More than 8,000 Albanian girls are prostituted in Italy,
and more than 30% of them are under 18 years, stressed participants of a seminar in
Tirana, Albania on the international traffic of women and children. The main reason for
this trafficking is the economic inequality between richer countries and the poverty in
Albania. The speakers asked governments and politicians to take measures to ensure that
human rights are respected. (G.J. Koja, "8000 Albanian Girls Work as Prostitutes in
Italy," HURINet – The Human Rights Information Network, 25 July 1998)
In Milan, Italy, 80% of street prostitutes are foreigners (Brussa, 1995, p.49)
("Trafficking of Women to the European Union: Characteristic, Trends and Policy
Issues," European Conference on Trafficking in Women, June 1996, IOM, 7 May 1996)
There are 19,000-25,000 foreign prostitutes in Italy. Approximately 2,000 have been
trafficked. (Migrant Information Programme, "Trafficking in Women for Sexual
Exploitation to Italy," IOM, June 1996)
The victims of trafficking are between age 17-20, with some as young as 14. (Migrant
Information Programme, "Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation to Italy,"
IOM, June 1996)
Education levels of women trafficked into Italy vary. Some, particularly from Nigeria,
have never attended schools; others, especially the older women, have university degrees.
(Migrant Information Programme, "Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation to
Italy," IOM, June 1996)
The majority of the women and girls trafficked into Italy reported that they had not
engaged in prostitution in their home country. Entry into Italy was usually legal on a
tourist or entertainment visa. (Migrant Information Programme, "Trafficking in Women
for Sexual Exploitation to Italy," IOM, June 1996)
In 1994 three legal complaints of forcing someone into slavery were filed. (Migrant
Information Programme, "Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation to Italy,"
IOM, June 1996)
In Milan, women abducted from the countries of the former Soviet Union were auctioned
on blocks, and sold at an average price of just under US$1,000. (Michael Specter,
"Traffickers’ New Cargo: Naive Slavic Women," New York Times, 11
January 1998)
Foreign women in "call girl" prostitution in Italy are from Poland, Russia,
Colombia and Argentina and to a lesser extent from Brazil, Hungary, Romania and the
Philippines. Frequently they have been in prostitution in their home country. (Migrant
Information Programme, "Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation to Italy,"
IOM, June 1996)
75-80% of the women trafficked for prostitution in Italy are in street prostitution.
Those to whom they are indentured often use violence against women. (Migrant Information
Programme, "Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation to Italy," IOM, June
1996)
In Italy, trafficked and/or prostituted Polish women arrived around 1989, followed, in
1992, by Nigerians and some Peruvians and Colombians. Between 1993 and 1994 Albanians came
and, by 1995, it was Albanians and Nigerians. (European Race Audit Bulletin No. 25,
The Institute of Race Relations, London UK, 25 November 1997)
Rome is the concentrated region of trafficked Albanian and Nigerian women brought for
the purpose of prostitution. (European Race Audit Bulletin No. 25, The Institute of
Race Relations, London UK, 25 November 1997)
Girls and women trafficked to Italy are typically single, aged 14-18, and less
frequently aged 19-24 (Caritas, European Race Audit Bulletin No. 25, The Institute
of Race Relations, London UK, 25 November 1997)
Italy was a holding area for Asian children being trafficked by Chinese and Japanese
criminal gangs ("Pedophilia ring uncovered in Italy," USA Today, Nov.
1997)
Foreigners Charged for Encouraging, Exploiting and Aiding and
Abetting Prostitution. Sex and Countries of Origin, Year 1994
| Countries of origin |
No. of persons charged |
# of women |
| Europe |
168 |
19 |
| Austria |
4 |
1 |
| Belgium |
1 |
0 |
| Denmark |
1 |
0 |
| France |
3 |
0 |
| Germany |
2 |
0 |
| Greece |
2 |
1 |
| Luxembourg |
1 |
1 |
| Albania |
70 |
2 |
| Czech Republic |
3 |
0 |
| Ex-Yugoslavia |
65 |
11 |
| Poland |
4 |
1 |
| Romania |
3 |
0 |
| Turkey |
1 |
0 |
| Hungary |
3 |
1 |
| Ex-URSS |
5 |
1 |
| Africa |
57 |
17 |
| Algeria |
1 |
0 |
| Cameroon |
1 |
1 |
| Egypt |
2 |
0 |
| Ghana |
2 |
1 |
| Ethiopia |
8 |
2 |
| Morocco |
3 |
0 |
| Nigeria |
18 |
9 |
| Senegal |
5 |
1 |
| Tunisia |
12 |
1 |
| Others |
5 |
2 |
| Asia |
4 |
1 |
| Syria |
1 |
0 |
| Thailand |
1 |
1 |
| Others |
2 |
0 |
| South America |
29 |
18 |
| Argentina |
2 |
2 |
| Brazil |
7 |
3 |
| Colombia |
7 |
3 |
| Peru |
6 |
5 |
| Uruguay |
7 |
5 |
| Total |
258 |
55 |
Source: ISTAT, Yearbook 1994
Methods and Techniques of Traffickers
Albanian women and girls trafficked into Italy were usually recruited informally by
friends or relatives. There is usually a relationship between the trafficked woman and her
traffickers. Traffickers are often young criminals, attracted by the possibility of
earning easy money. This traffic in Albanian women tends to be organized by independent
groups operating on a small scale. (Migrant Information Programme, "Trafficking in
Women for Sexual Exploitation to Italy," IOM, June 1996)
Trafficking from Nigeria is especially well organized, and centers around a female
figure called "Mama" who plays a key role in persuading young women to leave
their homes for Italy. Women are recruited by means of deception, physical threats or
payments made to the women’s families. The women are particularly easily controlled
because they and their families are forced to pay back huge debts to the trafficking
organization for the cost of their trip and related expenses. It can take several years to
pay off these debts. (Migrant Information Programme, "Trafficking in Women for Sexual
Exploitation to Italy," IOM, June 1996)
Prostitution is hidden by women claiming they are in socially accepted jobs, such as
hostesses and dancers, beauticians, masseuses, strippers, pornographic video actresses,
entertainers. Women in these positions are frequently trafficked. Many women were in
similar circumstances in their home country and got work permits in Italy as
"artists." Some women are aware of what they are going to do in Italy; some are
intentionally deceived with prospects of an artistic career as dancers or actresses. This
type of prostitution generally involves women from Central and Eastern Europe, Brazil,
Colombia and, less frequently, the Philippines. (Migrant Information Programme,
"Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation to Italy," IOM, June 1996)
Traffickers use the same migration routes and methods that are generally used for
illegal migration from Albania. They use fishing boats to the limit of territorial waters
and small boats to the Italian coast (especially on the Otranto Channel, between
Pulgia’s southern coast and Albania, or along the Calabrian coast southwards, or the
coast of Abruzzo northwards), or the coast route along the eastern Adriatic coast
northwards. The total cost of the journey is around US$ 2,800 to 5,000 depending on the
route and the expected difficulties. (Migrant Information Programme, "Trafficking in
Women for Sexual Exploitation to Italy," IOM, June 1996)
Nigerian girls are contracted in the suburbs of cities, such as Lagos or Benin City,
and in the countryside in the south and east. Madams act as "go-betweens" for
girls and women and the traffickers. Money is sent to the madam to pay the debt to the
traffickers and to the girls’ families. (Migrant Information Programme,
"Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation to Italy," IOM, June 1996)
There are three levels of organization in the trafficking of Nigerian women and girls:
the first centers around the "Mama" living in the country of origin; the second
centers around the Nigerian "Mama" in Italy; and the third, the
"messengers," the persons transferring the money from Italy to Nigeria. (Migrant
Information Programme, "Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation to Italy,"
IOM, June 1996)
Debts for travel are supposed to be paid off in 6 months, but in the majority of the
cases after three or four years, the girls are still in prostitution to pay back the debt
they owe. (Migrant Information Programme, "Trafficking in Women for Sexual
Exploitation to Italy," IOM, June 1996)
A Nigerian madam, or "Mama," supervises and controls the women and girls. She
organizes their activities and collects their profits in Italy. The women physically and
psychologically fear the "Mama." (Migrant Information Programme,
"Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation to Italy," IOM, June 1996)
Very few of the women trafficked to Italy wish to return to their country of origin.
Some say there are no opportunities there. Some fear reprisals from the traffickers, and
others are ashamed to return without being able to show that they have been successful
abroad. (Migrant Information Programme, "Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation
to Italy," IOM, June 1996)
Case
A trafficking ring operating in Italy headed by Chinese and Japanese
criminals sold at least 15 children into prostitution in the United States in one month. A
Cambodian man, traveling under false documents with four children, was arrested in Rome in
November 1996. He was convicted of illegal immigration and receiving stolen goods, and is
still under investigation on suspicion of involvement in an international sex ring.
(Pitero Forno, Prosecutor, "Pedophilia ring uncovered in Italy," USA Today, Nov.
1997) [catw log9711b] & (ANSA, "Pedophilia ring uncovered in Italy," USA
Today, Nov. 1997)
Policy and Law
There is no specific legislation in Italy that defines the crime of trafficking in
women. (Migrant Information Programme, "Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation
to Italy," IOM, June 1996)
The Merlin Law of 1958 decriminalized prostitution if it is practiced privately,
forbids prostitution in brothels, and criminalizes those who exploit prostitutes or lead
women into prostitution, including foreign women. Such crimes are punishable even if
committed in a foreign country. (Migrant Information Programme, "Trafficking in Women
for Sexual Exploitation to Italy," IOM, June 1996)
A foreigner who brings a migrant woman into Italy for the purpose of prostitution can,
by law, be jailed for up to 7 years. (Migrant Information Programme, "Trafficking in
Women for Sexual Exploitation to Italy," IOM, June 1996)
Official Response and Action
Right-wing parties have called upon the authorities to stop prostitution networks that
are run by Albanians. 2/3 of the 15,329 Albanian women in Italy holding work permits are
in prostitution. Despite this, in the drive to combat illegal immigration, Italian
authorities have not yet targeted the sex industry as a focus for action. (Lara Santoro,
"For Italy’s Flood of Immigrants Being on the Lam Beats Poverty: Albanians by
the Boatload," Christian Science Monitor, 7 January 1997)
United States President Bill Clinton and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi together
have officially recognized and addressed trafficking in women and children for the purpose
of forced prostitution. They have established a working group in order to deal with the
problem. ("Clinton, Prodi discuss slave trade," United Press International,
6 May 1998)
The number of persons charged with encouraging, exploiting and aiding and abetting
prostitution in Italy has increased from 285 in 1990 to 737 in 1994. In 1994, 35% (258)
were foreigners. The number of persons charged seems to be higher in regions of Italy
where there are large numbers of foreign immigrants such as Lombardy and Lazio. (Migrant
Information Programme, "Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation to Italy,"
IOM, June 1996)
Women in the Italian sex industry come from several world regions,
including Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. Communication among
prostitutes of different nationalities does not occur. (Licia Brussa, "Transnational
AIDS/STD Prevention Among Migrant Prostitutes in Europe," TAMPEP, 1996)
80 percent of the street prostitutes in Milan are foreigners (Tampep, 1995, Migrant
Information Programme, "Trafficking in Women for Sexual Exploitation to Italy,"
IOM, June 1996)
In street prostitution the largest group of migrant women is Nigerians, followed by
Albanians, Russian and Ukrainian women, the rest are Latin Americans and transsexuals. Two
types of pimps control street prostitution: The first are the same nationality as the
women and exploit the women; the other is mafia organizations. Madams, who are former
prostitutes, are common among the Nigerian women. (Licia Brussa, "Transnational
AIDS/STD Prevention Among Migrant Prostitutes in Europe," TAMPEP, 1996)
One prostituted woman per month is killed in Italy. (Police, Michael Specter,
"Traffickers’ New Cargo: Naive Slavic Women," New York Times, 11
January 1998)
Italian prostitutes, with the exception of those who are also drug addicts, have
retreated to apartments and massage or sun-tanning parlours, while foreign prostitutes
charge lower prices and are on the streets. (European Race Audit Bulletin No 25,
Institute of Race Relations, London UK, 25 November 1997)
One third of those charged for prostitution-related offenses in 1994 were of
foreigners, mostly from Eastern Europe. 20% of Albanians imprisoned in Italian jails are
held for prostitution-related offenses. (International Herald Tribune, 10.7.97, La
Republicca 26.8.97).
Health and Well-being
Women’s physical and mental well being are harmed by the isolation and
marginalization they suffer by being confined in closed apartments and their movements
restricted. (Licia Brussa, "Transnational AIDS/STD Prevention Among Migrant
Prostitutes in Europe," TAMPEP, 1996)
Policy and Law
Prostitution is legal in Italy (Merlin Law of 1958) so it is technically
illegal for the police to deport foreign prostituted women. Women who seek assistance from
police are deported because they do not have a valid resident's permit. (European Race
Audit Bulletin No. 25, The Institute of Race Relations, London UK, 25 November 1997)
Case
Donato Bilancia of Italy was arrested for the murder of a prostituted Nigerian woman
and in connection with the murders of five other prostituted women occurring along the
Italian Riviera in the past year. (Melanie Goodfellow, "Suspect held in Italian
prostitute slayings," Reuters, 7 May 1998)
An HIV-positive prostituted woman in Ravenna, northeast Italy had her photograph shown
in the media after it was discovered that she was bought by as many as 5,000 men, some
were from as far away as Rome. Men favored her because she didn’t insist on a condom
being used. The prosecutors office set up two hotlines for men to call for information.
Franco Grillini, the head of Arcigay, an Italian gay rights group, said men who demand sex
without a condom should be censured also ("Italy HIV Prostitute Photo Shown," Associated
Press, 15 February 1998)