The issue of child trafficking in Poland – views and experiences of professionals

The present report is a summary of views and experiences described by representatives of various occupations who – in their professional capacity – are likely to encounter children – victims of trafficking or children from groups at risk (e.g. separated minors).

The study was carried out by Nobody’s Children Foundation in 2009 in the framework of Mario project. Two research methods were used – questionnaire and interview. Questionnaires were distributed to the employees of intervention centres and child-care institutions, as well as border guards. Interviews, on the other hand, were conducted with the representatives of police, border guards, intervention centres and child-care institutions, appointed by their respective supervisory bodies (such as police headquarters) on written request. Interviews were based on a standardized set of questions included in the questionnaire, plus auxiliary questions. Interviewed individuals were additionally requested to comment on the topic of new social phenomena or social trends that may accompany child trafficking and that are witnessed by professionals in their daily work.

Material gathered by means of interviews and surveys was subject to quantitative and qualitative analysis. Responses to questions repeated in both questionnaires and interviews were analysed jointly. Quotes cited in the report are excerpts from interviews.

The group of surveyed and interviewed individuals is not a representative sample. Therefore, the present work (deliberately referred to as a situational analysis) constitutes an attempt to explore and describe the problem of child trafficking from the point of view of Polish professionals, yet it does not allow for generalizations reflecting on the entire population.