World Day Against Trafficking marked

 Hyderabad: NGOs, government agencies, law enforcement, and civil society organisations on Saturday joined hands to observe the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and stressed on strengthening prevention efforts, identifying victims, and holding traffickers accountable.

The theme for this year's campaign was 'Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind,' inspired by the central promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Commemorating the day, senior law enforcement officers, survivors, artists in partnership with Telangana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (TSCPCR), T-Hub and Hyderabad-based Youngistaan Foundation held a special public dialogue to raise awareness on how human trafficking, encompassing labor trafficking and bonded labor, is a heinous crime that ensnares victims in a web of coercion, exploitation, violence and deplorable living conditions.

The audience witnessed survivors of bonded labour sharing their testimonials, highlighting the prevalence of trafficking and need for victim support for rehabilitation. A survivor, in a statement released by an NGO, said, "Access to shelter, medical care, legal aid, and education are essential to help survivors heal from their traumas and reintegrate into society with dignity and hope."

The chief guests released a series of posters on human trafficking to mark the day. A special art exhibition and live performance by a local marked the occassion.