Greece: The Trafficking of Women

Morgan Parrish

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” ~Maria

Robinson

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The basic facts cannot be ignored…

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Lured to Greece under false claims, countless Lured to Greece under false claims, countless Balkan women are promised better lives Balkan women are promised better lives overseas, only to find themselves captured, overseas, only to find themselves captured, beaten and raped. Their stories chill the soul, beaten and raped. Their stories chill the soul, and the world’s ignorance to the problem and the world’s ignorance to the problem baffles the mind.baffles the mind.

Out of the annual Out of the annual 2 million women2 million women captured in captured in the sex trade,the sex trade,

¼ ¼ are from Central and Eastern Europeare from Central and Eastern Europe

$6 billionthe amount the Greek smuggling networks have

earned since 1990

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15,000The estimated number of workers in the sex trade The estimated number of workers in the sex trade

in Greece alonein Greece alone

480 traffickers were arrested in 2004 – 2005…but only 11 received a prison sentence

Since 1990, the sex trade in Greece has continued to rise

What’s HappeningWhat’s Happening Women are trafficked to Greece – that much is Women are trafficked to Greece – that much is

evident. Yet, how does the process work? Usually, it evident. Yet, how does the process work? Usually, it goes something like this:goes something like this:

A poor woman (usually from the Balkan region or a former Soviet nation, in this case) sees an ad in her newspaper for a job overseas. It promises better life, good wages, and, to the woman, the hopes of being able to support herself. Sometimes, a marriage agency lures her in rather than an ad. Either way, she’s hooked.

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The woman travels overseas to the benefits she has been promised. At her destination, a man is waiting (often with other women). He takes her to her new “home” across the Greek border and into Greece. Upon arrival at her new “home”, the woman is captured, beaten, and raped. Her passport and all identification are taken from her.

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Rarely allowed a glimpse at the supposed money she

earns, the woman is unaware of her debt or when it will be

paid. Often she works for her captor until her death. Extra

fines are placed for bad behavior, increasing her

“sentence.”

The woman is either sold into slavery (they can go for thousands of euros) or left in the possession of her original captor. Her new “master” requires that she earn money through prostitution in order to pay off her travel debts.

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But, why is it such a major problem But, why is it such a major problem in Greece?in Greece?

The trafficking of women is, unfortunately, not an The trafficking of women is, unfortunately, not an uncommon occurrence in the world. Stemming from uncommon occurrence in the world. Stemming from

the ancient practice of male dominance, men feel the the ancient practice of male dominance, men feel the need to exploit women to assert their control. In fact, need to exploit women to assert their control. In fact, Great Britain, Italy, Germany, and France also face Great Britain, Italy, Germany, and France also face

problems involving traffickers.problems involving traffickers.

“When ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.” ~Dalai Lama

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The Problem with GreeceThe Problem with Greece

In Greece, In Greece, prostitution is legalprostitution is legal. . A large portion of Greek A large portion of Greek males call on prostitutes on a males call on prostitutes on a

regular basisregular basis, creating a popular demand for trafficked , creating a popular demand for trafficked women.women.

The police in Greece have caught only a small portion of The police in Greece have caught only a small portion of the criminals involved in the sex trade, making it a fairly the criminals involved in the sex trade, making it a fairly safe region for the perpetrators. safe region for the perpetrators.

Greece appears to be an unlikely candidate for trafficking problems. The nation is fairly industrialized and has been present for millennia. Yet, a few factors exist that make Greece the perfect target for the sex trade:

“Ignorance is no excuse, it’s the real thing.” ~Irene Peter

Why Help Why Help is is HardHard

Language barriersLanguage barriers exist between exist between the victimized women and the the victimized women and the Greek citizens, making it difficult Greek citizens, making it difficult to ask for help.to ask for help.

The women are The women are threatened with threatened with their livestheir lives, along with the lives of , along with the lives of their families, if they tell their families, if they tell authorities.authorities.

““Happy Trafficking” is now Happy Trafficking” is now occurring. Women are promised a occurring. Women are promised a visit home on the condition that visit home on the condition that they return with a new girl. they return with a new girl. Basically, Basically, female victims are being female victims are being employed as predatorsemployed as predators, making , making up 30% of modern suspects.up 30% of modern suspects.

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” ~Frederick Douglass

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Current HelpCurrent Help

STOPNOW, a program designed to extinguish the sexual STOPNOW, a program designed to extinguish the sexual abuse of women and children, launched abuse of women and children, launched TVTV campaignscampaigns throughout the nation to increase awareness and throughout the nation to increase awareness and establish that trafficking establish that trafficking isis slavery. slavery.

A 2002 bill guarantees A 2002 bill guarantees protection to victimsprotection to victims, though few , though few have received the promised protection.have received the promised protection.

Women are given a reflection period of one month to Women are given a reflection period of one month to cooperate with authorities after it is discovered that they cooperate with authorities after it is discovered that they are victims. During the reflection period, they are given are victims. During the reflection period, they are given free medical care.free medical care.

“Change starts when someone sees the next step.” ~William Drayton

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Interpol encourages nations in the Balkan region to Interpol encourages nations in the Balkan region to share informationshare information with each other to better combat the with each other to better combat the sex trade.sex trade.

2 hotlines2 hotlines have been established: have been established: Operated by NGO, voluntary, many languages, Operated by NGO, voluntary, many languages,

only certain operating hoursonly certain operating hours Operated by government, limited languages, 24/7, Operated by government, limited languages, 24/7,

open to all people in need of immediate assistanceopen to all people in need of immediate assistance

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Still in Need of…Still in Need of…

A hotline with 24/7 coverage and a multitude of A hotline with 24/7 coverage and a multitude of languages to provide aid to victims.languages to provide aid to victims.

SheltersShelters for the victims that can be accessed without for the victims that can be accessed without having to testify. Previously, they had nowhere to turn having to testify. Previously, they had nowhere to turn and were often deported home, which simply and were often deported home, which simply put them put them back in the hands of the traffickers.back in the hands of the traffickers.

Even Even moremore awarenessawareness. There is no such thing as too . There is no such thing as too much.much.

Better medical care and protection provided to the Better medical care and protection provided to the victims. It needs to be easy to access and well known.victims. It needs to be easy to access and well known.

“There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction.” ~Winston Churchill

You You Can Can HelpHelp

Make a donation to CATW, the Make a donation to CATW, the Coalition Against Trafficking of Coalition Against Trafficking of Women:Women:

http://www.catwinternational.org/http://www.catwinternational.org/

Provide funding for STOPNOW Provide funding for STOPNOW (the website is currently under (the website is currently under construction, so I was unable to construction, so I was unable to locate the correct URL).locate the correct URL).

“He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils.” ~Francis Bacon

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SourcesSources

Kitsantonis, Niki. "In Greece, Female Sex Victims Become Recruiters." Kitsantonis, Niki. "In Greece, Female Sex Victims Become Recruiters." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & MultimediaThe New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. 29 Jan. . 29 Jan. 2008. Web. 22 May 2010. 2008. Web. 22 May 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/world/europe/29iht-<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/world/europe/29iht-traffic.4.9581918.html>. traffic.4.9581918.html>.

Pirovolakis, Christine. "Greece: Sex Trafficking Thrives." Pirovolakis, Christine. "Greece: Sex Trafficking Thrives." Stop DemandStop Demand. . Stop Demand Foundation, New Zealand, 6 June 2006. Web. 24 May Stop Demand Foundation, New Zealand, 6 June 2006. Web. 24 May 2010. 2010. http://www.stopdemand.com/afawcs0112878/ID=172/newsdetails.html.http://www.stopdemand.com/afawcs0112878/ID=172/newsdetails.html.

Tzilivakis, Kathy. "New Fight to Stop Sex Trade." Tzilivakis, Kathy. "New Fight to Stop Sex Trade." Athens NewsAthens News. Athens . Athens News Agency. Web. 22 May 2010. News Agency. Web. 22 May 2010. <http://www.helleniccomserve.com/sextrade.html>.<http://www.helleniccomserve.com/sextrade.html>.