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.

Perception of Sex Buyers by Young Spaniards

“…In this way, this sample was divided into five types of people who pay for sex based on need perception, traditional perception, unsatisfied perception, risk perception, and marginality perception. Some of the results were consistent with previous investigations with clients (Meneses, Rúa et al, 2018).…”

“…Such perceptions were previously associated with the view that paying for sex is a cheaper option than casual sex or engagement, with men having a higher economic level (Huysamen & Boonzaier, 2015). However, it was also noted that paying for sex was more efficient and faster (Meneses, Rúa, et al, 2018).…”

“…The prevalence of payment for sexual services is variable in Europe, with a value of 10% in the United Kingdom (Groom & Nandwani, 2006), 11.3% in Danish men (Buttmann et al, 2011), 13% in Norwegians (Schei & Stigum, 2010), and from 20% any time in life to 15% in the last year in Spain (Meneses, Rúa et al, 2018).…”

“…Della et al (2009) differentiated two groups of men who pay for commercial sex: experimenters, with a negative vision of sex work and sex workers, and regulars, with a liberal vision of sex work who considered sex as a commodity and desirable. Meneses, Rúa & Uroz (2018) pointed out five types of men who pay for commercial sex: Funners, who are seeking leisure and entertainment; Thingers, who want sex with no involvement or commitment; the Couple Seekers, who are trying to find a partner; the Riskers, who are attracted by sex and by the associated risk behaviours; and the Personalizers who want sex with intimacy and companionship. Furthermore, commercial sex has also been associated more with single men, directive or professional occupation, weekly alcohol and drug consumption, or having had several partners, especially outside of their country (Jones et al, 2014).…”

La relación de compraventa en la prostitución

“…Como se ha puesto de relieve en un estudio previo (Meneses et al, 2018b), los hombres que pagan por sexo son los primeros que toman contacto con las víctimas de trata y esta circunstancia debería ser aprovechada para convertirlos en aliados contra la trata. Las acciones dirigidas a la identificación de víctimas de trata con fines de explotación sexual, así como con la identificación de menores en contextos de prostitución, utilizando a los clientes de prostitución, ha sido poco frecuente.…”