OBHL research

Demand for Sexual Exploitation in Europe – DESIrE

Sexual Exploitation in Europe from a Demand Perspective

Description
DESIrE is an international research project investigating the possibility of influencing the demand for sexual services as one of the possible forms of preventing trafficking in human beings for sexual purposes. Apart from Poland (the Human Trafficking Research Center at the University of Warsaw), the project involves partners from Belgium (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), the Netherlands (Tilburg University), Sweden (Uppsala University) and Croatia (FLIGHT non-governmental organization). We can observe different approach to prostitution in each of these countries (from the legalization of sexual services in the Netherlands to the criminalization of clients and sex workers in Croatia). Thanks to this, it will be possible to compare different legal and institutional solutions concerning prostitution and their relationship with the prevention of trafficking in human beings for sexual purposes. A comparative analysis will allow for the evaluation and assessment of the effectiveness of the solutions used so far, which, combined with the results of the planned research, will enable the creation of recommendations on reducing the risk of trafficking in human beings for sexual purposes by influencing the demand. The variety of research techniques used and the large number of data sources is to ensure the possibility of obtaining innovative proposals for influencing the demand, which is one of the key issues in the European anti-trafficking policy.

The main goal of the DESIrE project is a better understanding of the impact of legal and institutional solutions related to prostitution on the reduction of trafficking in human beings. Equally important as an objective is to gain the knowledge to counter trafficking in human beings by influencing demand.

The most important task and the planned effect of the project is to prepare a set of innovative recommendations (going beyond legal and institutional solutions) regarding the possibility of reducing the risk of trafficking in human beings for sexual purposes by influencing the demand. The recommendations, being a practical application of the acquired knowledge and research results, will be addressed to all European Union countries, regardless of the approaches to prostitution and anti-trafficking systems present in these countries.

Filling the gaps in the system of combating human trafficking
in Poland (FIGAS)

Creating a new quality in the system of eliminating trafficking in human beings in Poland

Research report is available at the bookstore motyleksiazkowe.pl

The research project aims to supplement the missing elements in the Polish system of counteracting and combating trafficking in human beings.

Specific goals:

• • developing a methodology for creating a long-term strategy of combating trafficking in human beings,
  • preparation of a project to establish the institution of a special rapporteur on trafficking in human beings,
  • doing research on topics such as: the movement of children across borders, domestic help services, comparative research on a special rapporteur, research in detention centers and analysis of the Border Guard’s operational materials.

Duration of the project: 27 months, from January 2013 to April 2015.

Expected project results
The results obtained in the empirical research will be used to improve the system of preventing and combating trafficking in human beings in Poland by:

• • spreading knowledge on trafficking in human beings and forced labor,
  • preparation of training materials for the Border Guard,
  • model of a long-term strategy for combating trafficking in human beings,
  • developing a methodology for studying the movement of children across borders and domestic help services in terms of the risk of human trafficking and forced labor.

The project is implemented by the Human Trafficking Research Center of the University of Warsaw (OBHL) in cooperation with the Border Guard Training Center (COSSG) in Koszalin.

OBHL representatives: prof. Zbigniew Lasocik, Stana Buchowska, Ph.D., Maciej Raś, Ph.D., Łukasz Wieczorek, Ph.D, Emilia Rekosz-Cebula, M.A., Anna Rosińska, M.A.

Representatives of the COSSG in Koszalinie: ppłk. Agnieszka Szmulew-Ziółkowska i ppłk. Piotr Boćko, Ph.D.

ADSTRINGO Poland and Russia – Addressing trafficking in human beings for labour exploitation through improved partnerships, enhanced diagnostics and intensified organisational approaches

Trafficking in Human Beings for Forced Labor: Emergence Mechanisms and Effective Prevention.

The report on the Polish part of the research is available on the website of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (English and Polish version)

“ADSTRINGO Poland and Russia – Addressing trafficking in human beings for labour exploitation through improved partnerships, enhanced diagnostics and intensified organisational approaches” is a transnational project that focuses on trafficking for forced labour and labour exploitation in Poland and the Russian Federation.

• To prevent trafficking for forced labour through enhanced national and regional partnerships and through improved understanding of the mechanisms that facilitate exploitation of labour within Poland and the Russian Federation.

 Activities of the project

• Two national and six regional meetings will be organised in each country to establish a dialogue among key labour actors at the national level.
• A focused research component will look into the recruitment practices and roles of recruitment agencies and employers in the exploitation of labour, which facilitates trafficking.
• The findings of the project will feed into the development of a set of concrete guidelines for employers, recruitment agencies and other actors for the prevention of trafficking for forced labour and labour exploitation.
• The project findings will be presented at the international high-level conference during the Lithuanian EU Presidency in 2013 to enhance discussion between actors in the Baltic Sea Region.

Participating countries

• Poland and the Russian Federation. A parallel ADSTRINGO project is implemented with a funding from the European Commission in Estonia, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Norway, and Sweden from which synergies will be drawn.

 Coordinator of the project

• The Council of the Baltic Sea States, Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings (CBSS TF-THB).

Duration and funding

• July 2012 ­- June 2014
• Donor: The Swedish Institute

Modern Slavery Landscape in Poland 2014

Trafficking for Forced Labour and Labour Exploitation (FLEX) – towards increased knowledge, cooperation and exchange of information in Estonia, Finland and Poland
Project Trafficking for Forced Labour and Labour Exploitation (FLEX) – towards increased knowledge, cooperation and exchange of information in Estonia, Finland and Poland was implemented by the European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control (HEUNI) in Helsinek, the Human Trafficking Research Center of the University of Warsaw (OBHL) and University of Tartu in 2009-2011. It was financed from the funds of the 2009 Program for Prevention and Combating Crime of the European Commission – Directorate General of Justice, Freedom and Security.

The main goal of the FLEX project was to create a research model on the problem of forced labor. Moreover, the assumption of the project was to indicate how to strengthen cooperation and exchange of information between institutions involved in the elimination of trafficking in human beings and forced labor in these three countries. This part of the project was implemented through national and international expert meetings.

In addition, as part of the FLEX project, we tried to describe the phenomenon of forced labor in its phenomenological layer and to examine how specialized institutions deal with the elimination of trafficking in human beings for forced labor in Poland. The result of this part of the FLEX project is the publication Trafficking in human beings for forced labor in Poland – research report by prof. Zbigniew Lasocik and Łukasz Wieczorek. The publication was published in Polish and in English. The publication can be purchased through the bookstore website: motyleksiazkowe.pl.