Trafficking and Exploitation“Who Speaks for Women in Prostitution? Press conference 17 October

Dialogue with survivors of prostitution and sex trafficking, the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking, MEPs and NGOs

The increase in trafficking from Eastern Europe and the New Independent States to the EU over the last three years has made it a priority on the agenda of the British presidency, and a new European Commission proposal on combating trafficking was presented on 19 October.

This press conference, jointly organised by EWL and the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, gathered survivors from different countries who gave shocking testimonies of the violence they experienced when in prostitution and explained why it is not a "normal job" and how clients and the system treat women just as marchandise. They presented a Manifesto expressing their refusal of regulation and promotion of prostitution and the need for services to help women to create a future outside of prostitution.                                                                                                            The Manifesto also calls for governments' actions to punish traffickers, pimps and men who buy women for prostitution and to provide safety and security from those who would harm them.

MEP Inger Segelström (Sweden, PSE) insisted on the importance for the EU to set a goal to reduce by half the amount of victims of trafficking in the next 10 years and for national legislation to follow on the Swedish legislation. EWL endorsed her proposal to launch a Zero Tolerance Campaign against Trafficking, and will continue to work on this issue at different levels.

 For more information, contact Colette De Troy at the European Women’s Lobby Email centre-violence@womenlobby.org 

 Speakers

·          Sigma Huda - UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking

·          Inger Segelström - Swedish MEP, Social Democrat

·          Colette de Troy - Policy Action Centre on Violence Against Women,
European Women’s Lobby

·          Janice Raymond - Executive Director oalition Against Trafficking in Women

·          Yolande Grenson  - Pander of Pandora, Belgium

·          Chong Kim - Korean American survivor who was trafficked into legal brothel in Nevada and has been a former “Madam”

·          Fiona Broadfoot  - British survivor, now on staff at the NIA Project for women in prostitution, UK

·          Odile Poulsen - Writer, and survivor of prostitution and incest, Denmark

·          Vednita Cartner - African American survivor and founder of Breaking Free, USA

Note to Editors

In major EU cities, between 60 to 90% of women in prostitution are of foreign origin. Trafficking in women and children is a key element in supplying the sex industry, which makes a profit exceeding $12 billion annually. This does not increase the empowerment of women or their socio-economic position. The sex traders, whether legal « sex entrepreneurs » or illegal pimps, are the biggest beneficiaries.  In a 2005 report, the International Labour Organisation estimates that 72% of those exploited -- 360 000 persons -- are sexually exploited. In transition countries, of 210 000 people affected, 95% are in sexual exploitation. The profit realised through this exploitation is the raison d’être for much of the trafficking in women and children.

This press conference was organised by the European Women’s Lobby and the Coalition Against Trafficking of Women with the support of the Swedish PS Delegation of the European Parliament. The European Women’s Lobby brings together over 4000 organisations, working to achieve equality of women and men. Founded in 1990, it is the largest coalition of women’s NGOs in the European Union.

The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women is a non- governmental organization (NGO) that promotes women’s human rights. It has a 17-year history of working against trafficking and prostitution worldwide, including sex tourism, mail order bride industries and the international sex industry. CATW has regional networks in Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, Latin America and North America.  Additionally, there are over 500 NGOs worldwide who are affiliates of the Coalition. Website: http://www.catwinternational.org