Transnational responses to commercial sexual exploitation: A comprehensive review of interventions

Helping Survivors of Human Trafficking: A Systematic Review of Exit and Postexit Interventions

“…While not examining effects of interventions, prior reviews have synthesized the literature exploring the needs of survivors of human trafficking and the types of programs and services that have been implemented with minor and adult survivors of human trafficking (Macy & John, 2011; Muraya & Fry, 2016; Wilson et al, 2015). These reviews have concluded that survivors have numerous and complex needs that require a comprehensive array of services, which included needs assessment; case management; language services; basic necessities such as food, clothing, and safe shelter; legal aid; medical and mental health care; life skills and vocational training; employment assistance; and reintegration services.…”

“…These prior reviews provide an emerging picture of service needs and recommendations for policy and practice; however, the authors’ recommendations are not based on evidence that the interventions they are recommending are effective, and admitted that there is scant evidence on effects of interventions (Macy & John, 2011; Muraya & Fry, 2016; Wilson et al, 2015). Providing comprehensive services and offering a continuum of care, as these reviews recommend, seem on its surface to be an effective strategy.…”

“…Coding categories included the following: methods and procedures, intervention characteristics, participant characteristics, bibliographic information, and source descriptors (the coding form is available upon request). The theoretical model that informed the intervention was informed by the models articulated in Wilson, Critelli, and Rittner’s (2015) narrative review. Risk of bias using Cochrane’s Risk of Bias tool (Higgins & Altman, 2008) was also coded by the authors.…”

“…Despite methodological difficulties facing researchers, there have been increased efforts to evaluate trafficking programs. Reviews on different aspects of human trafficking have been previously conducted to examine programs for preventing and suppressing cross-border sex trafficking in persons (Van der Laan, Smit, Busschers, & Aarten, 2011) and to synthesize the literature exploring the problems and needs of survivors of human trafficking (Ottisova et al, 2016) and the types of programs, services, and responses to human trafficking (Macy & Johns, 2011; Muraya & Fry, 2016; Wilson, Critelli, & Rittner, 2015); however, prior reviews have not focused on the effects of exit and postexit interventions. Synthesizing effects of interventions is an important next step to inform practice as well as to examine gaps in the literature and inform future research.…”

Examining Recidivism in a Prostitution Diversion Program

“…The available literature on abstinence programs shows that as few as 20% to 25% of participants are able to successfully exit (Dalla, 2006; Davis, 2000; Saphira & Herbert, 2004), with an average number of exiting attempts around six (Benoit & Millar, 2001). Harm reduction interventions successfully engage sex workers in programming, reduce social stigma surrounding sex work, and increase health and safety practices among sex workers, yet, do not help them exit (Hynes, 2015; Wilson, Critelli, & Rittner, 2015).…”