About us
The German Network and Coordination Office Against Trafficking and Violence against Women in migration is a registered non-profit organization. We engage on a regional, national and international level, fighting trafficking of women and furthering immigrants’ rights.
Established by social workers in 1987 to support victims of trafficking, the NGO became an official organization in 1999. It now supports 37 member organizations, including counseling centers for victims of trafficking, immigrant focused projects, safe houses for women, counseling services for prostitutes and single women. The overarching goal of the organizations is to advocate effective, progressive measures to tackle human rights violations against women.
As the only German organization with this focus, we want to act as a national and international interface between counseling services, public and private policy and key organizations in this field.
KOK defines the trafficking of women in terms of the migration process, which is triggered by the prevalence of poverty, global crises and conflicts, and rapid transitions in political and economic spheres. Many women become victims of human trafficking when they look for jobs as migrant workers in order to support their families. KOK acts in accordance with the principles of human rights, and does not view the women exclusively as victims. Instead we recognize their personal strength and right to make their own choices, and encourage them to take their rights seriously.
Due to sociopolitical changes, supplementary responsibilities and to strengthen the work as an unregistered organization, the ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) financially supported the development of a professional lobbying and cooperation center in 1999 in Potsdam to further the interests of member organizations. In December 2006 the center and its office were moved to Berlin.
KOK represents the common social and political interests of its members, and its mission is to develop and strengthen and network regional strengths on a national level. We achieve this through mutual exchange of information and experiences, collaborative action and corresponding development programs. KOK lobbies on a national and international level to contribute to the political demands of legislation and decision making processes.
Our work includes building and sustaining bi- and multilateral contacts, and exchanging data and cooperating with other international women’s and human rights organizations.