India CSR News Network
MUMBAI: Every 8 minutes a child goes missing in India and 1 out of 2 kids is untraceable and lost forever. YES Foundation’s Changemaker Initiative – MISSING was launched at an event on October 21, 2016 in Mumbai to raise awareness and drive public action towards prevention of human trafficking.
The ceremony was marked by the unveiling of the MISSING Smartphone App, a one of a kind augmented reality app which aims to sensitise 400 million smartphone users in India by providing them the opportunity to experience the human toll of trafficking. The focus is on creating mindset transformation to cut the demand for trafficking. The MISSING App also features a list of current petitions, nearby NGOs and other links that support public action on the issue.
The MISSING app was unveiled by Dr. Ashvini Madhukar Joshi IAS, Collector, Mumbai, Bindu Rana Kapoor, Member, Governing Council, YES Foundation, Ms. Pooja Bhatt, Actor & Filmmaker, Onir, Filmmaker and Namita Vikas, Member, Governing Council, YES FOUNDATION & Group President & Managing Director, Climate Strategy & Responsible Banking, YES BANK along with Prerana Langa, CEO, YES Foundation and Leena Kejriwal, Public Artist & YES! i am the Changemaker Awardee 2015.
The highly significant launch event was attended by an audience comprising women leaders, bureaucrats, filmmakers and students. The evening also featured an intriguing docu-theatre performance directed by Satchit Puranik tackling the issue of access to public spaces for women.
“The YES Foundation Changemaker Initiative – MISSING needs to be applauded. It is an important step towards generating awareness and promoting action towards the very bleak scenario of human trafficking in India” said Onir, Filmmaker.
“We want to take the app across the country into Government schools in 13 regional languages. It will help us reach out to adolescents who are the future demand makers and a part of the supply chain of trafficking. The Initiative has been crucial in taking the MISSING initiative forward. YES Foundation enabled me to take this cause to scale for greater social change” said Leena Kejriwal, YES! i am the CHANGEMAKER Awardee 2015 and Founder, MISSING – a public art initiative to end human trafficking.
The second edition of the CHANGEMAKER Award will honour past participants of YES! i am the CHANGE, World’s Largest Social Film Movement, who have gone beyond filmmaking, developed innovative solutions and consistently contributed towards social causes.
“The genesis of YES! i am the Changemakers Award lies in the mindset transformation triggered by the immersive experience of participation in YES! i am the CHANGE. Last year, we awarded two Changemkaers, Leena and Kuljeet. This year we will support five individuals actioning solutions which have a significant social impact. ” shared Prerana Langa, CEO, YES Foundation.
Some facts about Human Trafficking:
Human trafficking is the third-largest criminal activity globally, an estimated 20 million persons are forcibly trafficked each year for various forms of exploitation, generating over $32 billion each year (Source: Trafficking in person’s report – US Department of State – June 2014)
The International Labor Organization estimates that women and girls represent the largest share of forced labor victims with 11.4 million trafficked victims (55%) compared to 9.5 million (45%) men
National Crime Records Bureau (India) findings indicate that cases of human trafficking have surged almost 14 times in the last decade with only 30% of cases being reported (NCRB – 2014 report)
Women and girls make up 76% of reported human trafficking cases with over 1.2 million female victims between 9-12 years. In 2011 there were 35,000 cases of missing women
