U.S. Department of State 2001 Trafficking in Persons Report - The Netherlands
| Publisher | United States Department of State |
| Author | Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons |
| Publication Date | 12 July 2001 |
| Cite as | United States Department of State, U.S. Department of State 2001 Trafficking in Persons Report - The Netherlands, 12 July 2001, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4680d7641e.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Netherlands (Tier 1)
The Netherlands is a destination and transit country for trafficked women and girls from around the world, including Nigeria, Thailand, China, South America, and countries of Central Europe; victims are trafficked primarily for sexual exploitation purposes. According to the Dutch Foundation Against Trafficking in Women, there are between 2,000 and 3,000 trafficked women in the Netherlands.
The Government meets the minimum standards to combat trafficking in persons. The law prohibits trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation purposes. The penalty for trafficking is approximately commensurate with penalties for rape or sexual assault; however, additional penalties under other laws can be applied in addition to the trafficking penalty. The Government actively investigates and prosecutes cases of trafficking. For example, from 1997 through the first half of 2000, there were 418 cases reported to the office of the prosecutor. Of these, 253 cases were tried in court, resulting in 216 convictions. No information on actual sentencing was available at the time of this report. Victims of trafficking have a 3-month period to consider pressing charges against the perpetrator(s), during which time the victim may receive services, shelter, and social security benefits. If a victim decides not to press charges, the victim is repatriated, and the reason for expulsion does not appear on the victim's identity papers. A victim may be eligible for permanent residency on humanitarian grounds in situations of extreme distress. The Government works closely with and provides anti-trafficking funding to domestic and international NGO's.
