U.S. Department of State 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report - Luxembourg

Luxembourg (Tier 1)

Luxembourg is a destination country for women trafficked transnationally for the purpose of sexual exploitation. In 2005, Luxembourg officials uncovered a trafficking network moving victims from Brazil to France, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. In part due to its small size, Luxembourg has a modest trafficking challenge.

The Government of Luxembourg fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The government improved its law enforcement awareness and inter-agency cooperation in response to trafficking cases in 2005. The government should develop and institutionalize a screening mechanism to increase identification of trafficking victims among women found in prostitution in Luxembourg. The government should consider launching a demand-oriented campaign to educate potential clients about trafficking and its links to prostitution. Aggressive prosecution and sentencing is needed to deter future acts of trafficking in Luxembourg.

Prosecution

The Government of Luxembourg took steps to improve its anti-trafficking law enforcement response in 2005 and launched two new trafficking investigations. Although the government charged five suspects in 2004 for trafficking women using "artiste" visas, the case has yet to be prosecuted. In 2005, the government conducted specialized training to educate police, immigration officials, and NGOs on recognition and identification of trafficking victims. The government drafted comprehensive legislation to cover all forms of trafficking during the reporting period. In 2005, it continued to utilize laws against sexual exploitation and organized crime to investigate and charge traffickers. In 2005, the government created a police unit to address drug trafficking and potential related human trafficking among West African asylum seekers. There was no evidence of trafficking-related corruption among Luxembourg public officials.

Protection

The Government of Luxembourg increased its efforts to protect trafficking victims in 2005. The government continued to fund two local NGOs that provided shelter and assistance to vulnerable women, including trafficking victims, in 2005. During the reporting period, police identified and referred 11 victims of trafficking to the government-funded NGO shelters. Ten Brazilian women, initially arrested as illegal migrants, were later identified by police as trafficking victims and referred to an NGO for shelter and assistance. The government did not, however, develop a formal screening and referral mechanism during the reporting period. Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials reportedly considered the warning signs of trafficking when interviewing and investigating asylum seekers. The government did not punish victims of trafficking for unlawful acts that were a direct result of their being trafficked.

Prevention

In 2005, the government increased its official awareness and recognition of trafficking. Officials monitored Luxembourg's commercial sex establishments for illegal activity and trafficking during the reporting period. While the government did not have an institutionalized working group to address trafficking, relevant agencies and NGOs continued to meet on an ad-hoc basis, and a Ministry of Justice official continued to serve as principal point of contact on trafficking cases.