AN ANALYSIS OF LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF SEX WORKERS IN INDIA
AUTHOR – AMRENDRA KUMAR, DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL STUDIES, JHARKHAND RAI UNIVERSITY, RANCHI
BEST CITATION – AMRENDRA KUMAR, AN ANALYSIS OF LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF SEX WORKERS IN INDIA, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (10) OF 2025, PG. 692-749, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
CHAPTER 1: INRODUCTION
“The measure of a civilization is how it treats its weakest members.” – Mahatma Gandhi
This profound statement by Mahatma Gandhi underscores the moral and ethical responsibility of a society to protect and uplift its most vulnerable populations. In the context of contemporary India, one such marginalized and often invisible group is sex workers. Despite their significant presence in the socio-economic fabric of the nation, sex workers remain among the most stigmatized, exploited, and legally unprotected communities. The legal framework governing sex work in India, primarily encapsulated in the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA), reflects a paradoxical approach: while it aims to curb trafficking and exploitation, it inadvertently criminalizes the very individuals it seeks to protect. This dissertation, titled “An Analysis of the Legal Framework for the Protection of the Rights of Sex Workers in India,” seeks to unravel this paradox and explore the ways in which the law can be reimagined to safeguard the dignity, rights, and well-being of sex workers.