Concrete measures must be taken to combat
trafficking and prostitution in the Baltic States and Russia. One way is
to share experiences with the Nordic countries to a much greater
extent.
"Social workers, the police and other people at
grass roots level should meet much more often. It is important that they
acquaint themselves with solutions from other countries," said social
worker Kristina Misiniene from Lithuania in Helsinki on
Monday.
Working against trafficking and prostitution was in focus
when the Nordic Council's Left-wing Socialist Green Group met in the
Finnish parliament. The Nordic Council"s party groups, committees and
Presidium are gathered for their traditional January meetings on Monday
and Tuesday.
Misiniene works for the aid organisation Caritas in
Lithuania. A project to support victims of trafficking and prostitutes has
been running since 2000.
"One problem is that many of the victims
do not dare to testify. We do not have a witness protection programme that
works," said Misiniene.
The Danish MP Line Barfod mentioned the
Nordic countries hotel boycott. People involved in Nordic co-operation
must only use hotels that can guarantee that they do not sell sex
services.
"This type of recommendation can be spread to the other
countries in the Baltic Sea Region," she felt.
The Nordic countries
and the Nordic Council of Ministers have taken the initiative to fight
trafficking and help socially vulnerable children in the adjacent areas.
The new Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, Halldór Ásgrímsson
from Iceland, has emphasized that the problem demands attention.
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Social
worker Kristina Misiniene from Lithuania Photo: Patrik Edman
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