Bollywood celebs raise voice against child trafficking

Mumbai, Nov 6 : Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi, Katrina Kaif and Suneil Shetty are among the Bollywood celebrities who have pledged support to a movement, Against Child Trafficking (A.C.T.).

A.C.T. aims to help mobilise people on the issue by raising awareness, preventing trafficking and supporting the efforts of child welfare organisations through fundraising on a regular basis, said a press release here.

The initiative has been made by US Ambassador-at-Large Melanne Verveer, film producer Firoz Nadiadwallah and Wizcraft International Entertainment apart from key members of the Indian film industry.

"The violence against women and girls that we're currently seeing is a global pandemic. It cuts across ethnicity, race, class, religion, education level and international borders. We are pleased that the issue is being taken up in India and is being highlighted by the voices the nation will pay attention to. We hope to make much progress with the support we are receiving," said Verveer.

A special A.C.T. campaign has been launched in Mumbai with the aim of inviting various NGOs, government bodies as well as the general public to come together and raise their voice against human trafficking.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who has spoken out in support of the campaign in a video, said: "Human trafficking is the selling of human beings� slavery. Men, women and children are forced into slavery every day in our country and other parts of the world.

"Crores toil in brick kilns, zari manufacturing, on farms, and elsewhere with no freedom to choose their path in life. Some call it bonded labour, but it is slavery. There is no place in a developed nation for human slavery. We need to end every form of human trafficking now."

His son Abhishek said: "I pledge to raise my voice against child trafficking in whatever way I can by getting involved in the A.C.T. campaign - through raising awareness, preventing children from being trafficked, acting against child labour, supporting child welfare organisations and in any other way which will lead to a secure future for children."