EU representation of trafficking in human beings for sexual purposes : A case study of EU policy documents

This study aims to examine how the EU constructs sex trafficking in its public policy, as well as the potential consequences of how sex trafficking is problematized. The following two policy documents presented by the Union, Directive 2011/36/EU and The EU Strategy on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings 2021- 2025, were analyzed in order to meet the aim of this study. The method used for the analysis of the material is Carol Bacchis ‘What’s the problem represented to be?’, which will be studied within the framework of a case study. The results of the study showed that human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation is framed as a problem of insufficient legal action, a violation of human rights, and a benefiting of gender inequality, as well as a lack of effective crime prevention measures within the European Union and its member states. Victims of human trafficking are frequently depicted as coerced participants, a notion that may not always correlate to reality. The EU's problem representation reinforces gender stereotypes while ignoring and marginalizing opposing viewpoints