Modern day slavery: sex trafficking in Albania

Abstract

Purpose

Human trafficking for sexual purposes is a significant human rights violation, as well as a crime of international proportions. Albania has been identified as an important source of individuals who are trafficked as well as an entry point from Eastern Europe and Russia into Western Europe. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the nature of this problem and governmental and societal responses.

Design/methodology/approach

An examination of data sources regarding sex trafficking in Albania seen through the lens of the Albanian context and feminist legal perspective helps provide an understanding of the complexity of the issue and the nature of appropriate approaches.

Findings

Recommendations are given for a more effective anti‐sex trafficking campaign, incorporating socio‐economic factors that might be linked to sex trafficking.

Research limitations/implications

The lack of available data from victims of sex‐trafficking and Albanian government limits the ability of researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of anti‐sex trafficking response by Albanian government.

Originality/value

This is the first theoretically based attempt at analyzing governmental and societal responses to sex trafficking in Albania.

Citation

Bekteshi, V., Gjermeni, E. and Van Hook, M. (2012), "Modern day slavery: sex trafficking in Albania", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 32 No. 7/8, pp. 480-494. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443331211249093