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 take place in secret.
Women and girls are particularly affected. Worldwide, they make up the majority of victims of human trafficking. But why is this the case? And how does this form of violence begin in the first place?
From promise to trap
Exploitation rarely begins with visible violence. It begins with a promise. A job offer abroad that promises a better life. A romantic relationship that feigns security and affection, such as the so-called ‘lover boy method’ – read more about it here.
But also the hope of escaping poverty and lack of prospects through migration. Human traffickers deliberately exploit these hopes. They pretend to be employers, partners or helpers – until trust turns into dependence.
Women and girls in particular quickly find themselves in dangerous situations. They often have less access to education, fewer opportunities for secure employment and are often responsible for their families. This makes them more vulnerable to false promises and manipulation.
The many faces of human trafficking
Human trafficking takes many forms. The best known is sexual exploitation, in which women and girls are forced into prostitution or sexually abused. But that is only part of the reality. Many victims are forced into labour – for example, in households, factories or agriculture. Others are forced into marriages in which they have no rights and are subjected to violence.
What all forms have in common is the loss of freedom and self-determination. Victims are controlled, intimidated and isolated. They often have no access to help or are unaware that they have rights.
Poverty and inequality as a breeding ground
Poverty and gender inequality are key causes of human trafficking. Where women earn less, have fewer rights and are less protected, the risk of exploitation increases. Discrimination, lack of social security and violence against women create an environment in which perpetrators have an easy time of it. These risks are exacerbated in times of crisis, during migration or after natural disasters. Lack of access to education, healthcare and fair work deprives women of the opportunity to lead a self-determined life and makes them more vulnerable to false promises.
That is why the fight against human trafficking is inextricably linked to the fight for women’s rights. Equality, education and economic prospects are not a luxury – they are protection.
On International Women’s Day, we remind ourselves that a just future is only possible if women and girls can live safely, freely and self-determinedly. Hope for the Future is committed to raising awareness of exploitation, protecting those affected and combating the root causes of human trafficking in the long term. Because hope begins where no one suffers invisibly anymore.
Translated by Anna Smith
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