Trafficking in Women Through Poland: Analysis of the Phenomenon, Causes of Trans-migration and Proposals to Tackle the Problem (From Women in the Criminal Justice System: International Examples and National Responses, P 183-197, 2001, Natalia Ollus and Sami Nevala, eds. -- See NCJ-188840)

• NCJ Number: 188847
• Author(s): B. De Ruyver; K. Van Impe
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 15 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: United Nations European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control (HEUNI)
• Sale Source: Criminal Justice Press/Willow Tree Press
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Survey (Cross-Cultural)
• Language: English
• Country: Finland
• Note: Proceedings of the Workshop Held at the 10th United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Vienna, Austria, 10-17 April, 2000

Annotation

This analysis of trafficking of women through Poland as a transit country focuses on the socioeconomic, cultural, and other causes of this phenomenon; the nature of the transit migrants in Poland; mechanisms of recruiting and contacting victims; and proposals to address the problem.

Abstract

Women from Ukraine, Russia, and the Baltic States are brought to Poland, where they may be introduced into prostitution and then are resold to brothel owners in Europe and Israel. Socioeconomic push factors include poverty, unemployment, low earnings, and lack of opportunities; pull factors include the prospect of employment, higher earnings, better opportunities, and social insurance. Another important push factor is women's search for independence and emancipation. Other contributing factors are the increased freedom of movement during the political transition in Central and Eastern Europe and the existence of criminal organizations. The three groups of transit migrants in Poland are those migrating due to political, ethnic, or social persecution; those who spend much time in Poland to gather financial and logistic means to enable further migration; and those for whom further migration may be only a long-term goal. Recruiting and contacting methods vary. An effective strategy to address trafficking in human beings must account for causal factors, balance punitive measures with protection of human rights, include stricter border control, and harmonize approaches between sending and receiving countries. Multifaceted actions should also include preventive measures in the area of administrative law to obstruct misuse of migration channels, in the area of social law to address employment, criminal legislation, United Nations protocols, and efforts to address the financial proceeds of organized crime. Footnotes