The exceptional situation of victims of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation during the state of alarm in the Spanish State

Abstract

Before the pandemic, the legislation and instruments (plans, guidelines and protocols) implemented in the field of human trafficking, at global and local level, had the objective of guaranteeing the rights of the victims in order to assist and protect them in their situation of special vulnerability. However, the health crisis caused by COVID-19 and the declaration of the State of Alarm in Spain have generated a worsening of their personal situation and, consequently, other social norms and measures have been adopted to protect and palliate the damages suffered in this exceptional situation. For this reason, this article analyzes, from a gender perspective, the effects of both the legal reforms and the assistance measures adopted by the Ministry of Equality and social organizations for women victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation during the COVID-19 pandemic, making special mention of the Basque context. Available from: https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl/0000-0000-0000-1339

Keywords

• trafficking for sexual exploitation
• victims
• exceptional situation
• pandemic