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
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