October the 18th is the day the European community draws attention to the global problem of human trafficking.
In recent years, human trafficking in Bulgaria increases. The data is provided by Gender Alternatives Foundation and the Bulgarian Red Cross in Plovdiv. Both organizations are actively involved in the prevention and eradication of trafficking in human beings. During the last seven years sexual and labor exploitation of Bulgarian citizens has increased three times. In 2013 trafficking victims in Bulgaria were 700. In the region of Plovdiv 71 women and girls were recognized as victims of trafficking. At the same time, the number of court cases has been decreasing. The cities of Varna, Burgas, Ruse, Plovdiv and Blagoevgrad are the ones with the highest degrees of trafficking.

What is trafficking in human beings?

Human trafficking is a crime against the individual and human rights; it is violation of universal ethical norms and values. It is among the most lucrative crimes, along with drug and weapon
trafficking. The crime of human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, harboring of persons by threats, use of force or other forms of coercion, for the purpose of exploitation. Includes forced prostitution, forced labor, forced submission, exploitation for begging and pickpocketing, the removal of organs and trafficking of pregnant women to sell their newborn. Human trafficking largely affects women and girls.