The Flesh Trade in Europe: Trafficking in Women and Children for the Purpose of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Abstract

This paper explores the phenomenon of trafficking for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) in the context of a changing Europe and pays particular attention to the situation in the UK. It discusses difficulties with defining the issue of trafficking and the reasons for an apparent increase in this phenomenon in recent years. It then considers trafficking as a process and the challenges of measuring the scale of the problem. The paper goes on to consider trafficking routes and examines the situation in Britain. Finally, official responses to the problem in Britain are considered.