In Conversation With: Leena Kejriwal of Missing Link Trust

GIVE.DO is in conversation with Leena Kejriwal of Missing Link Trust, an organization that works toward the prevention of human trafficking and forced prostitution. The NGO was founded in 2014 in response to the increasing incidents of girls going missing and ultimately being forced into prostitution in red light districts. Its founder is Leena Kejriwal, an artist who used her craft to raise awareness about these disturbing crimes against girls. Missing Link Trust runs a prevention program in more than 600 schools and has educated over 1.75 lakh children on how to identify traffickers and keep themselves and their friends safe. 

Here are 5 questions with Leena Kejriwal of Missing Link Trust:

You grew up near Sonagachi, one of the largest red light districts in Asia. How did this open your eyes to the suffering of girls forced into prostitution? 

I grew up in a house on a bustling main road, with Sonagachi—one of Asia’s largest red-light districts—just behind it. Even as a child, I could sense that this wasn’t normal. I couldn’t look away. I would wonder why the ladies were standing around. But we were taught to look away, not ask questions and pretend it did not exist.

I distinctly remember this blood curdling scream that came from there, once when I was in high school – it was chilling to the bone.  It still rings in my ears – hauntingly.

Years later, as a photographer when I visited the area and spoke to the women and girls there, it all came back to me. This young 14 year old there told me that she didn’t even know things like trafficking was possible and it could happen, that is when I realised that there was a huge gap which needed to be addressed

Missing Link Trust focuses on the prevention of trafficking. How does the Missing Awareness and Safety School program (MASSp) alert and empower girls to keep themselves and their friends safe? 

Missing Link Trust focuses on preventing trafficking, sex abuse and exploitation through education and empowerment. The Missing Awareness and Safety School Program (MASSp) is at the heart of this mission, equipping children with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves and their peers from the dangers of sexual abuse, trafficking, and exploitation.

Through our safety education program, we reach schools, communities, and villages, delivering preventive education designed to be both effective and accessible. Backed by a WHO study that identifies education as the best way to combat child sex abuse and trafficking, our program emphasizes proactive learning and taking preventive action.

The curriculum is interactive, immersive, and gamified, making it engaging and easy for children to understand. Delivered in multiple regional languages, MASSp is adaptable to both online and offline settings, ensuring that it resonates with the unique cultural contexts of the schools and communities we serve.

But the program goes beyond just imparting knowledge. It instills essential life skills in children, empowering them to stand up for their rights, remain vigilant, and confidently say “no” to harmful situations. The transformation we witness is profound: shy and unsure girls grow into self-assured individuals who recognize their worth and their rights.

The most moving part for me is when these girls, once shy and unsure, start standing tall, knowing their worth and their rights. That’s when we know we are making a difference. 

Can you share with us how the internet is an increasingly dangerous place for children/ girls and how traffickers use social media to trap innocent victims?

The internet has revolutionized our lives, but it has also become an increasingly dangerous space for children, especially girls. Traffickers now exploit social media platforms to identify, groom, and trap vulnerable individuals. This growing threat demands urgent attention and action.

In India, a child goes missing every 8 minutes, and many of them fall victim to trafficking. The rapid adoption of mobile phones by children aged 10-14 has opened new avenues for predators. Shockingly, 48% of children admit to talking to strangers online, often unaware of the risks. The scale of the problem is staggering—2022 saw 5.6 million global reports of suspected Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), a figure that continues to rise. Alarmingly, India experienced a 400% increase in cybercrimes against children between 2019 and 2020, making it clear that digital platforms are increasingly being misused by traffickers.

Traffickers often use fake social media profiles, deceptive job offers, and manipulative conversations to exploit children. They target young minds, building trust before coercing them into dangerous situations. By the time families realize what’s happening, the damage is often irreparable.

At Missing Link Trust, we’re on a mission to tackle this issue head-on. Through our MISSING Awareness and Safety School Program (MASSp), we provide critical safety education to children, parents, and teachers. Our interactive tools, such as the MISSING Game for a Cause and the digital comic Web of Deceit, teach children how to recognize online threats while raising awareness about the tactics used by traffickers.

Our campaigns, such as #SOS (Stop Online Stalkers), amplify the conversation around online safety, reaching millions across social media platforms. Additionally, our SOS Child Online Safety Desk and chatbots on Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp provide real-time information and support, ensuring that help is just a click away.

This work is vital for protecting vulnerable communities, especially in regions like Sundarbans, where the risk of trafficking is especially high. Through education, advocacy, and innovative digital tools, we aim to create a safer digital world for children. 

You are an artist. Can you tell us how and why you created the Missing Silhouette and share your thoughts on how art is a powerful medium for change? 

I’m an artist, and art has always been my way of processing the world. When I decided to dedicate myself to this fight, I created a public art work, for public engagement – the Missing Silhouette. It’s a black hole into which millions of girls disappear from the face of the earth, a symbol of resistance, a reminder of the girls who have gone missing.  It also acts as a remembrance that we will continue to fight for them and all the girls out there who are in danger. We will persist in our efforts to prevent these atrocities and advocate for justice against trafficking, against sex abuse and exploitation.

This silhouette became more than just an artwork—it became a movement. We’ve used it in public spaces, on walls, in workshops. It’s a powerful reminder of absence, of what’s stolen when a girl goes missing. Art has a unique way of cutting through the noise, making people stop, think, and feel.

I believe art is a language that everyone understands. It’s not just about awareness—it’s about stirring people to act, to engage, and to stand with us in this fight.

Is there a book or documentary film you recommend for people to learn more about this issue? (on trafficking, child sex abuse and exploitation – especially in Sundarbans, west bengal etc.)

If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of trafficking, child sexual abuse, and exploitation, particularly in the Indian context, here are some powerful resources to explore:

From the Shadows by Miriam Chandy

From the Shadows by Miriam Chandy Menacherry explores how our work at MISSING uses art to raise awareness about sex trafficking and its grassroots work in the Sundarbans. It follows a survivor’s fight for justice, revealing the hidden realities of child trafficking in a country where a child goes missing every 10 minutes. Shortlisted under the Breaking Through the Lens initiative at the Cannes Film Festival 2022, the film shines a light on the resilience of survivors and the urgent need for change.

Love Sonia, Directed by Tabrez Noorani

The film is a gritty and emotional portrayal of the global human trafficking network and its impact on vulnerable individuals.  Love Sonia tells the story of a young girl, Sonia, who embarks on a desperate journey to rescue her sister from being trafficked, only to find herself ensnared in the same brutal system.

The narrative includes her experiences in brothels and her exposure to the harsh realities of trafficking. The film highlights both the personal toll and the systemic challenges faced by victims, offering a powerful look at their resilience amidst unimaginable circumstances.

Whistleblower, Directed by Larysa Kondracki

This documentary showcases the courage of individuals who risk their lives to expose trafficking networks. It emphasizes the systemic challenges in combating trafficking.

Born into Brothels, Directed by Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman

A deeply moving documentary, this Oscar-winning film takes a poignant look at the lives of children growing up in Kolkata’s red-light district. It explores their vulnerabilities and dreams while exposing the cycles of exploitation they face. The film offers a rare and humanizing perspective on their aspirations amidst challenging circumstances.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo

While not directly about trafficking, this Pulitzer Prize-winning book explores systemic poverty and exploitation in India, which are closely linked to trafficking networks. The narrative weaves together the lives of people in a Mumbai slum, illustrating the structural inequalities and social dynamics that perpetuate cycles of exploitation.

Support Missing Link Trust

When you support Missing Link Trust, you help Leena Kejriwal and the organization save more girls before they go missing and fight human trafficking in the high-risk Sundarbans region. To support Missing Link Trust:

Support Missing Link Trust

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