Innocents Delivered

Each year literally thousands of girls are sold into prostitution in India. While no formal statistics exist, it is believed that two million children work in India's brothels. Approximately 25,000 children aged between 5-15 years old live and work in Bombays sex trade alone. Some girls are kidnapped, some are trafficked or enticed from their villages with offers of employment, while others are born into the trade.

In this photo essay I document the life of a young lady named Asha. Six years ago she was rescued by the charity Jubilee Action. Her mother, a prostitute, died of AIDS leaving Asha abandoned to care for herself, her little sister and brother. Her only option was to follow her mother into the sex trade. Now at 21 years old I documented her celebrating getting married and helping others still trapped in Bombay's sex industry. Asha is the first girl rescued by the charity and the first girl to be married.

Going deep into the centre of Bombay's red light district, I went back to the street where Asha grew up.  Photographing children still living in the brothels and taking refuge at the charitys night shelter in the centre of the red light area. Continuing to trace Asha's footsteps I documented the children's homes and lives of the 72 children now rescued by the charity since Asha's rescue in 1996.

Highly Commended in Ian Parry Award 2003.