Shelter-based services for survivors of human trafficking in Cambodia: Experiences and perspectives of survivors

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.