Three political messages
The “Happy Whore”
There is an ongoing and quite frequent public debate regarding the existence of the so-called “happy whore.”
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If she exists, we have yet to meet her.
(over the last 20 years.)
No young woman voluntarily asks a guidance counselor how she might train to become a prostitute—whether in a brothel or on the streets.
Instead, we have encountered several women who have sought our support to leave prostitution and rediscover themselves.
I stedet opleves:
The Danish woman…
• who, having suffered severe neglect as a child, has sought validation for her shattered self-esteem by engaging in prostitution,
• who, “by chance”—following a heavy night of drinking—woke up on a Sunday morning with money in her hand, having sold her body in a hotel room to a man twice her age, and who has relied solely on prostitution for her livelihood ever since,
• who may have completed a master’s degree, but who, during her studies, supplemented her student grant by selling her body—perhaps starting with “sugar dating”—only to see her self-esteem gradually destroyed.
The foreign woman (Romanian, Brazilian, Thai, Nigerian, Russian, and 20 other nationalities over the past 20 years):
• who has been trafficked as a sex slave
• who, seeing no other way out of poverty, turned to prostitution and now believes she is capable of nothing else
• who met the “wrong boyfriend,” fell into bad company, and suddenly found herself on the streets working as a prostitute.
Everyone has an opinion on prostitution, and it is a topic that often stirs up strong emotions. Everyone believes they are in the right.
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However, there is universal agreement on the issue of trafficking: it must be stopped!
120-day reflection period
Current Danish legislation—which grants individuals identified as victims of trafficking a period of 30 to 120 days of legal residence in Denmark—is entirely inadequate.
Victims of trafficking need more than 30 to 120 days to regain enough trust to rebuild their sense of identity and self-image—steps essential for boosting their self-worth and establishing a secure foundation to begin a career outside of prostitution.
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We have a clear message for Danish politicians: Extend the reflection period—allow for a longer stay in Denmark!
Lack of State Support and Funding
Since NEWLIVES began its work in 2007, it has always been—and remains—important to highlight the current lack of public and state support and funding for programs aimed at individuals in prostitution and victims of human trafficking.
When someone is in the process of leaving prostitution, they typically require a wide range of diverse—and often highly individualized—forms of assistance, support, and care. Yet, the support and funding provided by successive Danish governments remain consistently inadequate.
Part of the reason for this lies in a lack of interest, as well as a shortage of well-established methods and facilities to provide optimal support for these women.
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The message remains clear: Enough talk—it is time for action!
Do something about it now.
SUSPECT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING / director Anja Dalhoff.
An educational film produced for the Center against Human Trafficking, focusing on human trafficking for the sex industry, forced labor, and organ trafficking. The film illustrates through concrete examples the crucial role that health professionals play in identifying and helping potential victims of human trafficking in Denmark.
The purpose of the film is to inform healthcare professionals about the symptoms and signs of human trafficking. Through a number of concrete examples, the film provides instructions on how healthcare professionals can handle a direct encounter with a potential victim of human trafficking and ensure that the person receives the right assistance, protection and help.
Duration: 25 minutes
Production year: 2011
Original language: Danish
The film can be viewed on vimeo:
KIDNEY ON ICE / Director Anja Dalhoff /2008
KIDNEY ON ICE is about illegal organ trafficking in Europe and the complex issues associated with it. Anja Dalhoff tells the story of two Moldovan men who have sold a kidney and two Danish kidney patients, both desperately waiting for a kidney transplant.
Production year 2008.
Duration 52 minutes.
Danish and English subtitles.
Original languages: Romanian, Spanish and Danish.
Link to watch the film:
The film can also be purchased as a DVD at:
AFFECTED FOR LIFE / Director Anja Dalhoff / 2009
AFFECTED FOR LIFE is produced in collaboration with UNODC's Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Unit. The film is aimed at professionals such as lawyers, public prosecutors, judges etc., but can also be used by a wider audience of NGOs and others, e.g. social authorities, working with different aspects of human trafficking.
The film presents a number of victims of trafficking, whose statements form the basis for a more general understanding of the many facets of human trafficking and smuggling. The film describes the process of human trafficking itself and methodically examines the various themes associated with this.
The film can be viewed on UNODOC's website:
WHEN THE MOON IS BLACK /director Anja Dalhoff/2007
From Istedgade in Copenhagen to Lagos in Nigeria, we follow the powerful and authentic story of the fate of two young women. In unique interviews, the women tell their stories. For fear of reprisals from perpetrators who do not shy away from violence or murder, it has never been possible to document the horrific reality of Nigerian women before. "I'd rather eat sand in Nigeria, than work in the streets of Copenhagen", says one of the film's main characters about her traumatic experiences in Danish society.
The film then shows the woman Joy, who is deported back to Nigeria, where she is left empty-handed and without support. This film is followed by the film “A Life After Trafficking”, where we see Joy again in 2011-2013.
The film can be seen on VOD, where it is distributed by Journeyman Pictures under the title Trapped.
Or it can be purchased as a DVD: