Abstract

This work discusses the root causes behind human trafficking in the sex industry, from Mozambique to South Africa and, eventually, Europe. With examples taken from younger Mozambican women called curtidoras since 2007, social obligations towards poor families, awareness of global inequalities and dreams of going to Europe are major drivers of migration northwards and that current anti-trafficking policies do not take this into account. Instead, these policies fail to address poverty and global inequality and risk making migrants more vulnerable to trafficking, not only by leaving them in a poor and desperation situation where they are willing to take great risks but also by reinforcing tight anti-immigration laws. These laws make it impossible for migrants to enter into Europe legally and thus one of the only options is to be smuggled or trafficked in, jeopardizing female migrant even more.

Key words: Migration, human trafficking, global inequalities.