What’s the Problem with Sex Trafficking? : A case study on the European Union’s Policy and Legal Framework

Abstract: This study questions the way sex trafficking is constructed by the EU in their public policy exploring what potential implications exist by the way sex trafficking is problematised. Hence, the objective of this study is to understand how the EU constructs the problem of sex trafficking in their policies, and how this can lead to further policy implications for eradicating sex trafficking. This research analyses the three main policy documents by the EU; Directive 2001/36/EU, its strategy document The EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012–2016 and Council Directive 2004/81/EC. The discourse analysis called What’s the problem represented to be? will be used as method. It also analyses through the theories of Intersectionality and Governmentality. The results reveal that sex trafficking is a problem of law enforcement, welfare, and illegal immigration. Sex trafficking is constructed as a crime that violates fundamental rights, encourages gender inequality, and threatens the security in the EU. The way the EU constructs victims endorses gender and racial stereotypes. Furthermore, not much efforts are on reducing root causes for trafficking, as main the focus is on the transportation rather than on the exploitation of the victim.