Trafficking In Persons In Central Europe: Poland Case Study

The crime of human trafficking is a serious violation of human rights constituting a highly lucrative branch of transnational organized crime.Thousands of men,women,and children are sold into exploitation every year.This thesis aims at examination of the phenomenon of trafficking in persons in Central Europe,taking Poland-the biggest economy in the region-as a case study.It employs qualitative methods of research in order to analyse trafficking situation in Poland and its development over the course of time.It puts Poland into a broader,European context,and takes into consideration such factors as the modern history of the area,natural migration flows,as well as the possible influence of the European Union on the human trafficking in region.The analysis of the data obtained from the Police,Prosecutor General,Border Guard,Ministry of the Interior and Administration,etc.,revealed a considerable change in the characteristics of trafficking in human beings in Poland.In respect to the forms of exploitation,forced labour is reported to have grown,overtaking sexual exploitation,which was reported to be the most prevalent form of trafficking in the 1990s and the early 2000s.Moreover,the share of trans-regional trafficking has significantly increased,showing the evolving role of Poland in the criminal agenda.In addition to that,a link between the nationality of the trafficked persons and the form of exploitation they were exposed to has been found,being especially visible in the case of Romanian nationals trafficked to Poland.The results of this research can contribute to the better understanding of the phenomenon of human trafficking in Central Europe,Poland in particular,which is crucial in the process of the development of more effective anti-trafficking policies.