions of Adoption expressed in Chapter VIII of the Act. The adoption regime is complex and not without its challenges. It is pertinent to create awareness on the following: The procedure of adoption under the JJ Act; Exclusion of the framework from the adoption of children under Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956; Role of Central Adoption Resource Authority and State Adoption Resource Agency; Challenges of both prospective adoptive parents and the child; Orphaned children dur to COVID19 and their challenges. The complex nature of the adoption regime creates a gap which is exploited by scrupulous individuals for their personal gain. It is therefore, important that awareness be created regarding the adoption regime under the Juvenile Justice Act. Addressing the concerns of the beneficiaries of the adoption regime and creating awareness on the procedure for adoption is the aim of this webinar. The webinar series was organised from 16th Parvarish Institute of Parenting. The webinar series saw 100 participants and 7 speakers.

Adoption – Legal perspective and procedure

The Guest of Honor for the session was Smt. Pragna Parande, Member, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights while the speakers for the session were Dr. Daksha Sharma, Assistant Professor, Bennett University and Ms Nidhi Kataria, Counsellor & Consultant. Dr. Daksha informed and clarified the law for adoption under the JJ Act, 2015 while Ms. Nidhi informed about the realities of the process of adoption.

Social and Psychological challenges of adoption

The speakers of the session were Mr Sushant Kalra, Director, Parwarish and Dr Indu Arneja, Psychologist, Director, IIHC. The speakers addressed the social and psychological challenges that both parents and children confronted during the process of adoption. They also informed prospective parents on how they can know that they are ready for adoption and what questions they should ask themselves before adopting.

Orphans and COVID-19: The way ahead

Ms Samineni Neerja Rani, Founder, We Needy and Ms Kamatam Rajitha, Member, FORCE & Social Activist were the speakers. They shared the lived experiences as orphans and their story with the participants. They informed the contemporary challenges that orphans faced in their daily live and also addressed the issue of abuse and exploitation of COVID orphans online (children orphaned due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

NCW Legal Webinar - 2016

Chetana conducted a Legal Awareness Seminar on "Efficacy of Laws Pertaining to Property and Marital Rights of Women from Different Religions " in association with National Commission of Women 25 February 2017 at Indian Society of International Law, V .K. Krishna Menon Bhawan, New Delhi . The Chief Guest of the seminar was Mrs Lalitha Kumarmangalam, Chairperson, National Commission for Women and the guest of honour of the seminar was Ms. Geeta Gunde, who is a prominent social worker based in Mumbai.
Around 200 people attended the seminar. The seminar covered three prominent religion personal laws of the India viz. Hindu, Muslim, and Christian, and Special Marriage Act. The speakers presented a paper and held a lecture for the august gathering on different aspects of the topic. The seminar saw participation of people from different walks of life including lawyers, law students, members of civil society, artists, and prominent policy makers. The seminar was not only a platform for exchange of the ideas but also a call for social change.

Recommendations for NCW:

Local Administration
State Administration
Government of India

Awareness of Laws among women, is an urgent need of the hour. Local agencies, should work in this direction.
Local administration should take the help of civil society in promoting a culture of gender equality & respect for women.

The existing personal law and customary practices need to be codified.
Law enforcement agencies dealing with women’s rights should be strengthened.

The existing personal law and customary practices should be in line with fundamental rights.
GOI should strive for creating a Uniform Civil Code, taking the good points of all personal laws, so as to bring about gender equality.
Discriminatory & retrograde practices like Maitri- Karaar et al should be banned.
Practice of Triple Talaq in one go (Talaq-I-Biddat) should be abolished in toto.
Women must be aware of their rights and measures should be taken to ensure that women, under pressure from family should not let go of their property.
Two year period of waiting for finalizing divorce violates Christian women’s right to equality, it should be made uniform across all marriages.
There should be a uniform age of consent for marriage across all personal laws and customary practices.
There is a need to develop a comprehensive equality legislation that reflects the current international understanding of the principles of equality.

Trainers Training - Delhi Technological University (DTU)

Chetana conducted a training session for Trainers' at Delhi Technological University. The young enthusiastic volunteers of NSS DTU Women Empowerment Cell conducted workshops on Menstrual Hygiene, Gender Sensitization of adolescence & teenage children in nearby schools. The purpose was to make women aware of basic hygiene and interact with them. Guidance for various health problems they might face in their daily life and about how to avoid those problems through personal hygiene and precautions were given.

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Conference on Human Exploitation and Trafficking for National Awareness (CHETNA)

Bal Samvad

Law and Policy recommendation

Kilkari

NCW Legal Webinar - 2016

Trainers Training - Delhi Technological University (DTU)