World Day Against Human Trafficking

As a charity working alongside frontline groups to prevent human trafficking, we welcome the United Nations’ World Day Against Trafficking in Persons message for 30 July 2025, themed “Human trafficking is organized crime – End the exploitation.”

We share the UN’s view that trafficking is a calculated crime orchestrated by criminal networks who exploit vulnerable people for profit. Much of the work of the frontline groups we partner with is focused on prevention and network building. Sisters and other frontline project leaders are providing risk awareness and early warning training, community education, and alternative livelihood opportunities to prevent exploitation. We focus on strengthening anti-trafficking networks, because trafficking is a networked crime and it needs a networked response. Rooted in frontline leadership, our approach ensures projects are designed by people who know their communities the best.  Sisters and other frontline groups are known and trusted, and they often work alongside law-enforcement or other government agencies.

Recently, sisters in India were alerted to a deeply disturbing case involving the trafficking of girls from indigenous tribes. A company had lured around 50 young girls with false promises of employment. Instead of being given jobs, they were taken to a remote location and confined inside a building, cut off from the outside world. They were denied basic privacy and were reportedly subjected to exploitation. The rooms where they were housed were frequently accessed by male supervisors, raising serious concerns about abuse and coercion.

Thankfully, one of the girls managed to secretly contact a family member who was familiar with a congregation of local sisters, Arise partners, who support trafficked people.  Acting swiftly the sisters alerted the police and identified the location where the girls were being held. Upon visiting the site, they encountered major challenges—access to the premises was blocked, and the people in charge were uncooperative. Despite these obstacles, they confronted those responsible and managed to rescue the girl who had managed to call for help.  However, during this rescue, the police uncovered that many more girls were being held inside under similar conditions.  

Working in close collaboration with district law enforcement, the sisters provided the insight needed for a major raid on the premises. The operation was a success; multiple girls were rescued, and the case received immediate attention from the district administration.  This rescue not only saved lives, but also highlighted the urgent need for coordinated action against human trafficking in vulnerable communities. 

Arise remains committed to supporting frontline groups to work alongside local authorities and law enforcement.  The dismantling of criminal networks requires sustained investment in local prevention, survivor‑centred support, and prosecution.  We strongly urge international and national agencies to invest in prevention infrastructure: community outreach, trauma‑informed support teams, and frontline leadership. Without these, enforcement efforts might fail to reach the most vulnerable.

Sisters in India crossing a flooded river as they go about their work.