Emotional needs of women post-rescue from sex trafficking in India

Abstract

Sex trafficking has persisted a social crime that maintains its status despite being unlawful. Since it prevails, there is a need to investigate it to understand the effects and consequences of the same on the survivors. The current study aims to understand the emotional needs of survivors post-rescue from sex trafficking living in aftercare homes in India and to look into survivors’ suggestions post-rescue to NGOs, society, family, government and police. It included ten survivors from sex trafficking, ages between 18 to 24 years old. They are emerging adults who have experienced sex trafficking for at least one year, regardless of whether trafficking happened in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood, rescued one to five years ago. The researcher used a phenomenological approach. Thematic analysis was employed to identify themes within the data collected from the participants. Findings revealed that survivors had got a better life after the rescue, and they need acceptance, respect, understanding, and they need to develop trust on people around them. They still have many challenges post-rescue such as lack of education and job opportunities. They need guidance to start a new life. Mostly, sex trafficking survivors need safety and protection.