VIENNA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Women are the main victims of human trafficking over the world, Austrian Minister for Women and Public Service Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek on Friday told a forum marking European Union anti-trafficking day.

Addressing the forum organized by the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs Friday in Vienna, she cited a UN report that said 80 percent of human trafficking victims globally were women out of which another 80 percent become victims of sexual assault.

Due to its geographical location, Austria is an important transit and destination country for traffickers.

Heinisch-Hosek stressed that "the fight against human trafficking requires the cooperation among various parties, and needs a stronger political will." Efforts to settle the problem must be combined with efforts to overcome poverty, she added.

Overall, around 2.4 million people become victims of human trafficking ever year, the vast majority of whom are women and children. A recent study by the International Labor Organization showed gangs earn profits of up to 32 billion U.S. Dollars via human trafficking. Enditem

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)