Prayas is a field action project of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai, India that journeys with women formerly exploited for commercial sex towards reconstructing safe and violence-free lives. The Indian government’s imposition of a lockdown to control the COVID-19 spread led Prayas to undertake a needs assessment study to examine immediate and far-reaching impact of the lockdown and strategize future intervention. The lockdown challenged women’s access to basic necessities like food, shelter, water, child support, and medical care. Their distress, largely invisible to the state, civil society, and community, was compounded by their exclusion from relief and welfare measures. They were considered less deserving of support, or they isolated themselves knowing that their departure from family and community would invite social ostracism. Experiences with loneliness, social exclusion, and threats from traffickers apart, a few women deliberated engaging with exploitative agents like pimps and money lenders; this time, with “consent”. Having been stigmatized and socially distanced from family and community for many years account for their non-normative gender pathways and coping strategies, and their predicaments during the pandemic were aggravated. Based on voices of seventeen (17) respondents of the study, and another ten (10) women who reached out to Prayas for support, this presentation discusses how women navigated through the COVID-19 pandemic, and their journeys to reclaim agency over their lives and choices. Juxtaposing women’s experiences of social distancing during the pandemic with that across their life stages, it argues for socially just rehabilitation and inclusive intervention strategies.

Presentation Objectives:

· Voice the circumstances of women formerly exploited for commercial sex, and make visible their challenges, distress, and agency

· Highlight the need for state and other social supports to socially distanced and stigmatized individuals, groups, and communities

· Lend insight into pathways for intervention to protect women from leading aggravated marginalized lives in crises and prevent re-trafficking

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Human trafficking for the purpose of organ removal (HTPOR) has remained a subject of unconfirmed reports but since the 1980s, a growing body of research by medical anthropologists, journalists, and academics has shown that it is a global phenomenon (OSCE, 2013). However, a large proportion of debate on the crime has focused on addressing the shortage of organs by developing systems to promote altruistic donation of organs, leaving behind a wide gap in the body of research that focuses on the serious human rights abuses faced by victim-donors, and the need to protect and promote these rights. This presentation seeks to highlight and address this gap by answering the question: "What rights do HTPOR victims have and how can they be protected?" A desk-based methodology analyzing a broad selection of journal articles, cases, and newspaper reports, alongside a human-rights based approach is used. This approach acknowledges that trafficking in persons is first a violation of human rights to which everyone is entitled (UN. OHCHR, 2015). Findings focus on the trends and patterns of HTPOR; operations of organ trafficking networks; consequence of HTPOR on victim-donors; the inherent human rights violations suffered by victim-donors; and five case studies highlighting active organ black market where victim-donors are sourced. Findings show that processes involved in HTPOR infringes on one or more rights of victims involved. This presentation concludes with recommendations for the international and regional community to set up needed support mechanisms for victim-donors to exercise their human rights in the face of such cruel and degrading treatment by organ traffickers.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe "Human Trafficking for the Purpose of Organ Removal" (HTPOR)

· Discuss the research that was conducted using a desk-based methodology, with in-depth study and analysis

· Showcase and draw the attention of the international community to the human rights abuses faced by HTPOR victim-donors, with the aim of reigniting conversations around the promotion and protection of their rights

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This presentation will provide a basic overview of human trafficking, focusing on both domestic and foreign trafficking as well as labor and sex trafficking. Topics will include the definition of human trafficking, how traffickers recruit, indicators for victim identification, the impact of social media, and how individuals can make a difference in helping to combat and end human trafficking. Using the most current research and resources, the presentation is designed not only to educate but empower the participant.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide responsible facts about human trafficking

· Educate about current laws

· Identify labor and sex trafficking concerns

· Empower participants to make a difference

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Child exploitation and trafficking in Vietnam, particularly children living in the streets and children with disabilities, presents in the form of forced street hawking/begging, labor trafficking, and sex trafficking (US State Department, 2016). Children and youth who have experienced these types of traumatic events are at increased risk of long-term mental health conditions: brain changes, emotional disorders, impaired cognitive functioning, general physical development, and social dysfunction. Yet, psychological and social work services for trafficked children are extremely limited in Vietnam. Approximately 235,000 social welfare personnel, of which 35,000 are professional social workers and 200,000 are welfare staff with no professional background or training, are responsible for addressing this issue (MOLISA, 2020). To address the dearth in trained professionals, Health Right International (HRI) and its local partner, Research and Training Centre for Community Development (RTCCD), successfully implemented a project dedicated to building the local capacity of key stakeholders to support vulnerable children and families to deal with the psychosocial consequences of trafficking. Further, the project involved direct psychological interventions, both individual and group therapies, to enhance child mental health and well-being. Due to COVID-19 precautions, 2021 project adaptations will utilize an online platform for upskilling social welfare personnel, considering IT limitations in some areas of the country and staff movement restrictions. This presentation is intended to provide attendees with information on the lessons learned related to upskilling child protection providers. This includes training results, participants’ feedback and shared experiences, and further training/intervention needs.
Presentations Objectives:

· Describe the risk factors that make children more susceptible to sex/labor traffickers

· Discuss content development for training welfare staff engaged in supporting child protection and the survivors of human trafficking

· Explain training evaluation and assessment methods for upskilling providers to support young survivors of trafficking and exploitation

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The Journey of Grace retreats are specifically designed for trafficked survivors. It is the only weekend, therapeutic program offered completely free of charge to women who have endured domestic sex trafficking. The presentation will address best practices in working with the deep seeded issues of trauma associated with trafficking through mind, body, and soul activities. The presentation will discuss evidence based therapeutic needs of survivor’s mental health and recommendations on helping survivors heal. The presenter will explain how to utilize survivor leaders in helping survivors move past their life-long hurts while living in this world. This presentation will provide the learner with data on the complexities of trauma to better understand the mental health needs of survivors. It will also provide examples of sessions and the reasoning behind each class offered. Finally, the presenter will discuss the importance of “play”, choices, accessing the “inner child”, trust exercises, and how to have healthy relationships.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe the complexities of trauma and how it manifests itself

· Offer recommendations on how to help survivors of human trafficking heal and move past their trauma

· Explain how the retreats address the deep seeded issues of childhood trauma

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The CDC offers specific guidance for a public health approach to violence prevention across multiple forms of violence. Still, many human trafficking advocates are often unsure what works as a “best practice” in trafficking prevention, say there are no “best practices,” or struggle to apply the public health approach to violence prevention in meaningful ways. In 2020, the NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault began developing additional resources to support human trafficking prevention work specific to sexual violence that occurs in the context of trafficking within commercial sex or other labor settings, including a Human Trafficking Prevention Toolkit and the Reframing Human Trafficking Prevention intensive training. In this presentation, attendees will receive an overview of the Human Trafficking Prevention Toolkit, learn strategies for incorporating elements of the toolkit into effective prevention strategies, and will learn more about the Reframing Human Trafficking Prevention training model.

Presentation Objectives:

· Introduce the public health model of violence prevention

· Discuss how effective prevention with an anti-oppression lens requires shifts in framework and worldview in addition to skills and awareness

· Review an effective model for training prevention educators

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There has been an increased focus in recent years on the provision of specialized community-based and residential services to survivors of human trafficking (HT). This includes multiple state/federal legislative initiatives to address the challenges of service needs, trauma, policy, and funding. As a result, there has been a growth in providers specializing in serving this population; however, there remains limited research towards best practice. The presenters believe in the value of clearly identifying best practices and providing guidance for service provision as a resource for providers, community partners, funders, and others addressing policy and practice related to HT. To address the gap in information on best practice in serving sex and labor trafficking survivors, the Administration for Children and Families Region 4 HT Advisory Group developed a best practices framework to guide and evaluate agencies providing services to this population. Pulling from existing research on best practices in victim services and other key sources (e.g., OVC), authors included 15 key principles with resources and strategies for application along with an assessment tool. This presentation provides the history and purpose of the Guiding Principles. It addresses each of the 15 principles, their practical application in the field, and an overview of the Self-Assessment Tool. Attendees will be able to assess their agency/community/state policies and practices across the focus areas and build a plan for applying the principles in their work. Participation will facilitate building capacity for service providers who are new to the field and enhance service structures for experienced providers.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss the history and purpose of the Guiding Principles for Agencies Serving Survivors of Human Trafficking

· Examine the intention and practical application of each Guiding Principle

· Show how the self-assessment tool can be used to evaluate capacity to provide services to survivors of human trafficking

· Provide existing resources to support organizational change

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National Crime Records Bureau in its crime report for India in 2018 reflected a continuous increase in the number of cases of human trafficking from 918 (2016) to 1127 (2017) to 1313 (2018) (NCRB, 2019). The research study focuses on scheme initiated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India in 2007 with Rehabilitation & Protective (R&P) Home. Participatory action research was utilized for the study including active participation with the beneficiaries of R&P homes. The sampling was used to answer three research questions: 1) What are the factors that facilitate effective rehabilitation at R&P Homes? 2) What are the factors that deter effective rehabilitation at R&P Homes? and 3) What are the factors that facilitate effective re-integration post their exit from R&P Homes? Eighty-three (83) women who were victims of commercial sexual exploitation residing at 14 R&P homes in 7 states in India were interviewed between the years 2018 to 2021 through conversational interviews. The findings of the research focused on four main factors: 1) lack of psychological assistance, 2) prevalence of maladaptive coping mechanisms, 3) absence of financial independence, and 4) victimization by stakeholders of the anti-trafficking mechanism. The results of the study indicate that victims of commercial sexual exploitation residing at R&P Homes required dedicated financial and psychological assistance for holistic rehabilitation. This presentation concludes with recommendations for a Holistic Victim Inclusive Rehabilitation for victims of commercial sexual exploitation dedicating the role of every stakeholder of the anti-trafficking movement towards effective rehabilitation and reintegration.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the study, including research questions, methodology, and findings

· Explain the implications and recommendations of the research

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