The Examination of Victims of Trafficking as Witnesses

Abstract

Trafficking in human beings is large-scale and growing. It is a human rights abuse as well as a crime crossing international, national and regional jurisdictions. Trafficking is used for a wide variety of purposes, such as domestic, sweatshop labor and prostitution. Bosnia and Herzegovina was a destination country for victims of trafficking, and evidence suggests the majority are women trafficked into debt-bonded prostitution. Trafficking in persons is also an international crime: one that is highly profitable for offenders, with relatively low risk. Recent years have seen many changes in international and national responses to, and legislation on, trafficking in persons. In this paper special attention will be devoted to interviews with victims of trafficking as witnesses.