Concept of free choice is absent for most in the profession

Supreme Court released a handbook in August to combat gender stereotypes

Reliance on stereotypes about women is liable to distort the law’s application to women in harmful ways: SC

The Supreme Court acting upon the suggestion of various Non-Governmental Organisations has amended its handbook to replace the term sex worker with “Trafficked survivor”. This distinction is used to stress on the fact that for most people in the profession, the concept of a free and enthusiastic choice is absent. “Based on your suggestion, the nomenclature/word ‘sex worker’ is being changed to the following: ‘Trafficked victim/survivor or woman engaged in commercial sexual activity or woman forced into commercial sexual exploitation.’ The Hon’ble Chief Justice of India sends his regards to all of you for raising a valid concern,” Anurag Bhaskar, Deputy Registrar at the Supreme Court’s Centre for Research and Planning stated in a response to the NGOs. 

These developments are a result of the Supreme Court releasing a handbook in the month of August to combat gender stereotypes. NGOs had written to the Supreme Court with regard to terminology pertaining to sex workers. “In particular, reliance on stereotypes about women is liable to distort the law’s application to women in harmful ways. Where the language of judicial discourse reflects antiquated or incorrect ideas about women, it inhibits the transformative project of the law and the Constitution of India, which seek to secure equal rights to all persons, irrespective of gender,” Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud wrote in the foreword of the handbook.