Sexual violence as a form of trafficking
At the European Union level, trafficking in human beings is a criminal offence when a person is recruited, transported, transferred, harboured or received by means such as coercion, threat, use of force, deception, abuse of vulnerability or abuse of power for the purpose of exploitation.
- Exploitation of the prostitution of others
- Other forms of sexual exploitation
- Sexual slavery or practices similar to slavery
- A serious criminal offence under EU law
- A form of violence against women
- A form of gender-based violence, as women and girls are disproportionately affected
Trafficking for sexual exploitation is recognised in EU law and policy as a gendered crime, because it is closely linked to structural gender inequality, discrimination, and power imbalance.
The “purpose” element of trafficking becomes sexual violence when the exploitation involves:
- Forced prostitution
- Forced participation in pornography
- Sexual services under coercion
- Sexual abuse used as a method of control
- Sexual slavery
- Online-facilitated sexual exploitation
Sexual violence in the trafficking context may occur:
- As the core objective of the exploitation
- As a method of coercion or control
- As a means of punishment or intimidation
- As part of systematic exploitation for profit
Amending Directive 2011/36/EU; defines trafficking, exploitation (including sexual exploitation, exploitation of prostitution of others, slavery or practices similar to slavery) and strengthens gender-specific obligations.
Recognises gender-based violence against women and establishes criminal-law and victim-protection standards at EU level, including sexual violence and support obligations.
Rape is non-consensual sexual intercourse or penetration. In the trafficking context, rape may occur as a method of coercion, control, punishment, or exploitation of the victim and constitutes sexual violence.
Violence against Women Directive, provisions on sexual violence and rape-related victim protection.
