Strafferetlig forfølgelse af menneskehandel til prostitution i Danmark: Hvilken retsbeskyttelse får ofrene

This article asks what victims of human trafficking to prostitution get out of prosecution in Denmark. An analysis of all cases reported to the police over a 5-year period shows that the cases are very few, and that most of the reported cases are closed without prosecution for trafficking. Compared to Danish authorities’ registration of 363 persons possibly trafficked to prostitution in the same period, 37 possible victims (in 16 different cases) were reported to the police, and 25 of the 37 obtained a conviction of their traffickers (in all 18 persons convicted). Only two victims received some economic compensation. More resources allocated to the field could certainly have led to more cases being prosecuted. The victims’ collaboration with the police and the prosecutor is needed, however, and this collaboration may be difficult to achieve as long as collaboration and conviction does not provide the victims with compensation, protection or permanent residency in Denmark.