Human Trafficking
Human Trafficking - even in Germany!?
Many associate human trafficking with past centuries and distant lands. At the same time, Germany is a major target country for international human trafficking. In the Nationwide Situational Report on “Human Trafficking and Exploitation”, Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) reports around 300 cases each year. Every year, SOLWODI also receives reports from several hundred women who have been trafficked or who show signs of being trafficked. According to experts in the field, however, the number of unreported cases is likely to be much higher, running into the tens of thousands. The Nationwide Situational Report thus only considers criminal investigations that have been completed in the reporting year. In many cases, however, human trafficking remains undetected, or the victims are unwilling to testify.
There are many reasons for this: intimidation by the network of offenders, fear of reprisals against the family in the country of origin, but also the desire to avoid re-traumatization and to leave awful experiences in the past. Victims of human trafficking are all too aware that it is mainly only the “small fish” that are punished during proceedings, whilst those responsible behind the scenes remain in the dark. Many therefore see little point in a court case in which they are exposed to great psychological stress by telling and reliving their own story of suffering, by confronting the perpetrators and the usually aggressive questioning by opposing lawyers.
What is human trafficking?
Article 4 of the European Council’s Convention against Human Trafficking of 2005 defines human trafficking as:
The recruitment, transport, transfer, accommodation or hosting of people
by threatening to or using violence or other forms of coercion, through abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or exploitation of vulnerability or by receiving special payments or other benefits
to obtain the consent of someone who has control over another person for the purpose of exploitation.
Types of Human Trafficking
According to the federal situation report by the BKA, human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation takes up the majority of all investigations. In 2023, there were 299 cases involving 406 victims, over 90% of whom were female. (+18,3% compared to the year prior).
It is concerning that one in three victims was reported to be below the age of 21. 186 cases involving commercial sexual exploitation involved minors.
In contrast, there were only 36 cases involving 183 victims in the area of human trafficking for the purpose of labor exploitation. However, the number of unreported cases is likely to be particularly high here and the criminal offense of human trafficking is difficult to prove, especially because those affected usually do not see themselves as victims. Human trafficking for the purpose of begging and for the purpose of committing crimes played only a minor role, with four and three cases respectively. In addition, 15 cases were carried out in the area of forced marriage, doubling the number compared to the previous year.
Human trafficking is a control offense. More resources are needed to conduct comprehensive and targeted investigations into human trafficking.
Nigerian Trafficking
Many of those affected by human trafficking, who are counseled and supported by SOLWODI, come from Nigeria or other West African Countries. They are brought to Europe to be sexually exploited. The traffickers can rely on well-established networks, that enable them to smuggle the women across borders. Often so called "Madams" are central to this process, women who were often victims of human trafficking themselves. However, nowadays more and more nigerian secret societies, e.g. Black Axe or Supreme Eye, are penetrating the business. These associations tend to be characterized by a remarkably high willingness to use violence. An increasing spreas of this form of organized crime can also be observed in Germany.
(No) Right of residence for victims of human trafficking?
In light of the violence and exploitation that women have experienced, particularly in Germany, it is even more incomprehensible and shameful that those who manage to escape are abandoned by the German legal system. The often highly traumatized women need a secure residence status in order to stabilise themselves and develop future perspectives. However, SOLWODI's social workers have noticed that hardly any Nigerian women are banned from deportation, let alone granted refugee status.
How can victims of human trafficking be identified?
Experts agree that there is no “typical” victim of human trafficking. Therefore, identifying those affected is difficult. Nevertheless, there are signs that may indicate human trafficking. As part of the EU project Assist, in which SOLWODI was involved, a list was drawn up according to which human trafficking can occur if a person:
was recruited by false promises (e.g. with the prospect of a job);
does not have access to their own personal documents;
is threatened that their illegal residence will be passed on to the police or competent authorities;
lives at the place of work;
is threatened or experiences physical violence;
is forced to work in prostitution.
The situation of those affected and their rights
For victims of human trafficking it is often very difficult to draw attention to their situation and seek support. The lack of knowledge of the language and local structures makes it difficult for them to find support services. In addition, they are often only allowed to stay in the area of their place of work and are monitored. SOLWODI's social workers report that it is often an insurmountable hurdle for women in prostitution to visit a nearby specialized counselling service because they cannot find their way around the city and are afraid to leave the brothel. A lack of financial resources, as those affected are usually unable to dispose of their income, is another obstacle to getting out of a predicament.
Human Trafficking 2.0
Specialist advice centres, police and other authorities are observing an increasing digitalization of human trafficking, which makes it even more difficult to trace chains of perpetrators and apprehend those behind them. In a recently published report, Human Trafficking 2.0 - Digitalization of Human Trafficking in Germany, KOK has comprehensively outlined the structures and processes of digitalized human trafficking. Modern information and communication technologies play an important role in the recruitment of potential victims, which is increasingly taking place via social media, in the smuggling to Europe and in the control of those affected, while they are exploited in Germany and other Western European countries. COVID-19 has further accelerated this development.
Sources
Many of the statements made come from the experiences and observations that SOLWODI social workers make when consolidating and supporting clients.
The following sources are also important for certain sections of the text:
Federal Criminal Police Office, human trafficking and exploitation. Federal Situation Report 2022, Wiesbaden 2023
European Council, Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, 2005
KOK
https://www.kok-gegen-menschenhandel.de/startseite
In particular:
https://www.kok-gegen-menschenhandel.de/menschenhandel/was-ist-menschenhandel/opferrechte
KOK, Human Trafficking 2.0 - Digitalization of Human Trafficking in Germany, 2022
Resources
The resources section is constantly being updated. We would be very happy to receive any suggestions or additions. Email us at .
Books
Current reading recommendation
Local answers to precarious residence rights, Centre for Society and Sustainability (CeSSt) at Fulda University of Applied Sciences, 2023
Films, documentaries, radio reports, podcasts
Current recommendation
DW, How social media helps smugglers and human traffickers, Jan. 2024
Studies, reports and other materials
Current reading recommendation
BKA, Federal Situation Report on Human Trafficking 2022
Discover more studies and reports
Press reports
Current reading recommendation
July 30, 2023 Weltkirche.de: Working group calls for residence rights for those affected by human trafficking
Web links
You can find interesting websites to browse here
Partner organisations
In the field of human trafficking SOLWODI works together with the following organizations, among others:
Arbeitsgruppe Menschenhandel der Deutschen Bischofskonferenz
Bund-Länder-AG Menschenhandel
ECPAT Deutschland e.V., https://ecpat.de/
Gemeinsam gegen Menschenhandel, https://www.ggmh.de/
KOK - Bundesweiter Koordinierungskreis gegen Menschenhandel e.V., https://www.kok-gegen-menschenhandel.de/startseite
RENATE - Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation, https://www.renate-europe.net/
Talitha Kum - End Human Trafficking, https://www.talithakum.info/
