14,000 people were arrested yearly under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956, 90% of whom were women. In 2015, under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956, 241 women were imprisoned in India at a total cost of USD 111,229.

More than 30% of all violence against sex workers was committed by police officers.

The occupancy rate for men and women in Indian prisons was 130% in 2021. The criminalisation of sex workers contributed to the overcrowding of prisons.

In 2022, the Supreme Court of India expanded the rights of sex workers in a landmark case. The ruling emphasised that sex workers have the right to a life of dignity as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.

This transformative ruling was spearheaded by the persistent advocacy of sex worker organisations including the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC), a sex worker cooperative with over 65,000 members.

In 2023, the budget for HIV programming increased by USD 7.5 million. By expanding the rights of sex workers (who are particularly impacted by HIV/AIDS) and subsequently investing in a health-based approach, India took important steps to move away from a punitive approach towards a response which prioritises community, health and justice.