A reel look at real ills of human trafficking

Short films made by noted production houses to be played in theatres and educational institutions to raise awareness

March 12, 2018 11:44 pm | Updated March 13, 2018 09:21 am IST - HYDERABAD

HYDERABAD: TELANGANA: 12/03/2018: Katherine Hadda, Consul General, U.S. Consulate Hyderabad, and Actress and environmental activist Amala Akkineni ,at the launch of “Stop Demand = End Sex Trafficking” – a community awakening campaign to counter women trafficking, in Hyderabad on Monday. Photo: G. Ramakrishna

HYDERABAD: TELANGANA: 12/03/2018: Katherine Hadda, Consul General, U.S. Consulate Hyderabad, and Actress and environmental activist Amala Akkineni ,at the launch of “Stop Demand = End Sex Trafficking” – a community awakening campaign to counter women trafficking, in Hyderabad on Monday. Photo: G. Ramakrishna

City-based NGO Prajwala, with support of the U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad, screened a series of short clips in the city on Monday to generate awareness on the ills of trafficking.

The videos were made in collaboration with noted production houses such as Ramoji Film Studios, Suntouch Productions and Geetha Arts, as part of a campaign that aims to end prostitution and trafficking by addressing the demand that drives flesh trade.

Aimed largely at men, the videos showed heart-touching scenarios where actors, who portray men soliciting sex, are made to realise their folly.

The clips will be screened in theatres and educational institutions as public service announcements. Noted personalities from the film industry, judiciary, administration and the police were part of the gathering.

Prajwala founder Sunitha Krishnan said babies as young as six months old have been victims of trafficking, and pointed out that unless the demand for paid sex does not end, the supply of women and children for prostitution cannot end.

U.S. Consul General Katherine Hadda referred to trafficking and prostitution as a problem in all societies while describing the fight of the U.S administration against them.

Lauding the message in the videos, Justice C. Kodandaram of the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana High Court urged the film industry to make movies that do not portray women as objects of desire.

Producer Allu Aravind, actor Amala Akkineni, Rachakonda Commissioner of Police Mahesh Bhagwat, British Deputy High Commissioner Andrew Fleming, IT Secretary Jayesh Ranjan and actor Vishnu Manchu were part of the gathering on Monday.

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