An Exploratory Study on the Barriers and Conditions for Reintegration of Commercial Sex Workers of Guwahati, Assam, India

Very little is studied about the Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) of Guwahati,Indiaon the issues of exit and reintegration.This study objective was to identify the barriers and conditions to exitingand reintegrationfrom the sex workers' perspective. The methodology involved a combination of experiential learning tools including life stories, immersion, FGDs and in-depth-interviews. The findings show sex work in Guwahati is highly mobile, largely hidden with no red light area and brothels. The women mostly entered sex-work because of financial hardships and low education and skills. Many desire to exit if provided alternatives to sex work income.The barriers and conditions to exiting and reintegration can be segregated under economic, social and institutional factors. These barriers include higher income from sex work, no employable skills,no societal support, children's education expenses. The enabling conditions include stable household income from at least one partner, alternate livelihood opportunity and skills training, safer working conditionsin informal industries, legal aid and gender equality. Guwahati CSWs share many similarities with their peers elsewhere,however there are barriers and conditions unique to CSWs of Guwahati, Assam which entails a contextualized approach that is both preventative and rehabilitative in anyreintegration intervention.