Literature Review

This chapter reviews various literature present in print or electronic

form relating to rehabilitation and reintegration of rescued victims of

human trafficking.

1) International Organization for Migration (2005) Data

Research on Human Trafficking: A global survey, ed. by: Frank

Laczko and Elzbieta Gozdziak, Offprint of the Special Issue of

International Migration Vol. 43 (1/2).

According to Laczko (2005) combating human trafficking has

become an increasingly important political priority for many around the

world and there is also widespread agreement in the international

community on the need for a multilateral response, as reflect in the UN

Protocols on Trafficking and Smuggling.The report outlines the

importance of combating the crime through data of research on

trafficking which is year after year. The report also shows the regional

distribution of studies on trafficking around the world with Europe

leading the statistics with 44% followed by Asia Pacific at 35%. In an

article of the report, Masaud Ali (2005) stated that India and Pakistan

are the major destination countries for trafficked women and girls in

South Asia. It is further reported on the basis of existing studies that

low employment prospects and lack of opportunities coupled with low

level of education makes women and girl, more vulnerable to sex

trafficking. Therefore the present study focuses on suggesting

rehabilitation and empowerment measures to the victims of sex

trafficking.

2) Shigekane R (2007) Rehabilitation and Community

Integration of Trafficking Survivors in the United States,

Human Rights Quarterly, 29.1 112-136

Shigekane (2007) in his article mentions the importance of

addressing the problem of trafficking in persons and emphasizes not

only on rescuing the victims but providing them appropriate assistance

to lead life independently. The article mentions the rehabilitative

measures taken by the US government for community integration by

providing the rescued victims with psychological treatment to come

out of the trauma of physical and mental abuse, providing training in

specialized skills so that they lead life independently. The United

States through Trafficking Act has released significant funds into local

communities to develop services like providing training, shelter and

provide human services such as case management, legal assistance,

benefits advocacy, housing and employment assistance. Similar

findings have also been revealed during the collection of primary data

wherein most of the victims required assistance in form of free

housing, financial loans and skill based training to lead a new life. The
article further states that prevention must take dual approach,

reducing both supply side factors and demand side factors.

3) Justice Sujata Manohar (2002) Trafficking in women and

girls, Expert Group Meeting on “Trafficking in Women and

Girls” 18-22 November 2002, Glen Cove, New York, USA

Justice Sujata Manohar while presenting the volume of human

trafficking in India, elaborately discussed the strategies for rescue and

rehabilitation and emphasized on effective prevention strategies for

complete rehabilitation. In order to formulate and devise effective

prevention strategies it is necessary to ascertain who are trafficked

and why, so that the concerned areas are taken into considered while

evolving effective model of prevention, rehabilitation and

reintegration. Gender discrimination, poverty, unemployment,

migration to urban areas in search of employment, persons with

disability and to an extent, globalization has played spoilsport in

encouraging human and sex trafficking. It is further stated that all

major strategies must aim at economic empowerment of women and

girls in these dangerous zones. Various strategies like providing micro

credit to women to start small business as formulated in South Asia

Strategy 2001 at Yokohama Conference, starting industrial activities in

backward areas to prevent migration of population from rural areas to

urban areas in search of employment, establishing sufficient number of

schools and free education to boys and girls in backward areas, public

awareness campaigns, sensitization of the issue of trafficking in

community along with local leaders, administrators and local police.

The report further lays importance of reviewing the legal structure to

remove legal discrimination against women, providing legally binding

rehabilitation measures such as compensation to victims reflecting

international norms and practices which need to be victim friendly. The

report further mentions the importance of immediate needs to rescued

victims like treatment for trauma, medical treatment, counseling and

safe shelter and finally preventing re trafficking at all costs.