Victims of Human Trafficking in Italy: A Judicial Perspective

Abstract

This article presents quantitative and qualitative information about victims of human trafficking in Italy. It does so from the point of view of Italian judicial activities and draws on information from various sources: statistics on criminal proceedings, judicial cases from the Italian public prosecutors' offices handling the largest volume of prosecutions for human trafficking, and interviews with investigating magistrates of these offices and NGOs. The first part of the article provides a quantitative analysis of criminal proceedings brought against traffickers in Italy between June 1996 and June 200 I. Particular attention is paid to the victims of trafficking. It considers their nationalities and their geographic distribution in the country and an attempt is made to estimate their number on the basis of judicial data. In the second part a qualitative analysis of recent judicial cases on human trafficking is provided, the purpose being to draw up profiles of the victims and identify current trends. Finally, the article deals with the role of victims as collaborators in proceedings brought against traffickers in Italy. It considers the systems in place to assure their presence at trials as witnesses and the degree of cooperation between law enforcement agencies and NGOs in this field.

Casa Rut

“…Casa Rut's experience thus shows the importance of effective and trustful cooperation between NGOs and the police/immigration and judicial bodies (Curtol et al, 2004).…”

“…The real numbers are nevertheless much higher and disputed (Crowhurst, 2006): estimates of the number of sexually trafficked Nigerian women and minors vary from approximately 4,000 (Curtol et al, 2004) to approximately 10,000 annually in Italy (Carling 2006). This case study is relevant to social work not only because Casa Rut assists mostly Nigerian victims but also because Italian legislation on human trafficking is unique within the EU (Curtol et al, 2004). Approved in 1998, article 18 of the consolidated act on immigration grants victims of sexual trafficking residency permits for humanitarian purposes for up to 18 months.…”

“…These individuals are predominantly Nigerian women who are forced into street prostitution (Ministero Pari Opportunitá, 2012). The real numbers are nevertheless much higher and disputed (Crowhurst, 2006), that is, estimates of the number of sexually trafficked Nigerian women and minors vary from approximately 4,000 (Curtol, Decarli, Nicola, & Savona, 2004) to approximately 10,000 annually in Italy (Carling, 2006).…”

Human Trafficking: Globalization, Exploitation, and Transnational Sociology

“…Traffickers move people from, to and through Europe and Eurasia. Eastern Europe and former Soviet countries send women and men to Western Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (Curtol et al 2004;International Organization for Migration 2001a,b, 2002aKelly 2005a;Kligman and Limoncelli 2005). There is also regional trafficking of women for burgeoning home-grown sex industries (Limanowska 2005;Surtees 2005 The upheaval of economic transition and growth in trafficking have led many national, regional, and international organizations to support antitrafficking projects in Europe and Eurasia, such as the European Union, the International Labour Organization, the International Organization for Migration, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the United States Agency for International Development, and various other United Nations agencies.…”

“…Traffickers move people from, to and through Europe and Eurasia. Eastern Europe and former Soviet countries send women and men to Western Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (Curtol et al. 2004; International Organization for Migration 2001a,b, 2002a; Kelly 2005a; Kligman and Limoncelli 2005).…”