Since 2010, there have been almost 190 Nigerian women exploited in prostitution in Finland. Among them are also victims of human trafficking.
18:34•Updated 18:36
Ten Nigerian victims of human trafficking have been met in Finland’s system for helping victims of human trafficking, who specifically tell about abuse in Finland.
The first Nigerian sexually abused client appears in the help system’s statistics from 2007.
– At that time, the border guard’s human trafficking criminal investigation was also about this, says Terhi Tafari, project manager of the system for helping victims of human trafficking.
According to Tafar, in Finland, Nigerian women and their exploitation in prostitution began to be seen more since 2009. In total, the help system has had 188 women who have been exploited in prostitution more often.
Tafari says that human trafficking of African women and children is big business in Italy. The business is run by Nigerian organized crime.
– Even the relatives and family members of these women and girls can be involved, Tafari states.
Many women flee Italy to Northern European countries
For example, the motive for sacrificing one family’s daughter to prostitution is of course money. On the other hand, the victim easily becomes a criminal himself if he takes the second option offered.
He can offset the large amount he owes the human traffickers also by recruiting one or two more girls or women from Nigeria.
– Many of these women flee Italy and come to Northern European countries, where they try to hide and get, for example, health care and escape from that terrible situation, Tafari says.
On the other hand, organized crime has played a rather small role in this matter in Finland.
– Nigerian women play a strong role in this human trafficking. The so-called madame, pimp or boss is a powerful woman who controls these victims in different ways, Tafari knows.
Watch Terhi Tafar’s full interview in the 8 minutes program.