Yoga Stops Traffick: Yogis gegen Menschenhandel
von Elena Patzer (Redaktion) in Menschen

What is Yoga Stops Traffick about?

Yoga Stops Traffick is an international one-day yoga event to raise awareness of and funds for survivors of human trafficking in India. Every year thousands of yoga practioners from all corners of the globe roll out their mats, from the UK to Iceland to Costa Rica, to stand in solidarity with the young survivors.

The funds raised from Yoga Stops Traffick go to our Indian grassroots partner, Odanadi Seva Trust in Mysore, to help rescue and rehabilitate survivors of human trafficking, sexual and domestic violence, modern-day slavery, and child marriage. 

For many people it feels like trafficking or slavery is a thing of the past. What does it look like in India today? 

Sadly human trafficking and modern day slavery is still a huge international problem today. It is estimated to affect over 40 million people worldwide.

Yoga Stops Traffick supports our Indian grassroots partner Odanadi Seva Trust to run 2 safe houses for survivors of human trafficking in Mysore.

Every resident at Odanadi has a different story to tell: many have been rescued from the hands of brothel owners and sex traffickers, others from abusive homes, child marriage or domestic and commercial servitude. 

And how are the women and young people being tricked into it or find themselves in this system? 

There are a multitude of reasons as to why someone ends up in the hands of trafficking gangs, but it is often vulnerable individuals that are targeted, due to financial hardship or family illness.

Trafficking gangs might lure individuals away from their homes and communities with the false promise of paid work, to then find themselves forced into slavery.

How is Odanadi able to free these people?

Odanadi works with local authorities to gain intelligence on trafficking gangs and stage brothel rescues in India.

So far Odanadi have rescued and rehabilitated more than 13,000 women and children, carried out 452 brothel raids, educated tens of thousands of children, men and women about sexual exploitation, returned 1400 missing children to their families and brought 410 traffickers to justice. 

What do they need to find back into normal life? How does Odanadi help them?

Odanadi supports the young survivors overcome their past trauma through a rehabilitation program tailored to each individual including talking therapy, yoga, acupuncture, martial arts, dance and art therapy.

The survivors also have access to education, legal services and vocational training, so that when they are ready to leave Odanadi, they can reintegrate into society as confident and empowered individuals. 

We saw that the people living at Odanadi also practice Yoga. How does it help them? 

Yes! Yoga is of huge significance to the residents at Odanadi. As part of their rehabilitation program, it has allowed them to reclaim their bodies, build physical and mental strength, and restore a sense of peace, confidence and self-worth.

How can we help?

Everyone is able to join the movement against human trafficking! On March 14th 2021 yoga practitioners around the world will roll out their yoga mats in solidarity with the young survivors of human trafficking and we would love everyone to join us!

If you are a yoga teacher, you can host a donation-based class, or you can take part from home by joining one of the online events we have already taking place on March 14th. Alternatively you can make a donation through the website.

You’ll find all the information you need to get involved on the Yoga Stops Traffick website: www.yogastopstraffick.org/