In Austria, trafficking for the purposes of prostitution is specifically
penalised by section 217 of the Austrian Penal Code, while trafficking
for other purposes such as domestic exploitation, economic exploitation
or even striptease dancing is not particularly penalised under
the Austrian Penal Code
Paragraph one of section 217 penalises the recruitment or abduction
of persons for the purposes of prostitution in a country of which
the person is a non-resident, engagement by the person concerned
in prostitution prior to being trafficked notwithstanding.
Trafficking for the purposes of prostitution is penalised by
a six month to five-year term of imprisonment. If trafficking
has been committed under aggravated circumstances, i.e., where
use has been made of deception, threats or force or for the purposes
of (financial) gain, the punishment is a one to ten-year term
of imprisonment.
Under the Austrian Penal Code, slavery is penalised under Article
104:
"Whoever trades in slaves shall be punished by a term of
imprisonment of ten to twenty years" and " whoever induces the
servitude of another person or reduces him/her to a condition
similar to slavery"
Trafficking for the purposes of sexual or economic exploitation
can be prosecuted by Article 104.
In July 2000, section 105 was introduced in the Aliens Act with
a view to penalising the exploitation of a foreigner, when abuse
has been made of the vulnerable position of the foreigner.
