WRITTEN QUESTION E-3286/98

by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission

(9 November 1998)

Subject: Action to prevent trafficking in women

At the East-West conference on trafficking in women that took place in early October of this year Anita Gradin, the Member of the Commission responsible for immigration, justice and home affairs, said that "500 000 women, two thirds of them from Central and Eastern Europe, are victims of trafficking in women in the European Union".

It was also said that combating trafficking in women was a major problem because punishment was possible only in the country of destination, where the traffickers were not usually present.

According to information at this conference European information campaigns are currently being run in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine and Bulgaria.

1. Precisely what form do these information campaigns take?

2. What action is being taken to get to grips with the problem of trafficking in women?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission

(8 January 1999)

1. Among measures to improve the fight against trafficking in women, information campaigns are a useful tool. They can help prevention through information to women, raising of public awareness on this issue, networking of non governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations, creation of links between these organisations and national officials and law enforcement authorities dealing with trafficking in women, and proposals for further appropriate legislation.

In this context, the Commission highlighted at the East-West conference of 16 October 1998 in Vienna the Union-United States joint action concerning the information campaigns run by La Strada in Poland and by the IOM in the Ukraine. The starting point of these information campaigns was under the Luxembourg Presidency a joint meeting funded by the Commission's STOP programme and involving both Community and United States experts in order to determine relevant guidelines. An evaluation of these campaigns has already been completed and the results are encouraging. One of the most important results is perhaps the many new networks and partnerships that start to develop between officials and local NGOs.

These two information campaigns, carried out in close co-operation with NGO networks, were based on contacts with officials and also with women through local NGOs. Meetings with women and contacts with the media (information films on television, press conferences, etc ) targeted identified risk groups and the general public. Women were mainly informed on risks related to prostitution based on proposals for working abroad (e.g. through work and artistic agencies) and other dangers such as risks in term of physical integrity, of constraint, of slavery, of administrative situation, on difficulties to return to their country of origin, and on health. These campaigns also focused on assistance to victims and witnesses.

2. The European initiative for democracy and human rights, under which actions in Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) and the New Independent States can be financed, has provided over the last three years financial support to NGOs in the fight against trafficking in those countries. An East-West partnership between La Strada, based in Poland, and the Dutch organisation Stichting tegen Vrouwenhandel, has been conducting awareness raising and prevention campaigns in those countries where the problem is most prevalent. The work also includes training measures to help other NGOs to become active in the campaigns.

The Commission has taken several initiatives to reinforce the fight against trafficking in women such as a conference in Vienna in June 1996, and the communication to the Council and the Parliament containing an action plan against trafficking in women for sexual exploitation of November 1996(1). The Commission also manages the STOP programme adopted in November 1996(2). This establishes an incentive and exchange programme for those responsible for combating trafficking in women and the sexual exploitation of children. Since 1996, 30 projects including several projects involving applicant countries have been supported. In addition, in response to the Parliament, a campaign against violence against women will be launched in 1999. Furthermore, the Commission has presented a proposal to the Council in order to allow the adoption of a legal basis for the Daphne initiative(3) of which the main aim is to support the setting up of NGO networks and pilot projects, to support NGO activities in the fight against violence, including trafficking as well as aid and assistance to victims.

Other measures taken by the Council are related to Europol: the extension of the mandate in November 1996 and the starting of activities related to trafficking in women in October 1998. In 1999 the launching of a specific project involving the CEECs should be mentioned. The main aims are to activate the exchanges of information and intelligence, to improve a Union special situation report focusing on geographical locations, methods, trends, sources and centres of excellence, to develop an overview and to identify specific major criminal groups. This project will cover prevention, the development of training programmes and the protection of witnesses. Further, in February 1997 the Council adopted a joint action in order to criminalise trafficking in human beings(4).

Finally, on 9 December 1998 the Commission adopted a communication for further action on the fight against trafficking in women.

(1) COM(96) 567 final.

(2) OJ L 322, 12.12.1996.

(3) OJ C 259, 18.8.1998.

(4) OJ L 63, 4.3.1997.