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Difficulties in procuring documents
When picked up by the police many women do not have any identity
papers, therefore substitute papers must be applied for from
the relevant embassies.
The issuing of substitute papers can take up to nine months.
The validity of the substitute documents is between one week
and one month. Due to the short period of validity, difficulties
arise in organizing the return and accommodating the person
concerned in his/her native country.
Another problem is encountered by women who are granted a
permit to stay because they are in danger, and stay in Germany
permanently. For these women new passports must be applied
for from the embassies. Some embassies refuse to issue new
passports and point out that they can only be applied for
in the home country. But just this is impossible for the women
because they are endangered. Without a passport, however,
the documents necessary; for example; for family reunification
cannot be issued.
In this area, great efforts remain to be made to make the
embassies aware of the problems.
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Traumatization of women who are
victims of trafficking in women
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Since KOBRA's foundation in 1997 we have backed up and assisted
more than 350 women. Most of the women came from Central and
East Europe and have become trafficking victims because they
believed false promises and were forced into prostitution.
During our practical work we observed that the women are strongly
traumatized but that the traumatization takes a specific course.
Apart from the traumas they have experienced (among others sexual
abuse, rape, kidnapping etc), the problems of prostitution must
also be mastered. Even if the women are offered therapeutical
help, this often fails because the trauma therapists do not
have the necessary background knowledge as regards prostitution
and the women's home countries, or they are overtaxed with these
tasks. Even if the women have already been living in Germany
for a long time and speak German, it is very hard for them to
openly speak about their experiences in German. There is a need
for trauma therapists speaking the women's native languages.
In Germany, victims of trafficking in women do not have an appropriate
status. Pursuant to the decree of the Minister of the Interior
of Lower Saxony, they will be granted a toleration if they have
made a statement before the police and have decided to remain
in Germany until the legal proceedings. Often this decision
depends on the danger in the home country. The women are afraid
of returning. They must wait between six months and two years
until the proceedings take place. During this time, they are
accommodated in a protective flat or in a women's refuge. Funding
is ensured under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act which means
that the women only receive minimum benefits.
When after a raid the victims/witnesses are brought to us
by the police, they do not speak immediately. When confidence
has been built up, we are the only persons with whom they
want to speak openly in their mother tongue (Polish, Russian,
English and Spanish).
Situation of women testifying
as witnesses of trafficking in women (outline)
In long-term counselling and assistance, we distinguish four
phases:
Initial phase
Waiting until the trial
Legal proceedings
Situation after the proceedings
The extreme traumatization occurs in the third phase, during
the legal proceedings.
KOBRA has lent advice and assistance in 70 trials for trafficking
in human beings. During the examination of their clients during
the proceedings, the counsellors were present to assist them.
As all experiences come up again during the long time before
the trial and the women are scarcely able to assimilate what
they have experienced, they frequently break down before the
trial and regret having testified at all. In many cases, a
trauma which has not yet been properly assimilated is reflected
in nightmares, psychosomatic troubles such as headache, stomach-ache,
trouble in breathing, circulatory disorders and lack of appetite
etc. The women cannot sleep and are completely exhausted.
Furthermore, dissociative symptoms, fits and autoprotective
protection mechanisms are observed.
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