#dontlookaway - Viral video urges Indians to report child prostitution

India seems to be seeing more and more instances of child prostitution, child labour and other forms of violation. 

There has been a subsequent rise in the number of children trafficked for sexual exploitation in the last few years. Children trafficked for prostitution often are locked in rooms, always guarded, starved, beaten, abused and raped by the people that buy them. The children obviously have no say and are forced to partake in various sexual acts, some of them even involving violent sex.

These children more often than not, are driven to drugs and alcohol to numb the emotional and physical pain. 

UNICEF estimates that every year 1-2 million children under 18 are exploited sexually in prostitution. In Asia alone, the number comes close to 1 million. The number of children who work in prostitution is largest in India (400-500,000) and in Thailand (200,000).

On November 14, a video surfaced on YouTube, which addressed this major issue and tries to reach out to people explaining that we should not stand idly by. 

#dontlookaway, a film by Delhi-based NGO, Bachpan Bachao Andolan and directed by Jaydeep Sarkar explains through brilliant cinematography, and a subtle score that there is a way we can stand up and stop this. The Public Service Announcement tries to spread awareness of the ever growing issues. Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) is one of the largest grassroots movement against child labour, child trafficking and child servitude, with their 33 years of working against slavery. The video has gone viral and has managed to get more than 520,000 hits and counting.

Here is the video. Watch, and don't look away.