Trafficking in Moldova: 'Shocking Situation'

In Eastern Europe, countless young women fall prey to human traffickers. These predators convince them to migrate to western Europe, where jobs are said to be plentiful. But the reality is starkly different from the better life the traffickers promise.

The tiny country of Moldova serves as a hub for human trafficking. Young women are often abducted and forced into prostitution. They suffer both physical and sexual violence. Michael McKennett, the head of Catholic Relief Services in Moldova, reports: "It's a shocking situation because it is such a tiny country among giant countries…this tiny little country is being devastated by this phenomenon."

With a strong focus on prevention, CRS has joined with Moldovan businesses to create jobs for at-risk women. The agency has also developed a complete training program that teaches job skills and money management so that women can find jobs that pay a living wage. In this video, McKennett details the harsh situations some women face and CRS' work to end the epidemic of human trafficking in Moldova.