Ten interviews with traffick victims revealing their THB reality

Abstract

Romania is a source, transit, and destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and women and children subjected to sex trafficking. Romanian men and women are subjected to forced labor in agriculture and manufacturing, as well as some forced begging in Spain, France, Italy and the Czech Republic. Men and women from Romania are victims of forced labor and prostitution. The Research team conducted 10 interviews with victims of THB in the period December 2012-January 2013 in Oradea. The interviews that are presented in the National Rapport are traffic victims from the West part of Romania. The victims testimonials are usually difficult to obtain and most of the THB projects findings are based on national and international statistics. These interviews were conducted by trained staff in a safe environment and, where it was possible, documented on audio tape and paper based. The THB cases can be registered in three sub-categories: THB for the purpose of sexual exploitation, THB for the purpose of labor exploitation and THB for other purposes. The cases that are presented, as stated before are numerated as Interview1, 2, 3 etc. in order to protect the victim’s identity and these are their testimonials. The interview-guide, which was designed could not be used because of the emotional state of the victims, therefore, the team members decided to have an ”undedifferential ” interview structured like an open discussion. The result is an article consisting in ten interviews of victims’ testimonies and their understanding of the phenomenon of THB.