The Coordination and Advisory Centre for Victims of Trafficking in Women (KOBRA) was founded in September 1997 as a project of the society Phoenix e.V.

Trafficking in women in terms of marketing of women in prostitution, marriages and illegal exploitative employments is a worldwide phenomenon and still increases dramatically. While in the seventies mainly women from Asiatic, African and South American countries were concerned, women from East and Central Europe have increasingly become victims of this trade since the political changes in these regions.

Under the law on foreigners in force in Germany, the women concerned have a weak if not even an illegal status. Female migrants who engage in prostitution in Germany incur a penalty under law on foreigners if they do not have permission to exercise activities as a self-employed person or if they work as employed persons without having been granted an appropriate work permit. This also holds for those women who have been forced into prostitution. Expulsion and – in this connection – arrest and deportation are common consequences.

To fight trafficking in women, the Ministry of the Interior of Lower Saxony issued a decree in April 1997 granting women affected by trafficking a provisional right to stay if they are needed as witnesses in trafficking procedures and are willing to testify. Independently of their willingness to testify, they shall have the possibility of getting qualified support and of leaving the country voluntarily.

Through coordination and advisory activities KOBRA wants to ensure the implementation of the decree, focussing on the interests of the women affected.
It is proposed to improve their situation by psychological stabilization and provision of the requisite living conditions. The institutions involved are working towards treating the women in a sensitive and co-operative way.

National and international networking is aimed at to improve the legal and factual situation of the women concerned on a long-term basis.

The offers of KOBRA are addressed to women affected by trafficking as well as to institutions dealing with the problem of trafficking in women.

KOBRA is funded by the Ministry for Social Affairs, Women, Family and Health of Lower Saxony.

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