A Survivor-Driven Campaign for Inclusive, Empowered and Resilient Communities
Introduction
Across India, countless survivors of human trafficking, gender-based violence, domestic abuse, child exploitation, and other forms of marginalisation are pushed to the margins of society. Rehabilitation has long been understood through a custodial, institution-driven lens – keeping survivors’ dependent, voiceless and excluded from decisions about their own futures.
At Sanjog, we believe there is a better way. Our experience with the Shakti projects in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh has shown that community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is more sustainable, rights-based and empowering. Survivors reclaim autonomy, strengthen their families, and rebuild communities when rehabilitation is rooted locally and led by survivors themselves.
Count Us In builds on these learnings to create a national advocacy movement that places survivor leadership and policy reform at its core.
Why Count Us In?
India still lacks a comprehensive national policy on rehabilitation and social inclusion. Existing schemes are fragmented, institution-heavy, and fail to address the intersectional needs of survivors. Survivors remain voiceless in shaping systems meant for them, while funding for survivor-led models is minimal.
Momentum for change is growing. The C20 Declaration (2023) recognised community-based integration as critical for survivors of trafficking, people with mental health challenges, domestic violence survivors, sexual minorities and others facing exclusion. Count Us In seeks to turn this recognition into systemic change.
What We Aim to Achieve
By 2028, Count Us In will:
- Influence at least three government ministries to integrate CBR into policy
- Train survivor leaders as researchers and advocates, producing evidence on the failures of institutionalisation and the effectiveness of CBR
- Build a coalition of CSOs, survivor networks and media allies to amplify advocacy
- Host national workshops and conferences, publish policy briefs, and ensure sustained media coverage centring survivor voices
How We Work
- Survivor-led research & advocacy: Fellows from ILFAT will lead research, advocacy and digital storytelling
- Evidence-based engagement: Research findings will feed directly into policy briefs and advocacy with ministries, supported by partners like Chase India
- Coalition-building: Civil society, survivor collectives and journalists will unite to advance CBR as a national priority
- Digital tools & innovation: Dashboards, audio-visual documentation and media advocacy will ensure visibility and accountability
Why This Matters
- Rehabilitation is not charity—it is a matter of equity, dignity and justice. Survivors must not be side-lined in policies that shape their lives. Count Us In insists: survivors belong at the centre—leaders, researchers, advocates.
Because true rehabilitation is not just survival.
It is agency, dignity and inclusion.