Mother Teresa Memorial Awards 2019
The International Labour Organisation estimates that more than 40.3 million people are under the bondage of modern day slavery today.
In the 21st century slavery has taken a modern twist with contemporary slave practices like bonded labour, child labour, sex trafficking and prostitution, children exploited for commercial sex and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict. In this backdrop, Harmony Foundation has convened this platform to recognize those torchbearers in these fields that have made a difference and connect eminent scholars, Nobel laureates, government bodies, stakeholders, NGOs, national and international media to drive towards a tangible & sustainable solution.
Each year Harmony Foundation identifies a relevant theme to be deliberated at the conference. As the International Labour Organization commemorates its centenary in October 2019 to assess its impact on social justice, the Harmony Foundation has decided this year’s theme as ‘Combating Contemporary forms of Slavery’ a practice that is still a very real and widespread phenomenon, affecting millions worldwide.
In this backdrop, Harmony Foundation has convened this platform for eminent scholars, Nobel laureates, government bodies, stakeholders, NGOs, National and International media. Representatives of UN bodies like UNICEF, UNODC, UNHRC, ILO, UN Women, and UNESCO along with SAARC, European Union and African Union have also been invited to come collectively to discuss and deliberate on possible ways of freeing and empowering those enslaved in various forms of servitude.
The aim of this conference is to stir up the conscience of civil society about the grave evil that the world portrays as a matter of the past and we look forward to sensitize the global society towards this evil enterprise and urge to take definitive steps to eradicate it. This conference will be crucial as it will help to explore durable means of abolishing modern-day slave practices like bonded labour, child labour, sex trafficking and prostitution, children exploited for commercial sex and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.
Alezandra Russell
For helping neglected and ignored young boys in red-light districts of Thailand. He is the founder of Urban Light.
Hasina Kharbhih
For rescuing and empowering over 72,000 vulnerable victims from fate of human trafficking. She is the founder of Impulse Empower.
Free A Girl
For uniquely reintegrating former sex workers into civil society by training them to become future advocates. It is a relief organization dedicated to free young girls from forced prostitution as well as prosecutes offenders.
PRERANA
For their holistic approach in their attempts to abolish inter-generational prostitution and protecting children vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking.
Office for Rescue of Yazidis
For working in one of the world’s most hostile regions to rescue all vulnerable Yazidi women and girls from evil clutches of Islamic State (IS) group.
Rob Williams
For helping neglected and ignored young boys in red-light districts of Thailand. He is the founder of Urban Light.
Kailash Satyarthi
For fighting child labour and trafficking in India and Southeast Asia. He is the founder of Bachpan Bachao Andolan. He also won the Nobel Peace Prize (2014) for his work. (Award accepted by Asmita Satyarthi, daughter of Kailash Satyarthi)
JEEVIKA (Jeeta Vimukti Karnataka):
For their holistic approach in their attempts to abolish inter-generational prostitution and protecting children vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking.
Ajeet Singh
For his efforts in creating the first red-light area in India free of commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH), USA
For raising awareness over the decades in medical community and civil society about unethical organ harvesting (especially in China).
Junior Nzita Nsuami
For leading an international campaign through United Nations (UN) against the use of child soldiers in war. He is a former child soldier.
Speakers
Caroline Cox
Member of the British House of Lords and Founder of Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART)
Faye D’Souza
Managing Editor, Mirror Now
Rob Williams
CEO of WarChild UK that reforms and rehabilitates child soldiers rescued from warlords in the Middle East and Africa
Matt Friedman
International Human Trafficking Expert
Shazia Ilmi
Journalist & Senior Political Spokesperson.
Alezandra Russell
Founder of Urban Light, an organisation in Thailand that empowers & rehabilitates boys and men who are victims of trafficking and exploitation.
Hasina Kharbhih
Founder of Impulse NGO Network and Impulse Social Enterprises, that upgrade traditional skills and equip women from vulnerable communities as entrepreneurs providing market access,to prevent human trafficking.
Dr Torsten Trey
Director, Doctors Against Forced Organ Trafficking