Contributed by: Liliya Sazonova, Bulgaria National VAW Monitor

By Jorn Madslien
BBC News business reporter in Sofia, Bulgaria

Working late at night in the streets around Sofia's most luxurious hotels, Mitko takes pride in his ability to quickly deliver what his customers want.

"Ten minutes and I can get you a girl - any girl - blond, brown, black or white," he declares.

Mitko's operation is part of a sex industry that, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), "has become highly diversified and global in recent years."

Globally, forced labour - which includes sexual exploitation - generates $31bn (£16.5bn), half of it in the industrialised world, a tenth in transition countries, the ILO says in a report on forced labour.

"Technological developments such as the internet, as well as the proliferation of tourism, escort agencies and media outlets that advertise sexual services, have all contributed to the growing demand for commercial sex," the ILO says.

(Excerpt) Cited in: Madslien, Jorn, "Sex trade's reliance on forced labour," BBC News, 12 May 2005.