Organised sexual exploitation is widespread across the UK, with organised crime groups advertising victims on pimping websites and moving them around networks of residential properties and hotel rooms to be abused by men who pay for sex. Evidence suggests that it is predominately non-UK national women who are the victims of organised sexual exploitation, and a significant proportion of them are from Romania.
And everybody as a human being is looking for this β to be appreciated and to be wanted. The first session of the online summit brought together frontline agencies supporting and advocating for victims of sexual exploitation.
The speakers were:. Frontline organisations described the factors that can make Romanian women and girls vulnerable to traffickers. Factors included childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, economic difficulties, addiction and a lack of support networks. Women are often recruited into sexual exploitation by partners who coerce and groom them.
I believe the UK can take a position and make this shameful market less profitable. The message for the UK Government from frontline agencies was clear. The UK must take action to prevent sexual exploitation. This requires tackling demand from sex buyers. Organisations also highlighted the importance of collaboration between UK and Romanian agencies to prevent sexual exploitation and ensure victims receive the support they need.
The second session of the online summit brought together prevention and law enforcement agencies. It was highlighted that sexual exploitation is a gendered crime; the vast majority of victims are female. Speakers conveyed that there has been successful collaboration between Romania and the UK on tackling organised sexual exploitation in the past.
