In Sonagachi's red light district, an estimated 12,000 prostitutes under 18, Indian children, are raped for less than 1 euro a day. These sobering pictures captured by Mumbai-born multimedia journalist Souvid Datta tell an important story. The subject matter of this photographic series are sex workers in India and their children.
Datta was inspired to shoot 'Shadows of Kolkata' for both personal and political reasons. At the age of 8 he moved to London, but would visit his grandparents in Kolkata once a year. He also has previous experience volunteering with a non-governmental organization in the area, and was outraged by the injustices caused by poor government control. The thriving sex traffic industry and the fate of Indian children troubled him deeply.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Child Sex Trafficking in India
- There's a need for innovative solutions that address the root causes of child sex trafficking in India, such as poverty, political corruption, and lack of education opportunities.
- Photojournalism as Tool for Advocacy
- The use of photojournalism as a tool for advocacy presents an opportunity for companies to build brand credibility while raising awareness on social issues.
- Global Sex Trafficking
- There's a need for businesses to work together to develop innovative solutions that end sex trafficking at a global level, including enabling victims to break out of the cycle and protecting vulnerable populations.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Ngos and Nonprofits
- NGOs and nonprofits could collaborate to develop innovative solutions that address the root causes of child sex trafficking and ensure that victims are supported and protected.
- Media and Publishing
- Media and publishing companies have an opportunity to leverage photojournalism to highlight social issues and drive change while building brand credibility.
- Social Enterprises and Tech Startups
- Social enterprises and tech startups could collaborate to create innovative solutions that help victims break out of the cycle of sex trafficking, provide better access to education, and help prevent future exploitation.
