Abstract

This article examines violence as a tool used within criminal enterprises of trafficking of women for sexual exploitation. Its use is not seen as an isolated or incidental phenomenon but is placed in the broader context of women’s vulnerability to violence linked to structural inequalities, socio-economic marginalization, and persistent culture norms. In this context, criminal enterprises involved in human trafficking exploit both individual vulnerability and broader socio-economic conditions, institutional dysfunctions, and specific cultural norms. In this article, data obtained from court decisions are combined with findings from a separate field study that employs qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Viewed through the prism of enterprise theory, it is shown that violence against women within this criminal activity has a functional role and serves an economic purpose. The findings reveal that various techniques of coercion and submission are used as control mechanisms to maintain victims’ compliance, reduce the risk of business interruption, and ensure the profitability of criminal enterprises. Additionally, parallels between the coercive techniques employed by traffickers and the methods used in general violence against women were identified. In conclusion, the article highlights the need for multidisciplinary responses that integrate criminal justice measures, victim protection, social support, and policies aimed at reducing structural inequalities. It underscores the importance of future research on the relationship between violence against women and vulnerability to coercive control and exploitation.

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