Apne Aap Women Worldwide (India) Trust

Apne Aap was established by a collective of 22 women from Mumbai's red-light district, driven by a shared mission to envision a world free from the bu Read moreying and selling of women. Initially brought together as subjects of Ruchira Gupta’s Emmy-winning documentary, "The Selling of Innocents," spotlighting the trafficking of girls and women from Nepal to India, these women forged a bond during the film's production in 1996. United in their determination, they rebelled against their circumstances, finding strength in one another. Following the documentary, the group continued to convene in parks. Encouraged by the empowerment they experienced when united and driven by collective strength, they formed an organization to advance their vision. In 2002, Apne Aap became a registered NGO in Mumbai. Securing a room in an abandoned municipal school within the red-light district, a board member provided a secure space for the women. Initially serving as a refuge for conversations, rest, clothing repairs, bathing, and receiving mail, the room gradually transformed into a hub for meetings and educational sessions. Since its inception, Apne Aap's influence and reach have steadily expanded. Extending support to women ensnared in prostitution, the organization has conducted self-empowerment programs in Bihar, Delhi, and West Bengal, collaborating with local communities. Apne Aap's community centres now host self-empowerment groups nationwide, offering safe havens where thousands of girls and women gather, accessing education, enhancing livelihood prospects, and receiving legal rights education. The organisation’s theory of change draws inspiration from the Gandhian principles of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Antyodaya (upliftment of the last person). Ahimsa guides us to resist violence both towards oneself and others, while Antyodaya focuses on uplifting the most marginalized individuals, particularly the prostituted girls and women, who represent Antyodaya's "last person." The organisation’s mission is to bring an end to sex trafficking by deconstructing the system of prostitution. This is achieved by: 1. Broadening the options available to the most vulnerable and marginalized girls and women, especially those ensnared in intergenerational prostitution or belonging to lower-caste communities. The organisation provides avenues for education, healthcare, livelihood skills, legal protection, acquisition of citizenship documents, government support, and networks of companionship. 2. Discouraging the demand for sex through policy alterations and social transformation. Apne aap and supporters have successfully been able to get a law (Section 370 of the I.P.C) that recognizes the process of trafficking and forced prostitution as criminal and punishable activities. It is actively involved in proposing zero tolerance policy against sexual violence and creating survivor-friendly laws globally. Apne Aap has been raising alarms against increasing cases of sexual violence by conducting campaigns. It also files public interest litigation applications on child rights and on the state’s role in protecting individuals from being trafficked.