The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act,1956 was enacted on 30 December,1956. The Act aims to eliminate sex trafficking and exploitation. Initially, the Act was titled as ‘The Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act,1956(SITA)’ which was amended in 1986 to change its title, scope, approach and some other significant changes. The Act criminalizes various activities like keeping or managing brothels (Section 3), profiting from prostitution (Section 4), and procuring or inducing individuals for prostitution (Section 5). These provisions target key actors involved in exploiting individuals, predominantly women and children, in the sex trade. Additionally, the Act empowers authorities to rescue victims (Section 16) and rehabilitate them through protective homes (Section 18). This intervention is crucial in addressing the vulnerability and trauma experienced by survivors, often women and girls. The Act remains a significant legal tool in controlling sex trafficking and its impact on women and children.
The Act extends to the whole of India. It was amended 5 times in 1986, 2006, 2010, 2013 and 2018. The Act has 26 Sections now.