Manual for Training Police on Anti Human Trafficking

Basic Concepts on Human Trafficking
sanctions have played a major role in divesting
women of their rightful share in the society.
Trafficking and other <strong>for</strong>ms of violence that
women face are an expression of this
discrimination.
Most women who enter prostitution do so Most women are <strong>for</strong>ced or induced or lured
voluntarily. into prostitution using threat, coercion and
other pressures/tactics.
Women choose prostitution as an easy way Trafficked women are not only sexually
of earning money. exploited but also economically deprived. The
various exploiters commercially exploit them.
MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT BUYERS/ CUSTOMERS 17
MYTH FACT
A majority of the buyers are unmarried Many of the buyers are married and they also
mete out violence against their spouses. 82% of
the buyers interviewed in three red light areas
reported that they were violent with their
wives at least once and did not think that this
was wrong. 18
If married, they are separated from their wives Many of these men stay with their wives,
negating the myth of ‘going to prostitutes out
of need’. In fact, the NHRC study shows that
45.5% of men who visit brothels are married
men. 19
Most of the times wives are not ‘open’ to new This is rooted in the patriarchal notions of
things and thus men need some ‘outlet’ women being servile and submitting to all
demands of men. Women have been
conditioned to be sexually submissive and
taught never to express their needs; something
that can lead them to being branded ‘fast’ and
‘too expressive’.
Men look <strong>for</strong> ‘mature love’ in brothels Ample evidence shows that the majority of men
who go to brothels request a certain ‘type’ of
girl/woman – there is a popular preference
among clients <strong>for</strong> virgins or young girls (or
those who ‘look young’) 20
Most buyers are illiterate and uneducated. The NHRC study shows that only 20% of the
clientele who visit brothel are illiterate, while
almost a quarter were in the graduate level or
above.
27