Save the Children recently published “Children Speak Out: What Influences Child Trafficking in Southeast Europe,” a report examining factors that lead to children becoming involved with street work and sexual trafficking. From May 2002 to May 2004, Save the Children Norway South East Europe collected research from over 200 children and 50 adults as Phase I of Save the Children’s Child Trafficking Response Programme (CTRP), a 3-year project studying street work and the trafficking of children in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia. According to the study, common factors for entering into the sex trade are social exclusion, child neglect, and drug abuse. Street work (such as begging) and working in the sex trade are not necessary interrelated, researchers found. Another finding is that the social network for entering the sex trade often comes from someone close to the victim, such as family members, friends, or boyfriends/lovers. A large majority of trafficked children working in the regions studied are Roma. According to Aida Bekic, Program Coordinator of Save the Children Norway South East Regional Office, the report’s recommendations will be integrated into the State Action Plan for Combating Trafficking of Human Beings 2008-2011.
Compiled from: “Children Speak Out: What Influences Child Trafficking in Southeast Europe,” Powell, Steve, Save the Children, May 2007.