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  A Joint Project Between European Women's Lobby and the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) to Promote Preventative Measures in Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for Sexual Exploitation.

The purposes of this project are to address gaps in current anti-trafficking programs and policies that avoid focusing on gender equality, the demand, and the links between trafficking and prostitution. It will support women’s NGOs working on these issues in 14 countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kosovo/Albania, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro in actions/projects.

Summary of the Projects          Poster Gallery          A Briefing Handbook

Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations:


Framework of the Project:

The lack of a gender equality perspective in national policies is reinforced by the under-representation of women in decision-making positions, which means women’s views and specific concerns are not taken into account in all areas of life.

Gender-based violence takes multiple forms, all of which are the result of the imbalance of the power relationships between women and men. The promotion of women’s dignity is central to eradicate violence against women and to reinforce women’s human rights. It is important therefore to address the political will of governments as they attempt to create measures against trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation.

The least discussed part of the prostitution and trafficking chain has been the men who buy women and children for sexual exploitation in prostitution, pornography, sex tourism and mail order bride marketing.  All too often, the common view has been to shrug one’s shoulders and say ”men are like this,” or “prostitution has always been in existence,” or “boys will be boys.”  These messages, in reality, tell women and girls in prostitution that they must continue to do what they do because prostitution is inevitable.  This project challenges this message.

This project also challenges the message that prostitution and trafficking are not connected. Over the last decade, certain UN agencies, various governments, and some NGOs have promoted the policy that prostitution is voluntary and sex trafficking is forced. Yet, the reality is that prostitution and sex trafficking are habitually co-dependent. In countries that prohibit trafficking but decriminalize the sex industry, prostitution, sex trafficking, organized crime and child prostitution all expand. 

Finally, this project challenges the notion that prostitution is “sex work.” Some countries have legalized or decriminalized pimps and brothels, have set up “tolerance zones,” and are living off the earnings of women in prostitution by levying taxes on the women and the sex industry. They claim that State control of prostitution helps protect women and reduce trafficking.  But this is not true.  State-legitimated prostitution creates a safe haven for traffickers and pimps, and does nothing to lessen the routine abuse, violence and degradation experienced by women in prostitution.

Each country project will devise action points – concrete steps – that individuals, organizations and governments can take to tackle male violence and sexual exploitation and other measures that will strengthen the position of women in society.

Resources and Research:

The project has prepared a  “Resource Pack” on trafficking and prostitution to assist project partners with clear and accessible information to enable them to carry out the project philosophy and goals: Briefing Handbook

Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations:

Civil and military conflicts are often the cause of gender-based violence during and after conflicts. Mobilisation of male soldiers and arrival of peacekeepers contribute to the growth of rape, prostitution and sexual abuse around military installations.  Additionally displacement of citizens and the ravaging of local economies encourage migration (domestic and international), discourage sustainability, and lead to even greater incidences of women's exploitation. The CATW-EWL project also promotes a safe environment and a democratic society that includes the participation of women on an equal footing with men in decision-making processes. A seminar has been organised in Zagreb, Croatia on Preventing Trafficking in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations: Who is Responsible? Resolutions on the conference

Project Partners:

This project is jointly coordinated by EWL and CATW, 2 key international NGOs. Both CATW and the EWL have long campaigned for gender equality, women’s human rights, and combating violence against women in all its forms. In the past, they have worked together to combat trafficking and prostitution, and both contributed to and influenced the provisions that have become the UN Protocol on Trafficking.

This project is funded by the U.S. and Swedish governments.

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