Who We Are

In 2018, individual survivors of trafficking had demanded and advocated for the passing of the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018. The bill was passed in Lok Sabha, but it was never tabled in Rajya Sabha. This was hugely disappointing. However, what was gathered was that a collective voice of survivors would be far more powerful than individual ones. This was the genesis of ILFAT – Integrated Leadership Forum Against Trafficking - A platform for the survivors, from the survivors and by the survivors.

ILFAT unequivocally wants that an anti-trafficking legislation passed, which is comprehensive and includes all forms of trafficking. A group of survivor leaders from West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh took the initiative in July 2019 to form a national forum and get connected with survivors of human trafficking in other parts of India. When this idea was shared with other survivor leaders from Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, they enthusiastically agreed to come together, and the Integrated Leadership Forum Against Trafficking (ILFAT) was formed. Currently, 12 survivor collectives from across 7 states of India have been associated with ILFAT with a membership of more than 4000 survivors of human trafficking who are our peers and colleagues who want to bring in positive changes in this anti-human trafficking eco-system. The collectives are:

  • Bihaan Samuh (Jharkhand)
  • Yuva Shakti (Rajasthan)
  • VIJETA (Bihar)
  • Erode District Women Federation (Tamil Nadu)
  • Champions Group (West Bengal)
  • Bandhan Mukti (West Bengal)
  • Utthan Survivors Leaders Council (West Bengal)
  • Bijoyini (West Bengal)
  • Jan Jagran Mazdoor Adhikaar Manch (Chattisgarh)
  • Vimukhti (Andhra Pradesh)
  • Shramik Adhikar Aur Nyay Sangthan, SAANS (Chattisgarh)
  • Alorpath (West Bengal)

ILFAT is a forum by the trafficked survivors for the trafficked survivors. The forum acts as a catalyst and convener for sharing expertise, insights and evidences relevant to human trafficking in India, which are indicating systemic failure to combat these organized crimes. ILFAT engages in policy and law consultation processes as well as with the media to share their findings and experiences in order to strengthen the existing system.