How (re) integration success and (re) integration failure is conceptualised in different contexts for women trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation

Abstract

In order to adequately meet the (re) integration needs of trafficked persons, it is important to first determine how success and failure of the (re) integration process is conceptualised in post-trafficking situations. We answer this question by looking at the feedback given by service providers (N = 40) when asked what they consider to be successful (re) integration, and what they consider to be a failed (re) integration process, based on their experiences with women trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation in Europe. This paper first provides an overview of the different dimensions of the (re) integration process: economic, institutional and social. It also situates the concept of recovery as applied in the context of post-trafficking situations within the overall framework of (re) integration. It concludes with a discussion of particular cases of successes and failures of the (re) integration process of trafficked persons. We find that rather than speaking of definitive success of the (re) integration process, it is much closer to what happens in practice to speak of the continuum of success along different dimensions. Finally, a failure of the process is found to be when a woman returns to a situation of exploitation, or when regression or re-trafficking occurs.