The acronym agisra stands for "Arbeitsgemeinschaft gegen internationale sexuelle und rassistische Ausbeutung" (organization against international sexual and racial exploitation).
agisra is an information and counselling centre in Cologne that, since 1993, has been providing support and advice to migrant and refugee women facing problems here because of the situation in their country of origin, their migration and their life situation.
This includes, for example
Women who were taken into Germany for forced prostitution, as wives or housemaids.
Women who are experiencing, or have experienced, violence in their families.
Refugee women.
Because of immigration laws, discrimination, racism and the ways traffickers are organised, it is necessary to give these women a special support.
Counselling is free of charge and anonymous.
Qualified professional women work in agisra, who in most cases have experienced immigration themselves.
The support of women is resource-oriented, it aims to allow women to take initiative in their own lives.
The work is biased, geared towards the interests of the women.
Individual work is supplemented by lobbying, public relations and networking.
agisra is networked on state, national and European levels with organizations which combat trafficking of women.
agisra advocates at all levels the realisation of human rights.
agisra trains outreach workers.
