Anti-trafficking clubs reap success, spread to other colleges

In a bid to commemorate the 70th International Human Rights Day, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), in collaboration with International Justice Mission (IJM) and the Madras School of Social Work (MSSW), launched Anti-Human Trafficking Clubs in December. The clubs consisted of 10 or 12 students each from 12 colleges in the city. Now, owing to the results of such clubs, two more colleges– The Madras Christian College and the Adyar Patrician College–will form similar clubs.

Talking to DT Next, Solomon Anthony from IJM said that the movement is aimed at mobilising youth against human trafficking movements. He added, “The students from MSSW rescued a girl who had been trafficked to Chennai from Kodaikanal and found help for two boys who had been abandoned in Park Station and Chennai Central a few weeks ago. Encouraged by the impact of such clubs, we are looking at bringing in more students to stand against the social issue and make a difference. Educational institutions have shown a lot of interest in the same as well.”

The clubs also aim at taking the message to schools, especially amid students from class nine onwards. Mohammad Samsudeen, final year Masters’ Student, MSSW, said that they were planning to orient students in the topic of trafficking. “While there is interest, there is a lot of misinformation about the problem of trafficking. We want to take a more focused approach towards sensitising girls as they are more vulnerable when it comes to trafficking.”

The clubs will also look at developing modules to have a uniform approach towards addressing the issue. He added, “There are volunteers from several colleges who are part of the club in MSSW. More such students from various other colleges can carry the message into the student community. We want to take it beyond Chennai to other parts of the state.”

The brainchild of PM Nair, former IPS officer, the clubs have student representatives, leaders and a professor to oversee them, along with civil society organisations who work closelywith them.