Trafficking in women and children as a security challenge in Southeast Europe

Abstract

With the advent of free market systems in Southeast Europe, the free flow of labour is a necessary precondition for economic growth and revitalization of depressed economies. Trafficking and human smuggling, as two extreme forms of labour migration, are therefore on the rise. This article develops a conceptual framework of these phenomena, outlines humanitarian responses to trafficking in Southeast Europe, and argues for structural reforms to address the underlying conditions leading to forced labour migration and enslavement. Specific interventions proposed are: (1) developing legal migration regimes; (2) ensuring social safety nets; and (3) countering public corruption of government officials.