Migrant Sex Workers in the EU

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What is Trafficking for the Purposes of Sexual Exploitation?

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Countries of Origin

A 1998 report funded by the Swedish government documents women voluntarily coming to Western European destinations from eastern and (mostly) central Europe and indeed from eastern to central Europe, for the purposes of prostitution. Finland and Norway report "busloads" of Russian women coming on short holiday visas, and even for weekends, to earn extra money in more profitable western markets.Whilst detailed studies are lacking in most countires, Kelly & Regan report (.pdf) women from numerous countries in central and eastern Europe, Asia south America and Africa working in prostitution in the UK, whilst confirmed trafficking cases have involved victims from Thailand, Albania, Brazil, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, Romania, Slovenia and the Ukraine. 

The tables below document the proportion of migrant prostitutes in the various Western European countries, and their countries of origin.  The data is from EUROPAP Regional Reports, compiled for the purposes of this website.

 

Distribution of prostitutes by country of origin

 

Africa

Asia and Africa

Africa and Latin America

Asia

Balkan states

Eastern Europe

Latin America

Other

Austria

 

5%

 

 

 

70%

25%

 

Belgium

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

55-70% #

Denmark

 

 

 

75%

 

 

 

 

Greece

2%

 

5%

2%

40%

50%

 

1%

Holland

 

20-30%

 

 

 

18.5%

18%

33% #

Italy

54%

 

 

 

 

30%

16%

 

(Norway)

 

 

 

50%

 

20-25%

25-30%

 

Spain

65%

 

 

 

 

 

25%

10%

Sweden

15%

 

 

3%

 

35%

30%

17% #

# Indicates other West European countries

 

Third countries of origin mentioned in the European network AID/STD report 1998-2000

 

Albania

Algeria

Angola

Australia

Brazil

Bulgaria

China

Columbia

Congo

Croatia

Czech 

Republic

Dominican

 Republic

Lithuania

Ecuador

Estonia

Ghana

Hungary

India

Indonesia

Ivory Coast

Jamaica

Liberia

Malaysia

Mauritius

Moldavia

Morocco

New Zealand

Nicaragua

Nigeria

Peru

Philippines

Poland

Romania

Russia

Sierra Leone

Slovakia

Somalia

Sudan

Thailand

Trinidad

Tunisia

Turkey

Ukraine

USA

Vietnam

 

The top table shows that in some countries substantial numbers of foreign sex workers originate from another EU country.  A country not mentioned in the source document is Luxembourg, where foreign workers make up almost 100% of prostitutes.  In a country like Luxembourg or Belgium the proportion of foreign workers from other European countries is so high that their numbers will increase when a neighboring state has a 'crack down'.  

Migrant sex workers bring their own challenges to a country....  Milena News - Migration & Prostitution (.pdf) reports that 70-80% of prostitutes in Austria are migrants, who fall under a tough combination of criminal, health, prostitution and immigration legislation.  Ultimately it is up to a 'provincial regional officer' to decide the fate of a transgressent prostitutes of foreign origin, which often  "...leaves migrant sex workers unprotected in the face of the double game between strict laws and varying criteria for their enforcement. Migrant prostitutes are tolerated to that extent without implying their recognition; on the contrary, what is implied is their absolute vulnerability."

Some would argue that the influx of migrant prostitutes ins a problem of trafficking and organised crime.  Please follow the link below.

What is Trafficking for the Purposes of Sexual Exploitation?

 

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