International Justice Mission partnered with Harmony Foundation to organise the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice on 9 November 2014 in Mumbai, focusing on the issue of labour and sex trafficking.
MLA & BJP Mumbai President Ashish Shelar (right), producer and director Mahesh Bhatt (centre) and social activist and philanthropist Tushar Gandhi at the ceremony in Mumbai on 9 November 2014.
The awards were attended by around 500 influencers, from the Bollywood, political and civil society circles in Mumbai. It also hosted a panel discussion on the issue of human trafficking with panellists: Producer of Udaan Mahesh Bhatt, Philanthropist Tushar Gandhi, Founder of Maiti Nepal Anuradha Koirala, Director National Intervention at IJM Anu George, PS Women and Child Shri Uke and DIG Anti-Corruption Praveen Dixit.
Packaged with two powerful stories on trafficking, the discussion caught the attention of the audience, not just in the hall but via live-tweeting on Twitter as well. Mahesh Bhatt talked about how denial and lack of awareness continue to be the main hurdle in the issue of bonded labour. He spoke of the need for each stakeholder to play their role. Tushar Gandhi added to that conversation by narrating his own experience on the issue.
Uke and Dixit focused on their experiences in championing with the government to raise awareness and the capacity of departments on the issue. The need to focus on gender disparity in the crime of trafficking was brought out by Anuradha Koirala. Anu George focused on the crime of violence that affects the poor and strengthened her case by emphasising that unless the public justice system functions for the poor, all other solutions will not have a foundation to function.
Panel discussion on human trafficking
Harmony Foundation honoured ten awardees, five of whom were for their work on the issue of trafficking.
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- Founder of Maiti Nepal Anuradha Koirala greets the crowd on being announced as the international awardee in recognition for being a crusader against the sexual exploitation of the girl child
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- Anuradha Koirala receives the award
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- Anuradha Koirala is given the scroll of recognition by a sister from the Missionaries of Charity
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- Dr. Prakash Amte is awarded in recognition for his selfless work for the welfare of tribals
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- Dr. Sunitha Krishnan is awarded in recognition for her effots in restoring the dignity of sexual abuse victims
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- Ujjwal Uke is awarded in recognition for initiating reforms for protection of child sex abuse victims
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- Dr. Sangthankima is awarded in recognition for his efforts in the rehabilitation of alcoholics and destitutes
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- Dr. Lakshmidhar Mishra is awarded in recognition for championing policy change to fight child and bonded labour
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- The TV series Udaan is awarded in recognition for highlighting the plight of children trapped in bonded labour
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- Medha Patkar is awarded in recognition for championing social and economic justice
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- Dr. Vandana Shiva is awarded in recognition for his efforts in environmental conservation and empowerment of farmers
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- Rifat Abdullah is awarded in recognition for exemplary bravery displayed in the face of disaster
Bandhua 1947 