Rekha was 17 years old when a young man named Roshan promised to marry her. Instead, he sold her to the red-light area in Bihar where she was forced to serve as a prostitute.
On December 18, 2020, the police and our team rescued Rekha. We also found Roshan, and when the police questioned him, we learned that he was already married and had a child. Roshan was sent to jail, and Rekha was placed in a shelter home.
The next year, Rekha turned 18 and moved out of the shelter home. She got married in February 2021, and the couple had a baby in November, 2021. Unfortunately, the relationship was abusive, and in July 2022, Rekha and her child came to stay at a shelter home where Freedom Firm had found Rekha a job.
On March 29, 2024, our social workers supported Rekha as she boldly testified in court. She shared the names of the man who sold her into the red-light area and the brothel keeper who exploited her. The judge recommended that Rekha should receive financial compensation!
On July 31st, 2024 the judge passed a sentence: Rekha's two female offenders received 20 year prison sentences! This is Freedom Firm's strongest conviction to date! The women were fined 8,000 rupees (~$96) and the government granted Rekha 500,000 rupees (~$5,900). Rekha is overjoyed at this news! We celebrate this victory with Rekha, and our team continues to fight for justice for each of our survivors.
Comments