Casa Rut

Abstract

This article depicts the case study of Casa Rut (“Ruth Home”), a shelter for victims of sexual trafficking, who are predominantly Nigerian women. Since 1995, through the implementation of article 18 of the consolidated act on immigration, Casa Rut has offered a program of social assistance and rehabilitation to 340 women, 120 of whom were Nigerian and 41 of whom were pregnant. Data gathered during a 2-month internship between 2008 and 2009 are examined in light of the context of the Nigerian sexual trafficking operation and its collusion with the local criminal organization Camorra in the surroundings of the southern Italian city of Caserta. Casa Rut’s interventions are analyzed according to a multilevel perspective and the nature of victims’ case management in order to assess whether this nongovernmental organization can be considered to represent “good practice” in the fight against sexual trafficking. Hence, the work of the social cooperative NewHope—a tailoring cooperative founded in 2004 by Casa Rut that provides vocational training to formerly trafficked women—is considered in relation to the long-term employment needs of sexual trafficking victims. Human and sexual trafficking has not been extensively investigated within social work, even though practitioners are best positioned to address this issue. This work therefore aims to facilitate social service providers in their everyday activities by presenting multilevel evidence of good practice in the fight against the modern day slave trade.