The meeting in Warsaw was the first IOM seminar in Europe to address an issue which has traditionally focused its research on the supply side - looking at root causes such as poverty, methods of recruitment, criminal groups, trafficking routes and the impact of the trafficking experience on the victims.

Although some European countries have legislated against sexual exploitation and prostitution, the focus on the supply side of human trafficking has up to now strongly influenced policy development.

Counter-trafficking policies have consequently concentrated on criminal prosecution and assistance to victims, or supporting prevention efforts through capacity building, creation of alternative livelihood options and awareness raising campaigns. 

But a new, complementary focus on demand is beginning to emerge. In 2005, IOM Prague carried out a pilot research project in two Czech border regions, following up in 2006 with an information campaign targeting the customers of sex workers.

In early 2006, IOM Budapest began to implement a regional research project funded by the European Commission’s AGIS 2005 programme. It comprises separate country studies carried out first in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia, and a regional comparative report.

The research maps out the structure of the sex sector, assessing the profiles and attitudes of the clientele and observations of clients, police, pimps, the women themselves and NGO workers on trafficking and other issues.

While little concrete evidence of trafficking and forced prostitution was observed, widespread exploitative and humiliating practices in street prostitution in particular were evident. This involved violent pimps, the forcing of larger number of clients on their women and taking larger shares of the women’s earnings.  Poor hygiene and drug abuse were frequently reported. 

The research showed a need for more health and outreach services for women involved in prostitution, and more rehabilitation and alternative employment programmes.

Women from the poorest regions, such as the eastern parts of Slovakia and Hungary, particularly from ethnic minorities like the Roma, were found to be especially vulnerable to exploitation in the lowest segment of the sex industry.

“This pilot research will help provide a roadmap for more comprehensive research in the area of demand covering trafficking for all forms of exploitation,” says Argentina Szabados, IOM’s Regional Representative for Eastern Europe.

For more information please contact:

Heikki Mattila
IOM Budapest
Tel.. +36.14722505
E-mail: hmattila@iom.int