Anti-sex trafficking activist Dr Sunitha Krishnan has revealed that she was attacked 17 times over the last 35 years because of her work against sex trafficking networks.

In an interview with Mathrubhumi’s Narrative initiative, she stated: “Each attack proved I was right”, referring to the repeated assaults she has faced over her work targeting trafficking networks.

Krishnan said she suffered severe injuries, including damage to her right ear and nose, while working to rescue victims of trafficking.

Long fight against trafficking networks

She stated that over her career spanning more than three decades, she has helped rescue around 32,000 girls from trafficking situations. Her work has primarily been carried out through the organisation Prajwala, which focuses on rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of survivors.

Krishnan also said that India will truly be able to take pride in its progress only when institutions like Prajwala are no longer needed, implying the elimination of trafficking itself.

Trauma, identity and survivor experience

The activist emphasised that repeated references to her past sexual assault at the age of 15 continue to cause emotional distress. She said such references can retraumatise survivors and argued that a person’s life experiences should not define their identity.

She added that experiences, even traumatic ones, should not be treated as a person’s identity, highlighting the importance of dignity and psychological recovery for survivors.

Krishnan also warned about the evolving nature of human trafficking in India, noting that victims are becoming younger and exploitation is increasingly enabled through technology.

She stressed that rehabilitation is a long-term psychological process and requires sustained support systems rather than short-term intervention.

The activist’s remarks underline the continuing challenges in combating human trafficking, particularly in protecting vulnerable children and ensuring long-term rehabilitation for survivors.

Her work through Prajwala has focused not only on rescue operations but also on providing psychological, social and economic rehabilitation to survivors, aiming to reintegrate them into society with dignity.