Photo: Courtesy of Free a Girl
Lebanese Australian model Jessica Kahawaty is loved by her 1.3 million followers on Instagram for her playful wardrobe, travelgrams and beauty hacks, but the human rights law graduate is also a dedicated philanthropist. A testimony to this empathetic spirit is the important role Kahawaty has played in the launch of the ‘From Darkness to Light’ campaign by Free a Girl, a non-profit organization working to rescue minor girls from sexual exploitation around the globe.
As the face of the campaign, Kahawaty recently traveled undercover to India and witnessed the often spine-chilling work that is carried out by Free a Girl and its change-agents and collaborators. The initiative primarily aims to raise awareness and funding for the operations of Free a Girl, and the global fight against the rapidly growing $150 billion industry of human trafficking, with a focus on child sex trafficking. Because believe it or not, a whopping 2 million minors are affected globally, 95 per cent of which are girls.
Photo: Courtesy of Free a Girl
“The horrifying truth remains that millions of children worldwide are subjected to trafficking and sexual exploitation. This is a global issue. Sadly, the majority of these victims are female, many of whom are subsequently trafficked from India to various corners of the world. The internet and social media has unfortunately simplified the process for traffickers and predators to lure and manipulate children online. The efforts of organizations such as Free a Girl are pivotal in amplifying awareness and forming a united front to combat this urgent crisis,” says Kahawaty.
Her journey into the underbelly of this industry in India was marked by harrowing conversations. From meeting children residing in shelters while their mothers work in the red light district of Kolkata, to hearing first hand stories from survivors being rehabilitated by Free a Girl, Kahawaty did it all. Rashita (name has been altered to protect the girl as her lawsuit is pending) is just one out of the 7,000 girls that Free a Girl has rescued from sexual exploitation globally. In a heart-to-heart with Kahawaty, the young girl shared her story of being betrayed by a friend and sold to traffickers, going through rape and blackmail.
Photo: Courtesy of Free a Girl
“I sat down with girls who are 16 years old and were already bearing the responsibilities of motherhood. They cried to see their own mothers again. The pain in their eyes and on their bodies will be a lifelong burden. They will never forget the hours, days and months of abuse and sexual exploitation they endured at the hands of these criminals,” Kahawaty shares.
However, there is also hope. During her travels, Kahawaty also came across Free a Girl’s School for Justice, where survivors are now studying human rights-related professions, such as law, social work and journalism, and follow the organization’s empowerment activities alongside their educational track to emerge as advocates and changemakers. Kahawaty, who got the opportunity to mentor students stated, “The experience of engaging with the resilient survivors studying at the School for Justice was both moving and humbling.” She added, “I felt privileged to mentor these girls, playing a minor role in their monumental journeys towards becoming lawyers and potent forces of change in the battle against child sex trafficking.”
Photo: Courtesy of Free a Girl
Evelien Hölsken, CEO and founder of the organization, commented on the collaboration between Free a Girl and Kahawaty too: “The value of collaborations with ambassadors such as Jessica as storytellers is immeasurable. They are strong personalities that can make a huge impact, becoming the voice of the voiceless and shedding light on the scarcity of freedom, serving as the spokespersons for our mission,” she said before adding, “Jessica’s dedication as a human rights lawyer, model, entrepreneur, and philanthropist amplifies our mission and inspires others to join us in this crucial fight.”
