A narrative study on the psycho-social impact of sex trafficking on victim’s parents in the state of Karnataka

• Date: 17 January 2022
• Pages: 295-312
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-10-2021-0189
• Published date: 17 January 2022
• Subject Matter: Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Inequalities & diverse/minority groups,Sociology,Race & ethnic studies,Minorities,Multiculturalism,Racial identity,Work,economy & organizations
• Author: Indrajit Goswami,Sujatha M. Jithu,Nigel Raylyn Dsilva

A narrative study on the psycho-social

impact of sex traff‌icking on victim’s

parents in the state of Karnataka

Indrajit Goswami, Sujatha M. Jithu and Nigel Raylyn Dsilva

Abstract

Purpose –The purposeof this study is to explore the life of the victim’s parentsin Karnataka and to gain a

better understandingof the consequences or impactof sex trafficking on them.

Design/methodology/approach –A narrative research design was used in the study. Applying the

method of narrative inquiryand the concept of three common spaces, thestudy explored the actual life

situations and experiences of the victim’s parents. The study covered three pairs of parents as

participants from two cities, i.e. Mysore and Bangalore in the state of Karnataka. Data was collected

throughin-depth face-to-face interview,informal conversations, photographsand field notes.

Findings –The study found that the victims’parents are living an isolated or socially alienated life with

potential symptoms of behavioural, cognitive and emotional disorders. The study also found that the

victim’sparents fundamental right to live with dignityand respect have been violated. A significantfinding

in the study was that the parents did not cite or refer to any substantial efforts undertaken by non-

governmentalorganisations in reintegrating the victim’sfamilies within their communities. Thereare many

rehabilitative services available for the victims. Unfortunately, the victim’s parents mostly remain

unnoticed and unattendedby therapists, social work practitioners andpolicymakers. An appeal is made

to therapists,social workers, policymakersand individuals to support the victim’s parents.

Originality/value –All forms of human trafficking, especially sex trafficking has drawn considerable interest

from researchers, policymakers, charities and non-government agencies. However, very little is known about

the living conditions of the victim’s parents, especially the psycho-social status in their families and

neighbourhood. Therefore, it was pertinent to explore the life of the victim’s parents including violation of their

human rights. It highlights the importance of support from the society in reintegrating the victim’s families with

their communities. This paper contributes to the qualitative literature by providing narrative ev idence, which

will lead to better policymaking and designing effective support services for the victim’s parents.

Keywords Sex traff‌icking, Victims, Parents, Social isolation, Psycho-social problems, Narrative inquiry

Paper type Research paper

Introduction

Every country in the world is affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin,

transit or destination. It is a national, transnational and international crime that has

consistently marked its presence across the globe. The report of the United Nations Office

on Drugs and Crime (UNODC, 2018) states that most of the detected victims of trafficking

for sexual exploitation are females, mainly adult women, but also increasingly girls.

Although this pattern was not consistent across all regions, most of the female victims were

detected in the Americas, Europe, East Asia and the Pacific. Sex trafficking is identified as

the third-largest illegal trade in the Indian sub-continent and has been a growing threat to

both, the liberty and security of girls and their parents and families. According to Divya

(2020), 95% of trafficked persons in India are forced into prostitution. In 2020, the

National Crimes Records Bureau (NCRB) enumerated a total of 6,616 human trafficking

Indrajit Goswami is based

at the Department of

Human Resources,

Universal Business School,

Karjat, India.

Sujatha M. Jithu is based at

the Department of

Research and Studies in

Social Work, Tumkur

University, Tumkur, India.

Nigel Raylyn Dsilva is

based at the Department of

Business Analytics,

Universal Business School,

Karjat, India.

Received 18 October 2021

Revised 12 December 2021

Accepted 24 December 2021

DOI 10.1108/IJHRH-10-2021-0189VOL. 16 NO. 3 2023, pp. 295-312, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-4902 jINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN HEALTHCARE jPAGE 295

cases registered in India, out of which trafficking for the sex trade are highest in numbers

(Munshi, 2020). Rai and Rai (2021) observed that trafficking for commercial sexual

exploitation occurs particularly in the economically weaker and vulnerable sections of

society.

It is believed that besides poverty, societal beliefs, customs and gender discrimination are

the major factors that have made the situation in India more problematic and complex. It is

estimated that about 25,000 children and young girls are engaged in prostitution in the

major metropolitan cities, such as Bangalore, Calcutta, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai and

Chennai (UNIFEM, 2000). Othersources have quoted that about 500,000 girl childrenbelow

18 years are victims of trafficking in India (Ghosh, 2009). Wikipedia (2020) reports that in

2014, 76% of the total persons trafficked in India were women and girls, and in 2015, only

4,203 human trafficking cases were investigated in India. As per Wikipedia, children make

up roughly about 40% of prostitutes. It also estimates that over two million women and

children are trafficked for sex in the red-lightdistricts in India.

Sex trafficking in Karnataka

According to a press report published in The Times of India in 2013, a study conducted by

the Centre for the Study of Social Exclusionand Inclusive Policy, University of Mysore, found

that as many as 14,989 girls and boys were found missing in the state from 2009 till

September 2011. Out of them, only 6,950 have been traced. The study reported that in the

city of Mysore itself, around 1,612 minor girls and boys went missing during 2009–2011. It

found that most of the missing girls had studiedup to Secondary School Leaving Certificate

(SSLC), pre-university courses (PUC) and under graduation. The study revealed important

factors responsible for the disappearance of girls. While some fled their homes after they

were physically and mentally harassed by their parents for poor performance in studies,

some fled due to parent’s poverty and gender discrimination. Karnataka reported the third-

highest number (1,379) of traffickingcases in the country during 2009–2012 (Dev, 2013).

The counter-trafficking data collaborative (CTDC) was the world’s first data portal to include

human trafficking case data contributed by organisations from around the world. In 2020, the

CTDC reported that at the international level, there was more involvement of families in the

trafficking of boys (61% cases) than girls (46% cases). With regard to India, there is a paucity of

similar human trafficking case data. Moreover, there are data transparency issues in India,

including in the state of Karnataka. It was very challenging for the researchers to locate families

who were not involved in any form of trafficking, especially the trafficking of young girls. The

researchers sought the assistance of two well-known non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to

identify the victim’s parents. The study covered three pairs of parents as participants from two

cities, i.e. Mysore and Bangalore in the state of Karnataka. Applying the method of narrative

inquiry and the concept of three common spaces, the present study attempts to explore the

actual life situations and experiences of parents of victims. The details about the methodology,

research questions findings, conclusion and policy implications are described in appropriate

sections after the review of the literature.

Review of literature

There are plenty of resources, including statistical data, government reports, collaborative

reports from different national and international agencies and research studies, either on

human trafficking as a problem and its impact on the victims. Naik (2018) argues that

human trafficking is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon that requires a

multidisciplinary approach to analyse its causes. The author states that any strategy to

eliminate trafficking should be framed within the human rights perspective by placing the

victim at the centre. It is pertinent to note that the involvement of the parents and relatives of

the victims is not mentioned in this context. Moore and Goldberg (2015) proposed

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