Albania-Western Europe
Anna’s trafficker kept her in submission through physical
abuse – beating her, raping her, and slicing her with
knives. He abducted her from Albania and took her to
a Western European country, where she was forced
into prostitution for about five months. He then took
her to a second Western European country, where she
told border authorities she was traveling on a falsified
passport in hopes of getting help. The police sent her to
a refugee camp where two Albanian social workers released
her back to her trafficker. During more than four
years of subsequent forced prostitution in the second
destination, Anna was made to undergo four abortions.
When her trafficker was deported to Albania, five years
after her initial abduction, Anna went to police with
information about the trafficking ring. Two days later,
she too was deported to Albania, where the trafficker
continued his threats and abuse. Anna pursued prosecution
of her trafficker in Albania, but he remains free. She
has been denied residency and assistance from several
Western European countries, including the ones in
which she was exploited. She was able to resettle in the
United States where she is continuing her rehabilitation
and studying to become a nurse.