The Netherlands is primarily a destination
and transit country for trafficking of women and girls for sexual
exploitation. Most victims are trafficked from Central and Eastern
Europe, with some victims coming from Nigeria and Brazil. Reportedly,
a significant percentage of the 25,000 individuals engaged in
prostitution are trafficking victims-mostly young girls sold
by Moroccan and Turkish pimps. In 2004, the government adopted
an anti-trafficking national action plan.
In 2003, Shared Hope International (SHI)
founded a Home of Hope to protect and restore young women who
have
been trafficked into The Netherlands
for the commercial sex trade. In 2006, Homes of Hope Netherlands
became financially independent
from SHI, and we continue to look
for partnerships in the region that reach out to women and children
who have been trafficked.
SHI examined the marketplaces of exploitation
in the Netherlands as part
of DEMAND. While
conducting the investigation
in the Netherlands, SHI discovered a critical need for outreach
and public education. To address
this need, SHI funded a respected
local organization to produce
and distribute Outreach
Booklets in the Red Light District of
Amsterdam. They describe real
stories of women rescued and
restored after working in the sex industry, and have provided
an effective
way to interact with and counsel
young women in Amsterdam.
(I'd like to support Shared
Hope International)
|
