Criminal prosecution of trafficking in human beings
Project date range: 2003 - 2004
Funding institution: Federal Ministry of the Interior (Berlin)
Description
The background of the project was an unexplained downward trend of human trafficking cases according to police statistics. Research was conducted in cooperation with the Freiburg-based Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law. KrimZ analysed criminal justice files of 915 cases of human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation sentenced in 1996–2000.
Information from file analysis showed for the most part cases of transnational trafficking of foreign women for the purpose of prostitution. Some cases had different features, e.g. forced prostitution without any transnational element. Criminal investigation was surprisingly often initiated by complaints instead of proactive policing. These cases tended to result in a human trafficking verdict more often, which was not the case for the majority of the proceedings.
A survey of criminal justice system staff included police officers both from the Bundeskriminalamt, specialised police units, as well as prosecutors and solicitors. Some face-to-face interviews were held with some experts identified as key persons in human trafficking proceedings.
Publications
- Herz, Annette Louise (2005). Menschenhandel: eine empirische Untersuchung zur Strafverfolgungspraxis. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot.
- Herz, Annette Louise & Minthe, Eric (2005). Straftatbestand Menschenhandel: Verfahrenszahlen und Determinanten der Strafverfolgung. Neuwied: Luchterhand