What they may have experienced

 

Trafficked women are particularly vulnerable and are likely to have suffered considerable abuse of their human rights.

They are likely to be suffering from the shock of having expected to be working and making money to improve their and their family’s situation only to find themselves in the control of their exploiters with little opportunity for escape. 

They may have suffered from an abusive transit, involving being sold several times. 

They often have no legal status and no papers; so will be worried about what may happen to them if they come into contact with the authorities. 

They are working in an illicit or covert sector where they may be subjected to abuse, exposed to health risks and risks to their personal safety. 

They may have limited personal freedom, may be moved around the country and sold from one exploiter to another. Alternatively, they may be subject to less obvious forms of control. 

They are often subjected to physical, sexual and emotional abuse by their exploiters, along with continual further threats of abuse. Some victims, however, may have an emotional attachment to their traffickers. 

They will typically be in some form of debt bondage to their exploiters. 

It is likely that they will be suffering from various forms of trauma. 

They may have adopted, or been encouraged into, coping strategies including dependence on drugs or alcohol. 

The trauma suffered by children is arguably greater – given a child’s basic need for adults they can trust, and for care and protection