TED Case Studies

Sex Trafficking in Georgia
Number 680, 2003
By
Danielle Murtha
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Identification Legal Clusters Related Cases Geographic Clusters
I.Identification Trafficking in women in Central
and Eastern Europe has become an increasing criminal and economic problem. Human
trafficking in women is not unique to one area or culture, but a worldwide
problem. In the former Soviet Republic Georgia slow economic development,
poverty, and unemployment contribute to the phenomena of trafficking. These
factors encourage women to seek any kind of job abroad. Women are often
recruited by agencies offering work abroad as a waitress or in childcare,
however once aboard women find themselves in the sex industry with little
recourse due to the fact that traffickers take their passports.
Description:
Manana Ment
eshashvili’s
Story: She stated that she and 6 other women between
the ages of 18 and 26 were transported abroad by a tourist agency
“Georgia Express
Light.” They were transported to Canada first and then illegally into the United
States. They appeared in nightclubs in Miami and were deprived all their
documents and pushed into prostitution.1
According to the Human Rights Bulletin in Georgia 18 other cases have the
similar characteristics to this case and high-ranking officials contribute to
thedevelopment of this illegal business and many tourist firms are under the
umbrella of their protection.
Factors Contributing to Problem:A
difference between women from Russian republics and that of Asia according to
Dr. Shelley is the level of education of women trafficked. Women from Soviet
republics are generally all high school educated and often university-schooled
verses Asia where education is different caliber. In Georgia there is a 98%
literacy rate. Another problem associated with trafficking in Soviet regions is
the development of depleted educated work force. In one year for Georgia 39,000
visas were issued of which 31,200 (80%) were for women2. Educated
labor is being exported due to the fact that unemployment is persistent and the
only opportunity for women is often abroad.
Factors contributing to the
trafficking problem are heavy involvement of organized crime. There is a lack of
motivation and resources available to tackle the problem. Corruption in law
enforcement, passport services and consular division, border guards as well as
the absence of victim protection contribute to fueling the phenomena. Nugzar
Sulashvili, chairman of the Center for Foreign Citizen’s and Migrant’s Rights
and Security recalls the case of a young woman who escaped her traffickers in
the United States and returned to Georgia. “Her trafficker found her and
threatened to show a videotape of the kind work she was doing in the United
States to her relatives if she did not obey him. When we received this
information, we asked law enforcement bodies to assist this girl but they were
quite indifferent, they refused. Three months later we learned that the girl
killed herself.3
”
Efforts to Combat:
The United Nations global program
to combat trafficking in women calls for cooperation among law enforcement among
law enforcement, prosecution and government efforts to respond with legislation.
The Government of Georgia does not yet fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. The government has expressed the willingness to combat trafficking but has limited resources to fund projects. Trafficking in minors is prohibited by the Georgian criminal code. An anti-trafficking law is being drafted. Existing provisions on slavery and forced labor, illegal imprisonment, sexual coercion and fraud could be used against traffickers. One prominent case involving trafficking of minors resulted in a recent conviction. Government officials are suspected of involvement in the production of fraudulent travel documents and in complicity with travel agencies as fronts for trafficking. There is no specialized training for law enforcement by the government but some officials were sent by the U.S. Embassy to an international anti-trafficking course. There are only a few victim protection services and these are provided by NGOs. One measure of prevention efforts was the formation of the Strategy Department in May 2001 to address victim rights. This office is taking the lead on trafficking but does not have financial resources to fund information campaigns. The government distributes information materials developed by NGOs and international organizations. 4.
2.Background:
Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Ethnic separation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, poor governance, and Russian military bases deny the government effective control over the entirety of the state's internationally recognized territory. Despite myriad problems, progress on market reforms and democratization support the country's goal of greater integration with Western political, economic, and security institutions. Despite the severe damage the economy has suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, with the help of the IMF and World Bank, has made substantial economic gains since 1995, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing inflation. However, the Georgian government suffers from limited resources due to a chronic failure to collect tax revenues. Georgia also suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the T'bilisi distribution network in 1998, but collection rates are low, making the venture unprofitable. The poverty line is below the 54% and there is an unemployment rate of 17% 5.
Socioeconomic Factors That Encourage Exploitation of
Women:
| Population | 4,960,951 |
| Age Structure | 0-14 years: 19%, 15-64 years: 68.2% |
| Population Growth Rate | -0.55% |
| GDP per Capita | $682 |
The following cases studies address the issue of trafficking in
women. While this case study concentrates primarily on Georgia these case
studies look at trafficking from a spectrum of areas such as Africa orAsia.
Trafficking is not limited to countries with govenrments in transistion but
depicts a worldwide porblem. The following case studies provide a glimpse into
the issue in those regions.
Chocolate and
Slavery: Child Labor in the Ivory Coast
The Trafficking of Nigerian Women in Italy
4. Author and Date: Danielle Murtha; May 7 2003
II. Legal Clusters5. Discourse and Status: Disagreement and in Progress
6. Forum and Scope: UN and Multilateral
7.
Decision Breadth:
The United Nations implemented a Global Program against trafficking in human beings designed by the Center for International Crime Prevention launched 1999. The programs key components are data collection, assessment and technical cooperation. The assessment component includes data in smuggling routes and methods used by organized criminal groups in trafficking. A database containing trafficking trends and routes as well as information about victims and traffickers has been established to provide policy makers, researchers and the NGO community. At the national level the program aims to promote awareness, train law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges, advise drafting and revising relevant legislation, provide assistance on establishing and strengthening anti trafficking elements and strengthen victim and witness support. At an international level provide assistance to agencies, institutions and governments as part of an interdisciplinary effort to design effective measures against trafficking in human beings. The program cooperates with law enforcement as well as non- governmental organizations.
Public outreach and publicity programs
performed by NGO’s such as Miramed, Winrock International, and the International
Organization of Migration work with young people to educate them on the dangers
of trafficking. Through conferences and workshops these organizations have been
able to put a dent in traffickers schemes. Victim protection and counseling are
also important components to their strategy. They offer recommendations to young
women traveling abroad such as to keep their passports with them at all times,
know the length of the contract these women sign, etc. Other possibilities
suggested to deal with trafficking are to encourage links among law enforcement,
enhance training to ensure law enforcement know how to investigate trafficking
in women and understand the links between organized crime and trafficking in
women. Support development assistance to provide women financial alternatives,
and support media programs.
8. Legal Standing:
In Georgia there is not a law in their constitution to prevent trafficking or punish traffickers. Traffickers arrested in the State are often charged with fraud violations. Internationally there are many treaties to hold traffickers accountable and protect victims. The United Nations has programs in place to help nations proactively address this issue.
Georgia; According to the Protection Project prostitution is not considered a criminal offense:
- Penal
Code, Chapter 10
deals with Crimes against social safety and social order.
- Article 230 prohibits keeping brothels,
pimping, and procuring women for sex. This article carries up to 3 years
imprisonment or expulsion for up to 5 years.
-
Article 254 action for holding brothels is punishable as well as
dissemination of pornographic materials
United Nations Protocols on Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling:
Protection of Victims of Trafficking in Persons- Article 6
- In appropriate cases and to the extent possible under its domestic
law, each State Party shall protect the privacy and identity of victims of
trafficking in persons, including by making legal proceedings relating to such
trafficking confidential
- Each State Party shall ensure that its
domestic legal or administrative system contains measures that provide to
victims of trafficking in persons, in appropriate cases
- Information on
relevant court and administrative proceeding
- Assistance to enable their
views and concerns to be presented and considered at appropriate stages of
criminal proceedings against offenders in a manner not prejudicial to the rights
of the defense
- Each State party shall consider implementing measures to
provide for the physical, psychological and social recovery of victims of
trafficking in persons, including in appropriate cases in cooperation with non-
governmental organization other relevant organizations and other elements of
civil society and in particular the provision
Article 7: Status of Victims of Trafficking in Persons in Receiving States
Article 8: Repatriation of Victims of Trafficking in Persons
Pub. L. No. 106- 386: Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act: Protection from removal for certain victims of trafficking “T” visa, trafficking victims regulations, assistance for victims in other countries
The United Nations implemented a Global
Program against trafficking in human beings designed by
the Center for International Crime Prevention launched 1999. The programs key
components are data collection, assessment and technical cooperation. The
assessment component includes data in smuggling routes and methods used by
organized criminal groups in trafficking. A database containing trafficking
trends and routes as well as information about victims and traffickers has been
established to provide policy makers, researchers and the NGO community. At the
national level the program aims to promote awareness, train law enforcement
officers, prosecutors and judges, advise drafting and revising relevant
legislation, provide assistance on establishing and strengthening anti
trafficking elements and strengthen victim and witness support. At an
international level provide assistance to agencies, institutions and governments
as part of an interdisciplinary effort to design effective measures against
trafficking in human beings. The program cooperates with law enforcement as well
as non- governmental organizations.
Public outreach and publicity programs performed by NGO’s such as Miramed, Winrock International, and the International Organization of Migration work with young people to educate them on the dangers of trafficking. Through conferences and workshops these organizations have been able to put a dent in traffickers schemes. Victim protection and counseling are also important components to their strategy. They offer recommendations to young women traveling abroad such as to keep their passports with them at all times, know the length of the contract these women sign, etc. Other possibilities suggested to deal with trafficking are to encourage links among law enforcement, enhance training to ensure law enforcement know how to investigate trafficking in women and understand the links between organized crime and trafficking in women. Support development assistance to provide women financial alternatives, and support media programs.
Non-Governmental Organizations In Georgia
People’s Harmonious Development
Foundation
People’s Harmonios Devlopment
Society
Women Aid International Caucasus
(WAI)
According to the Economic Research
Institute: The law does not prohibit specifically trafficking in persons,
although trafficking can be prosecuted under laws prohibiting slavery, forced
labor, illegal detention, and fraud; the country is both a transit and source
country for trafficked persons. There are no government policies that address
the problem of trafficking; however there have been some prosecutions of
traffickers using fraud statutes in several trafficking cases7.
III. Geographic Clusters
9. Geographic Locations
a.
Geographic Domain: Europe
b.
Geographic Site: Eastern
Europe
c. Geographic
Impact: Georgia
10. Sub-National Factors: No
11. Type of Habitat: Temperate
IV. Trade Clusters12. Type of Measure: Ban
13. Direct v. Indirect Impacts: Direct
14. Relation of Trade Measure to Environmental Impact:
15. Trade Product Identification: Sex
trade
16.
Economic Data:
Facilitating Factors
Georgia is a source and transit
country for women trafficked primarily to Turkey and Greece for purposes of
sexual exploitation and domestic servitude. State Department Trafficking in
Persons Report. Routes are often taken by traffickers to bypass border controls.
The break up of the Soviet Union has resulted in many visa free entries and a
break down in monitoring of these borders.
The Georgian transit route has expanded due to an open door policy with Turkey.
Many women are being trafficked through Georgia to Turkey and Greece and on to
the Mediterranean countries 9.
According to Donna Hughes women trafficked to Greece are subjected to extreme
violence, resulting in emotional and physical trauma: Prostitution in Greece entails new heights of violence as
well as degradation and exploitation of the prostitute…they are deprived of
their human rights and freedoms, are forbidden to leave the places without
permission, threatened by deportation, violence, and humiliation if they ask
authorities for help. They may be locked into an apartment or secret rooms in
bars. There is a preparatory period of three months during which they are raped,
beaten, and without adequate food or water…36% if the foreign prostitutes
experienced clear loss of space, only 27% knew in which neighborhood of Athens
the were and 32% did not know where Athens is 10.
According to CSD reports Channels
used by citizens of Georgia are trafficked trough Turkey and Bulgaria to Greece
and from there to Western Europe. The enter Bulgaria as tourists in organized
package tours and subsequently attempt to cross into Greece or Macedonia an
Albania with false documents11. The fall of the Soviet Union
contributed to a decrease in social welfare programs that benefited women with
families. Childcare and access to medical care quickly diminished under the new
Soviet system. High unemployment resulted in highly educated women turning to
opportunities abroad to support themselves or their families. Until 1992 there
were virtually no cases of trafficked women from Central and Eastern Europe12
. According to the Global Survival Network, women trafficked from Ukraine and
Russia say pimps take away passports until they pay their debt for travel,
sometimes as much as $15, 000 This results in long hours and harsh environment
in order to make the repayment. Czech authorities have investigated a case of a
woman tortured to death because she refused to cooperate with the traffickers 13. Recruitment Schemes Demand in countries of “developed”
industries such as Europe, America, Asia, and the Middle East is on the rise.
Organized criminal groups are often from the same region as the victims.
Exporters need recruitment schemes to entice women to travel abroad. This is
done through advertisements for positions as waitresses, babysitters, office
clerks, and dancers in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. According to an IOM study in
Hungarian newspapers it is not uncommon for advertisements to state: “I am
looking for hostesses and dancers for Swiss night clubs. Work permit, contract.
Outstanding pay. Call me!” or “We are looking for young, pretty, girls for
dancing and dance hostess jobs abroad with excellent pay!” These are similar
advertisements in Russian newspapers as well. Many of the advertisements were
largely for dancers aged 18-25 and most required no experience. Although most
women do not have to pay a fee to the trafficker in advance, on arrival the
women find themselves in debt to a network that had recruited them. There is a vast supply of
impoverished and vulnerable citizens of the former Soviet Union. In 1994 60% of
168 trafficking cases involved women from Central and Eastern European countries
14.FBI
estimates that 3, 000 Russian mobsters control gangs in American cities that
involve the forced prostitution of upwards of 8,000 women, many from Slavic
origin. According to one UN estimate criminal organizations generate up to 3.5
billion dollars per year in trafficking of migrants alone. When women reach
their destination their passports are often taken away, their freedoms
restricted, threatened with violence and are forced to work long hours and are
not allowed to refuse clients. Many of the women are young. In 1994,
approximately ¾ of the women assisted by STV (Non- Governmental Organization in
Belgium) were under the age of 25. Many of the victims between 15 and 18 came
from central Europe. A study conducted by the IOM. The international links allow
groups to intimidate the women abroad and to threaten their families at home if
they fail to cooperatedfgd Limitations to Combat the Problem Penalties for traffickers are
often low or nonexistent with regards to prison time and fines. In Belgium, a
typical destination country, sentences can be up to 10 years; however it is very
difficult to prove, and few victims are willing to testify, if they have not
been deported before the trail. Law Enforcement Lack of capacity
and motivation. Law enforcement in these regions do not have the training to
combat this issue. Much of the recruitment is in regions where law enforcement
has no possibility of following up on the international groups, which are trying
to recruit through advertisements. The absences of money to send faxes, make
telephone calls, or maintain computers frustrates law enforcement that are
willing to promote investigations16.
Corruption within law enforcement, passport services and consular divisions
facilitate the trade. Investigators at the US State Department found that a
foreign national working in the visa division of our embassy in Prague was
issuing visas for Czech traffickers to bring women to the United
States. -
Passport services issue phony passports. An organized crime group
operating out of Georgia was broken. It trafficked Russian and Ukrainian women
through Georgia to Turkey on purchased Georgian passports. The entry free
arrangement allows this to occur Payoffs to border
guards -
Payoffs to local police to tolerate brothels in their community In
Russia 90% surveyed law enforcement officials revealed that they passed bribes
up the command chain. - Absences of law enforcement links making it difficult to
promote investigations -
Absence of victim protection; women trafficked are afraid to contact western law
enforcement authorities and are assured no protection when they return
home 17.
Enhancing links among law
enforcement, training, development to provide women financial alternatives,
educational and medical programs are necessary developments to address some of
the above problems. Many countries have legislation to
deal with traffickers; however, penalties are often 3-5 years in prison or a
small fine if convicted. The profits derived from the export of women far out
way the consequences of getting caught. The UN calls for harsher penalties for
traffickers and programs to address development issues involved with victims,
law enforcement, and legislative bodies to assist. It is essentially the
responsibly of each country to be proactive on all levels, law enforcement,
judicial and legislative 17. Impact of
Trade Restriction: High if enforced, however, it is often low due to lack
of attention to the issue
18. Industry
Sector: Entertainment
19. Exporters and
Importers: Top
10 (According to the IOM)
Top 10 Importers;
Destination Countries Women from Central Europe are
often trafficked through three different routes. Exported primarily by Russian,
Yugoslavians, Ukrainians, Turkish, and Albanians organized crime groups.
Baltic Route: This route boasts a porous
border with Lithuania, which is among the most penetrable countries for illegal
immigrants traveling to Germany, Scandinavia, and the United States from Belarus
and Ukraine. Georgian Transit Route: this route has
expanded due to an open door policy with Turkey. Many women are being trafficked
through Georgia to Turkey and Greece and on to theMediterranean countries.
China Siberia Route: This route has been
facilitated by an open door border policy since 1992 to enhance tourism and good
will18.
20. Environmental
Problem Type: Rights
The prime environment for
trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation is one with
massive corruption. According to CSD reports illegal trafficking can be carried
out at any time and anywhere along the border, with the actual places of
occurrence falling in two main zones- points where customs control is executed
(ports, airports, border checkpoints, free trade zones and others) and points
outside customs control- a remote location along the coastline or minor port19.
The environment of the country impacts trafficking. The more corrupt a state the
easier illegal migration operations operate. The more corruption in law
enforcement and border guards the more trafficking is prevalent in those
regions20.
The impact on the environment is often damaged by this illegal migration of
persons. Often traffickers avoid main roads to remain undetected and damage
wildlife in the process of carrying out an operation 21. Name, Type,
Species: N/A 22. Resource
Impact and Effect:
Globalization has led to a greater
breakdown of government control over the flow of goods, services, and money. All
of these can more easily flow over boarders where there is little control and if
the police, boarder patrols, customs agents, and political figures are corrupt,
goods, services and money can move virtually unimpeded. In this respect
governments are losing some sovereignty21.
This environment is prime for organized crime groups to take advantage of to
smuggle persons across borders. Corruption on law enforcement infiltration (3
levels): Impact A.
Officials, non-military-Customs
officials/border guards/Consular officials; bribing them to look the other way,
allowing for freer transborder movement, or bribing for visas, etc. Once an
official compromises him/herself by accepting a bribe, they are often expected
to continue accepting them, thus perpetuating the transport of illegal goods,
people, drugs, etc. B.
Police- more of a threat to innocent citizens than to
criminals because they have been compromised. C.
Military- using the military to transport drugs/people
from conflict areas Effect When police are bribed, they are
also put into a position where they are forced to leak information or
intelligence on raids, etc. They offer protection to the corrupt, which makes
the innocent feel vulnerable to crime, criminals and the police agencies
themselves. Poor or corrupted law enforcement allows for high profitability of
illegal business, leading to the use of a country as a base for illegal
operations. Police licensing of illegal activities for a “tax” acts as a
constraint on changing the illegal economy OC and corruption of the state/law
enforcement denies residents of even democratic countries the protection they
[need or] expect from the state. Shelley states that corruption within the
state, undermine its credibility, and lessen its responsibility to its citizens.
Without access to formal regulated labor markets women answer advertisements to
work abroad to escape this environment. Transnational organized crime groups
target the states and governments that are already corrupted or are easily
corruptible. 23. Urgency and
Lifetime: Low and 68 years 24.
Substitutes:
Law Enforcement, Education, and
Legislation
25.
Culture: No
Rampant unemployment has prompted
many women to accept offers to travel abroad to obtain work as waitresses,
nannies, or domestic workers; however, this is often the guise unto which women
are forced to work in brothels upon arrival in destination countries. Although
according to Veronica Munk, of La Strada, Germany many women realize they will
work as prostitutes, however, many do not understand the harsh, violent, and
inhumane environment they are in which they are forced to work. According to the
Factbook on Global Sexual Exploitation two thirds of 500,000 women trafficked
for prostitution worldwide annually come from Eastern Europe. Soviet regions is the development
of depleted educated work force. Educated labor is being exported due to the
fact that unemployment is persistent and the only opportunity for women is often
abroad. According to the CIA Factbook 54% of the population lives below the
poverty line and there is 17% unemployment rate. Factors contributing to the
trafficking problem are heavy involvement of organized crime.
According to Dr. Sally Stoecker
there are many routes and one in particular that has been an increasingly
significant is the Georgian transit route. This route has now expanded, due to
an open border policy with Turkey. Many women and children are being trafficked
through Georgia to Turkey and Greece and on to the Mediterranean countries. Dr.
Louise Shelley states that Russia, Georgia, and other Eastern European countries
have developed legislation to address trafficking law enforcement officials are
not motivated to enforce the problem. Many women do not cooperate with law
enforcement because they fear trafficker’s repercussions against them or their
families. Many women are reluctant to testify against traffickers because there
are no witness protection services available and law enforcement do not know
women’s country of origin because traffickers have take their passports. The
collapse of the Soviet Union has reopened borders across eleven time zones. Many
of these newly formed weak states are prone to rampant organized crime activity
within their countries 23.
27.
Rights: Yes
Many nations do not recognize
trafficking as a problem within their borders. This ignorance allows trafficking
in regions such as Bulgaria and other former Soviet republics to flourish. The
penalties for traffickers are also far less severe than for other crimes such as
arms or drug trafficking. This is another reason that human trafficking has
become lucrative. 28. Relevant Literature
For More Information Foundation Against
Trafficking in Women (STV) Global Alliance Against
Traffic in Women Global Survival
Network Human Rights
Watch International Human Rights
Law Group International Organization
for Migration Committee for Human
Rights 1 Kanics ,
Jyothi. “Human Rights in Georgia.” Human Rights Monthly Bulletin; #22-23: Nov.
2000
2 Kelly,
Elizabeth. “Journeys of Jeopardy: A Review of Research on Trafficking in Women
and Children in Europe.” Prepared for International Organization for Migration.
Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit, University of North London, U.K.: November
2002.
3 Greene,
Richard Allen. Georgia: Misery Continues for Women Who Escape Trafficking Sex
Slavery. Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty: 2003.
5 CIA Fact
Book. Georgia. Central Intelligence Agency 2003.
7 Economic
Research Institute. Georgia- Compensation and Benefit Legislation.
http://www.salaryexpert.com/seco/careerjournal/hrcodes/CommonTopics/About_ERI.htm
8
Phongpaichit, Pasuk, Sungsidh Piriyarangsan, and Nualnoi Treerat. Guns, Girls,
Gambling, and Ganga; Thailand’s Illegal Economy and Public Policy. O.S. Printing
House; Bangkok, China. 1998, p 259. 9 Stoecker,
Sally. “The Rise in Human Trafficking and the Role of Organized Crime”.
10Hughes,
Donna M and Tatyana A Denisova. “The Transnational Political Criminal Nexus of
Trafficking in Women from Ukraine”. Trends in Organized Crime; Vol., 6 No.3-4:
Spr.- Sum. 2001. 11Center
for the Study of Democracy. Corruption, Trafficking and Institutional Reform.
2000. www.csd.bg. P, 51.
12International Organization for Migration. “Trafficking and
Prostitution: The Growth 13 Shelley, Louise. “Statement before the House of
Representatives’ Committee on 15 Shelley,
Louise. “Statement before the House of Representatives’ Committee on
17Shelley,
Louise. “Statement before the House of Representatives’ Committee on
20 Center
for the Study of Democracy. Corruption and Traffikcing: Monitoring and
Prevention. www.csd.bg: 2000. p, 10.
21Shelley,
Louise. “Statement before the House of Representatives’ Committee on
24.US AID
website: http://www.usaid.gov/wid/pubs/q1.htm
Other Resources
CIA Fact Book. Georgia. Central
Intelligence Agency. 2003 http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gg.html Center for the Study of Democracy.
Corruption, Trafficking and Institutional Reform. http://www.csd.bg:
2000. Economic Research Institute.
Georgia- Compensation and Benefit Legislation. http://www.salaryexpert.com/ Greene, Richard Allen. Georgia:
Misery Continues for Women Who Escape Trafficking Sex Slavery. Radio Free
Europe/ Radio Liberty: 2003. Hughs, Donna, Laura Joy Sporcic,
Nadine Z Mendelsohn, and Vanessa Chirgwin. International Organization for
Migration. “Trafficking and Prostitution: The Growth Kelly, Elizabeth. “Journeys of
Jeopardy: A Review of Research on Trafficking in Women and Children in Europe.”
Prepared for International Organization for Migration. Child and Woman Abuse
Studies Unit, University of North London, U.K.: November 2002. Netherlands Foreign Minister de
Hoop Scheffer. Human Trafficking “a Rapidly Growing Phongpaichit, Pasuk, Sungsidh
Piriyarangsan, and Nualnoi Treerat. Guns, Girls, Gambling, and Ganga; Thailand’s
Illegal Economy and Public Policy. O.S. Printing House; Bangkok, China.
1998. Poolos, Alexandra. “East:
Trafficking of Women on the Rise in Eastern Europe.” Radio Shelley, Louise. “Statement before
the House of Representatives’ Committee on State Department. Trafficking in
Persons Report. Report Home Page Released by the Office to Monitor and Combat
Trafficking in Person Stoecker, Sally. “The Rise in
Human Trafficking and the Role of Organized Crime”. Demokratizatsiya. http://www.american.edu/academic.depts.against/transcrime.html Thachuk, Kim. “Corruption as a
Security Problem: The International Security United Nations. “Convention
against Transnational Organized Crime.”
Top
10 Exporters; Origin Countries (According to IOM study)
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Romania
- Bulgaria
- Poland
- Czech
Republic
- Baltic States
- Morocco
- Brazil
- Dominican
Republic
- Western Europe (Netherlands, Germany, Italy)
- Middle
East
- Israel
- United States
- Asia (South Korea, Japan, Thailand,
China)
V. Environment Clusters
Judicial systems in Russia are also corrupted. This
allows many traffickers that are brought up on trafficking charges to receive
small fines and no jail time for crimes committed. Bribing judges to overlook
criminal activity; fixingjudicial/local elections so that particular judges are
elected to/remain on the bench are common practices. The effects of corruption
in the government/law enforcement lead to a defective justice systems where
officials/police are bought off or are unable to catch, convict, or prosecute
criminals least to a break down in society. Traffickers are able to operate with
relative ease in this environment due to bribery and corruption practices,
however, this leaves the citizens feeling vulnerable, with a distrust of
government and law enforcement22.
VI. Other Factors
26.
Trans-Boundary Issues: Yes
P.O. Box 1455 3500 BL Utrecht, The
Netherlands
Telephone: (31) 30-2716044 Fax: (31) 30-2716084
P.O. Box 1281 Bangrak Post Office Bangkok 10500
Thailand
Telephone: (662) 864-1427-8 Fax: (662) 864-1637 Email:
GAATW@mozart.inet.co.th
Website:http://www.inet.co.th.org
P.O. Box 73214 Washington, D.C. 20009 USA
Telephone:
(202) 387-0032 Fax: (202) 387-2590
1522 K Street, NW, #910 Washington, D.C. 20005 USA
Telephone: (202) 371-6592 Fax: (202) 371- 0124
1200 18th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20036 USA
Telephone: (202) 822-4600 Fax: (202) 822-4606
Nibelungengasse 13/ 4 A-1010 Vienna, Austria
Telephone: (43-1) 585-3322-25 Fax: (43-1) 585-3322-30
Website: http://www.iom.int/
Witness Project Lawyers
333 Seventh Avenue, 13th Floor New York, New York 10001-5004
USA
Telephone: (212) 845-5252 Fax: (212) 845-5299 Email: caldwellg@lchr.org
Website: http://www.witness.org/ 24
ENDNOTES
www.american.edu/academic.depts.acainst/transcrime.htm.
Exploitation of Migrant Women From Central and
Eastern Europe”; May 1995.
International Relations.” October 1 1997.
Http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/acainst/transcrime/Publications/Shelley_testimony.htm
14Hughes, Donna H., Laura Joy Sporcic, Nadine Z. Mendelsohn,
Vanessa Chirgwin, The Fact book on Global Sexual Exploitation. Central and
Eastern European Countries. Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
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16 Shelley, Louise. “Statement before the House of
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Http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/acainst/transcrime/Publications/Shelley_testimony.htm
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23 Stoecker, Sally. The Rise in Human
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