Abpfiff - Deutscher Frauenrat

12
Trafficking in women
“Trafficking in women“ is not a formal legal term.
Nevertheless, it is commonly used, especially by nongovernmental
organisations (NGOs) to draw attention to
an extreme form of abuse that targets women. It includes
not only trafficking in women for prostitution, but also
for other unprotected, exploitative, and slave-like labour
relations and for marriage.
* From: www.kok-buero.de
Forced prostitution
A Moroccan woman who was promised education
in Germany and brought to a family there with
forged documents was compelled to work in that
home under the threat that she would otherwise
be reported to the immigration authorities. When
she refused a demand for sex services, she was
reported to the police, accused of prostitution
to her family, and jailed for deportation.
This case is described in the study published by the
ILO in 2005. Trafficking in women for the purpose
of sexual exploitation (forced prostitution) is the
most lucrative form of human trafficking. The study
estimates e.g. that one forced labourer can bring
a pimp or trafficker an average profit of 67,200 US
dollars per year via commercial sexual exploitation.
The OSCE estimated in 2001 that approximately
200,000 people, especially women and children,
are smuggled into Western Europe and sold. The EU
estimates that around 140,000 women are sold in
the EU every year. Other organisations and groups
consider the real number to be substantially higher.
There are no confirmed figures, and no serious
investigation of the extent of unreported cases. But
one thing is not disputed, namely that trafficking
in women for the purpose of sexual exploitation
constitutes an enormous market. In Germany as well.
The boundaries between illegal and forced
prostitution are fluid. Many women, especially
from Central and Eastern European countries, work
illegally as prostitutes in Germany. They come to the
country for a limited period of time in the hope of
making a lot of money quickly and then returning
home. Some have already worked as prostitutes
in their countries of origin, others have not.
Some of these women are recruited in their
countries of origin under the false pretences
of a well-paid job such as waitressing. They are
deliberately deceived and not told that they are
to work as prostitutes. Once in Germany, they are
forced into prostitution by a number of means.
Other women are recruited directly for prostitution
in the target country, where they are deceived about
working conditions and potential earnings.
A large part of their revenue is taken by pimps. Most
are charged a so-called placement fee by pimps,
and told that they can rapidly earn this sum.
In the eyes of the law, these types of transactions for
prostitution are also considered human trafficking
for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Once again,
the crucial points are the use of coercion and
deception. Coercion can also mean indentured
servitude, i.e. when the woman herself or her
family at home is subjected to severe intimidation
until the debt for her “placement“ is paid off.
Most of these women are forced to lead a double life
because their families are not aware of their activities.
Societal taboos are thus reflected in the family as
well. The majority of the women are not informed
about the legal consequences of their actions or about
the arduous working and living conditions. Often
the establishments are run down and the working
conditions pose health hazards. Many women are
isolated from the outside world, and can only rarely
leave their place of work. High costs for room rental,
lawyers, pimps, etc. prevent them from making
the money they anticipated. Exploitation is made
easier by their lack of legal status, combined with
a dearth of information and language skills. Illegal
labour in Germany means a high level of pressure
and the constant fear of police checks or raids.