Forced Prostitution: Coerced Sexual Slavery

  “Hello there! I’m here to provide you with a bit of information on what forced prostitution is, its various facets, and the Indian laws relevant to this abuse. What you, as a survivor, are experiencing, post confronting a traumatic experience is normal. What you, as a bystander, are going through while supporting a survivor is absolutely okay and typical too!  If you need additional resources or just someone to talk to, feel free to reach out to The Neeti Project."

(Image Source: Times of India)

Written By: Megha Kishore

What is Prostitution?

Prostitution denotes providing sex work in exchange for money. It includes gratification of sex and other accompanying acts such as: 

• solicitation of customers
• management of brothels
• pimping or dealing with prostitutes
• sex traffics and other activities that facilitate prostitution,

thus promoting the growth of sex industry.

What is Forced Prostitution?

Forced prostitution, also known as involuntary prostitution or compulsory prostitution, is prostitution or sexual slavery that takes place as a result of coercion by a third party.

How did Forced Prostitution Begin to Exist in India?

In Ancient India, there existed the practice of contributing female children to temples for the purpose of dancing and worship of God, popularly known as the Devadasi system. However, as the structure of the Devdasi system began to diminish, Devadasi girls and women began to lose their privileges, with increasing physical and sexual maltreatment perpetrated by temple priests. This was recognized as the earliest form of prostitution. The Devdasi system collapsed further during the British era, when the Britishers curbed the traditional textile industry, weaponry, etc. consequently forcing many individuals to turn to turn to prostitution for basic survival.

(Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo n.d.)

What Causes Forced Prostitution Today?

1. Economic Crisis:
Most women and children are forced into prostitution due to their economic situation. The significant existence of poverty amongst numerous families causes prostitution to be viewed as the only means of family survival; a step taken out of desperation (Why do women end up in forced prostitution, 2022).

2. Romantic Relationships:
Romantic partners often into a trap of lies conveyed by their partner involving false promises of marriage and a better future. This is used as a technique to lure (mostly women or teenagers) into a circumstance of coerced prostitution with little to no way of escape (Why do women end up in forced prostitution, 2022).

3. Sexual Abuse:
Girls who experience frequent sexual abuse during childhood, typically battle with the aftermath - shame, states of mind where the survivors feels dirty or worthless, issues with their own sexuality and increased sexualization of relationships. Prostitution can be one of the long-term consequences of sexual abuse. Multiple studies have shown that several women in prostitution have a history of childhood abuse. Melissa Farley interviewed 854 prostitutes in nine countries as part of a survey showcasing the following results (Why do women end up in forced prostitution, 2022) (Farley et al. 2003):

• 70 to 95% of prostitutes' had experienced physical abuse during childhood
• 65 to 95% of prostitutes' had experienced sexual abuse during childhood

4. Sold by Family Members:
In many cases , women and children are forced into prostitution by t (Why do women end up in forced prostitution, 2022).

“ I used to stay in a gated community with more than 250 families. There was a couple that had moved in. Me and my family used to stay a floor above them. Often, we noticed different men entering the house. We thought they were friends or relatives. Not, until we discovered the man used to forced his wife towards prostitution. He used to work but wanted a more luxurious life. When the others intervened to stop this, the wife responded that she had no choice. She loves her husband and shall do anything to make him happy. Although, the association had asked them to leave the community”.

Source: (Why do women end up in forced prostitution, 2022)

Why is it Difficult to Leave Prostitution?

• In a 1998 survey of 475 women who were involved in prostitution, 92% of them said they wanted to leave prostitution but couldn’t because they lacked basic need of survival such as a home, job training, health care, counselling and treatment for drug or alcohol addiction.
• For many women, prostitution sexual exploitation and sexual abuse may be the only way of life they are aware of.
• Many girls enter prostitution while they are minors and various studies reveal that 60% to 90% of those in prostitution were sexually assaulted during their childhood.
• The idea of leaving prostitution and having to find a new way to support themselves and their family may be overwhelming or scary for some. (Forced Prostitution, n.d).

What health Consequences Do Prostitutes Experience?

• exhaustion
• frequent viral illness
• sexually transmitted diseases
• vaginal infections
• back aches
• sleeplessness
• depression
• headaches
• stomach aches
• eating disorders
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• mood disorders such as dissociation and depression
• Increased risk of being murdered (James & Tavish, 2017) (Farley, 2004).

“During that time I saw 10 to 20 men a day. I did what he said because he got violent when I sassed him. I took all kinds of drugs - even though I didn’t really like most of them. Over the years I had pimps and customers who hit me, punched me, kicked me, beat me, slashed me with a razor. I had forced unprotected sex and got pregnant three times and had two abortions at [a clinic]. Afterward, I was back out on the street again. I have so many scars all over my body and so many injuries and so many illnesses. I have hepatitis C and stomach and back pain and a lot of psychological issues. I tried to commit suicide several times”

(Lederer & Wetzel, 2014)

Which Indian Laws are Relevant to Prostitution?

• The Indian Penal Code of 1860 deals with prostitution but it is limited to child prostitution. However, it attempts to combat activities such as kidnapping in general, kidnapping for the purpose of seduction, luring a person into sex, and importing a girl from a foreign country for sex, etc.
• Article 23(1) of the Constitution prohibits trafficking human beings and beggars and other similar forms of forced labour. Article 23(2) declares that any contravention of this provision shall be an offense punishable in accordance with the law.
• Section 372 of the Code gives imprisonment of at least ten years to a person for selling a minor for the purpose of prostitution.
• Section 373 of the Code awards imprisonment of ten years for buying a minor person for the purpose of prostitution. The explanations to these sections indicate only the trade of minor girls and not boys.
• There are no laws or acts to prevent or protect children, girls and women from forced prostitution (Darji, 2012).

References

Alamy Stock Photo (n.d.). Georgian bayaderes devadasi Bharatanatyam worship temple musician music dancer dance. Alamy Images. https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-georgian-bayaderes-devadasi-bharatanatyam-worship-temple-musicain-22000429.html

Farley, M. C.(2003). Prostitution & trafficking in nine countries: An update on violence and post traumatic stress disorder. Journal of Trauma Practice, 2(No 3/4), 33-74. Retrieved from https://prostitutionresearch.com/prostitution-trafficking-in-nine-countries-an-update-on-violence-and-post-traumatic-stress-disorder/

Farley, M. (2004). “Bad for the Body, Bad for the Heart”: Prostitution Harms Women Even if Legalized or Decriminalized. Violence Against Women, 10(10), 1087–1125. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801204268607

Forced Prostitution. (n.d.). WomensLaw.org. https://www.womenslaw.org/about-abuse/forms-abuse/sexual-abuse-and-exploitation/forced-prostitution/all

James, F., & Tavish, M. (2017). Devastating consequences of sex trafficking on women’s health. National Centre for Biotechnology Information, 84(4), 10.1080/00243639.2017.1387471. https://doi.org/10.1080/00243639.

Laura J Lederer, & Christopher A Wetzel. (2014). The Health Consequences of Sex Trafficking and Their Implications for Identifying Victims in Healthcare Facilities. Annals of Health Law, 23(1), 61.

Darji, P. (2012.). {twitter.title}. MyAdvo.in. https://www.myadvo.in/blog/prostitution-in-india-read-its-causes-legality-and-law/

Mission Freedom. (2022). Why do women end up in forced prostitution? | MISSION FREEDOM e.V. Mission Freedom. https://mission-freedom.de/en/forced-prostitution/why-women-end-up-in-forced-prostitution/

Wikipedia contributors. (2022). Forced prostitution. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_prostitution