Approximately 5,000-7,000 victims are trafficked to the Netherlands each year, with many sexually exploited as prostitutes once they arrive
There must be training for hotel employees so that they are able to recognise illegal prostitution, abuse, and human trafficking, says the City of Groningen. Illegal prostitution seems to have increased during the Coronavirus pandemic, and five political parties have teamed up to come up with the proposed solution. As reported by the GIC.
Every year in the Netherlands there are approximately 5,000-7,000 victims of human trafficking. A large part of these are victims of sexual exploitation. It has also become apparent from various agencies, charities, and NGO’s that the Coronavirus measures have led to an increase in illegal prostitution in hotels, holiday parks and homes with official red-light districts shut.
The municipal councils of the ChristenUnie, 100% Groningen, Stadspartij; CDA and D66 therefore want to increase awareness among hotel employees in recognising human trafficking and illegal prostitution.
According to the 2015-2019 Victim Monitor for Human Trafficking, there has been an increase in victims of sexual exploitation in less visible sectors.
ChristenUnie party chairman Gerben Brandsema: “Partly due to the Coronavirus crisis, we are increasingly seeing a shift to less visible host places such as hotels. So many cases of human trafficking and illegal prostitution take place under the radar, but right under our noses. We must not close our eyes to these victims. The training courses for hotel employees can help with recognising signals and raising awareness of the problem. This is important, because victims do not quickly take the step to seek help on their own. Every victim who is seen and can be helped by this is one.”
Various programs are offered by organizations such as CoMensha to raise awareness of sexual exploitation, such as the No Place for Sex Trafficking project. “We see that hotels are also looking for how to deal with this problem,” says Yaneth Menger (100% Groningen). “We therefore think it is good that hotels in our municipality will also make active use of these existing programs and training.”
Source photo above and more information: No Place for Sex Trafficking.
