Mumbai, September 16, 2023. Every 10 minutes, a child in India goes missing or experiences abuse. The #SOS Campaign, an urgent intervention effort by NGOs Save Missing Girls and CyberPeace in collaboration with PVR NEST, aims to address the alarming surge in online child abuse in India, a less-discussed consequence of the lockdown. Save Missing Girls is an organization recognized for its efforts in preventing sex trafficking through education and empowerment. CyberPeace Foundation, on the other hand, is a non-profit civil society organization and think tank, comprising cyber and policy experts. Their mission is to lead CyberPeace initiatives aimed at enhancing collective resilience against cybercrimes and global threats related to cyber warfare.
Online spaces have become a hunting ground for child predators. This issue remains largely unreported allowing these criminals to evade justice. #StopOnlineStalkers (#SOS) strives to empower children and their families, encouraging communities to create safe environments for children to speak up, offering solutions and information on prevention and control. #SOS seeks to unite all stakeholders, including children, parents, schools, psychologists, cyber safety experts, policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and local administrations. This collaborative approach is vital to address the issue comprehensively, and a platform called #SOS has been created to facilitate this dialogue.
The SOS Campaign kicks off with a unique Public Service Announcement (PSA) film, shown at PVR INOX Cinemas nationwide, educating nearly 20 million parents, families, and children about the nature of cyberspace today. The PSA introduces the SOS Child Online Safety Desk, an innovative WhatsApp-based tool providing 24/7 assistance to parents and children facing this issue, reachable at 60030 60040. The SOS Forum in multiple cities hosts talk shows with schools, providing students a safe platform to express their concerns and experiences. SOS Mums, a group of proactive mothers, are raising awareness about the #SOS campaign and the underlying issue. Vigilant parents are encouraged to join the SOS community to advocate for safe spaces for children, both online and offline.
Leena Kejriwal, the Founder of Missing Link Trust said, “Trafficking like everything else evolves. It’s been rapidly changing to take the form of online trafficking and impacting millions of people more since it’s bound neither by geography nor the logistics of the trafficker.Through the PSA film and the #SOS campaign, our objective is to dismantle the silence surrounding not only child sexual abuse, but a form of abuse not widely discussed - CSAM. We have a WhatsApp chatbot on 60030 60040, the SOS Child Online Safety Desk, to offer 24/7 information and resources to anyone from a worried child, worried parents, and concerned teachers. Today, every 10 minutes, a child in India either goes missing or is abused. It is time to raise the alarm!".
On September 15th at PVR Juhu, the SOS Community hosted an event featuring discussions on children's online safety with subject matter experts. Following a screening of ‘From the Shadows’, an award-winning documentary on child trafficking in India, experts such as Nirali Bhatia, a cyber-psychologist; Ms. Khushbu Jain, a data privacy and technology lawyer; and Dr.Nilakshi Jain, a cyber security specialist participated.
‘From the Shadows’ directed by Miriam Chandy Menacherry, sheds light on child trafficking in India and the efforts of anti-traffickers like Leena Kejriwal, the co-creator of #SOS and founder of #SaveMissingGirls. The film follows the journeys of two women working to combat child sex trafficking.
Filmmaker and Director of ‘From the Shadows’, Miriam Chandy Menacherry said “It is truly heartening to see the strong response From the Shadows has got in Mumbai. The houseful PVR show demonstrates that even in the entertainment capital of India, people are hungry for real films and real people. Our documentary has taken 6 years to capture the story of India’s missing girls. The survivors in the film have been courageous to share their stories and the more the audience connects… they will find ways to prevent the next child from going missing”.
Deepa Menon, Founder Head, PVR NEST said, “Cinema leaves a lasting impact on the message being played on the big screen. It has a transformative power to shape an individual’s personality and eventually shape society. PVR INOX as the largest cinema exhibitor has been effectively utilizing its medium for societal good influencing young minds to causes that concern humanity and our environment. Through our association with the Missing Link Trust and CyberPeace, we feel proud to spread awareness among our highly engaged audience on online child abuse and child trafficking and change people’s outlook and sensitize them towards their social issue”.
Miriam, known for her impactful documentaries, directed the film which has received numerous accolades, including its India premiere at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) in August 2022 and an international screening at SXSW Film Festival, Austin 2023. The film was also shortlisted for the 'Breaking Through the Lens' platform at the Cannes Film Festival and received a Hatched social impact grant from Chicken & Egg Pictures, USA.The film was part of PVR NEST's initiative to utilize cinema for social change. PVR NEST, the corporate social responsibility arm of PVR INOX, one of India's largest cinema exhibitor, aims to raise awareness about online child abuse and child trafficking among its audience.
