Safe, Seen and Supported: Immediate Protection and Recovery Support for Victims of Trafficking in AEC

Girls and women trafficked into Kathmandu’s Adult Entertainment Sector (AES) can remain hidden within places such as dance bars, cabin restaurants, massage parlours and other entertainment venues, where exploitation may be sustained through coercion, wage theft, debt manipulation, threats and surveillance.

This six-month intervention will identify and support 30 victims of internal trafficking, 15 girls under 18 and 15 women, who face immediate protection, health and psychosocial risks.

Through discreet outreach and referrals, SASANE will support victims with age verification and legal recognition, sexual and reproductive health services, trauma-informed counselling, individual safety planning, a confidential 24/7 helpline, legal counselling and emergency assistance. Support will be survivor-centred and tailored to each woman or girl’s immediate safety and recovery needs.

The Change We Seek

The project seeks to ensure that women and girls experiencing trafficking are identified earlier, protected from continuing exploitation, and connected to the services and rights they are entitled to.

In the short term, the project will strengthen immediate safety, health, psychosocial wellbeing and access to protection and legal support for identified victims.

In the longer term, SASANE seeks to contribute to:

• Earlier identification of trafficking within the Adult Entertainment Sector;
• Reduced exposure to violence, coercion and continued exploitation;
• Improved access to health, psychosocial and legal support; and
• Stronger pathways from exploitation towards safety, recovery and restored agency.

From Hidden Exploitation to Safety and Recovery

At its core, Safe, Seen and Supported is about reaching women and girls whose exploitation can otherwise remain unseen and ensuring that once identified, they are recognised as victims of trafficking and can access immediate protection, care and pathways towards recovery.