Introduction to Human Trafficking in Central and Eastern Europe

Human trafficking is defined as the "recruitment, transportation, harboring, or receipt of people for the purposes of slavery, forced labor and servitude," according to reference.com. Victims of human trafficking are generally trapped through a variety of means including, but not limited to Coercion, deception, fraud, the abuse of power, and outright abduction. Additionally, threats and economic leveraging of humans is not uncommon. Trafficking is very lucrative and thus the incentives behind such actions are monetarily large.

Easter Europe is one area that is familiar with the atrocity of human trafficking. There, trafficking is mostly controlled by large criminal organization, however, there is an extensive network of smaller groups involved in the difficult and dangerous task of transporting people. Since the fall Communist power in Eastern Europe, the nations of the former Eastern bloc have become major trafficking sources, particularly in women and children. It is now estimated that over 60% of the women trafficked into prostitution come from Eastern Europe. 

This is a horrible crime against humanity that cannot be ignored any longer. While the Council of Europe has began to address the issue, not nearly enough is being done to put a stop to this horrible pattern. It has gone on for too long and must be dealt with, abolished, and globally enforced.