Contributed by: Genoveva Tisheva, Bulgaria National VAW Monitor

Bulgarian children are most often victims of trafficking for the purpose of sexual abuse and the country is among the champions in trafficking in persons in the Balkans. This was announced in a report by “Animus” Association, “Partners- Bulgaria” Foundation and Vitosha Research Agency. Women and children are “exported” most often for forced labour and organ donation.

The eagerness to earn money is the main motivation that facilitates human trafficking. Most often, girls placed in institutions become victims as they perceive sex as a means for prosperity. A great number of children are not protected against violence and robbery in the institutions; they escape and turn into victims of trafficking. False job announcements for waitresses, fashion models, etc. are another way to trafficking.

The places where you can be “entrapped” in trafficking nets are discos, fashion agencies, and hotels, warned the authors of the research.

The most common, final destination for trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation are Belgium, Germany, France and Italy, and, for pick-pocketing-Austria. For trafficking of unborn babies with the purpose of adoption, the destinations are  Greece, France and Italy, data from the report says.

Among the comments to this article, people say that "nobody would leave the country of a beautiful life” and “no woman is born a prostitute.”

Compiled from: Focus Agency, 28 June 2007.