Contrasting policy approaches to human trafficking in Eurasia

Although all the countries in Eurasia have adopted some sort of policy approach to human trafficking, there is significant variation regarding the scope of these laws across the region. Chapter One, traces this variation through development of human trafficking policies in all 15 countries of Eurasia. Gendered regulatory and redistributive policies embodied in human trafficking laws and policies in Eurasia can be typologized into five different approaches: criminal codes, national action plans, national laws, decree, regulation, or decision, and miscellanies policies. The chapter discusses the rapid diffusion and development of these laws throughout the region from 1998 when the first law adopted until 2015 including the leaders and laggards in Eurasia. The results show that authoritarian leaders utilize trafficking policies, masked in the language of international human rights norms, to increase their power and control their citizens. Additionally, stereotypes perpetuated in the trafficking policies of Eurasia, have produced their own regional type of ideal victim: ‘Natashas’ seemingly similar victims of sex trafficking with Slavic features (Hughes, 2000).