Women, children and the elderly are some of the most vulnerable people in society. Among women,
victims of commercial sexual exploitation are not just vulnerable but often the most marginalized and
stigmatized.
To get a better understanding of some of the issues that women and children face in our state, founder
and President of Bailancho Ekvott, Auda Viegas and Deputy Director, Anyay Rahid Zindagi (ARZ),
Julianna Lohar were invited as guests on the recent Navhind Times talk show, Talk from the Heart. The
show aired on the Goa 365 channel and various topics ranging from domestic abuse to sexual
exploitation were discussed.
Highlighting a few common issues women face, Viegas who founded her NGO, Bailancho Ekvott thirty
years ago said, “We talk about women empowerment and rights of women but the ground reality is
often women have no voice and no autonomy.” With various examples, she explained how even
working women had no financial nor mental and physical independence. “Abuse comes in various forms
and one of them is making a woman financially dependent so she has on freedom and cannot raise her
voice as she fears being thrown out of the house or her children being taken from her. We have seen
how many women from poorer backgrounds have to give their salaries to their husbands who fritter it
away on drink or other vices and leave the woman with nothing,” she added.
On the topic of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), Lohar a trained social worker, social activist and
mentor at the economic livelihood alternatives (WISH) for survivors of Sex Trafficking at ARZ explained
how Goa has become a major destination for sex-trafficking. “Over a period of time the profile of the
victims of CSE in Goa has changed. It is no longer women from neighbouring states and poorer or rural
backgrounds but young women who are tech savvy and are lured here with the promise of a good
holiday and parties, etcetera. Since everybody loves Goa, these victims fall prey very easily and quickly,”
she said.
She further explained how traffickers are utilising advancements in technology to lure and trap women
and girls and said, “To day most commercial sexual exploitation commences online, from the soliciting
to the exchange of pictures and numbers and even payments. In this type of scenario, all the parties in
between are not visible and only the girl/woman and client are visible,” she added.
Getting out of this exploitation, Lohar stated becomes extremely difficult for most victims due to
financial constraints and even fear of being exposed in society. “If any of the victims resist they are
asked to pay back the amount spent on getting them in to Goa and for other expenses. Since most come
with little or no money, you can understand how vulnerable they become,” she said.
Rescuing the victims also becomes difficult said Viegas as she highlighted the rescue process and the
obstacles that arise.
