The fight against human trafficking in the Amsterdam Red Light District

Abstract

The Amsterdam Red Light District is famous for its sex-oriented businesses. Although prostitution was legalized in 2000, this did not end some of its criminal side effects, particularly the trafficking in women. In an effort to combat human trafficking in the district, the local authorities launched the Emergo project in 2007. The core of the project is a multi-agency approach in which the municipality, the police, the public prosecution service and the Tax and Customs Administration cooperate closely. In addition to improving the effectiveness of repressive action against criminal infrastructures, additional legislation such as the criminalization of clients is also considered necessary to compensate for the shortcomings of regulatory measures.

Keywords:

• prostitution
• human trafficking
• organized crime
• policing
• regulation

Notes

1. One example is the recent documentary film and book entitled Ouwehoeren (literally “old whores,” but also an expression meaning “small talk”), in which two sisters who worked as prostitutes in the district for 50 years tell their story.

2. Staatsblad [Netherlands Bulletin of Acts and Decrees] 2000, 38 and 1999, 464.

Human trafficking in this paper is understood as involuntary prostitution, prostitution of minors and other forms of sexual exploitation.

3. Bureau Nationaal Rapporteur Mensenhandel [Dutch Rapporteur on Human Trafficking].

4. For a more detailed discussion of the difficulties related to the definition and the relevant case law, see NRM (2012), Jurisprudentie mensenhandelzaken 2009–2012, Retrieved from http://www.nationaalrapporteur.nl/

5. The housing shortage is a significant problem in Amsterdam, but rents are kept low for tenants of premises owned by the city or a housing association. Some of those tenants then sublet their house or apartment – including to criminals – at market rates, which is of course not allowed.

6. http://www.amsterdam.nl/zorg-welzijn/programma/algemene-artikelen/vastgestelde-apv/

7. Programma Prostitutie Amsterdam, Nota van uitgangspunten 2012–2017, December 2012.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Toine Spapens

Toine Spapens is Full Professor of Criminology at the Department of Criminal Law, Tilburg Law School, Tilburg University.

Conny Rijken

Conny Rijken is Associate Professor at Intervict (International Victimology Institute Tilburg), Tilburg Law School, Tilburg University.