Journey Through the Years
Our Milestones
- 2016Established
Uthan is established
- Interviewed magistrates in Nodakhali, South 24 Parganas, highlighting the rehabilitation status of 126 trafficking survivors in West Bengal.
- The first survivor-led collective, Uthan, was established.
- 2017Expanded
Policy influence begins
- Uthan's recommendations were incorporated into the Ministry of Women and Child Development's draft 'Anti-Trafficking Bill', with Uthan taking the lead.
- Uthan's leaders received training and understood the importance of Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR).
- 2018Expanded
Public Interest Litigations
- Uthan took the lead on two Public Interest Litigations (PILs): one in Maharashtra regarding investigations and another in Kolkata concerning free committee-based rehabilitation.
- 2019Advocacy
Amplifying Survivors' Voices
- Raised awareness about human trafficking by engaging with journalists.
- Uthan led the formation of the first India network at the 'Integrated Leadership Forum Against Trafficking' (ILFAT). This network allowed Uthan to amplify survivors' voices in various forums and begin advocating for policy changes.
- 2020Response
Anti-Trafficking Workers' Organization
- Co-founded the 'Anti-Trafficking Workers' organization.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, Uthan provided emergency aid and ensured accountability for community members and trafficking survivors facing various forms of violence.
- 2021Programs
Survivor-Based Models
- Formulated survivor-based programs and models to combat violence against women and children.
- Successfully advocated for survivors to receive government compensation and rehabilitation upon their return.
- 2022Global Voice
Uthan at UN Forums
- As part of ILFAT, Uthan representatives spoke as survivor advocates before the UNODC and UN Women.
- Participated in the review of policies related to child marriage and trafficking.
- 2023Sub Label
Asia Regional Collaboration
- Contributed to establishing a network in the Asia region by participating in the ARAT Conference.
- 2024Registered
Trust Formation
- Uthan was registered as a Trust under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882.
- Received its first grant from TRC (Trauma, Resilience, and Community).
- 2025Expansion
New Grants & Leadership
- Uthan received its second grant for CBR (Community-Based Rehabilitation).
- Two of Uthan's leaders, Firoza and Sufiya, became core members of the ARAT Asia Network Forum.
- Currently working with over 35 survivors and local leaders to combat domestic violence, child marriage, and trafficking through two ongoing projects.