At the national level

At the national level
Ireland: One in four sex buyers believe prostitutes trafficked, controlled or underage

Posted on 24 February 2013 |

[Dublin, 21 February 2013] A member organisation of the EWL, the Immigrant Council of Ireland has recently released the findings of an online survey profiling sex buyers and non-buyers in Ireland. The survey looked at the characteristics of these groups, their experiences, the reasons behind why they had or had not bought sex, and the perceived effect of a number of measures aimed at deterring the purchase of sex.
The survey was conducted as part of a wider EU funded project, ‘STOP (...) Read more
At the national level
UK: EWL members put the abolition of prostitution on the agenda

Posted on 14 February 2013 |

[London, 15 February 2013] A member of the European Women’s Lobby, the National Alliance of Women’s Organisations, NAWO, is organising its Conference following its Annual General Meeting, to be held on the 28th February at Europe House, Smith Square, London, SW1P 3EU, from 2.45pm to 4.30pm. Entitled ’A Europe Free from Prostitution’, the conference will aim at discussing the issue of prostitution and trafficking for sexual exploitation in the UK and Europe.
Chaired by well-known journalist and (...) Read more
At the national level
EWL and its members contribute to the UK consultation on prostitution

Posted on 5 February 2013 |

[Brussels, 7 February 2013] After Northern Ireland in October 2012, and Scotland in December 2012, it is now Westminster that is conducting a survey on the issue of prostitution. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Prostitution and the Global Sex Industry has launched an inquiry to assess the current UK legal situation surrounding prostitution. The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) has sent its response today. From England, the UK-wide organisation Women@thewell, has responded carrying NAWO, the (...) Read more
At the national level
Spain - EWL members put prostitution on the political agenda

Posted on 21 December 2012 |

[Madrid, 20 December 2012] The EWL national coordination in Spain, CELEM, organised on Thursday 20 December a conference dedicated to the issue of prostitution, in the European Parliament Office in Madrid. In a context of divergent approaches in Spain, with on the one hand local campaigns targeting sex buyers (Madrid, Sevilla), and on the other hand the recent opening of prostitution schools (Valencia), it was urgent for Spain to launch a political debate and propose a public event to learn (...) Read more
At the national level
Sweden - EWL members call on companies to take on purchase of sex on business trips

Posted on 11 December 2012 |

[Brussels, 07 December 2012] The Sveriges Kvinnolobby on 10 December called on companies to take responsibility if their employees buy sex in connection with business travel.
One third of all Swedes who buy sex do so abroad in connection with business travel. Since 1999 there is a law in Sweden that prohibits prostitution and the purchase of sexual services but the law does not apply outside Swedish boarders and if Swedes purchase sex in other countries. Therefore, EWL members in Sweden (...) Read more
At the national level
Croatia - EWL members debate prostitution law with officials

Posted on 9 December 2012 |

[Brussels, 03 December 2012] On 30 November 2012, PETRA Network - Prevention and Elimination of Trafficking in Women and Girls in Croatia organised a round table to discuss an upcoming law on Public Peace and Order, which addresses the issue of prostitution. The new law is at the drafting stage. It proposes that both women in prostitution and sex buyers would be face prosecution. PETRA, as well as the Women’s Network Croatia, strongly oppose the criminalisation of women affected by (...) Read more
At the national level
Cyprus - EWL members launch first public debate on prostitution

Posted on 4 December 2012 |

[Brussels, 03 December 2012] On 28 November 2012, the Cyprus Women’s Lobby, with the support of the European Parliament Office in Cyprus, organised a conference aiming at raising awareness on prostitution as a form of violence against women. This event was the first one to concretely address prostitution, and to propose contributions to analyse the phenomenon from a gender perspective. The event was a great success: the room was packed with engaged participants and the press coverage was (...) Read more
At the national level
EWL Spanish members question national policies on prostitution, Madrid conference, 20 December 2012

Posted on 29 November 2012 |

[Madrid, 29 November 2012] On 20 December 2012, CELEM, the Spanish Coordination for the European Women’s Lobby (EWL), will organise a conference on the issue of prostitution, in order to fuel the debate and set the tone of current and future discussion at national and local level in Spain.
In a context of divergent approaches in Spain, with on the one hand local campaigns targeting the sex buyers (Madrid, Sevilla), and on the other hand the recent opening of prostitution schools (Valencia), (...) Read more
At the national level
EWL Turkish members discuss prostitution and violence against women

Posted on 23 November 2012 |

[Istanbul, 11 November 2012] Several members of the EWL Turkish coordination gathered on Sunday 11 November to discuss the issue of prostitution. This capacity building seminar was proposed by the European Women’s Lobby (EWL), as part of the EWL campaign ‘Together for a Europe free from prostitution’. Turkish members could exchange and gain knowledge from the expertise of Grégoire Théry, Secretary General of Mouvement du Nid France, and EWL Policy Officer Pierrette Pape, who is coordinating (...) Read more
At the national level
Cyprus - EWL-EU conference puts prostitution on the agenda

Posted on 18 November 2012 |

[Nicosia, 18 November 2012] The Cyprus Women’s Lobby (CWL) and the European Parliament Office in Cyprus will on 28 November host a conference entitled “Violence against Women and Prostitution”.
The aim of the conference, to take place in the EU House in Nicosia, is to initiate a public dialogue on the issue of women in prostitution in Cyprus. Many academics, activists and policy makers view prostitution as a form of violence against women and believe the system should be abolished. Others (...) Read more