Can Clients Who Pay for Sexual Services Help Victims of Sex Trafficking?

Abstract

This article explores the possibility that clients of prostitution could help victims of trafficking. In Spain, prostitution is not prohibited and the men who pay for sex are the first people who make contact with victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation. Ninety-seven interviews concerning the possible detection and reporting by clients of trafficking for prostitution were analysed, (48 of them with key informants “NGO members, prosecutors and police officers “17 interviews with clients of prostitution and 22 with women who were victims of sex trafficking). The findings presented here show two types of clients, Personalisers and Thingers, with the former being the most likely to collaborate in the detection and rescue of victims of trafficking. However greater awareness in clients of prostitution is needed to enable them to collaborate.