14 DE DEZEMBRO DE 2013

21

sources: in the overwhelming majority of cases of trafficking in human beings, victims are trafficked for

purposes of sexual exploitation. At the moment, the staff working on human trafficking is limited to 6 people, in

charge of processing information on thousands of cases.

3 – Several Dutch parliamentarians, including Mr Gert-Jan Segers of the Christian Union party, are in favour

of the “Swedish approach” based on criminalising the purchase of sex services. Mr Segers explained that the

attitude towards prostitution in the Netherland is not the same as in Scandinavia, as many consider it as an

expression of sexual freedom and few people view it as the result of gender inequalities. He calls for a gradual

reform of Dutch legislation on prostitution.

4 – NGOs representatives suggested that intermediate measures should include the crimalisation of

prostitution-related activities, such as pimping. Such a measure would make trafficking for sexual exploitation

more difficult, and it would be accepted easily by the general public.

5 – Most interlocutors confirmed that the Dutch law on prostitution of 2000 has substantially failed to achieve

its goals. While some improvement in the situation of sex-workers is to be found for instance in the field of

health care, no progress has been made in countering trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation. On

the contrary, the link between prostitution and trafficking, even in registered establishments, has become

increasingly strong.

6 – Interlocutors were able to provide information also on male prostitution. A remarkable share of the sex

workers who receive the assistance of the Prostitution and Health Centre in Amsterdam (about 25%) are male.

Male prostitution is not a world apart: several experts confirmed that a significant share of male sex workers are

victims of trafficking.

7 – Although the anti-trafficking and law-enforcement authorities distinguish between prostitution and

trafficking in human beings from a conceptual point of view, they all agree that the two phenomena are strictly

intertwined in reality.

8 – A draft bill is currently being debated by the Dutch parliament. It introduces a series of restrictions on

prostitution. Among others, raising minimum legal age for sex workers from 18 to 21 years. To register as sex

workers, people will also need to speak Dutch, English, German or Spanish. This is a safety requirement, as

someone who doesn’t know any of these languages can hardly ask for help. But it is also an expression of the

“barrier system”.

9 – The “barrier system”, as explained by the staff of the Amsterdam City Hall, is based on setting legal and

administrative requirements – related to technical, health and safety or other aspects – aiming to make

trafficking in human beings more difficult. These can be technical, safety or health requirements of different

kinds. Checking the respect of such requirements offers law enforcement and other authorities the opportunity

to identify and get in contact with potential victims of trafficking

10 – The City of Amsterdam has already passed regulations that reflect the content of the draft legislation

currently in preparation at national level, including the minimum age of 21 for sex workers.

A DIVISÃO DE REDAÇÃO E APOIO AUDIOVISUAL.