Austria/Europe

The current suspected case of human trafficking at a hotel in Tyrol unfortunately is not an isolated incident. As reported in the news since early May, the case has attracted significant public attention – and rightly so. It serves as an alarming reminder of how vulnerable non-citizen workers in Austria still are, particularly in the […]

Investigative work, the legal framework and structural barriers in the fight against human trafficking and exploitation. Law enforcement and systemic challenges Human trafficking is one of the most serious offences in Austria, involving people being forced into sexual services or other exploitative situations through deception, coercion, violence or exploitation. Due to its geographical location at

Why do people stay in relationships that are damaging to them? Why do they defend people who manipulate, control or exploit them?  For those outside the relationship, it is often incomprehensible. There is often a psychological phenomenon behind this behaviour, however: Trauma Bonding.  What actually is “Trauma Bonding”?  The term Trauma Bonding is used to describe an

Following a guest commentary by doctoral psychologist and internationally renowned psychotraumatologist Ingeborg Kraus, we once again turn to the subject of the Nordic Model. In France, ten years after the introduction of the Nordic Model, activists and civil society groups are taking stock and sending a clear public message. Around 500 people took to the

Fighting human trafficking and the associated illegal trade in prostitution is one of the most complex and demanding tasks of the police in Austria today. Despite legal and strategic measures, the Executive is confronted by numerous structural, operative and legal challenges which make effective education and prevention more difficult. At the same time, bieten sich

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In today’s post, we take a look at the important services offered by women’s advisory centres in Austria – a theme which opens up new perspectives within the framework of “Hope for the Future”. This is because the support offered by advisory centres has long made them more than merely a place of sanctuary for

Leaving prostitution is a long process for many affected individuals, marked by violence, dependency, poverty, and social exclusion. While public debate often reduces the issue to “free choices” or “lifestyles,” available studies paint a different picture: for the majority, prostitution is a system of violence, economic hardship, and third-party control.   Reasons Exiting Is So Difficult  

The primary objective of the Austrian criminal justice system is to prepare offenders for a life of freedom, and to increase their chances of successful reintegration into society. Working while in prison plays a key role in achieving this: It is designed not just to lend structure to everyday life behind bars, but also to

When Julia was helping her mother sort through the post, she noticed an unusual bank statement for the first time. ‘It’s probably just a mistake,’ her mother said quietly, almost apologetically. But a few weeks later, the strange debits began to pile up. What was initially a slight doubt developed into a shocking realisation: something