SANLAAP started its journey 33 years back on the issue of the sexual exploitation of children. In West Bengal, SANLAAP was the first organization that started the aftercare program for rescued children through a psychosocial rehabilitation center established on 16th July 1993. In the beginning, our struggle was to take custody of the victims for their rehabilitation. In 1999 with the support of Save the Children, International SANLAAP upgraded the SNEHA shelter home to a psycho-social rehabilitation center. During the process, SANLAAP has learned that rehabilitation is incomplete without addressing the prosecution. For a successful rehabilitation journey, SANLAAP realized the importance of coordination between the prosecution team i.e. survivors, investigation officer & public Prosecutor. SANLAAP’s strategy was to participate in the rescue operation with the aim to observe the process of the rescue operation and observe the legal journey of the survivors.

Over the last 25 years, Sanlaap has been engaged in Rescue (as a support organization) with the Police and Networking Partner and witnessed the Survivors’ “ Pain to Power “ journey. It has been observed that the survivors have no access to their Prosecution which is mainly taken care of by the Public Prosecutor and they have no connection with Survivors. The result is all the survivors are in dark regarding their legal Rights. 

Sanlaap initiated to mobilize the survivor in different districts to empower them about their rights & formed groups to support others in the community. In 2017, Sanlaap implemented (till 2020) the program of ‘School for Justice’ where survivors were trained to become professionals (Lawyers/Social Workers/Counseling / Police or Journalist) to be the change makers within the community.

Sanlaap India

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