Visit of Mr. Manabendra Mandal

On 14 January 2026, we welcomed Mr. Manabendra Mandal, Executive Director of the Socio Legal Aid Research and Training Centre (SLARTC), for an insightful interaction on the challenges of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Drawing on his extensive experience in working to prevent trafficking and sexual exploitation, particularly of women and children, Mr. Mandal shared perspectives on the structural vulnerabilities that contribute to exploitation and the importance of addressing these through rights-based and community-driven approaches.

The interaction highlighted the critical role of legal awareness, access to justice, community engagement and survivor-centred support in preventing exploitation and strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities. Discussions also reflected on the need for collaborative approaches that bring together communities, civil society organisations, legal institutions and other stakeholders to address the underlying factors that enable trafficking and exploitation.

The session provided an opportunity for participants to exchange experiences and reflect on how rights-based, legal and community-led interventions can contribute to creating safer and more equitable environments for women, children and other vulnerable groups.