Guria News Update - Winter 2015

Message from the Guria Team

Yet more cases of violence towards women and children in India have emerged this year. Earlier this year the case of
two sisters who were sentenced to be raped caused international outrage. The order was given to the sisters, aged 23
and 15, by a council of village elders dominated by a higher caste. Meanwhile in the Badaun case, where two girls
were gang raped and left hanging from a Mango tree, a special court has recently rejected the claims that the girls
were not raped or murdered and has finally summoned the main accused. This is the result of sustained attention and
protest on the case.
Unfortunately the cases in the media are all too common, and are reflective of the levels of misogyny and total lack of
law enforcement which Guria contends with. The Guria team continues tirelessly to fight legal cases on behalf of
victims and push for long term change in Uttar Pradesh. We have recently dealt with the case of a three year old rape
victim, who survived the attack through our intervention and support. This year we have rescued 596 people including
221 children from slavery including bonded labour. We have made great strides with our legal work which was
highlighted in a report by the Thompson Reuters Foundation, jointly launched in Mumbai in May.
We hope you enjoy this winter news update which gives an insight into our work this year.

Non formal education

There are over 300 children currently attending
Gurias Non-formal Education centres in Varanasi,
Mau, Azamgarh and in neighbouring Madhya
Pradesh state. The centres offer vital education and
help with accessing mainstream schools as well as
therapeutic creative activities, emotional support and
a safe place to play. Numerous events have been
held throughout the year at the largest centre in
Shivdaspur, the red light district of Varanasi, where
120 children regularly attend. This centre has been
visited by 83 visitors from different parts of the world
including USA, UK, France, Japan, Germany and
Australia. Visitors spent time with the kids doing
painting, clay work, meditation and other art
therapies.
A few events at the Shivdaspur centre include:

Creative activities - Children at Gurias centre in

Shivdaspur created beautiful artwork during a 3day handicraft workshop. They made a variety of
items including flower pots, pen stands and
paintings. The children have also each grown and
nurtured their own plants, which are named after
the children, both therapeutic and creative.
Children at NFE centre

Vocational training - A renowned hairdresser

from Varanasi taught the girls at the centre to
cut hair and construct intricate hair styles in a
15-day intensive workshop. The children are
learning beautician skills that they not only
enjoy, but can also use as an occupation and
income in the years to come.
Thompson Reuters and Geneva Global Representatives from the Thomas Reuters
Foundation and Geneva Global visited Guria's
NFE centre. There, they observed the fashion
design workshop, beautician parlour and
computer room as well as some of the artwork
made by the children. They also met Guria's
legal team and had the opportunity to talk with
some girls who had been rescued from brothels.

Girl at NFE centre

Trip out for the kids: The children were taken out for the day to Ramnagar Fort, Varanasi, where they enjoyed the
beautiful construction of the fort and also learned about organic farming.
Celebration of special days: Occasions like Independence Day and Teachers Day were celebrated. The kids
decorated the centre and presented cultural programs. Sweets were distributed among the children.
Diwali Celebration: Diwali was celebrated on November 8th, interns from several universities attended, including
Princeton and other education groups such as Leap Now. The children decorated the NFE buildings very beautifully
and the day ended with lighting up lights and crackers together with lunch and sweets.
Girls are awarded certificates for beautician courses

Beautician courses at NFE centre

Community Empowerment
Indo-Nepal border
Guria has continued to raise awareness about human trafficking on the Indo-Nepal border, both a source and transit
areas, managing to develop and strengthen a network of villages and community members who are aware and
empowered. During the last 3 years Guria has organised 67 workshops with 6,700 children from schools and
colleges at the Indo-Nepal border. This means children are aware about human trafficking, important as children are
the key target for traffickers and these children also spread the message within their families and society.

Over the year Guria has organised sensitisation meetings with the police, Indo-Nepal Border Force and media
professionals in order to tackle cross-border trafficking. Guria has continued to act as a consultant for the National
Institute for Public Cooperation and Child Development, which has involved training hundreds of police personnel
from five states Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Chattisgarh. This helps ensure the police
understand the issue of human trafficking and how to respond and treat victims appropriately; this is a huge problem
as the police are often ill-informed and lack a basic understanding of the victims needs.
Mass gathering of women from rural villages uniting for women and girls rights

Village meetings
Key to Gurias strategy is to bring together and empower people who are at the highest risk of exploitation and
abuse. This year Guria has held many meetings in rural vulnerable villages across eastern Uttar Pradesh. In the last
3 4 years Guria has undertaken 2,678 village meetings which were attended by an estimated 132,920 women as
well as rescued bonded labourers/girls. Many of the women attending the meetings are also members of Gurias
vigilance committees which serve to raise awareness and prevent human trafficking in villages.

Rescue Operations
This year Guria rescued 596 people from slavery, including 221 children. Many were bonded labourers forced to
work extremely long days under life endangering conditions in the brick kilns of Uttar Pradesh.
In one operation Guria rescued 40 bonded laborers,
including many children, from a Brick Kiln in Uttar
Pradesh. It was very tough for Guria to rescue and
continue with the legal case of the 40 people as the
authorities attacked Guria in response to the
rescue. The Labour department and the police filed
a fake case against Guria staff which enabled the
brick kiln owners to re-traffick some of the
labourers. It has taken months to pursue this case,
gain legal recognition of bonded labour being
carried out and finally rescue and take the
statements of the victims. This level of corruption
and by authorities is typical during rescue
operations.
Rescued bonded labourers (faces blurred for confidentiality)

Justice for a 3 year-old rape survivor

On 5th June 2015, in Varanasi, a 3 year-old girl was brutally raped and as a result suffered severe genital
mutilation leading to a life-threatening condition. The girls grandmother took the girl to four different hospitals
which all denied treatment, eventually she returned to the first hospital where doctors demanded bribes which
the family, owing to poverty, could not afford to pay. The girls family members also complained to the police
about the attack but the police were unresponsive and refused to take action, following which the family
members of the 3 year old girl threatened to commit suicide. Finally after nearly a week the police filed a
complaint, this was however recorded wrongfully and did not include any charges of rape.
Once Guria were alerted to the girls case they immediately admitted the child to a hospital and covered the
medical expenses. Guria pursued a legal case for the girl with multiple requests but no action was taken
against the accused, the police or the doctors. Guria then launched a campaign which drew support of people
from across Varanasi protesting on behalf of the child and against the inaction of the authorities.
After Gurias sustained pressure on the authorities the honble court directed the Senior Superintendent of
Police to carry out a complete investigation and take action against the officials involved. The accused rapist
was arrested and negligent officials were suspended. The girls medical expenses were reimbursed by the
state and Guria is now pursuing legal action against the negligent medical officials.
Gurias immediate action on this case saved the life of the girl.

Protest in support of three year old rape victim

Legal work
Public Interest Litigation
Over the year Guria has continued to make significant progress with Public Interest Litigation (PIL) cases. This has
enabled Guria to bring urgent human rights issues to the attention of the courts and pressure local government and
officials, bringing about changes and more rights and protection for the most vulnerable. Over the longer term PIL
can lead to changes in the law. Guria has worked on 10 PILs this year, including the eradication of traditional /
family based prostitution; an improvement of the laws related to the rescue of bonded labourers; improved medical

treatment for victims; compensation for victims and the availability of female police officers in cases of sexual
assault. A few examples are detailed as follows:
-

Negligence in medical treatment of victims

Guria filed a PIL against the negligence in medical treatment by doctors regarding the case of a 3 year old girl who
was raped in Varanasi. Through the PIL the court ordered a full investigation of the case and instructed the hospital
to undertake complete treatment of the child victim on the expenses of the State. This case drew the attention of the
national media, helping to support the case, raise awareness of the issue of exploitation of children and send a
message that negligence and corruption will not be tolerated.
-

Compensation to victims

Following Gurias PILs presented to the honourable high court the state of Uttar Pradesh has amended the rules for
providing compensation to victims of sexual offences to include and protect more victims. The amendments mean
the government unit is now active and is coordinating with Guria to disburse compensation to victims of sexual
exploitation.
-

Female police officers and recording statements at police stations

Guria presented a new PIL to the honble high court demanding that the State make arrangements for the
recruitment of women constables at all the police stations as well as videography of the statement of the victim at
the police station. The PIL also requested that penal actions be taken against negligent police officials who had not
registered complaints from victims of sexual exploitation. Through this PIL the court instructed the Director General
of Police to ensure that there are sufficient female police officers available in all cases to take the statement and
carry out videography of victims of sexual assault; that statements are recorded in appropriate places convenient for
victims; and that action be taken against police officers failing to lodge the complaints of female victims of sexual
violence.

U.S and U.K trip and Specks of Dust documentary

Earlier this year the documentary about Guria Specks of Dust was
premiered at Princeton University in New York and subsequently at the
School of African and Oriental Studies, University of London and at the
University of Cambridge hosted by the Cambridge Migration Research
Network. Ajeet, Manju and their daughter, Barish, the stars of the film and
driving force behind Guria, attended the screenings which were very well
attended and received.
During Gurias UK visit Bhatt Murphy Solicitors and Matrix Chambers

hosted a seminar with Ajeet on legal remedies for human trafficking in

the UK and India. Ajeet was joined on the panel by Pam Bowen of the
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Juliette Nash of the Anti-Trafficking
and Labour Exploitation Unit (ATLEU), Frances Trevena of The Poppy
Project and hosts and organisers, Helen Law of Matrix Chambers and
Tony Murphy and Raju Bhatt of Bhatt Murphy Solicitors. Ajeet also
gave a seminar at the University of Cambridge and gave an interview
on BBC Radio Asia Network.
Overseas visits by Guria are very rare as they are extremely busy and
focused on tackling human trafficking on the ground in Uttar Pradesh, this
was therefore a unique and great occasion for friends and supporters to
meet and speak with Ajeet and Manju about Guria.

Ajeet, Manju and daughter at BBC for interview

Click here to hear Ajeets interview on the BBC Radio Asian Network on Nihals show. And
click here to watch Ajeets seminar at Cambridge University.

Putting Justice First: Legal Strategies to Combat human trafficking

"Guria was the inspiration behind the report" said panellist Nick Grono, CEO of Freedom Fund at the launch of the report
titled Justice First: Legal Strategies to Combat Human Trafficking in India. The report was jointly launched by the Freedom
Fund and the Thomas Reuters Foundation with Monique Villa, CEO on the panel along with Ajeet Singh, founder and
director of Guria in May 2015.

Launching report in Mumbai

Seminar at Bhatt Murphy / Matrix Chambers

Your support
The Guria team would like to say a huge thank you to all our supporters!
Guria are a frontline charity protecting vulnerable woman and children, which leaves little time to raise attention for Gurias
work. Not only funding, but international friendships and recognition are important to Guria. Your support in being aware,
spreading the word or raising funds is important. If you have ideas for awareness raising or fundraising, please contact
Sarah Wraight (Guria UK).

Children at the NFE centre

For more information see: Guira India Website Guria UK Website Donations: JustGiving
Guria Facebook page
Guria Blogspot
Contact UK: sarahwraight@guria-uk.org or contact India: guria.freedomnow@gmail.com