Sunitha Krishnan Urges Focus on Trafficking Survivors, Not Sex Work Debate

Sunitha Krishnan, founder of Prajwala, addressed the media in Hyderabad following the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment establishing a nationwide Victim Protection Plan for sex trafficking survivors. She stressed that the ruling represents a 22-year legal struggle focused on dignity, rehabilitation, and rights of survivors, and should not be reduced to debates on voluntary sex work.

Joined by survivor leaders and legal experts, Krishnan explained that the judgment for the first time formally recognises rehabilitation as a constitutional right and strengthens legal aid, compensation, and institutional accountability. She highlighted that the framework ensures survivor-centric rehabilitation, structured rescue procedures, and long-term reintegration support, while survivor testimonies reinforced the importance of lived experiences in shaping the verdict.