This Survey was conducted through a questionnaire in April 2002 on the random sample of 173 respondents of both genders, 91 of whom were secondary school pupils and 82 students.
The Survey aimed to examine whether and in what way this specific population was acquainted with the problem and whether there were qualitative and quantitative differences in attitudes of secondary school pupils and students. The questions were designed so as to get a perspective of what the youth know and think about the following:
– Are women – victims of violence to blame for their situation?
– Should they be prosecuted, and if so, what would be the appropriate sentence?
– Should persons who organize trafficking in women be prosecuted, and if so, what would be the appropriate sentence?
– Should persons who use the services of women – victims of sex trafficking be prosecuted, and if so, what would be the appropriate sentence? And finally,
– How can the society prevent trafficking in women?
The results showed that the entire sample was not acquainted enough with the concept of trafficking in women (it is usually confused or equated with some other terms), as well as with the judiciary system of our country. Students are prone to think that the victims of trafficking are the victims of fraud, that they should not be prosecuted and that the methods for prevention of this problem should be reintegration and resocialization. Secondary school pupils have a tendency to think that these women are the victims of forced prostitution, that the organizer is responsible for it, and see radical sentences as a solution.