Alliance University, KSLSA Host Anti-Trafficking Awareness in Bengaluru

The Legal Services Clinic of Alliance School of Law, Alliance University, along with Maarga and the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA), held a legal awareness programme on July 30 to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, under the global theme "Trapped Behind the Mask."This event was held at Dr BR Ambedkar Samudhaya Bhavan, of Rajendra Nagar slum, and brought together nearly 100 participants, predominantly women, from LR Nagar, Rajendra Nagar and Ambedkar Nagar within the Audugodi Police Station limits. It aimed to raise awareness on human trafficking, cyber-enabled exploitation, child marriage and legal protections for vulnerable communities.Shridhara M, Senior Civil Judge and Deputy Secretary, KSLSA, attended as chief guest and delivered the keynote address. He spoke on the role of Legal Services Authorities in ensuring access to justice for women, children, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and economically weaker sections, and informed participants about free legal consultation and aid available through the District Legal Services Authority. He said trafficking today extends beyond sexual exploitation to bonded labour, forced labour and organ trafficking, and cautioned against the misuse of social media for online grooming, deepfakes and financial fraud. He also explained the legal consequences of child marriage under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the POCSO Act.Rajendra Prabhakar, Executive Director of Maarga, spoke on the rise in