Team Herald
VASCO: In a recently held consultation program, from March 15 to 18, on ‘Rehabilitation of Women in Commercial Sexual Exploitation’ organised by NGO Anyay Rahit Zindagi(ARZ, attended by women engaged in prostitution and those who had exited from it, besides few NGOs working on the issue of trafficking, it has been suggested that the state and NGOs must explore various models for rehabilitation of women in prostitution.
The purpose of the consultation was to understand the struggle of women and girls presently in prostitution, situation of those who have exited from prostitution and needs/expectations of women and girls vis-a-vis ‘rehabilitation’, ‘reintegration’, ‘protection’, etc.
Participants listed their demands, which included alternative work for women and their children so that they get respect, an adequate income, physical and psychological safety, medical assistance and supportive rations, shelter, financial assistance, and provisions for care-giving during hospitalization and recuperation.
This was highlighted in the context of weak family support that women received and shelter homes for women were an area that received much discussion during our program.
Participants pointed out that for them shelter meant an environment where women could feel welcomed and remain physically and psychologically safe. “Experiences of psychological safety in shelters came from knowledge that they would be supported, having freedom to move in and out of shelters, and having shelters with physical layout that allowed privacy and living with children,” Director, Arz Arunendra Pandey said.
It was therefore suggested that the state and NGOs must explore various models for shelter, he added, saying the current provisions for state-licensed protective homes for women rescued from commercial sexual exploitation were found relevant, but as a short-term measure that could follow a rescue or immediate separation from commercial sexual exploitation.
Participants said that rehabilitation should be community-based shelter facilities like rental accommodation or a facility that allowed free movement of women, besides physical infrastructure that could be different from the current dormitory layout in shelter homes.
Participants believed that it was time to consider options where women could live with their growing children, in lieu of separation of mother and growing children, pandey said, adding that it was suggested that shelter facilities enabled families (women and their children) to live together in an apartment-like units, which would offer children a home-like environment.
On the issue of economic empowerment it was suggested that till women attained economic independence, a monthly stipend in tune with the minimum wages act should be provided.
