All Fine at the EU’s Southeastern Front? An Investigation into the Countering of Sex Trafficking on the Island of Cyprus
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Open University of Cyprus
Cyprus
Abstract
Human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation is a complex global issue. This article explores this issue in the context of Cyprus, an island jurisdiction within the European Union. The article aims to pinpoint gaps in the process of investigating and prosecuting cases of trafficking in persons for sexual purposes on the island of Cyprus. Thirteen interviews were conducted with representatives from various agencies commissioned to deal with human trafficking on the island, including police, courts, and prosecution services. The findings reveal a corpus of breaches and flaws throughout the process of managing trafficking and its associated victims. These include inadequate identification of victims, ineffective prosecution of offenders, and scarce convictions. In view of these findings, recommendations are provided to improve the overall domestic management of people trafficking.
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Author Biography
Angelo Constantinou holds a PhD in Criminology from the University of Edinburgh and his research focuses on criminological and policing matters. He has researched and published on a corpus of subjects, such as terrorist use of the Internet, Cyprus police, police discretion, criminological theory testing, adjudication of sex trafficking cases, operations against human trafficking, sex traffickers, crime displacement, police culture, riot control, and police corruption. Moreover, he has taught and developed a number of courses vis-a-vis criminology and policing. Prior to joining the academia he had worked with the Cyprus Police.