Artworks on anti trafficking spirits

We often sense the scream and see the gloomy faces of the ill fated migrant workers who have been hidden in the shadow of our society. Unfortunately their terrible ordeals remained unnoticeable for decades due to the unflinching reluctance of different quarters of potential responders. Despite the spectacular inclusion of   Human Trafficking, Deterrence and Suppression Act 2012 we still are struggling hard to tackle the issue.

Meanwhile Relief International Bangladesh under the project of Protecting Victims of  human trafficking in Bangladesh  funded by U.S. Department of State  Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons   has continued their effort to break the ice of  silence  regarding the horrible incidents of human trafficking since 2010. Recently in respond to the heartbreaking conditions of the victims of human trafficking  abandoned in the deep sea ,RI organised an anti trafficking Poster Exhibition from 8th July till 14th July  as the pictures can through the language barrier .

One of the pictures hanged on the Exhibition  warns people through travelling in the sea, one just   surrender his life to be manipulated  and that is the indicators of the blindness    while in the picture showing  someone holding the valid passport to make people aware the right way to build the life abroad . On the other hand the picture of first winning entity depicts the limb of a muscle man who control the thread of the fortune of   marginalised people and eventually push them in the grave of various exploitative environment. Alongside this particular picture utilising the artistic approach urges the activists cutting off the thread and frees them to unwind their choices. Like those pictures, 33 young artists of Graphic and Design Department of Faculty of Fine Arts University of Dhaka Showcased their works on recent disaster of human trafficking in solidarity against human trafficking. The Exhibition was opened by Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Chairman National Human Rights Commission in his inaugural speech appreciated the initiative and said that “human trafficking is the grave violation of human rights”. Besides Mr. Nazrul Islam Country Director Relief International stated that “the exhibition is a manifestation of our efforts towards establishing an anti trafficking culture in Bangladesh through innovative use of art and culture”.

- Sushmita Choudhury

Human Rights Program Specialist, Relief International.