Europe is divided into two parts with concern of trafficking in women and children: the member countries of the European Union who serve as a destination area and Eastern Central Europe, the Balkans, and the CIS countries who are the source and transit areas. There are six main routes inside Europe for illegal immigration. In Europe, the trafficking in women and children is dominated by trafficking connected with prostitution or other sexual exploitation. The extent of trafficking in women in Europe is based on rough estimates and it is unclear as to how these estimates have come about. However, it is evident that in Europe, the volume of trafficking has increased rapidly over the last 10 years. The majority of victims of trafficking come from Albania, Lithuania, Moldavia, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine. The increase in the total volume of trafficking in women in Europe originates from Eastern Europe. This paper is divided into two chapters. The first chapter rests on the latest data and estimates available on the volume of prostitution and trafficking for prostitution in different European countries, and on the related national legislation. The second chapter examines the characteristics of trafficking in women and children, for prostitution in Europe which includes other forms of trafficking in women and children and prevention, crime control, and witness protection legislation. In summation, the most urgent short-term task in Europe should be the adoption and implementation of compatible and appropriate legislation concerning the crimes of trafficking, as well as the developing and strengthening of effective protection and assistance mechanisms for victims of trafficking in all European countries. References