During the last decade, the need to adapt to European policies stimulated also in Portugal the construction of a system to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings (THB) and assistance to trafficked migrants. The institutional mobilization on the issue took place from an image of the “victim” as a woman, a foreigner, sexually exploited, and a reading of TSH as a problem of gender violence. What was the role of feminist organizations in promoting the rights of trafficked women? What is the current experience of civil society organizations in assisting and reintegrating of trafficked migrant women? What are the chances that trafficked women (and men) will move from their “victim” status towards an anti-trafficking movement? The article intends to answer these questions moving from an extended research experience, based on the integration of scientific observation with the collection of qualitative interviews with trafficked women (and men), as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations and criminal police agencies.

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Human trafficking,Anti-trafficking movement