Health of Trafficked Women-Survey of Women Entering Posttrafficking Service
Health of Trafficked Women-Survey of Women Entering Posttrafficking Service
Trained counselors interviewed 192 women who had been trafficked and sexually exploited about abuse and evaluated their physical and mental health status within 14 days of entry into posttrafficking services. Most reported physical or sexual violence while trafficked (95%), pretrafficking abuse (59%), and multiple posttrafficking physical and psychological problems.
Newly identified trafficked women require immediate attention to address posttrauma symptoms and adequate recovery time before making decisions about participating in prosecutorial or immigration proceedings or returning home.
My wounds are inside. They are not visible.
—Moldovan woman trafficked to Italy
Human trafficking has been defined as the "recruitment, transportation or harboring of persons by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud or deceptions for the purpose of exploitation." In practice, women and girls who are trafficked and sexually exploited are frequently lured by individuals known to them or their families with promises of jobs as waitresses, nannies, or cleaners, and then forced into sex work or exploited while working as domestic help, street beggars, or factory or agricultural laborers.
The trafficking of women and adolescents is increasingly recognized as one of the world's fastest growing crimes and a significant violation of human rights. Despite the compelling need for evidence on the physical and psychological health consequences to inform rapidly emerging policies and services for trafficked persons, there is limited evidence about the needs of women who have been trafficked. We investigated the health of women and adolescent girls trafficked for sexual exploitation in Europe who were entering posttrafficking services.
Trained counselors interviewed 192 women who had been trafficked and sexually exploited about abuse and evaluated their physical and mental health status within 14 days of entry into posttrafficking services. Most reported physical or sexual violence while trafficked (95%), pretrafficking abuse (59%), and multiple posttrafficking physical and psychological problems.
Newly identified trafficked women require immediate attention to address posttrauma symptoms and adequate recovery time before making decisions about participating in prosecutorial or immigration proceedings or returning home.
My wounds are inside. They are not visible.
—Moldovan woman trafficked to Italy
Human trafficking has been defined as the "recruitment, transportation or harboring of persons by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud or deceptions for the purpose of exploitation." In practice, women and girls who are trafficked and sexually exploited are frequently lured by individuals known to them or their families with promises of jobs as waitresses, nannies, or cleaners, and then forced into sex work or exploited while working as domestic help, street beggars, or factory or agricultural laborers.
The trafficking of women and adolescents is increasingly recognized as one of the world's fastest growing crimes and a significant violation of human rights. Despite the compelling need for evidence on the physical and psychological health consequences to inform rapidly emerging policies and services for trafficked persons, there is limited evidence about the needs of women who have been trafficked. We investigated the health of women and adolescent girls trafficked for sexual exploitation in Europe who were entering posttrafficking services.