It is also common for victims to have a lower than average IQ, which makes it easy for criminals to manipulate them.

Another common victim profile is that of young men/boys with a problematic family and socioeconomic status, and/or with a bi-/homosexual orientation that is unacceptable in their cultural environment. These victims may fall into prostitution by being convinced – by a trafficker – that prostitution can be a very profitable way of living. Once they are into it, they may not recognise themselves as victims, and think their situation is their own choice.

Blackmail is a common way for traffickers to go on exploiting these victims, who are threatened with making intimate photographs public.

A third type of victim is the person who is brought by a trafficker or a larger criminal organization from a country with few job opportunities to a richer one, persuaded by the false promise that he/she will be given a job. Once they arrive in the new country, they are sexually exploited.

In all cases, it is very difficult for victims to report their situation to their family, friends, or the police, because of shame and/or fear of a violent reaction from the traffickers.

Sadly, the majority of sex workers are victims of sexual exploitation in one way or other. They can be found in all contexts of prostitution, such as in brothels, red-light districts, escort agencies, webcam sex websites, and so on.

Traffickers also confiscate the passport/ID of their exploited victims, and keep constant control of their telephones, with whom they speak, or where they go.

Another way in which traffickers ‘hunt’ their victims is by promises of work and a better life in another country. Upon arrival, such promises fade away and victims are forced into prostitution.

Traffickers may work alone, or as part of a larger criminal organisation that sexually exploits several people. In general, traffickers are young adults between 20 to 30 years old, but there are of course younger and older traffickers too. They often have criminal antecedents related to other activities such as drug dealing, psychological problems and a low education level (often having left school at a young age), and/or come from a broken family background where they have experienced abuse and violence themselves. Eventually, victims of sexual exploitation may become traffickers themselves, taking part in the criminal chain and bringing new people into prostitution.

There are many profiles of sex buyers, and there are different reasons why someone chooses to have paid sexual relations. Most sex buyers do have a paid/steady job; around half of them are single, while the other half is in a relationship while they make an appointment with a sex worker.

For most sex buyers, sexual curiosity is the main reason to visit a sex worker for the first time. Others argue that being with a sex worker is the only way for them to have sexual relations. Some people look for the sexual ‘spark’ they miss in a long-lasting relationship; others want to relax from the stress of daily life, or want the possibility of searching for and choosing a sexual partner, or, in the case of older people or people who ended a long relationship, they may be looking for company and affection.

For sex buyers it is important to be safe and remain anonymous when they make an appointment with a sex worker. In order for sex buyers to report sex trafficking, it is essential that the reporting process is easy, transparent and guarantees their privacy.

Think of business owners who facilitate illegal prostitution and sexual exploitation such as taxi drivers who bring an underage escort to an appointment with a sex buyer, but choose to look the other way. 

The same goes for hotel employees who see a strange flow of men coming in and out of the same room, or bartenders who notice controlling behaviour of one person (a potential trafficker) towards another (a potential victim of human trafficking).