Trafficking in human beings for sexual purposes was the main item on the agenda for the meeting of the Nordic Council Citizens' and Consumer Rights Committee in Lahtis, Finland, on Wednesday.

Anders Oljelund, the newly appointed Swedish ambassador responsible for combating trafficking, thinks there is a shortage of money and political will rather than a shortage of legislation or international agreements to fight this particular scourge.

"There is plenty of national legislation and plenty of international agreements to combat trafficking but the police lack the requisite resources. Pimps and the people behind this trade are not afraid of international agreements - they are afraid of the police," he said.

"It is also a matter of defence and security policy in as much as trafficking is organised by groups linked to terrorism, drug smuggling and the weapons trade," he added. Oljelund also also pointed out that any legalisation of prostitution would legalise trafficking and with it international crime. The Danish member Per Kaalund disagreed with that particular extrapolation.

Jobs important

Marco Gramegna of the EU's expert panel on trafficking did not agree that there are enough international agreements.

"There is still a major shortage of national and international co-operation. We also have to draw attention to the plight of the victims and point out that trafficking is also a part of the whole immigration issue. Jobs are also an important factor." He pointed out that victims often start out looking for a proper job but end up in the clutches of the traffickers instead.

"Share experiences within and between organisations, official bodies and in other local and international forums. The local level is important - the crime is committed locally and that is also where you have to offer the victim help. Appoint an independent national observer to collate and disseminate information," was Gramegna's message to the Committee.

Pirjo Valonen of the Finnish police's trafficking task force stressed the role of the police.

"We need to come to the aid of the victims and prosecute the perpetrators. We can add value to our efforts if we map out the way the phenomenon is spreading over international borders. Combating an international phenomenon like trafficking takes co-operation at local and regional level but also joint operations involving different states, since the victims, like the organisers, often work in several countries at a time. Bus and other transport companies can also be included in this co-operation," he said..

Refugees

Malin Björk of the European Women's Lobby and head of a Nordic-Baltic co-operation project stressed the importance of helping the victims and the significance of legal prostitution.

"Legalised prostitution increases demand for sexual services and exploitation. Tighter border controls and biometric passports will not stop this trade. We need to develop support and protection facilities for the victims - and this should be done at regional level, for example setting up refuges for victims in all of the Nordic and Baltic countries and providing education and training for officials and organisations."

Issue raised in the Nordic Council

The Nordic Council Citizens' and Consumer Rights Committee also considered two member proposals at its meeting in Lahti. One, from the Social Democratic Group, calls for a Nordic action plan to combat trafficking for sexual purposes. The other, from the Left Socialist & Green Group (VSG), calls for refuges to be set up for the victims of trafficking. These refuges would be located in the Baltic States and in North-West Russia. The members' proposals will now be put to the the annual Session of the Nordic Council in Copenhagen in October/November.

Media contact: Karin Arvidsson
kaa@norden.org
+4521717145