Austria/Europe

When prostitution is discussed, the dominant image is usually that of women and male clients. However, men who are exposed to these exploitative structures often remain invisible. This article examines how men work in prostitution, whether “voluntarily” as call boys or involuntarily as victims of forced prostitution within the context of human trafficking. The Many […]

The number of drug victims in Austria who are under-age is rising. Experts are sounding the alarm, and have been demanding for years that more attention be devoted to the issue. Girls from difficult familial or social backgrounds, who are deliberately targeted and influenced by people from the drug milieu, are being impacted particularly harshly.

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

We’re offering you an internship (full-time, three months). Your tasks? Pretty much everything: from making coffee to project management, from social media to customer contact. You’ll support the team in all areas, work independently and take full responsibility. In short: you’ll function as a fully-fledged member of staff. Will you be paid for this? Of

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