SC Guidelines for Protecting Human Trafficking Survivors

On 29th May 2026, the Supreme Court issued comprehensive guidelines to protect women and young girls from trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation (CSE).

Key Points

Origins of the Case: The petition highlighting the lack of laws and protective mechanisms for young girls trafficked into prostitution was filed by the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Prajwala in 2004.
Victim Protection Protocol: Stating that trafficking was an affront to constitutional dignity, the court gave detailed guidelines on establishing a uniform victim protection protocol for survivors of CSE.
The "Victim Protection Plan" would cover rescue operations, victim identification, rehabilitation, prosecution mechanisms, and institutional coordination.
Institutional Coordination: The Court integrated the Juvenile Justice Act and POCSO Act into the anti-trafficking regime, and called for closer coordination between Child Welfare Committees, Anti-Human Trafficking Units, One Stop Centres, legal aid authorities, and state protection bodies.