WUNRN

http://www.wunrn.com

 

UNODC - UN Office of Drugs & Crime

India - National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences

 

PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE FOR WOMEN IN TRAFFICKING SHELTER HOMES

 

Direct Link to Full 150-Page 2011 Report:

http://www.ungift.org/doc/knowledgehub/resource-centre/UNODC_Psychosocial_care_for_women_in_shelter_homes.pdf

 

 

Trafficking of women and children is an organized crime that violates basic human rights. A core element of UNODC’s mandate under the U.N. Trafficking Protocol is to increase the level of protection and assistance provided to victims of human trafficking crimes. This includes supporting countries in the provision of physical, psychological and social assistance to the victims, including cooperation with NGOs and civil society. In India, women in distress or difficult circumstances including victims of human trafficking are placed in shelter homes. Women often experience physical, psychological and social problems during their stay in shelter homes.

 

The social impact includes stigma, rejection by family members, low self esteem, and lack of opportunities in the society after their release from these homes. Due to such dismal physical and social conditions, the psychological status of women is seriously affected. The psycho-social rehabilitation of women who are brought to shelter homes is very essential to help them to return to a meaningful life in future. Often the staff of instiutions run by the government, who are solely responsible to take care of women, are not able to provide such care because of the large number of women in most of the institutions and the lack of adequate staff in providing care for the women. Moreover, they do not have the capacity or necessary inputs to understand the psycho-social needs and concerns of women. This adds to the woes of women in vulnerable situations and affects their overall development.