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Prostitutes to take part in One Billion Rising campaign

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Press Trust of India Kolkata
Demanding an end to sexual violence, prostitutes and women vulnerable to trafficking will bring out a protest rally tomorrow on Valentines Day.

About 70 prostitutes from red-light areas of Sonagachi and Munshiganj will bring out the rally on a two kilometre stretch at Khidirpore as part of the"One Billion Rising for Justice campaign" to end violence against women and promote gender equality.

"They are demanding right to education, redress of legal problems, justice, access to basic services and proper livelihood options," Sahana Dasgupta of anti-trafficking organisation Apne Aap Women Worldwide told PTI.

After the rally, adolescent children of prostitutes would present a poignant street play describing how a girl was trafficked and left with no option but to accept prostitution.
 

The NGO's founder, Ruchira Gupta, said, "The women will submit a charter of demand to the Watganj police station here stressing on their right to education, right to a safe place, right to livelihood and most importantly right to accessing justice."

Marginalised women vulnerable to trafficking would also be a part of the protests tomorrow.

Started in 2012, the One Billion Rising campaign is a a global call to survivors to break their silence and release their stories through art, dance, marches, ritual, song, spoken word and testimonies.

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First Published: Feb 13 2014 | 7:10 PM IST

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