REPORT
ON
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

This year we moved a motion at the TUC Women’s Conference on legalising prostitution which was lost at the conference.
On 3rd December I attended a European Conference on Human Trafficking in Stockholm. I went with an open mind to listen to how other countries deal with this issue. Below is a report on what I heard and I think the CWU should have a full and frank discussion on this issue and see if we do have the right policy on this issue.

The conference started at 8.30 Maj Britt Theorin a former member of the European Parliament and former member of the Swedish Parliament addressed conference.
Kajsa Wahlberg, Swedish National Rapporteur on human trafficking and Detective Inspector at the National Police Board & Jonas Trolle Detective inspector with the Stockholm police, human trafficking unit. Told conference what they are doing to stop the trafficking.

Sweden criminalized human trafficking for sexual exploitation in July 2002. The remaining forms of human trafficking and purposes of exploitation were criminalized two years later in July 2004. Sweden has also adopted other legislative measures deemed effective in the fight against human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

In Sweden buying sexual services was banned in 1999, under the Act prohibiting the purchase of sexual services, and is punishable by fines or up to six month’s imprisonment. The offence covers all forms of sexual services, whether they are purchased on the street, in brothels or from escort services. It is only the purchase of sexual services that is prohibited, not the act of selling. It was considered most important to motivate those involved in prostitution to attempt to exit without risking punishment.

It appears the average age of people who are trafficked is between 13 and 18 years of age.

Factors that can cause people to seek better conditions and fall victim to human trafficking include poverty, oppression, lack of human rights, lack of social or economic opportunity, and marginalization. Dangers associated with conflict, political instability, civil unrest and natural disasters. Some parents sell their children, not just for the money, but also in the hope the children will escape poverty and try and find a better life and more opportunities. Social or cultural practices can also facilitate human trafficking. The devaluation of women and girls in a society makes them disproportionately vulnerable to human trafficking; the lack of gender equality is a significant contributory cause. Individual factors could be such as family conflicts domestic violence.
Without demand for the services that victims are forced to provide, there would be no market for human trafficking. This is a form of slavery

During the afternoon we were shown a DVD about the Dutch Showcase were prostitution has been legalised. This DVD showed a French lady who had been a prostitute talking against the legalisation of prostitution and I listened very intently to what she said. This is slavery no woman sells her body because she enjoys a man violating her body. She said you will find the woman does this service because the woman cannot get a job which is paid well. If she had a good job she would have enough money. Whilst watching the DVD we saw big areas fenced off and there were like partition areas were from about 5 o’clock at night cars would access these areas and prostitutes would carry out there services. On the DVD you could see men just leaving work and calling in for the services it was really in your face do we want this in the UK.

Denise Marshall from the Poppy Project is totally against the legalising of prostitution Denise believes trafficking and prostitution are linked. It appears the UK Government do not think they have a problem but listening to some of the horror stories Dennis told the conference this is not true. Dennis told the conference she recently rescued an 18 year old who told Denise of the day when she SERVICED 40 men when she asked her pimp why on this particular day was there so many men he told her it was Christmas Day how sad this young woman had no idea or no comprehension of what time of year it was.

At the end of conference delegates where asked to sign a petition I have not done this yet as I would like the views of our members on this issue.

Linda Roy