Two girls rescued ~ Bridal Slaves Rescue & Restore campaign

EMPOWER PEOPLE is an NGO in India working to protect female victims of violence and mitigate post-violence trauma. EMPOWER PEOPLE is one of the pioneer organizations focusing on the issue of human trafficking for the purpose of forced marriage.

What is also called "bride trafficking" affects a yet unknown number of girls, particularly from poor backgrounds, who are deceived and trafficked to be sold as brides. According to information gathered by EMPOWER PEOPLE, a middleman seeks an agreement on an arranged marriage with the family of the girls. Later those girls are transferred to another places where there is a high demand of brides, like Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan where they are known as "Paro" or "Molki" (literally perched woman).

The main focus of EMPOWER PEOPLE lies on awareness raising and sensitization trainings for law enforcement agencies. The organization is also offering direct victim support and assistance to women vulnerable to human trafficking and domestic violence.

EMPOWER PEOPLE is currently developing projects of community engagement and rehabilitation of trafficking victims in both source and destination areas in seven states of India.

Visit www.empowerpeople.org.in

Two girls rescued

Gangtok, June 12 (PTI) Police rescued two girls, who were forced into prostitution from an apartment at Upper Arithang here and arrested a person under the prevention of immoral trafficking act. Acting on a tip-off a police team led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Gangtok, Ongmu Bhutia raided the apartment last night and rescued the two girls. The two rescued girls aged 19 and 24 alleged that a woman named Sharmila lured them to Gangtok with a promise of a good job but forced them into prostitution. During the raid the police arrested one person named Bhim Bahadur Gurung aged around 55 years, a resident of Lower Nandok who was hiding with one of the girls in a room, the SDPO said. The girls rescued have been sent to 'Mamtalaya' near Amdo Golai.