Triveni Acharya is an Indian journalist and activist living in Mumbai, best known for her work with the anti-sex-trafficking group the Rescue Foundation.
The group was founded by her husband, Balkrishna Acharya, but Triveni Acharya assumed its presidency following his death in a car accident in 2005.[1] The organization is devoted to the "rescue, rehabilitation and repatriation of victims for human trafficking from different parts of India, Nepal & Bangladesh and sold for forced prostitution",[2] and has been conducting "brothel raids" since 1993.[3] The organization frees roughly 300 girls a year, and also provides counseling, job training, and HIV testing.[4] Because these raids often result in serious financial loss or imprisonment for sex traffickers, Acharya has received several death threats as the result of her work.[5]
The Rescue Foundation has received several national and international awards for its work under Acharya's presidency. In 2004, the acharya received Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmi Bai (for courage).[6] [7] [8] Taiwanese president Ma Ying-Jeou presented the Acharya the Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, along with a cash grant of US$100,000;[4] the organization had been nominated for the award by a former trafficking victim saved by the Foundation.[9] In 2011, Acharya herself won the Civil Courage Prize of The Train Foundation, awarded annually to those "who resolutely combat evil".[10] She shared the prize with Lydia Cacho Ribeiro, a Mexican journalist also awarded for her efforts against "sex trafficking, domestic violence and child pornography".[11] In 2013, Triveni became the 2013 Humanitarian Honoree of World of Children Award in conjunction with her work with The Rescue Foundation.[12] Along with the recognition the award came with a $75,000 cash grant.[13]
References
- ^ "About Us". Rescue Foundation. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "Welcome to Rescue Foundation". Rescue Foundation. Archived from the original on 30 January 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ Mallika Kapur (2011). "Bound cruelly to their work". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ a b "Indian NGO wins accolades". Hindustan Times. 10 December 2010. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "Triveni Acharya, Civil Courage Prize Honoree 2011". Civil Courage Prize. 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "A woman-friendly step, says Sonia". The Hindu. 9 March 2008. Archived from the original on 13 March 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "Stree Shakti Puraskar for outstanding acheievements in area of women empowerment presented". archive.pib.gov.in. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ "Programmes for Women". Annual Report 2007-08 (PDF). Ministry of Women and Child Development. p. 41. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2020.
- ^ Flora Wang (9 November 2010). "Rescue Foundation wins this year's rights award". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "About the Prize". Civil Courage Prize. 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "2011 Civil Courage Prize Honoree". civilcourageprize.org. October 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ^ "2013 Humanitarian Honoree World of Children Award". worldofchildren.org. September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
- ^ "World of Children Award Cash Grant Awards". worldofchildren.org. Retrieved 24 September 2013.