Is the Concept of ‘Ideal Victim’ Impacting Romanian Anti-Trafficking Efforts?

This paper interrogates how the concept of the ‘ideal victim’ ‐ a young, innocent woman coerced into sexual exploitation ‐ continues to shape anti-trafficking responses in Romania. Drawing on Nils Christie’s framework and employing a constructivist case study approach, it explores how this narrative influences prosecution outcomes, access to victim protection, and the design of awareness campaigns. While Romania has adopted international legal frameworks and introduced national strategies, deep-rooted biases and systemic inefficiencies limit the recognition and support of ‘non-ideal’ victims, including men, Roma, migrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those trafficked for other types of exploitation. The analysis, structured around the ‘3P’ framework (prosecution, protection, prevention), reveals a mismatch between inclusive policy rhetoric and exclusive implementation practices. The paper concludes with recommendations aimed at deconstructing the ideal victim narrative through inclusive legal reforms, expanded victim support systems, and more representative public campaigns.