INFORMATION

When we think of money laundering, many still picture the cliché image of gang bosses like Al Capone. Today’s reality, however, is far more sophisticated and deeply embedded in the structure of the legitimate economy. Illegally acquired assets – so-called “dirty money” – pose a major risk to offenders because they can often be traced […]

For us in Austria, the war in Ukraine began with special ZIB broadcasts on the television. For millions of people in Ukraine, it began with a bag in hand, a hasty farewell and the hope of finding safety somewhere. Train stations became places to sleep, sports halls turned into makeshift shelters, and strangers’ cars became

For many years, the name “Jeffrey Epstein” was synonymous with the very deepest abysses of the global elite. Now, under pressure from the “Epstein Files Transparency Act”, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has published a vast tranche of documents: over three million pages, 180,000 photos and 2,000 videos have been made available in an effort to

In Japan, a business model has emerged in recent years that often surprises observers abroad: renting “girlfriends” and, increasingly, “boyfriends.” These services let customers book a companion for a few hours in exchange for payment. The rented girlfriend treats the customer as if she were his partner. All costs incurred during the date are paid

The 8th of March is International Women’s Day. Weeks before this date, a wide variety of campaigns and events are launched here in Vienna to draw attention to this day and its significance. We at Hope for the Future are also joining in. Forced prostitution, human trafficking and exploitation are everyday phenomena that almost always

If you travel to Ghana, there are few places where history can be experienced at first hand in such a way as Cape Coast Castle. Now a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, the former slave fort serves not just as an entertainment programme, but also as a place to learn about and understand the terrible atrocities committed by

When prostitution and human trafficking are discussed, the focus is usually on the people who are exploited, controlled, and harmed. Far less often are the perpetrators – the buyers of sexual services – placed at the center. Yet they are the reason this market exists. Without demand there is no supply, and without money there

Modern slavery is not a phenomenon of the past – it manifests itself in many ways and inconspicuously in private households today. Whether as cleaners, nannies, employees or carers, these people work hard and are often exploited because of their situation.  Modern human trafficking in private households Human trafficking is a serious human rights violation

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia has forcibly removed thousands of Ukrainian minors from their families, their homes, and their homeland. These children have not only been abducted but, on a disturbing scale, put up for adoption in Russia.  The numbers are shocking: there are reports of 19,546 unlawful deportations and forced transfers

A new digital system promises to make police work in the fight against human trafficking and sexual exploitation significantly easier. The system, “STIM” (Sexual Trafficking Identification Matrix), was developed at the University of Sheffield in the UK, and has already been used successfully by several investigating authorities and NGOs. Sexual Trafficking Identification Matrix The tool analyses ads