Dear all,
Here’s wishing you a merry Christmas and Hapy New Year! Attached is a brief update on two events that saw the participation of Bal Ashram children and Director. Hope you enjoy reading them. Your comments/suggestions are welcome.

"These children will shine like stars, I congratulate Bal Ashram for their success and this programme has made us also are more sensitized by problems that these children encounter"- Honorable Chief Justice of India, Justice Mr. K. G Balakrishnan

On the eve of Children's Day, Chief Justice of India, Honorable Justice Mr. K. G Balakrishnan promised former child labourers rescued by BBA that the time would soon come when child labour and exploitation of children would be eliminated from society. In a programme organized by the National Legal Service Authority (NLSA) with Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), the Honorable Justice was joined by other eminent judges from the Supreme Court and the High Court. 30 children, from Bal Ashram and a child friendly village, Rajasthan, had an interactive question and answer session.
At the beginning of the programme, Bal Ashram children performed a skit weaving the true story of how children in many parts of the country are still in the grip of child labour and illiteracy and how important education is for a bright future. It won the hearts of the judges.

During the programme Bal Ashram children had the opportunity to interact with The Chief Justice of India and other Justices of Supreme Court. Some of the questions asked by the Bal Ashram children and its answers by different Justices are are as follows:

Q- Pradeep Kumar (Bal Ashram) who was rescued at the time when he was being sacrificed by his parents, wanted to know – "Whenever children complain, the police say that they would take action; but then nothing happens as the employers go scot-free. What should we do in such a situation?

Ans – Chief Justice of India Justice K. G Balkrishnan replied - "Children or anybody can write to National Legal Service Authority (NLSA) or to the Supreme Court Legal Services and we would take action and any such reports would be welcomed."

Q- Rakesh, 12 years and a child labourer for 6 years asked – "There are so many street children and many are trafficking for forced labour. Why are authorities not taking action against the traffickers and what measures should be taken to solve this issue?"

Ans – Honorable Justice Mr. Arijit Pasayat echoed the same statements as the Chief Justice of India's and said - "You can write complaints on a post card and send it to the Supreme Court and action would be taken against your complaint."

During the conclusion of the programme, Honorable Chief Justice of India, Justice Mr. K. G Balakrishnan expressed his happiness at the children and their wise, probing questions. He said –"These children will shine like stars. I congratulate BBA for their success and this programme has made us also are more sensitized by problems that these children encounter."

The President of BBA, Mr. Ramesh Gupta said that this group of confident children after all that they went through shows that there is hope in the society. And this is right message on the children's day.



Bal Ashram shines at the Clinton Global Initiative- Asia meeting

Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), one of the world's most renowned organizations organized 'CGI Asia Meeting' from 1-3 December 2008 in Hong Kong, to discuss about the latest developments on the issues of Education Energy and Climate Change, and Public Health'. Mrs. Sumedha Kailash, the director of Bal Ashram was one of the special invitees of this meeting. Former US President- Bill Clinton, Ban-ki-Moon (Secretary General, The United Nations), Gloriya Macapagal Arroyo (President, Republic of the Philippines), and The President of Singapore were among the many dignitaries of the meeting.

Clinton Global Initiative stands to turn ideas into action to help the world move beyond current state of globalization to a more integral community of shared responsibilities and values.

There were three working sessions in the meeting and Mrs. Sumedha represented Bal Ashram in the session that discussed education. She spoke of her experiences of working with children disadvantaged because of health, gender, geography, economic, or political reasons. She said that "Globalisation has brought about several polarities and that is what the world is trying to grapple with. But education is the primary force which would ensure that the fruits and benefits of globalization reach all people, especially the marginalised sections."

Mrs. Sumedha Kailash also met the Mr. Bill Clinton and discussed about the issues of child labour and education in India. Mr. Clinton appreciated the work of Bal Ashram as well as Bachpan Bacha Andolan (BBA) for the elimination of child labour. During the interaction, Clinton also asked about Kalu Kumar (Rescued and rehabilitated in Bal Ashram) whom he met in 2000 with the founder of BBA, Kailash Satyarthi.

Ms. Sumedha Kailash also expressed herself to International Actress Michelle Yeoh and Jet Li, well known actor and the founder of One Foundation and discussed about the activities of Bal Ashram and Child Labour issues in India.

Links:

• Bal Ashram shines at CGI Asia meeting
• Bal Ashram children interacting with the Chief Justice of India
• Children's day celebration in Supreme Court

Children in Transformation

In the second quarter (Apr-Jun’08) there were 94 children who are undergoing various kinds of rehabilitation. The distributions of 94 children who are undergoing rehabilitation in Bal Ashram are as follows:
1
Trade    Number of children
School Going Children    29
Non formal education   38
Motor Winding   08
Painting   08
Welding   01
Carpentry   02
Tailoring   08

It was exam result time and children came out with flying colours. Many children stood first in their classes and the following table details the results, class wise:

Name of the child    Class   Position in the class   percentage
Ram Lal   4   First   56.57
Sandeep   5   Second   63.14
Virendra Kumar Singh   5   First   78. 14
Samsoor   6   Third   57.55
Kailash   6   First   64.16
Pradeep Sen   7   Fifth   62.76
Kinshu Kumar   7   First    88.85
Amar Lal   7   Third   69.83
Dhara   8   Third   82.78

Kinshu Kumar stood first in the school with 88.85 % marks. Prize distribution ceremony was also held for these children in which Tehsildar (Head of the county), Mr. Ram Ratan, Mr. Nayab and Smt. Sanju Parik distributed colors, books, note books and other playing materials to these children. Director Bal Ashram, Smt. Sumedha Kailash gifted nine bicycles to these children.

By the endless effort of Bal Ashram children, letter with signature of about 1200 people, demanding ban on child labor and effective implementation of laws were sent to the Honorable Chief Minister of Rajasthan and to all the District Magistrates and government administrators of Rajasthan.

In the month of March, children of Bal Ashram participated in Bal Mela (Children’s festival) and presented a cultural program through which they sent a massage to the children parents and community members regarding the issue of child labor and importance of education.

A work shop cum training programme was organized for the children of Bal Ashram by Dr Anand on stress management through proper breathing techniques. As there are some children who have been traumatized in their past, this workshop helped children and the staff to enhance the knowledge and importance of stable and calm mental status.

On 13 March 2008 a medical camp and quarterly medical checkup was organized in the Ashram for the children. Apart from these, a yoga shivir (Yoga Classes) for the children was also organized on 5-6 March 2008 and on 13th March 2008 for the children.

On 21st and 22nd of March 2008, Holi (Festival of Colors) was celebrated. Children played with colors and enjoyed the festival with staff members and volunteers. In evening they presented a colorful program- sang and danced all the way and relished the festive sweets and fruits.

A lot of visitors from overseas as well as from various parts of India came to Bal Ashram to meet and interact the Bal Ashram children to know about the rehabilitation process and the functioning of Ashram.

One of the Bal Ashram children Banti, the Pogo Amazing Kid Award winner in leadership category was invited by Derek O’ Brien (a nationally renowned quiz expert who produces a quiz show for children all over the country) to participate in their Bournvita Confidence Champion, in which they choose 12 children from the entire country, who are all-rounders).

Bal Ashram children also took part in South Asia Congress on Child Labour and Education. On this occasion Honourable Education Minister, Mr. Arjun Singh, former Vice President of India Sri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat; Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Sheela Dixit; and other eminent personalities and children from India and the other countries took part. Bal Ashram children addressed the gathering and expressed their views on the issues related child labor, child trafficking and education.

10th anniversary of Bal Ashram was celebrated on 17th April 2008, in a very colourful manner. All the children and staffs joined their hands together and presented colorful programs of songs and dance. On this occasion many competition such as cricket match, sprint (300 metre, 200 meter and 100 meter), painting competition etc was organized for the children. As apart of the anniversary programme Ashram children also visited science museum, and many tourist spots in Delhi. This tour really helped children to enhance their knowledge on different subjects.

A painting exhibition Show your Hope’ was also organized in the Bal Ashram from 3-5-08 to 5-5-08 with the help of Foundation 80 Question. In this painting exhibition story teller Mr. Martin Scheet displayed some of the paintings made by people around the world depicting their hope. Martin was touring the entire world where he organized a painting workshop, would collect the best paintings and take them with him to tell their stories to the people of the world.

A programme was organized on 24th April 2008, as part of the Global Action Week to sensitize the children on different related issue of child labor and importance of quality education in life. Children were also taught World’s Biggest Lesson and were given a lesson on the importance of good and qualitative education in life and for better future.

A one day workshop was organized for the children of Bal Ashram On 5th June 2008- world environment day was observed. On this day all the children were informed about the importance of trees for a balanced environment and were also given orientation on global warming.

Bal Ashram also celebrated World Day Against Child Labor on 12 June 2008, on this day all the children took oath to work for the elimination of child labour and protection of child rights.

Apart from these activities classes on physical education and sports, cultural education, social education, non formal education, group discussion and vocational training etc were organized on daily basis. Cultural program and meditation at the end of every day helped the children to rejuvenate their energy to start up a fresh new morning.

Links:

• please check the link and find Bunty the amazing kids leader

The year 2008 began on a high note for Bal Ashram. Three of its children made the world proud by participating in important programmes related to child rights and education and emerged as leaders and changemakers. All the three children Bunty, Om Prakash and Amarlal emerged leaders at three different fora in carrying the message 'from exploitation to empowerment' is indeed the journey 'from slavery to leadership'.

14 year old Bunty won the Pogo Amazing Kids leadership award 2007, which was awarded to him by Bollywood Superstar Aamir Khan. This former child labourer had worked in a brick kiln in Tirasi village, Madhepura district, Bihar and was rescued in 2001 by BBA activists at the tender age of 7. After having been rehabilitated in Bal Ashram he went back to his village and helped enrol 60 children in Government school Madhepura. For this and other work, he was awarded the Pogo Amazing Kids leadership award. The award carries a citation and an award money of Rs 500,000. During the award ceremony, he won the hearts of the children, audience and the celebrities present with his innocent yet precocious words – "parents give birth, but it is each one of us who carves our space in this world with our deeds; the fruits of good work are always good".

Om Prakash Gurjar, another 15 year old from Bal Ashram was the Indian pride at the International Children's Peace Prize this year. He had won the prominent award, also called as the 'Children's Nobel' in 2006. Instituted last year, the award is given to a child with exceptional contribution to children's rights. Om Prakash was instrumental in 500 children of his and adjacent villages' children obtaining their Universal Birth Registration through birth certificate which is the first identity of a child. He also raised voice against the practice of fees taken by the Principal and teachers of his school though education is free and is their fundamental right. The case was referred to the Rajasthan State Human rights commission which took unprecedented action and said that action would be taken against any school official who charges invisible costs like building cost etc from any child. This made education truly free, due to the efforts of Om Prakash. He is now in his Class X. This year he went to Amsterdam to hand over the prize to this year's winner, Thandiwe Chama, a brave girl from Lusaka, Zambia who helped provide education for 60 children in her community in Lusaka when their own school was closed. The award was handed over by Mikhail Gorbachev, former President of the erstwhile USSR and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Amarlal's voice is the voice of children of the world. Chosen as a child representative to speak alongside world leaders in the High Level Group on Education, a UNESCO initiative, Amarlal was a 'young advocate' representing the voice of child labourers across the world and highlighted their need of education to the assembled world policy makers on education. The High Level Group (HLG) on Education is a forum of education ministers of the countries of the world besides Mr. Kailash Satyarthi, the sole civil society representative. Amarlal joined hands with 3 other children from Liberia, Senegal and Columbia each representing his own country and the needs of children's right to education. Amarlal reminded the delegates –"Keep your promises to world's children by allocating more budget for education for the poor countries and to abolish child labour."

These children are just a few examples of the many children whose lives are being shaped by the Bal Ashram, run at Viratnagar, Jaipur, India. To give a brief introduction to Bal Ashram; it is a rehabilitation centre for rescued victims of child slavery and trafficking for forced labour. In their initial days at the Ashram, all boys undergo some training in the basics of literacy and numeracy. Then, those of a younger age who are found to be sufficiently intelligent or interested are put in the non-formal education section. Children aged 14 years and above are given vocational training in crafts such as screen painting, tailoring, carpentry, electrical trade, welding etc.

The distribution of the children at the Ashram by each quarter and activities is given in the following table

There are 65 children in the current quarter. About 7 children stood top in their respective classes in their school. Besides, education, they are good at their extra-curricular activities and are at the fore front of social change in the vicinity and their villages.

The children celebrated festivals like Dusehhra, Diwali and birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi - Father of Nation, Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, and Sikh Guru Govind Singh, etc. A debate and essay and competition were also held. Id-Ul-Fitr was also celebrated in the Ashram and sweets were distributed amongst the kids.

On 21st October 2007 Dussehra was celebrated in the ashram in which people from the nearby village also participated. On this occasion Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Viratnagar (the highest administrative official in the area) Mr. Baldev Singh Hada, Chief Medical Officer, Village Head and some people from the child friendly villages were also present. The children presented a colourful play based on the epic Ramayana and burnt the effigy of Ravana. On the eve of Dussehra a painting competition was also organised for the children.

On the eve of Diwali, the festival of lights, a rally was taken out by the Bal Ashram children in the near by village. The rally was organised to sensitise the community on the child labour in the fire-cracker industry. Om Prakash, winner of International Children’s Peace Prize 2006 and other children called upon the people to boycott fire crackers.

Bal Ashram children also sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India through the SDM of Viratnagar, requesting him to look into the gravity of the situation of the children working in the hazardous industry and demanding a tougher law for it.

On the occasion of the National Children’s Day (14 November) an essay and debate competition was also organized for the children.

Tree Plantation drive was organised in 23 villages around the Bal Ashram. Some of the Bal Ashram children also went to Delhi to participate in the Regional Consultation on the Good Practices in the Elimination of Child Labour and Trafficking of Children for Forced Labour, organised by the BBA on 26 September 2007 in New Delhi. About 4 children from the ashram put forth their views in this consultation before the audiences

A team of 20 children and three teachers of Toorak College, Australia visited Bal Ashram and got to know more about the child labour and the functioning of Bal Ashram.

Bal Ashram is a centre where children rescued from situations of grave exploitation turn into leaders in their own right. It is the belief of Bal Ashram that until the victims themselves become change makers, true and sustainable change is not possible. The journey of recovery for every child at Bal Ashram starts with peer-to-peer counselling and formalisation into education and continues till he becomes a healed, smiling, confident and empowered child. Therein lies the true spirit of Bal Ashram.

Links:

• the child leaders of Bachpan Bachao Andolan
• Bal Ashram children that topped their classes
• A report on Bal Mahapanchayat or children's national assembly

Pictures:

• Bunty-winner of Pogo Amazing Kids Award for leadership (JPG)
• Children of Bal Ashram (JPG)

Attachments:

• Children at Bal Ashram quarter-wise break-up (XLS)

June 1, 2007, Ibrahimpur, New Delhi: In a shocking incident in the afternoon on 31 May 2007, an armed mob of over 100 employers, contractors and others attacked Bachpan Bachao Andolan's transit rehabilitation centre for rescued child labourers at the outskirt of New Delhi. Majority of the children at the rehabilitation centre were rescued from gold jewellery workshops from Karol Bagh area a fortnight back.

The irate mob of gold jewellery employers and their goons armed with iron rods, sticks and bricks came in buses and forcibly entered the Mukti Ashram. The mob yielded their arms liberally on the staff caring for the rescued children. In the ensuing chaos and panic, the children were very scared and traumatised, as the employers and their men tried to abduct the children forcibly. With great difficulty and presence of mind, the staff protected the children. Frantic calls were made to the nearby police station (Alipur), which came an hour later to disburse the mob. Unfortunately, neither the police registered a FIR (First Information Report) nor arrested any of the instigators.

Kailash Satyarthi, founder of BBA and international child rights activist, denounced this trespass and fears for the safety and well being of the rescued child labourers and the staff of BBA. He lamented, "This is happening in the capital - Delhi. I am outraged at the audacity and lawlessness of the situation. Even during the rescue operation for the release of these children, violent mobs of employers, contractor and traffickers gheroed the children and us. The special reserve police had to be called for protection on 19 May. Again at the police station, these people verbally abused us and threatened with dire consequences. However, not a single one of the employers or miscreants has been arrested till date despite our FIR and repeated complaints."

Mukti Ashram (BBA Transit Rehabilitation Centre) is sheltering 92 bonded child labourers rescued from gold jewellery workshops of some of the top jewellery makers in New Delhi by BBA, District Administration, Labour Department and Police on 19 May 2007. Children were found living and working in appalling conditions in the Raigarpura and Beidanpura areas in Karol Bagh. They worked in small rooms in 5 storey buildings. Each room had 8-10 people and more than half of the workers are children. They ate and slept in the same room in which they used dangerous chemicals like lead for making gold ornaments and gold polishing. Children were then handed over to BBA until the administrative formalities, medical examination and other formalities. It is notable that the action was taken under the Bonded Labour law, which is a cognisable offence and even empowers the Sub-Divisional Magistrate conduct a summary trial on the spot and sentence up to 3 years of imprisonment. They were given a release certificate under Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act, 1976 by the District Magistrate entitling them to rehabilitation. More than 90 per cent of the children were trafficked from West Bengal and the rest were from Bihar, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Orissa.

In the press interviews post their release, numerous children gave testimonials against their employers abuse and bondage. Adding to non-payment of wages, appalling working conditions, health problems were physical and sexual abuse of the children. To add to the jewellery-makers ire the rescued child labourers had also named some of the largest and leading jewellery brands in New Delhi as using the jewellery made by these children.

The children in their testimonials in front of the Magistrate feared that they might be re-trafficked from their homes into the same situations again due to the pressure and influence from the employers and traffickers. The children sincerely expressed their desire for a better and safe future. "The children have voiced their fears and desires. This must not be ignored. The government has to protect their rights to childhood and freedom", expressed Satyarthi. He alleged, "It is shocking to know that employers organisations joined by politicians are pressurising the Delhi administration and Chief Minister to hand over these bonded child labourers to them. It seems that their ploy has worked. In this situation, we fear that the rehabilitation centre would be again attacked".

Rescued child bonded labourers allege that they work for top jewelers in the capital

22 May 2007, New Delhi: Delhi's top jewelery brands are now under question for flourishing their business through employing children in slavery like conditions. The shine of their gold ornaments in the market counters belies the dark story of sweat and blood of thousands of children working to make them.

93 bonded children were rescued by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), of Karol Bagh area along with Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) activists, Labour Department and police. Children are now exposing these facts of who they worked for. They allege that they work for Krishna Jewellers, P.P. Jewellers, P.C Jewellers, Gandhi Jewellers, N.C. Jewellers, Cycle Jewellers and Champa Jewellers (list attached). Children have been rescued but the contractors and employers are still Scot free. "Until and unless the entire nexus of traffickers, middlemen, contractors and the principal employer i.e. the big brands are brought to book by the law, the inhuman practice of bondage and child labour cannot be stopped. There are at least 3000 children working in these horrifying conditions in Karol Bagh." alleged Kailash Satyarthi, the founder of BBA who lead his rescue team last Saturday, 19 May 2007.

12 year old Saurabh had been working for absolutely no wages for the past two years. Ask about his scars and he says- "I was burnt with acid on lips and arms as I didn't work as per the owner's expectations. I stopped telling anybody or crying, because, if I did, I would get beaten more. I am happy to be free now." Similar is the story with Rahim, Sukumar and Sahibuddin. None of them had seen their parents or family members for a long time. They were beaten up badly with sticks, iron rods and sharp objects. The elder children were even forced to take drugs. Ask Sahib and Rahim whether they are happy and they are all smiles- yes, we want to go home and go to school." Most of these children were trafficked from West Bengal.

"Children are living and working in appalling conditions in the Raigarpura and Beidanpura areas in Karol Bagh. They work in small rooms in 5 storeyed buildings. Each room has 8-10 people and more than half of the workers are children. They eat and sleep in the same room in which they use dangerous chemicals like lead used for making gold ornaments and gold polishing." said R.S.Chaurasia, the Chairperson of BBA.

Children are now at the Mukti Ashram, and their medical examination and other formalities would be completed soon. They will be given a release certificate under Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act, 1976 by the magistrate and will be repatriated to their home state. According to the law, each child is entitled for the rehabilitation benefit under a special scheme where the children have to be enrolled in school and their parents would be given at least Rs. 20,000 worth earning assets.

Mr. Satyarthi said that BBA has written a letter to the jewelers mentioned above as well as to their Union. The letter asks them to prepare a code of conduct, monitoring system to assure that their gold is free from the stain of child labour. He added – "if proper action is not taken, we will launch a consumer's campaign to demand a certification for child labour free jewelery." He also called upon that the government and BBA should form a task team and conduct repeated raids in this area to make the industry child labour free.

Click the links below to see news coverage of the rescue.

Pictures:

• The Asian Age news article (JPG)
• Sunday Times news article (JPG)
• Hindustan Times news article (JPG)

05 March 2007, Forbesgunge: After entering into the Indian mainland from Nepal through Forbesgunge border, the South Asian March Against Child Trafficking marched through the town of Forbesgunge shouting slogans against child trafficking and slavery. Then, at the Forbesgunge Railway station, a public meeting was held. While the meeting was going on at the station, Vinay Singh, National Secretary, Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) and Neeraj Verma, activist saw a man with 2 boys, who did not look like their guardian. The man was acting suspicious and Mr. Singh and Mr. Verma went to talk to him and the boys. As they talked to the man and the boys, they found that the boys had been sold to work for a meagre amount of Rs. 500 in Kurukshetra in Haryana. On further questioning it was gleaned that although the trafficker said he was taking them to Kurukshetra, the tickets were in fact till Ludhiana in Punjab.

As Mr. Verma engaged the man in question in an argument, Mr. Singh went to alert the Railway Protection Force (RPF). The RPF arrested the trafficker and he was sent to police custody and booked under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code by the activists of BBA. The boys rescued were from Forbesgunge and aged 9 years and 10 years respectively. The boys have been handed over to their parents.

Further as a direct impact of the South Asian March Against Child Trafficking, on 4 March, 16 trafficked girls and boys were rescued from Siliguri. These children from Bihar were trafficked to Siliguri and from Siliguri were on route to the commercial centres of Kolkata and Mumbai. The children were rescued by the police. The police recognised the role of the South Asian March Against Child Trafficking in generating awareness for the tip-off that lead to the rescue of these children.



04 March 2007, Biratnagar, 10.00 am: Holi is one of the biggest festivals in both India and Nepal and obviously the children started playing Holi early in the morning. The celebrations continued amongst songs and dancing till 11.00 A.M. when the marchers were invited to play Holi by the Biratnagar Chief Development Officer Mr. Modraj Dotel, the administrative and judicial head of the district.

After traditional putting of colour, the local organizations Mahila Adhikar Sushasan Shantiko Laagi, Rajbanshi Samaj Vikas Samiti, ABC Nepal, CPC Nepal, Maiti Nepal, Jagaran Nepal, Nepal Aadiwaasi Janjati Samanvayak Samiti, Viratnagar and others welcomed the marchers. Local children sang welcome songs and initiated a small meeting by shouting slogans. Subol Khanal from CWIN started the meeting by introducing the purpose of the gathering and said that even on Holi we must all remember all the children that are not able to celebrate Holi as they are in slavery. Neera Kumari from BBA urged all the adults to work towards stopping trafficking of children.

Kailash Satyarthi, Chairpeson Global March Against Child Labour recounted the mythological story of Holika and Prahlad and why Holi is celebrated today. He emphasized upon the fight of good vs evil and trafficking and sale of children for slavery, prostitution, organ trade and other illegal trades as the biggest evil being faced by the world today.

The Chief Development Officer pledged his support in the fight against trafficking and thanked all the marchers for coming to his house and making it as one of his most memorable Holi celebration.

The children went back to the Atithi sadan to continue with their celebrations.


*****


The South Asian March Against Child Trafficking organised by the Bachpan Bachao Andolan in partnership with local NGOs, teachers association, UN agencies, is a 2,500 km physical march across Indo-Nepal-Bangladesh border starting from 25 February 2007 in Kolkata and culminate on 22 March 2007 in New Delhi. There will be about 100 core marchers joined by thousands of supporters along the way everyday for the duration of the March. Child trafficking is one of the worst forms of child labour and its elimination is a non-negotiable. Through the South Asian March Against Child Trafficking we aim to build peoples' movement, mobilise civil society efforts, to hold the authorities and states accountable and responsible, to expedite the enactment and enforcement of legal measures for withdrawal, repatriation and rehabilitation with dignity of the victims of trafficking, and generate political will through the genuine and active participation of child and adult victims of trafficking for forced labour.


For more information on the South Asian March Against Child Trafficking visit: www.globalmarch.org and www.bba.org.in

Links:

• Global March Against Child Labour

Om Prakash from Bal Ashram won the International Children's Peace Prize , which is given to a child who has made himself- or herself exceptionally useful in his/her society. The Children's Peace Prize was warded to him on November 19th 2006, by Frederick William Deklierk former president of South Africa, and winner of Nobel Peace prize together with Nelson Mandela.Om Prakash represents 100's of children who have undergone rehabilitation from bal ashram and are now working for the development of the community.
Please find attached herewith the Press Release of Om Prakash winning the International Children's Peace Prize.

Attachments:

• Bal Ashram Boy wins International Children.doc (DOC)