Child Trafficking for Prostitution: The Exploitation of Poverty-stricken Situation

Abstract

The inhuman act of commoditizing humans for the comforts and pleasures of the powerful is an excruciating diagnosis of the infected society that we live in. Child trafficking is gaining its momentum across the globe every day with millions of innocent children disappearing from their homes. The highly organized nature of such scandals makes it impossible for their families and even the police to rescue the victims from the trap. These trafficked children are used for many purposes such as prostitution, organ harvesting, forced labour, illegal adoption, marriage and begging. Child prostitution, being the third most lucrative trade practice, is widely entertained all over the world along the dynamics of a demand-supply cycle. Latest statistics reveals the painful reality that despite the precautionary measures taken by international and national bodies, the cumulative demand for child prostitutes are increasingly being met. Newer or unknown strategies adopted by the managers of sex markets remain unknown to the outside world, which has to be addressed jointly by all individuals and communities. This chapter aims to understand the various reasons why our children, especially girls, become victims to trafficking for prostitution and has been supplemented by various case studies and first-hand field experiences. Various psychosocial rehabilitation techniques for trafficked children rescued from prostitution are discussed in this attempt to understand the unfortunate consequences of child trafficking for prostitution along personal, relational and societal domains. Taking the nuances of India, a multi-deterministic action plan to prevent child trafficking for prostitution is proposed further. This chapter is also an effort to instigate a sense of responsibility in every member of the society to safeguard the lives of our children.