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In Southeast Asia, services for survivors of human trafficking have historically been centralized within shelter programs. Minimal research has, however, been conducted regarding trafficking-specific shelters, particularly research that highlights the perspectives of survivors themselves. This manuscript presents the perspectives of survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation on their own experiences pertaining to trafficking-specific shelter services. We analyzed data from the Butterfly longitudinal research (BLR) study, a 10-year longitudinal study exploring the lives, trajectories, and viewpoints of survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Cambodia. We analyzed 236 in-depth interviews and narrative summaries of interviews conducted between 2011 and 2016 using an interpretive phenomenological approach ( n = 79). Four themes were identified: feeling privileged to live in a shelter; lacking freedom and feeling imprisoned by rules; limited engagement with family; and mixed experiences with counseling. Findings inform critical recommendations for implementing trauma-informed care and strengthening mental health services for survivors, including services provided within shelter programs and within the anti-human trafficking movement more broadly.

AbstractThis article explores the perspectives of Cambodian boys who have experienced human trafficking and sexual exploitation on their experiences transitioning out of shelters and re‐entering the community. We used an interpretive phenomenological approach to analyse 81 interviews and narrative summaries of interviews drawn from Chab Dai's 10‐year longitudinal study with survivors in Cambodia (n = 22). Themes included: minimal involvement in planning for re/integration; conflicted feelings about life in the community; challenges completing school and securing employment; importance of community‐based services; unfulfilled expectations; violence in the community; and a desire to return to the shelter.

In this article, we explore the experiences of survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Cambodia as they transition from living in trafficking-specific shelter facilities to living in the community. We analyzed data from Chab Dai's Butterfly Longitudinal Research (BLR) project, a 10-year longitudinal study with survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Cambodia utilizing a prospective panel design. We present findings from our analysis of 236 interviews and narrative summaries of interviews conducted with survivors between the years 2011 and 2016 (n=79). An interpretive phenomenological approach was used to understand survivors' experiences during this transition. Themes included: conflicted feelings about life in the community; difficulties completing school and securing employment; violence in the community; limited follow-up; unfulfilled expectations; feeling loved like a family member in the shelter, but abandoned in the community; vulnerability in the community due to dramatic differences between shelters and the community; and varied experiences with case closure. We underscore the importance of understanding and listening to the voices of survivors about their experiences in the anti-human trafficking sector and discuss implications for the design and implementation of services for survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Southeast Asia.

Human trafficking is a global challenge that violates fundamental human rights. While the risk factors and health impacts of human trafficking have been well documented, the potential for survivors' resilience is far less understood. In Southeast Asia, the majority of trafficking-specific services have historically been concentrated in shelters, and yet evidenced-based protocols for shelter services are lacking. This study aligns with the growing literature that emphasizes the importance of feminist and trauma-informed services to support the long-term well-being of survivors of human trafficking. Drawing on qualitative data collected over a 6-year period, the analysis foregrounds the lived experiences and perspectives of 10 women who resided in the same trafficking-specific shelter. Six core themes emerged: being labeled as a victim of human trafficking despite contesting this classification, feeling forced to live in the shelter, a strong desire to leave the shelter environment, disempowering engagement with staff, lack of professionalism among staff, and limitations in vocational services. Collectively, these participant narratives reflect a marked divergence from feminist principles and illustrate the potential for recreating conditions that curtail women's agency and cause harm within the shelter system. We conclude with a discussion of the implications for a feminist approach to shelter-based service delivery and practice.

Social determinants of health (SDH) are defined as the non-medical yet health-affecting conditions of a person's life. They include such considerations as working conditions, discrimination, and access to health services. The aim of this study was to explore the SDH impacting those who have survived sex trafficking in Cambodia. This study employed a mixed methods, secondary analysis, focusing on 52 survivors of sex trafficking in the Butterfly Longitudinal Research Project from 2010 through 2019. Participants described myriad social determinants of health, including: gender, age, relationship status (marriage), ethnicity, national identification documentation (statelessness), social class, formal education, vocational training, occupation, and monthly income. The negative impacts of these social determinants of health included: poor access to basic needs of food and clean water, unstable housing, low education rates, worsening physical health, depression, and suicidal ideation, along with long unresolved STI-like symptoms. As these are multidisciplinary issues, the study concludes with recommendations for remedial actions to be taken by multidisciplinary stakeholders, namely government agencies, healthcare professionals, and survivor aftercare service providers.

The Butterfly Longitudinal Research Project started in 2010 and is the only research project of its kind listening to sex trafficking victims over ten years. The project was started in Cambodia by Chab Dai (translated "Hands Together"), a coalition of Non-Government Organisations since 2006 who have focused on human trafficking. The project was founded with the express purpose of listening to the survivors' voices and recording their experiences in order to better understand their physical, emotional and spiritual needs during their initial recovery in shelters and reintegration back into their communities. The team of researchers and the participants, all of whom willingly volunteered to tell their stories and remain anonymous, formed trusting relationships that allowed for the information provided for research to be rich and personal. This project used a mixed methodology of both qualitative and quantitative research methods over the course of the decade in order to gain a more holistic view of the survivors' stories. The data obtained from the research was fed back to the NGOs who were supporting the participants and they have found it valuable to adapt and evolve their aftercare programs to more precisely be tailored to the individual needs of each victim. The results were also presented in technical documents to Government policy makers, UN agencies, academic institutes and other international NGOs. This special edition of Dignity is another attempt to get the information out to the global abolition movement. A primary challenge was to maintain contact with the survivors over such a long period but the fact that this was achieved in a complex environment shows that it can be done and is worth it for all involved.