Objectives of HIV/AIDS Program by ACTIVE are :

  • To create awareness on HIV/AIDS, thereby control the spreading of HIV/AIDS.
  • To organize and motive the women at risk.
  • To provide moral support rehabilitation to infected people.

Over-whelming trafficking : A survey reveals that, more than 75 million women and girls are in the prostitution worldwide out of which 25% belongs to India. The component of minor’s percentage is high. India has become a hub for trafficking. It is estimated that 2.4 crore women are in prostitution in India. 60% of these belong to socially and economically deprive sections of the population. More than 30% of these women working in sex industry are below the age of 18 years. Study reveals that 40% of these girls are in unlawful confinement in the hands of brothel owners. 10% of the girls are the off springs of those who were in sex work and 8% are the outcomes of illegal sexual contacts.

The recent UNAIDS estimates suggest that the number of HIV infected individuals at the end of 1997, world over, may be around 30 million. HIV continues to spread, causing nearly 16,000 new infections a day, 5.8 million in a year despite the fact that more is known now than ever before about what works to prevent the spread of the epidemic. The HIV continues to spread around the world, insinuating itself into communities previously little troubled by the epidemic and strengthening its grip on areas where AIDS is already the leading cause of death in sexually active adults. Unless a cure is found or life-prolonging therapy can be made widely available, the majority of HIV infected people will die within a decade.

More than 11.7 million people around the world had already lost their lives to the disease. In the face of other pressing concerns, it has been relatively easy in many parts of the world for political, religious and community leaders to overlook the significance of the epidemic. HIV has more than doubled the adult death rate in some places, and is the single biggest cause of adult death in many others. Indeed HIV/AIDS is among the top ten killers world wide, and it may soon move into the top five, overtaking diarrhea diseases. Though Asia is currently experiencing an alarming increase in HIV infection, the countries in Asia, including India do not figure in the worst affected countries.

They were assigned the responsibilities of educating SWs about HIV/AIDS, STD, safer sex; condom distribution; escort sick girls to mobile clinic and different clinics/hospitals and extend nursing care. Initially, our activities met with the usual cynicism from the community. However, we were certain that we would successful in convincing them that her body, her means of livelihood and her life belongs to her and her safety can only be ensured if she takes control of her potentially risky activities. Apart from other direct benefits, we provide them with photographic identity cards that served as a badge of pride and provided them respectability. For the first time SWs realized that they could earn money through means other than sex work. After complete comprehension about the dangers of contracting HIV, the SW's were involved in imparting knowledge and negotiating skills to other SWs.

Apart from educating their peers, the organisation act in PHO's street-plays to educate masses, address public meets and even national/international meets and give television interviews. Some of them have also been resource persons to conduct training programs for the health care workers and social workers all over India. Thus, this illiterate lot has been instrumental in educating even the so-called literate professionals.

Poverty and unemployment and are the major contributory factors for commercial sexual exploitation of women and children. Other reasons include destitution, lack of food security aggravated further by droughts and floods, migration of men and women for labour work, economic disparities within region, low status of women and girls perpetuating violence against women, syndicates involved in running brothels with political and bureaucratic support, increased commodification of women and media portrayal and myths pertaining to cure of STD through sexual intercourse with virgins.

Another form of sexual exploitation is traditional and religious practices of dedicating girls to gods and goddesses e.g., Mathammas, Joginis, Devadasis/Basivinis. As indicated by many studies and experiences majority of the sex workers belong to SCs, BCs and minority communities. It has also been found that single, separated women, widows and women from SC communities are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse. The gravity of the problem is on increase in the light of structural reforms in the country pushing more number of groups into further Marginalization. In the same context there has been more emphasis on and encouragement for tourism, which also has direct bearing on the problem.

The problems of the sex workers are stigmatisation by parents, children and community, irregular income, exploitation by brokers and customers, police harassment, vulnerability to HIV/AIDS STD etc. The predicament of sex workers is made much worse, by the stigma and criminal charges widely attached to prostitution, which allow police and other officials to harass them without ever intervening to uphold their most elementary rights.

Children of Sex Workers : The children of sex workers are discriminated from birth and it becomes accented if children are borne with AIDs. Given the nature of marginalisation of their mothers, the children undergo the burden of psychological stress and alienation. Every step they take to build up their lives is met with other forces, which push them many steps back. They are insecure in their homes and many suffer multiple abuses from the partners of their mothers. Outside of their homes, they are “labelled”. They are ostracized in the mainstream schools and also the community at large. Children of sex workers also face psychological stress, alienation, insecurity, abuse from clients, unhealthy environment at home, school dropouts, child labour, lack of recreation, sexual and physical abuse, vulnerability to diseases and Aids and further trafficking.