| Human trafficking in the Balkans |
| Saturday, 26 January 2002 | |
 a report on human trafficking from and through the Balkans, calling for stepped-up efforts to combat the phenomenon, which the organisation called a "significant problem affecting a growing number of women and children." The report is based on dta collected by IOM from more than 200 sources in 28 countries and territories, mainly from NGOs, ministries, governmental agencies, international organisations, and others assisting victims of trafficking. Despite a lack of reliable data, the report clearly establishes that trafficking in the Balkans remains a significant problem, affecting a growing number of women and children. It underlines that this lack of adequate data partly reflects the low priority many governments give to trafficking; a phenomenon made worse by inadequate legislation and rampant corruption, which hinders the prosecution of perpetrators and their associates. It is estimated that some 120,000 women and children are trafficked every year into Western Europe, including women and children from Africa, South America and Asia. The report says the Balkans cannot be viewed as a homogeneous region. Whilst Kosovo and Bosnia- Herzegovina remain destination countries; Albania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania sending countries, each has become, to varying degrees, a country of origin, transit and/or destination. According to this report, the largest groups of women trafficked to Western Europe through and from the Balkans are Moldovan, who are primarily trafficked to Kosovo and Bosnia Herzegovina. Albanian women are mostly trafficked to Italy but also to Belgium, Greece and to a lesser extent to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Bulgarian and Romanian women are mainly trafficked to Greece, Italy and Austria. Ukrainian women usually transit through Hungary and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia before being taken to Kosovo and Bosnia Herzegovina. Some victims are then re-trafficked via Albania to Italy and to other countries in Western Europe. The Balkans will remain an important transit region between Eastern and Western Europe because conflicts have led to a breakdown of social, political and legal structures, a situation, which continues to give traffickers significant freedom to operate. The report recommends that compatible and appropriate legislation be adopted and implemented to effectively counter trafficking. Protection and assistance mechanisms for victims of trafficking should also be developed and/or strengthened. Prevention through socio-economic support and awareness-raising activities is also an effective way to combat trafficking. source: http://www.globalmarch.org |
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