Debates Parlamentares - Diário 013, p. 9 (2014-02-08)

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8 DE FEVEREIRO DE 2014

The issue dealt with today is very sensitive but one which is dear to my heart if I can say it as such. As was

rightly said, as a member of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, I have been working for

several months now on a report on prostitution, trafficking and modern slavery in Europe. This report gave me

the opportunity to conduct many fact-finding visits and realise, if this was still needed, the dramatic situation all

over Europe as regards trafficking in human beings.

It is of utmost importance for us as parliamentarians to ensure that this issue is put high on the political

agenda in our respective countries.

Before making my concluding remarks, allow me, in my capacity as General Rapporteur on violence against

women, to share some good news with you concerning the Network Women Free from Violence:

— on 25 November 2013, Ms Ana Birchall organised a regional conference on the Istanbul Convention in

Bucharest with the participation of parliamentarians from Hungary, Moldova and Serbia. I strongly support and

encourage this kind of initiative as they are very good opportunities to raise awareness of the Istanbul

Convention and achieve positive results. Indeed, as far as I know, Romania is very close now to ratifying the

instrument.

— I also have the pleasure to announce that the General Council of Andorra has approved the ratification of

the Istanbul Convention on last 23 January – I hope it won’t be long before the instrument is deposited

This makes 9 countries all together that have already ratified. We need 10 ratifications for the Convention to

enter into force. Which will be the country to enable the Convention to enter into force?

In order to continue the good job we’ve been doing in the last 2 years, we need funding. I would like to ask

you to go back to your parliaments and lobby to get voluntary contributions to finance further activities.

I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that due to recent changes in national delegations many

countries are not represented. I would encourage the appointment of representatives for the Network as soon

as possible.

Finnally, I recall that the next meeting of the Network will take place in Vienna in March 2014.

Now, about the issue that was discussed here today, the sexual exploitation of girls, I would like to warmly

thank our speakers for their valuable contributions and for their day-to-day work with victims of sexual

exploitation.

When I listen to the testimony of Camelia, I cannot help thinking of Iva and Mary, two young women from

Bulgaria we welcomed last April. Their stories were very similar.

Mrs. Kiriakides quoted a phrase, something like “dreams that never come truw”. I would add another

expression: “Wrong trust in bad people”. Wrong trust in bad people, that’s what this is all about. And poverty, at

the origin of most of the victims attraction for this scourge.

These stories are often similar but we should not forget that behind these stories lie the lives of young

women and girls taken away from their loved ones, beaten up, raped and forced to sell sex in inhuman

conditions.

In Europe, the overwhelming majority of victims of trafficking are trafficked for purposes of sexual

exploitation.

As I have stressed in my report, this constitutes a modern form of slavery. Victims are caught up in a system

from which it is very difficult to escape: they are reluctant to seek help from the authorities, for fear of

deportation or retaliation against them and their families.

Sexual exploitation of women and girls is an abhorrent violation of human rights and should be firmly

condemned and prosecuted.

The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings is the main European

legal instrument for international cooperation against trafficking. It is based on a human rights approach and

puts the victim at its centre.

The Lanzarote Convention contains specific measures for international co-operation for the purpose of

preventing and combating sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children.

8 DE FEVEREIRO DE 2014 9 The issue dealt with today is very sensitive but one which is dear to my heart if I can say it as such. As was rightly said, as a member of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, I have been working for several months now on a report on prostitution, trafficking and modern slavery in Europe. This report gave me the opportunity to conduct many fact-finding visits and realise, if this was still needed, the dramatic situation all over Europe as regards trafficking in human beings. It is of utmost importance for us as parliamentarians to ensure that this issue is put high on the political agenda in our respective countries. Before making my concluding remarks, allow me, in my capacity as General Rapporteur on violence against women, to share some good news with you concerning the Network Women Free from Violence: — on 25 November 2013, Ms Ana Birchall organised a regional conference on the Istanbul Convention in Bucharest with the participation of parliamentarians from Hungary, Moldova and Serbia. I strongly support and encourage this kind of initiative as they are very good opportunities to raise awareness of the Istanbul Convention and achieve positive results. Indeed, as far as I know, Romania is very close now to ratifying the instrument. — I also have the pleasure to announce that the General Council of Andorra has approved the ratification of the Istanbul Convention on last 23 January – I hope it won’t be long before the instrument is deposited This makes 9 countries all together that have already ratified. We need 10 ratifications for the Convention to enter into force. Which will be the country to enable the Convention to enter into force? In order to continue the good job we’ve been doing in the last 2 years, we need funding. I would like to ask you to go back to your parliaments and lobby to get voluntary contributions to finance further activities. I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that due to recent changes in national delegations many countries are not represented. I would encourage the appointment of representatives for the Network as soon as possible. Finnally, I recall that the next meeting of the Network will take place in Vienna in March 2014. Now, about the issue that was discussed here today, the sexual exploitation of girls, I would like to warmly thank our speakers for their valuable contributions and for their day-to-day work with victims of sexual exploitation. When I listen to the testimony of Camelia, I cannot help thinking of Iva and Mary, two young women from Bulgaria we welcomed last April. Their stories were very similar. Mrs. Kiriakides quoted a phrase, something like “dreams that never come truw”. I would add another expression: “Wrong trust in bad people”. Wrong trust in bad people, that’s what this is all about. And poverty, at the origin of most of the victims attraction for this scourge. These stories are often similar but we should not forget that behind these stories lie the lives of young women and girls taken away from their loved ones, beaten up, raped and forced to sell sex in inhuman conditions. In Europe, the overwhelming majority of victims of trafficking are trafficked for purposes of sexual exploitation. As I have stressed in my report, this constitutes a modern form of slavery. Victims are caught up in a system from which it is very difficult to escape: they are reluctant to seek help from the authorities, for fear of deportation or retaliation against them and their families. Sexual exploitation of women and girls is an abhorrent violation of human rights and should be firmly condemned and prosecuted. The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings is the main European legal instrument for international cooperation against trafficking. It is based on a human rights approach and puts the victim at its centre. The Lanzarote Convention contains specific measures for international co-operation for the purpose of preventing and combating sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children.

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