Ahmednagar has a high military and migrant worker presence, is on a busy transport route and is severely affected by droughts. All of which contribute to high levels of prostitution and human trafficking and ultimately the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV and AIDS. There are constant challenges when dealing with trafficking and prostitution, especially when it comes to minors. Hundreds of thousands of children go missing in India every year, sold into the sex trade.

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How we help

 

Our regional clinics and health camps distribute condoms and conduct sexual health education and STD testing without judgement.

 

We rely on a network of peer mentors, recruited from our local sex workers and MSM communities, who play a key role in our outreach health work and education projects. We also rescue and rehabilitate trafficked and forced sex workers providing a safe haven, free counselling, legal aid, vocational training and alternatives to sex work. Through advocacy and awareness drives we are also challenging the culture of violence that surrounds this community.

 

This grassroots approach has drastically reduced the rates of STDs in the district, making it now one of the lowest in India. We can also confirm that thanks to counselling and awareness raising that there are no underage sex workers in our district.

 

Who we help

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We currently have over 3,000 registered female sex workers, men having sex with men (MSM) and LGBT community members accessing our services and are continuously reaching out to more.

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How you can help

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With your support we can reach out to more sex workers and MSM to educate them on their health and rights, offer them alternatives, put an end to trafficking and ultimately prevent the further spread of HIV and STDs.