A stark disparity exists between the identification of victims of human trafficking and exploitation and the number granted residency permits in Germany, according to recent parliamentary inquiries. Data released by the Federal Interior Ministry, in response to a request from the Green Party, reveals only 120 permits were issued over the past five years, a figure Green Party officials are sharply criticizing as insufficient.
The majority of those granted permits originated from Nigeria (16), India (12), Thailand (9) and Ukraine (8), with the states of Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia being the primary issuers. This contrasts sharply with the significantly higher number of victims identified by specialist advisory services; over 800 individuals were documented as victims just last year alone.
Denise Loop, a Green Party parliamentarian, argues that the current permitting rate fails to provide adequate long-term protection and perpetuates the vulnerability of victims. “The number issued is remarkably low given the scale of the problem” she stated. Providing a legal pathway to residency, she contends, would not only offer victims a crucial escape from exploitative criminal networks but would also significantly diminish the power wielded by human traffickers.
Echoing this sentiment, Marlene Schönberger, a Green Party member of the Interior Committee, places the onus on the state to improve its response. She advocates for specialized units within police forces and public prosecutor’s offices, explicitly tasked with identifying trafficking victims and prosecuting perpetrators. The current system, she warns, is failing to adequately address the issue.
Compounding the challenge is the escalating role of the internet in facilitating sexual exploitation. According to the Interior Ministry’s response, in investigations concluded in 2024, contact with victims in suspected cases of sexual exploitation was initially made online in 120 instances, representing 25.8% of all cases. This points to a critical need for enhanced online monitoring and preventative measures to combat the evolving tactics employed by traffickers. The discrepancy between victim identification and residency provisions raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and dismantling human trafficking networks within Germany.