Speeches & Articles

Remarks of Consul General Beth A. Payne
At the launch of “Mothers for Sale"
Oxford Book Store
January 6, 2009

January 6, 2009

Ms. Maina Bhagat, Director APJ, Oxford Bookstores
Ms. Indrani Sinha, Secretary, Sanlaap
Ms. Shamita Das Dasgupta, Professor and co-founder, Manavi
Ladies and Gentleman
Namashkar
 
I am very happy to be here today to help launch the new book “Mothers for Sale - Women in Kolkata’s Sex Trade.”  In this unique and important book, Indrani Sinha and Shamita Das Dasgupta focus on women who are both sex workers and mothers.  They examine how motherhood of sex workers is an invisible role worldwide and on how this impacts their children.  They remind us that sex-workers are human beings first, fighting for their dignity.  They are also mothers, who are struggling to care for their children in a society that has discarded them. 
 
Human trafficking is a serious problem that challenges all countries around the globe.  Indrani Sinha runs an NGO called Saanlap, which is based here in India and promotes womens rights and works to end human trafficking.  Shamita Das Dasgupta is the cofounder of an NGO called Manavi, which is based in New Jersey and focuses on South Asian women who live in the U.S.  I am excited to hear that these two important organizations have forged a partnership that combines their efforts and expands their invaluable work across the globe.
 
The U.S. State Department estimates that each year, hundreds of thousands of people are trafficked across international borders and within their own countries.  Most of the victims are women and girls and almost half are children.  Many trafficked victims are forced into prostitution, while others work in sweatshops or are subjected to other forms of involuntary servitude and exploitation.  The U.S. Government is committed to ending all forms of human trafficking, and to help galvanize international support to end trafficking we release an annual report that details the efforts countries are taking throughout the world to end this crime. 
 
Our Consulate here in Kolkata has also conducted programs that help educate people about trafficking and encourages discussions on the best solutions to this problem.  To this end we have provided grants, held film shows and workshops and organized discussions not just in Kolkata, but throughout eastern and northeastern India.  I am pleased to report that the Consulate has given grants to Sanlaap, which used the funds to care for and support trafficking victims and to develop networks of community-based organizations which could then work together against trafficking.

The work that Indrani and Shamita have done, and continue to do, is a model for all responsible citizens and their governments.  I hope that their new book will inspire others to help to end human trafficking, to assist women and mothers in the sex trade in Kolkata and around the world regain their dignity and humanity, and to ensure that others never become victims of human trafficking.