The victims came from countries including Nigeria, Hungary, Afghanistan, and Romania, and were often destined for the prostitution industry, FIZ said. However, a growing number are also being trafficked for work in private homes or the accommodation sector.
Cases were reported in 14 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons. More than one-third of the trafficked women were asylum seekers who sought protection after arriving in Switzerland.
As part of its work, FIZ provided support and counselling to 61 such victims in 2019. The Zurich-based group works with church groups to provide care for victims of trafficking.
In 2018, the group recorded 108 new cases of human trafficking in the country.
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Human trafficking: Swiss urged to improve victim protection
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Switzerland has been told by the Council of Europe that it needs to step up efforts to tackle human trafficking and protect unaccompanied children.
More Nigerian women and asylum seekers being trafficked
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Last year, the proportion of human trafficking victims who are also asylum seekers tripled in the Zurich region, according to a Swiss advocacy group’s annual report.
Human trafficking remains a problem for Switzerland
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Taken together with the 113 ongoing consultations from previous years, FIZ says the number of cases of women being trafficked into the country (many for prostitution) remains high. In 2017, FIZ provided support for 228 women. To combat the problem, FIZExternal link has joined forces with Church groups to provide better care for the victims. The Zurich-based entity will receive funding…
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