Global Sex Trafficking: Part III-Europe

GLOBAL SEX TRAFFICKING:

PART III – EUROPE

By Trevor K. McNeil

More Than Meets the Eye

Europe is not the first place that comes to most people’s minds when they hear the term “sex trafficking”. Europe is generally seen as a bastion of civility and progressive politics. Particularly by those who live outside of it. In the minds of many, the UK, The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Norway are Western Europe. However, the continent is huge and varied

Lots of Space to Hide

Russia is among the worst nations in Europe for sex trafficking. The Russian Federation is a massive nation made up of millions of people. The Federation covers 11 time zones and 2 continents. It is also characterized by decades of severe austerity and deep corruption. All of which make it a ripe spot for international sex trafficking. The secret nature of sex trafficking skews the statistics. Sex traffickers moved over half-a-million women and girls from Russia between 1992-2002. The average cost of each woman, $5,000.

Changing World

Corrupt officials, Russian mafia, globalization and the inter-connectedness of that phenomenon, technological advances, cell phones, internet, and fast travel merged to facilitate human trafficking. The changing world has allowed the growth of an international network of criminals who use lies, drugs, imprisonment, debt bondage, exploitation, and abuse to create a criminal empire that rakes in billions of dollars annually through sex trafficking.

From Sea to Sea

Another advantage is geography. Russia is the largest country on earth. It has a southern land border running the length of Northern Europe and Asia. As well as coasts on both the Atlantic and the Pacific. There are few places one cannot get to by going through Russia. This has made it a prime hub for international sex traffickers, as well as making sex trafficking a growth industry within Russia.

Hush Money

There is also the matter of safety. Russian officials are notoriously easy to bribe. It also doesn’t take much. In the Soviet days a trafficker could bribe most any official with a bottle of vodka and a smile. While not that easy anymore, a few Euros can still work wonders.

Sordid History

Such corruption goes back to the Russian revolution in 1919. Bribes, murder, rape and trafficking key features of the Soviet government. One member of Stalin’s inner-circle now estimated to have raped nearly 100,000 young women and girls.

Diversity

One of the things marking out sex trafficking in Russia is diversity. Traffickers are always on the lookout for new ways to profit from the exploitation of the vulnerable. Such as the production of illegal pornography.

Bad As It Sounds

One of the most disturbing form of pornography in circulation is “Defloration Porn.” The genre is named after a slang term for breaking the hymen. The films feature very young adolescent girls, obtained through trafficking, losing their virginity on camera. The exact situations vary. Though usually, one abuser holds the girl still while another brutally violates her. The victim literally screaming in pain as her hymen is destroyed. As proven by an extreme close-ups both before and after the rape takes place.

Based On A Lie

The films are based on a fallacy. Specifically the idea that sex is “supposed to hurt” the first time. As well as the outright lie that the hymen always breaks and bleeds. Anecdotal evidence suggests that first time sex does not have to hurt. Furthermore, a 2004 study found that over 52% of sexually active adolescent girls had intact hymens.

Reasons Why

Pain and bleeding usually occur if she is particularly small and/or has yet to reach full sexual maturity. This tends to happen between the ages of 17 and 21. There have been reports of younger girls unable to have sex due to vaginal underdevelopment. Other causes are if the male is unusually large or if he is too rough. In any case, damage to the hymen is unnecessary and usually unintentional.

What It Means

Producers of Serbian child porn films have a uniquely horrific style. Their films usually depict physically small, sexually immature girls under the age of 17, being abused, traumatized purposely, and permanently injured. All for the financial enrichment of sex traffickers. As well as the sick enjoyment of perverts, who like to see young girls hurt. There are a lot more of these perverts than you think.

Old School

There is also a lot of the more traditional sex trafficking. Especially the transportation across international borders. Major destinations include the UK, the USA, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Saudi Arabia and China. The usual fate of the victims is to marry the man who “purchased” them. They are also known as “mail-order brides.” Others work in any number of legal and illegal sex establishments. These include escort services, massage parlors and brothels.

On the Street

Domestic prostitution and sex tourism industries are well established. These are largely ignored by officials. Sex traffickers are able to operate in relative safety. They “purchase” women and girls for relatively little  and sell them at large profits. Mostly to foreigners and the Russian upper class.  If not purchased, sex slaves will often be forced on to the streets to work as prostitutes. The conditions in which the victims are kept are appalling. Usually dank, dark and cold. Conditions such as pneumonia are disturbingly common. As are sexual and physical abuse by the traffickers.

Sudden Death

Russian traffickers force victims to have unprotected sex, both vaginally and anally with dozens of strangers per day. As such, pregnancy and STDs are constant risks. When a victim becomes pregnant, or contracts an STD she is considered “unsaleable.” Either of these conditions make her “useless” and she is coldly executed. Usually with a single gunshot to the head.

Out of the Frying Pan

This qualifies as a mercy killing. Even more brutal in their capitalism are Serbian sex traffickers. Unlike their Russian brothers, Serbs are masters of cruelty. Having years of practice through near perpetual war. In the Serbian sex trafficking system, pregnant victims are gang raped and beaten to death. Those with STD’s suffer near-fatal beatings before being shot in the stomach. Each shocking incident filmed by members of Serbia’s illegal pornography industry.

Serbian Films

Many think “A Serbian Film” is just a movie. A fiction. An exaggeration. Nothing like that really happens. Except it does. Not quite as bad as shown in the film. Though that depiction is based on things that really happen. Things no one wants to think about. In a country most Americans have only barely heard of. War and conflict haunts the country. The horror has never really ended.

Little Girls Lost

Sex trafficking demands children. Particularly as illegal brides. One of the main nations of origin of European child brides is Turkey. Traffickers will go to the poorest villages, and will offer between 2,000 and 5,000 Lira ($700-$1,700) to buy female children.

Saying What They Mean

Sex trafficking in Turkey involves a dehumanizing, food based code-word system. Girls between 12 and 16 are called “pistachios.” Short-hand for small and sweet. Those between 17 and 19 are called “cherries.” For obvious and disgusting reasons.

Code of Silence

Turkish law holds “Criticism of Turkishness” to be a crime. One that comes with a prison sentence. It is, therefore illegal for any Turkish citizen to discuss such issues. On pain of prison. Even when speaking to those outside Turkey or, indeed, while outside Turkey themselves.

Still Waiting

There is little hope in rectifying the situation in Russia and Serbia without political will on the part of the national governments. Even removing notorious Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic by way of a civilian rebellion did little to change things. Violence and unimaginable atrocities are common.  The dark culture of the Eastern Bloc persists till this day. The Soviet Empire has collapsed. But, the effects of that former system still reverberate into the 21st century.

Good News For A Change

The situation in Turkey is more manageable. The main issue underlying sex trafficking in Turkey are poverty and government arrogance. While a daunting problem in itself, there is reason to believe that working on  the issues of poverty in rural areas will remove the supply and therefore the motivation for young brides.

Breaking Their Silence

Despite the threats of the government, increasing numbers of Turks are willing to talk about what their government did and is still doing. From the literal crucifixion of Armenians during the First World War to the wide-spread sex trafficking and rape of impoverished children.

Sources:

The Archives of Adolescent and Pediatric Medicine; March 2004

The Natashas; Malarek, V. Arcade Publishing 2003

 

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