Trafficking in Women: The Czech Republic Perspective

• NCJ Number: 210121
• Author(s): Ivana Travnickova PhDr.; Vaclav Necada JUDr.; Hana Preslickova; Karla Trdlicova CSc.
• Date Published: April 2004
• Length: 168 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
• Sale Source: Institute of Criminology and Social Prevention
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Czech Republic

Annotation

Utilizing a survey, this study investigated the trafficking in human beings, specifically women as a form of organized crime in the Czech Republic.

Abstract

In the Czech Republic, prostitution and related crimes are a specific problem attracting other activities classified as crimes, such as violent crime and procuring, or trafficking in persons for sexual abuse and exploitation. Prostitution is connected with the exploitation of victims and illegal proceeds which are related to other crimes, like organized crime. In an attempt to improve the effectiveness of law enforcement functions and other criminal justice responses and gain information for more effective informal cooperation between government authorities and non-governmental organizations, this study emphasized the trafficking in women for sexual exploitation and forced labor as part of organized crime and examined the response of the criminal justice system to foreign women who have been trafficked in the Czech Republic, and Czech women who have been sent back to the Czech Republic from other countries. A survey was utilized to collected data. On the basis of data collected and analyzed in the survey, trafficking in human beings, as a form of organized crime, has many characteristics. Factors influencing trafficking in women in the Czech Republic include both social and legal factors. The principal source of Czech victims of trafficking is areas with high unemployment rates and tourism cities with an increased demand for all kinds of sexual services. On the basis of the information obtained, it can be stated that the groups of perpetrators involved in human trafficking in the Czech Republic are in different stages of the development of organized crime. In summary, this criminal activity is committed in a systematic and coordinated way; there is a clear division of tasks, and international links between offenders. In addition, it can be deduced that Czech citizens involved in the organized crime of trafficking in women work predominantly as co-operators of foreign groups. References