Human trafficking is considered one of the fastest growing transnational criminal activities. The United States Department of Homeland Security officials estimate that human trafficking generates revenues of between $7 and $9.5 billion every year for various criminal organizations. This estimate includes individuals who are trafficked and exploited by criminal organizations for the purposes of working in sweatshops, the entertainment industry, illegal adoption, organ transplants, marriage, domestic servitude, the sex industry, and other forms of forced labor (International Trafficking, 2001). The trafficking of women and children has also been particularly troubling in the Balkan region. From Bosnia to Albania, and from Serbia to Macedonia, many bars have women from the Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania working as prostitutes. The exploitation of women and children for the purpose of prostitution, other forms of sexual exploitation, and forced labor has greatly increased in recent years. Approximately 200,000 women are trafficked through the Balkans each year (Mendenhall, 2003).

This report will discuss the problem of human trafficking in general, followed by an overview of the programs implemented to curb this growing problem. In particular, the report will focus on initiatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and their mission in the Balkan region to fight the exploitation of women.

The Problem of Human Trafficking

It is estimated that between 700,000 to 2,000,000 individuals, mainly women and children, are smuggled each year worldwide (Denmore, 2003; New Global Figures, 2001). Of this number, it is estimated that 70-80% are females, while 50% are children (U.S. Department of State). These figures often vary and may severely underestimate the problem because of the clandestine nature of underground trafficking networks. International organized crime trafficking networks have become highly specialized, taking over for smaller trafficking and smuggling organizations. Groups such as the Chinese Triads, Japanese Yakuza, Mexican Coyotes, Russian Mafia, and Albanian Mafia have made large profits by smuggling and trafficking human beings.

The possibilities of large earnings have encouraged groups to branch out from their ethnic groupings to further increase profits by collaborating with other groups. A short ferry ride across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, has, for example, allowed for the collaboration between Albanian crime syndicates and Italian Mafia groups in the drug, arms, and human smuggling and trafficking trade. Albanian groups have also forged ties to Chinese Triads and Russian and Turkish mafias.

Traffickers will often use legitimate visas to facilitate the human trade, but are also known to have networks working for them who provide falsified documents and passports, or legitimate documents obtained using false information. For example, some of those trafficked individuals might be registered in a school course in the destination country. Acceptance into the course would generate a letter that is then used by the individual to obtain a legitimate student visa. Some countries, such as Canada, issue visas for exotic dancers which can also be used to obtain entry visas. Other examples of documentation use include those who participate in trafficking by sending letters of sponsorship stating that the individual is a relative. In addition, some traffickers engage in schemes in which the women marry citizens of the destination country to obtain visas. Other trafficked individuals are given money to show proof that they would be able to support themselves. After arriving in the destination country, the money and their passports are taken from them.

Those trafficked are often recruited by acquaintances, family members, or others in their ethnic group and are often misled to believe they will obtain legitimate work. Traffickers will place advertisements in local papers offering job opportunities or pass the information by word of mouth. Employment offered is most often as waitresses in bars or restaurants, or as nannies, maids, or similar work. After arriving in the country of their destination, they are then forced into exploitive jobs. Some individuals are even taken by force, kidnapped, and pressured into the trade. Threats and coercion are used in making the individuals comply with the trafficker’s demands, as well as a fear of deportation back to their country of origin or fear of arrest for using illegal documents to enter the destination country. They also fear for the safety of family members back home, particularly if they are being held by criminals from the same ethnic group.

Once the individuals are transported to another country, they are forced to work off the debt they incurred for travel arrangements, including lodging and food. Costs incurred for transport and lodging can be as high as $20,000 -$30,000 and must be paid back to the traffickers in a relatively short time. This is referred to as debt bondage or bonded labor. Their passports and documents are taken from them, preventing them from leaving and they are generally unable to obtain assistance in a country where they are unable to speak the language. They are also often subjected to beatings if they do not produce income for their “owners”.

The Balkan Region

Many European nations are affected by human trafficking. Some countries, such as Greece, Hungary, and the Slovak Republic, for example, are transit countries for people trafficked to the Balkan region. Kosovo has also experienced growth in the trafficking of children. The following section will outline some organizations working in the Balkan region to curb the number of trafficking cases, as well as provide assistance to women and children exploited in the region.

OSCE and other Organizations

In the early 1970’s the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) was created. It served as a multilateral discussion between countries in the East and West. In 1994, it changed its name to the OSCE and among its many functions, it continues to serve areas in post conflict rehabilitation. The OSCE has 19 missions in South East Europe. Besides dealing with security, political, and economic issues, it also deals with human rights issues. The OSCE has been working in the Balkan region dealing with issues of human trafficking for many years.

Since the early 1990s human trafficking and the exploitation of women has been an issue for the OSCE. In 1991 OSCE participating States signed the Moscow document an agreement to help fight human trafficking. The OSCE members realized the growing problem of human trafficking included the involvement of organized crime. At the 1997 OSCE Human Dimension Seminar and at the 1998 Human Dimension Implementation meetings, human trafficking and exploitation of women were identified as major problems. Three antitrafficking projects were initiated by the OSCE and ODIHR: The first included the funds for hosting an international seminar in 1999; the second, funded a series of training seminars between Fall, 1999 and Spring, 2000; and finally, the participation in a joint project with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Office of the Ombudswoman which would provide technical assistance to a project with included research, training, and victim assistance, among other duties. The IOM has also organized several projects including one in Bosnia-Herzegovina which provided return assistance to women who are victims of trafficking.

Other agencies are also helping to combat trafficking. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has a Sarajevo Office which has played a key role in coordinating efforts between local and international agencies. The OSCE has continued their efforts at combating human trafficking. In July, 2007 the Office for Prevention of Trafficking of Human Beings opened in the city of Debar, located in Western Macedonia, bordering Albania. This office was opened, through the National Programme for Prevention of Trafficking in Human Beings and Illegal Migration by the government of Macedonia, in cooperation with the OSCE, the Kingdom of Norway, and UNICEF. The office was created to help victims of human trafficking as well as to implement preventive measures.

Conclusion

It is clear that trafficking is still a major problem in the Balkan region; however, some efforts have been made to help curb the growing number of trafficking cases. It is not enough for one country to combat trafficking and the organized crime groups involved in these activities but for all OSCE States to strengthen their resources and abilities in combating the trafficking of women and children. This includes adopting legislation criminalizing human trafficking, increasing current penalties where appropriate, helping guarantee effective law enforcement practices, strengthening cooperation between neighboring States, and providing the necessary assistance to the victims of human trafficking. An investment must be made in preventive measures to fight the exploitation of women and children.

*Doctoral Teaching Fellow at Sam Houston State University, Institute for the Study of Violent Groups (ISVG)

References

Denmore, C. (2007). Alien smuggling/human trafficking: Sending a meaningful message of deterrence. Testimony before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, July 25, 2007.

Mendenhall, P. (2003, January). Corruption stalls Balkans recovery. MSNBC January 3, 2003.

New Global Figures Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). (n.d.). Retrieved from www.osce.org

U.S. Department of State . (n.d.). Retrieved from www.state.gov http://www.cjcenter.org/college/ directory/?searchfield=position&value=245