Non-State Torture and Sexualized Human Trafficking:A Grassroots Science Framework

Abstract

This paper presents our individual/collective experiences and knowledge co-constructed through our involvement in non-State torture and anti-trafficking movements. The purpose of this paper is to help people critically understand torture and human trafficking of women in the Western countries using a case example from Canada presented in a webinar which is now reflected in this paper. Using grassroots science as a theoretical framework, we share our experiences and knowledge generated from our involvement in the anti-trafficking movement and the lived experiences in this critical reflective paper. Although we share some key findings from the research for in-depth discussion, we claim this paper is a reflective theoretical paper. In this article, we (Jeanne, Linda, Rita, and Jeanette) first begin by sharing our own social locations together with our collective journey to the anti-trafficking movement and the process of our involvement in the development of this paper which includes the social location of Jeanette Westbrook who attended the webinar. This paper is structured in five sections, and they include: (1) Historical and a brief review of non-State torture and sexualized human trafficking; (2) theoretical framework; (3) knowledge generation; (4)actions in practice; (5) discussion/conclusion