Sexual violence in human trafficking
Sexual violence is any sexual act that happens without your full and free choice. It occurs when someone uses power, coercion, fear, or manipulation to force or pressure you into sexual activity.
It can include being forced into prostitution. It can include being forced to perform sexual acts you do not want. It can include being pressured into sex through threats, debt, or fear. It can include being raped by clients or by the person controlling you. It can include being punished with sexual assault. It can include unwanted touching, groping, or sexual acts as a form of control or intimidation.
Sexual violence can also include being forced to have sex without protection. It can include being filmed without consent. It can include being forced to participate in pornography. It can include being coerced into live-streaming sexual acts. It can include sexual acts with multiple people, or with strangers, imposed by someone exploiting you.
Sexual violence can also occur in non-sexual work environments. An employer may demand sexual acts in exchange for housing, salary, or protection. Sexual harassment can escalate into coercion. Even repeated requests, comments, or pressure that create fear or obligation can constitute sexual violence.
Control over your reproductive body is also violence. You may have been forced to have an abortion. You may have been forced to continue a pregnancy. You may have been denied access to contraception. You may have been prevented from seeing a doctor. Decisions about your body may have been made by someone else, against your will, or under threat, which is a form of reproductive coercion.
Even if you initially agreed to travel or to work, consent cannot exist when there is fear, coercion, debt, abuse of vulnerability, or dependency. Situations where refusing would threaten your safety, income, or basic needs. These circumstances remove your ability to freely consent.
Sexual violence can have lasting psychological and physical effects, which may persist even after leaving the exploitative situation. You may experience fear, shame, guilt, flashbacks, nightmares, sexual dysfunction, or anxiety. You may also feel detached from your body or have difficulty trusting others.
If you were sexually exploited, you are not guilty. You are not responsible. You are not required to file a complaint in order to deserve safety. Experiencing sexual violence does not reflect your value or morality. You deserve protection, support, and care.
