Penal sanctions against trafficking in human beings, especially prostitution, will be increased in Spain

The bill, which has been on the country’s agenda for a year and drawn up to prevent trafficking in women and girls for the purpose of sexual exploitation, aims to protect women victims of the prostitution sector in all circumstances, and contemplates prison of up to 4 years for men who are with prostitutes forced into prostitution.

The Minister of Justice, Pilar Llop, who informed the press about the bill that was accepted today in the Council of Ministers and sent to Parliament, said that there will be harsh penalties for those who protect victims against all forms of trafficking. of human beings, such as sexual exploitation, forced marriage, organ smuggling, and commercial profits from human trafficking.

Emphasizing that there may be changes to the bill, Llop noted that they aim to raise awareness of human trafficking throughout society, discourage demand for services that victims can provide, and strengthen controls in sectors that represent the increased risk of exploitation of victims of trafficking.

According to the bill, the details of which are unclear, it is expected that victims of human trafficking illegally in Spain will be able to obtain residence and work permits and access all social services without the need to cooperate with the police.

The project also includes the creation of an institution called “National Referral Mechanism” in order to provide emergency aid and social services for the victims.

In the report published last year by the non-governmental organization Apramp, which fights against trafficking and sexual exploitation of women, it is revealed that nearly 400,000 women in Spain are in the prostitution sector and 80 percent of they are victims of human trafficking.

According to data from the United Nations, it is stated that Spain is the first in Europe and the third in the world in the ranking of the countries with the highest demand in the prostitution sector, which bills 13,000 million euros a year in the world. (AA)