To Better Know a Country: Human Trafficking in Poland

by Amanda Kloer · 2009-09-09 07:00:00 UTC
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Every year, the U.S. State Department releases a Trafficking in Persons report which rates countries on their efforts to combat human trafficking.  Each week, I'll be providing a brief glance at human trafficking in one of those countries, based off the 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report, with my own (often snarky) analysis added.  This is just a snapshot of what's going on in the country.  For more information, you can check out the full text of the 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report here. 

This Week's Country..... Poland

Basic Stats

  • Ranking: Tier 1

  • Status: Source, transit and destination country for trafficking victims

  • Political Stability: Solid, despite their history of being conquered by a smorgasbord of European megalomaniacs

  • Cash Flow: Free markets + Euro= a whole lot of pierogies and Zyweic 

  • Do I Think They Care?: They're pretty serious about stopping people being rounded up, forced to work, and killed- for good reason.   

Who Are the Victims and What Are They Doing?

  • Women: Commercial sex, forced begging, debt bondage, and forced labor

  • Men: Forced labor

Where Are They Coming From and Where Are They Going?

  • Victims are trafficked from Ukraine, Bulgaria, Mongolia, and Vietnam to Poland.

  • Victims from Poland are trafficked to Italy, Austria, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Sweden, and The Netherlands. 

  • Victims are trafficked through Poland from Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia for other destinations in Europe.

What's Gotta Happen?

  • Ensure traffickers actually get prison time.

  • Train police and judges.

  • Create housing for male trafficking victims.

  • Conduct awareness campaigns on reducing demand for commercial sex.

What Can I Do?

  • You can support La Strada Poland, an organization which works to prevent human trafficking in Poland and assist victims of human trafficking in Poland and other parts of Europe.

In summary, Poland is kicking some serious human trafficker butt at a level expected of wealthier countries with longer histories of self-determined democratic rule.  Despite the fact that Poland has had great political turmoil in the 20th century, membership in the European Union and a strong political will has helped Poland stay one step ahead of those who would exploit its people.  I'll certainly raise a glass of vodka in toast to that! 

Amanda Kloer is a Change.org Editor and has been a full-time abolitionist in several capacities for seven years. Follow her on Twitter @endhumantraffic
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