The Organisation

EXIT is a non-governmental, non-religious and non-profit organisation based in Vienna, dedicated to combat human trafficking from Africa to Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation.  Founded by the Nigerian author and human rights activist Joana Adesuwa Reiterer, in 2006, EXIT seeks to educate African and European publics about the crime of human trafficking for Sexual exploitation. By way of awareness campaigns in Nigeria and Austria, EXIT seeks to alert audiences on both continents to the crime of human trafficking. Employing a preventive approach EXIT provides Nigerians with an appropriate account of life in Europe, and seeks to inform about the reality, and possible consequences, of illegal migration. In Austria, EXIT alerts the public as well as the authorities to the reality of life of victims of human trafficking, and lobbies for the implementation of victim centred legal frameworks as well as efficient and sustainable protection and assistance programmes for trafficking survivors. To achieve our mandate we closely cooperate with governmental and non-governmental institutions in Austria as well as Nigeria.

Aims        

1. Combat human trafficking from Africa for sexual exploitation
2. Raise awareness on violence practices and discrimination against women and children in Africa
3. Draw sincere interest on the plight of the Victims for the development of Victims oriented protection, assistance  programs and laws
4. Building public awareness for the crime of human trafficking

What we do

1. Awareness raising and sensitization in Africa and Europe
2. Basic counselling and creative therapy for victims of trafficking
3. Lobbying for victim oriented legal frame work
4. Research and documentation of trafficking related issues
5. Networking in Europe and Africa
6. Preventive support projects in Nigeria

Join NGO EXIT Facebook Group against human trafficking!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63786653072

Get Help - Counselling

We offer basic counselling to victims of trafficking and other affected persons. We would outline to you, possible opportunities presently provided by the law and other organisations within and outside Austria. This will enable you to decide your further steps. Note that, since the crime of trafficking has varieties of aspects coupled with it, there is no common concept of solution for all victims. We outline specific single concepts depending on the victim's story, circumstances and willingness to take action. The counselling will provide you with available possibilities to help you in reaching a decision on the strategies to get out of your current situation. Networking you to relevant organiations is also our prime task.For detailed information, please click http://www.adesuwainitiatives.org/page/index.php?id=25

Definition of Trafficking

Trafficking in persons shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. (UN)

Visit our "Information Center" for details.

Facts and Numbers

1. 600,000 - 800,000 people are trafficked across international boarders every year; 80% are women and girls, up to 50% are minors.  (US State Department)
2. 12 millions people are trafficked for forced labour or sexual exploitation   worldwide. (UN)
3. About 1,2 million children are trafficked every year. (UNICEF)
4. In Europe alone, an estimated 500.000 women and girls are being forced to prostitute each year. (International Organization for Migration)
5. Up to 100,000 of them come from Nigeria. (Ware Frau)
6. Profits from forced prostitution amount to 7 billion US-$ a year. (UN)
7. 50-75 % of women prostituting in Vienna are victims of human trafficking. (OSZE)
8. People trafficking has reached epidemic proportions over the past decade, with a global annual market of about $42.5 billion". (Council of Europe)

Trafficking victims typically are recruited using coercion, deception, fraud, the abuse of power, or outright abduction. Threats, violence, and economic leverage such as debt bondage can often make a victim consent to exploitation. 

Other Related Facts (Concerning the Austrian situation)

Asylum seekers are not allowed to have a regular legal job or employment except they are self-employed or ar egranted a working permit. This results to very few options, like the males selling "homeless people newspapers" and the women prostituting.

Victims of trafficking were only granted a humanitarian permit for a short period of time if they closely cooperate with law enforcement authorities and this was not thier automatic entitlement. Since the 1st of April 2009, the new NAG law has created a new residence permit entitlement according to the §69. Identified Victims of trafficking are entitled to at  least 6 months of residence permit according to the new law. 

The Issue in the case of Nigeria

Over a 100.000 Nigeria women have fallen victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation in Europe. Visit our "Information Center" for details.