II SÉRIE-D — NÚMERO 17

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Then there are a series of measures of “harm reduction”, that should be included in any legal system,

irrespective of the approach it has chosen on prostitution:

— ban the advertising of sex services, including when in disguise;

— criminalise pimping;

— provide people in prostitution with legal and helth assistance and set up “exit programmes” for those who

to qui prostitution.

Some indications are aimed specifically at countries which have legalised prostitution:

— consider fixing the minimum legal age for prostitution at 21;

— apply law and regulations effectively, and apply them to all forms of sex work, including Internet

prostitution;

— follow the Dutch example and create a “barrier system” to make sure that it is not too easy to practice sex

work and also that the authorities can constantly keep an eye on this business, which is risky;

— require that information on the rights of sex workers as well as contact details of anti-trafficking services

be clearly displayed in prostitution establishments.

As regards policies on trafficking, the Assembly should renew once again its support to the Council of

Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings and recommend states to sign and ratify it

and fully cooperate with its monitoring mechanism.

Action Plans should be established and they should involve parliaments in the preparation, implementation

and monitoring of the implementation.

And, very important: all agencies and services active in trafficking prevention, investigation and prosecution

should have adequate funding. This also apply to international cooperation, bilateral and multilateral, and to

international bodies such as Europol.

International cooperation should also be established with countries of origin in ordeer to prevent trafficking

and to facilitate the reintegration of victims in society when they return.

Finally I would like to underline the importance of awareness-raising, information and training. It is important

to make people aware that prostitution and trafficking are closely linked. That what they may consider as just

one way to express their sexuality is in fact very often a severe form of exploitation.

And, of course, law enforcement, including the judiciary, as well as social workers and public health

professionals should be trained and updated on how to deal with prostitution and trafficking.

Dear colleagues, we are approaching the end of this process.

I prepared this report thanks also to the support of the parliamentary delegations of the countries that I

visited, and of many NGOs that I met in these countries, or which participated in hearings in Strasbourg. I thank

them once again for their help and their willingness to share relevant information with me.

I asked the Chairpersons of those delegations to read the report and let me know if they had any comment

on the part concerning their respective countries. I also discussed the contents of the report with some of the

NGOs which cooperated with me.

I received positive feedback. I was particularly happy to read that Mr Franken, Chairperson of the Dutch

delegation, was in complete agreement with my analysis and conclusions. The NGOs also appreciated this

work and encouraged me to continue in this direction. These NGOs carry out a remarkable work in direct

contact with victims of forced prostitution and trafficking. They do their job, which is not easy. Now it’s time for

us legislators and policy makers to do ours.

Therefore, I ask you to support this report and draft resolution, and will ask the Parliamentary Assembly to

do the same during the April plenary session.

Human trafficking is a plight that cannot be accepted. We must join our forces to fight it in any possible way.

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