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Inter-Religious Priests' Forum |
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ATSEC Bihar had identified the
religious leaders to be the most promising stakeholders to
spread awareness among community people. Because of their
powerful voice, they have the ability to attract large
crowd, that ATSEC Bihar saw as an opportunity. If put to
good use, these people would help in spreading the message
to prevent trafficking and sexual exploitation among women
and children. This advocacy programme with religious
leaders of different religious beliefs started with the
following objectives:
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To bring about behavioural change in the community through
religious preaching.
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To sensitise the priests and make them aware about their
role in combating trafficking.
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To develop and strengthen the forum that looks after
issues on human trafficking.
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To develop strategies in coordination with priests from
all religious beliefs as well as people to combat
trafficking.
 The
initial advocacy programme made the religious leaders
proactive towards the prevention of human trafficking. The
formation of inter -religious priest’s forum was the
outcome of their activities in this direction. The forum
discussed the trafficking issue among priests from Islam,
Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity and took inspiration
from speeches delivered by religious leaders like
Vivekanada, Mother Teresa, Dalai Lama among others. The
forum succeeded in making interventions in several areas
in the community. One of the glaring examples is that of
Nawazish Ali, who started talking of anti-trafficking
issues before he started mosque prayers on fridays at
Kishanganj, Bihar. After initial sensitisation programme,
other moulanas of that area followed his example. He
stated that he has not allowed any child marriages to take
place in Kishanganj; moreover he has also been persuading
people to take back trafficked children after rescue. He
has asked people of the community to be vigilant of fake
marriages taking place around their communities and be
aware of people who are taking girls away in the name of
providing them with work. He has been influencing other
moulanas to use this platform to prevent trafficking in
their area. The success of the forum is appreciated
through out the country for such efforts taken by
religious leaders in small towns and districts where human
trafficking is rampant. The forum network is planning to
replicate the model in other countries and states as well.
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