Human trafficking

The most common forms of human trafficking include sexual exploitation, exploitative working conditions, exploitation of labor, as beggars, as organ donors or to commit crimes.

Girls and women are predominantly affected by human trafficking for sexual exploitation, which is why this form of exploitation is also referred to as trafficking in women. Girls and women are often recruited for prostitution using the so-called loverboy method.

The victims can come from abroad as well as from Germany. Often, a victim's personal or economic plight is exploited in order to force them into the corresponding activities.

Victims of human trafficking are usually recruited with false promises about the type of work or the amount of income, either through supposedly trustworthy people or via advertisements, agencies or the internet.

Anyone who induces another person to take up or continue prostitution (Section 232 of the Criminal Code) or exploitative employment (Section 233 of the Criminal Code) by taking advantage of a predicament or helplessness abroad is liable to prosecution.

Find help quickly

Victims affected by human trafficking can find information on acute threats, their rights and entitlements as well as help and support services on the following websites:

Police North Rhine-Westphalia - Situation report on human trafficking
www.polizei.nrw.de

Polizeiliche Kriminalprävention der Länder und des Bundes
www.polizei-beratung.de

Landesgeförderte Angebote zur Unterstützung
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia funds specialized counselling centres for victims of human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Further information and the list of eight specialist advice centers for victims of human trafficking can be found on the Ministry of Equality's website.

The Ministry of Equality's explanatory video "Say no! - to sexual exploitation and loverboys"