Between Choice and Coercion: Debates on Sex Work and Sex Trafficking in India

Over the past two decades, discussions on human trafficking have disproportionately focused on sex trafficking in the context of prostitution, sidelining other forms of exploitation. This article engages with key findings from the empirical literature on the Indian experience to unpack the complex relationship between sex trafficking and sex work. Interpretations of “exploitation” in both fields are fluid and constantly negotiated in real-world scenarios. Policy measures intended to combat trafficking can inadvertently harm sex workers by increasing surveillance, restricting movement, and heightening vulnerability to exploitation, thus threatening their livelihoods.