24.2.2006                    Press Release – For immediate release

High Score for EU Ministers for refusing the sexual women’s exploitation at sports events

The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) welcomes the EU Council of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA)’s decision of 21/2/06 to take action against trafficking in women for prostitution during major sports events. EWL congratulates in particular the Swedish Justice Minister, Mr Bodstrom, for bringing this issue to the Council to examine how to prevent trafficking in the context of the forthcoming World Football Cup in Germany. EWL also welcomes the decision of the Austrian Presidency to put this issue on the agenda of the next Justice Minister’s meeting in April 2006.

Even if no precise data are available on actual numbers that bear witness to the rise of prostitution during the Football Cup, all estimates foresee an important rise in the commerce of women’s bodies, which can’t be met by German women or women from the EU alone. The owners of small and mega-brothels and sex industry infrastructures, including “performance boxes” in Germany are ready to make a maximum of profit during this period wit the massive influx of male supporters.

This situation was predictable. When the sex industry becomes a “normal business”, as it is now the case in Germany, which regulated prostitution a few years ago, how can you stop men going to buy new, young and ever changing women’s bodies? “EWL recalls that prostitution is sexual exploitation in which women –legally or not - are physically and psychologically harmed, and we strongly oppose that women’s bodies are treated as commodities to be bought and sold,” said Kirsti Kolthoff, President of EWL.

Fighting trafficking cannot be carried out without ending sexual exploitation and men’s buying of women’s bodies. EWL recalls that trafficking is led by the demand and therefore asks the Council and the Member States to consider the Swedish legislation on prostitution as a model to improve equality of women and men and an effective way to combat trafficking and women’s exploitation. “The Swedish law of 1999 is unique as it punishes the client – not the women in prostitution - and has already proven its effectiveness in reducing trafficking. Other countries are planning a change in this direction and we encourage them to go forward ”, said Mary McPhail, EWL’ Secretary General. Although legislation on prostitution is the domain of member states, trafficking is a cross-border issue and must be addressed by the EU, without confusing trafficking with illegal immigration.