Exploring family and intimate partner violence and sex trafficking among Nepali women and girls rescued from sex work

Background/Objectives: The sex trafficking of women and girls is widely recognized by the United Nations as a major form of gender based violence and human rights violation which disproportionately impacts women and girls. To date, little public health research has focused on understanding the specific mechanisms and vulnerabilities that place women and girls at risk for being trafficked. The purpose of this presentation is to provide qualitative data regarding how experiences of family and intimate partner violence may increase women and girls' vulnerability to sex trafficking victimization. Methods: Case records were collected and reviewed from 400 sex trafficked women and girls rescued from sex work in India and repatriated to Nepal. Qualitative data were abstracted regarding the following content: a) forms of pre-trafficking family and intimate partner violence and b) how family and intimate partner violence affected vulnerability to sex trafficking (e.g., dependence on partner's income, lack of support from family/community for experiences of violence). Demographic profiles of women and girls describing family and intimate partner violence experiences will also be provided. Results/Discussion: Findings from this exploratory work will provide a greater understanding of the potential associations between family and intimate partner violence and sex trafficking vulnerability. Such information can serve to inform efforts to identify those at greatest risk for sex trafficking so as to advance trafficking prevention efforts.