The Illusion of Consent: Examining Women's Trafficking, Exploitation and Rehabilitation in Pakistan

Abstract

This study explores the phenomenon of women’s trafficking in Pakistan by critically examining the manipulation of “consent” and its implications for exploitation and rehabilitation. The research employs a qualitative approach grounded in functionalist theory, drawing on case studies, policy analysis, and secondary data from governmental, non-governmental, and international sources. It investigates the structural drivers of trafficking economic vulnerability, unemployment, patriarchal norms, and weak institutional mechanisms that create fertile ground for traffickers. The study further analyzes the domestic and international legal frameworks surrounding consent and trafficking, highlighting the gaps in law enforcement, judicial processes, and institutional coordination. Attention is also given to rehabilitation practices in Pakistan, revealing that existing facilities and programs remain fragmented, under-resourced, and socially stigmatizing. Survivors often face exclusion, economic precarity, and cultural barriers that hinder their reintegration into society. The findings demonstrate that without addressing the illusion of consent and the structural conditions that sustain it, anti-trafficking laws and rehabilitation efforts will remain ineffective. The thesis concludes by recommending survivor-centered legal reforms, long-term rehabilitation strategies, and awareness campaigns to strengthen societal resilience against trafficking and ensure meaningful reintegration for survivors.