WRITTEN QUESTION E-2622/97 by Christine Oddy (PSE) to the Commission (1 September 1997)

Subject: International exploitation of victims of Asian sex tourism

The European Conference held in Vienna on the Trafficking of Women was hailed a success and was summarized in the Commission's document 'Communication on trafficking in women for the purposes of sexual exploitation' (COM(96) 567 final).

What developments have taken place that the Commission is aware of, particularly in relation to the implementation of recommendations which include:

- improved facilities for the collection of reliable data and research;

- improved conditions for the dissemination of information between relevant authorities;

- increased cooperation and liaison with source country, governments, NGOs and human rights organizations;

- preventive action through the distribution of information to women in source countries who are potentially at risk;

- devising systems to locate victims of trafficking in Europe, through the establishment of information campaigns and assistance for victims;

- improving awareness training amongst embassy staff and immigration officers?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission (10 October 1997)

Since the transmission to the Council and Parliament of the Commission's communication on trafficking in women for the purpose of sexual exploitation, adopted in November 1996, a number of actions have taken place. The Council adopted, during the last semester of 1996 and beginning of 1997, four joint actions to combat trafficking in human beings:

- the extension of the mandate of the Europol drugs unit (EDU) in the field of trafficking in human beings;

- the establishment of an incentive and exchange programme for combating trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of children (STOP programme);

- the setting up by EDU of a list of centers of excellence;

- the joint action on trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of children aiming to strengthen the Member States' penal legislation in their fight against traffickers.

A number of the recommendations mentioned by the Honourable Member are being translated into concrete projects financed within the framework of the STOP programme. Such projects cover, for instance, studies on the improvement of reliable data and statistics, or studies on specific research work in the field of trafficking in women and on the creation of databases or documentation networks storing lists of articles, publications and legislation. STOP has also financed training seminars, involving judges, police and civil servants engaged in the fight against trafficking in human beings. STOP could also be used in the field of awareness training amongst embassy staff and immigration officers, as well as for information campaigns.

The new Daphne initiative set up by the Commission in June 1997 must also be mentioned as regards the development of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) networks, and projects initiated by them in the field of prevention, such as identification of victims and assistance to them.

The Commission has supported projects, such as information campaigns and reintegration schemes, in the framework of specific provisions contained in agreements with source third countries involving the protection of human rights and in particular the fight against trafficking and sexual exploitation.

In relation to the issue of Asian sex tourism, it has to be recalled that the Commission adopted in November 1996 a communication on combating child sex tourism. The overall strategy set out in this communication is twofold:

- on the one hand, reducing demand, in cooperation with the tourist industry and the NGOs concerned (coordination of information and awareness-raising campaigns, strengthening of the industry's codes of conduct and self-regulatory mechanisms);

- on the other hand, addressing the sources of supply in countries of destination, using all appropriate means, including the Community's external relations and development cooperation policies.

The implementation of these proposals for action against child sex tourism has already been launched. Among other initiatives, it has been decided to co-finance communication projects with the aim of combating child sex tourism which are significant at European level or at least in terms of transitional cooperation. The related call for proposals and call for tender have been published in the Official journal ((OJ C 232, 31.7.1997. )).