Law & Legal Studies

From Victim to Criminality: Understanding Sex Trafficking Within the Walls of Sex Work – Victimization of Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

From Victim to Criminality: Understanding Sex Trafficking Within the Walls of Sex Work – Victimization of Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

This book chapter focuses on a theoretical framework for understanding the victimization of female sex workers.

Authors

Vipin Vijay Nair, Assistant Professor, Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India.

Sandra Anil Varkey, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India.

Summary

Trafficking of persons, primarily women and children, is one of the growing social dilemmas concerning global society today. Not only is human trafficking a highly sensitive and polarizing subject, but it is also considered a common norm in many countries.

Many women recruited into commercial sex work are coerced into the profession exploiting their financial and economic condition but continue to work in the profession to survive through easy money. The chapter focuses on a theoretical framework for understanding the victimization of female sex workers.

It also reflects various lacuna in the present criminal justice system and law enforcement mechanism in criminalizing victims within the sex work industry.

The chapter narrates the voices of commercial sex workers in India over the prejudices and criminalization by various laws and regulations towards their consensual sex work. The chapter recommends sensitization training and awareness amongst various stakeholders of the criminal justice system.

Published in: Global Perspectives on Reforming the Criminal Justice System, Pages 288 – 308.

To read the full chapter, please click here.