Report finds human trafficking occurs 'every day' in Germany

Victims of human trafficking often have problems asserting their rights in Germany, according to a report published in Berlin on Thursday.

The study, by the German Institute for Human Rights, is described as the first to summarize all available data on this topic, from both authorities and advice centres.

"Human trafficking takes place in Germany every day, for example in nursing, domestic work, prostitution, agriculture, the meat processing industry or in the construction industry," said the director of the institute, Beate Rudolf. "They are labour-intensive and require neither special qualifications nor language skills."

Many of those affected remain in hiding because they are ashamed, threatened or afraid of reprisals.

The institute is funded by the federal government and works independently. It conducts research and provides advice on human rights and advises politicians.

Its investigators identified victims of sexual exploitation primarily from Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, China, Hungary, Thailand and Vietnam.

The report, which is to be published every two years in the future, covers data from the period 2020 to 2022. During this time, investigative authorities identified 3,155 victims, an average of almost three per day. However, it is assumed that there is a high number of unreported cases.

There are two female victims for every male victim. In the case of sexual exploitation, more than 90% of those affected are women, while in the case of labour exploitation, more than half are men. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), almost one in four are minors.