Guria Swayam Sevi Sansthan (Guria) will rescue victims of modern slavery and ensure the conviction of traffickers. A systematic result-oriented legal intervention will challenge the impunity of traffickers as well as helping to create a model for other NGOs in Varanasi, Mau, Ghazipur, Azamgarh and Chandauli. Guria will work to achieve rejections of bail for perpetrators, and the convictions will result in victim’s families being more confident in the judicial system. Guria will build alliances with NGOs to be better equipped to provide economic security for survivors. Further, Guria will ensure the education of children so that that they are less vulnerable to forced labour or exploitation. Guria will also facilitate a one-day state consultation in Uttar Pradesh for Freedom Fund partner organisations to review the draft State Action plan to combat human trafficking and slavery.

With support from the Freedom Fund, Guria Swayam Sevi Sansthan (Guria) will continue to combat human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of women and girls in red light districts, especially in communities of five districts in Uttar Pradesh. They will rescue individuals in slavery, enabling them to take up and pursue prosecutions through the district courts, High Court, and Supreme Court. For each of these survivors, Guria will seek compensation and will arrange witness support. They will also document successful legal practices, providing materials to other active organisations.

Guria will continue to provide training to police, government officials, NGOs and media. They will provide psychosocial support to children as well as helping them re-enroll in formal schools, meeting with parents regularly to monitor the children’s progress. Additionally, they will run centres for adolescent girls. Working with adult survivors, Guria will provide livelihood support to improve their economic options.

With this grant, Guria seeks to build a strategic and systematic legal mechanism for survivors of human trafficking that will help to reduce the risk of slavery and trafficking in project target areas. It will provide legal assistance to 205 existing modern slavery cases and file 30 new cases in the District and High courts. This will include opposing bail of traffickers to ensure they remain in custody for the maximum period, increasing the likelihood of the victims successfully testifying in court. Guria will also work with law enforcement agencies to ensure the quick framing of charges and timely disbursement of victim compensation, and support victims to claim their full entitlements and compensation. Witness protection services including emergency support and safe shelter will also be provided to 20 survivors, with the aim of establishing guidelines for best practice. Education and psycho-social support will be provided to vulnerable children to reduce their exposure to risk factors of human trafficking, and survivors will receive livelihoods support to facilitate their reintegration into their communities.