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Promoting the democratic participation of those who are marginalised or at risk of exclusion is a complex

challenge, but absolutely necessary for a sustainable democracy. National action plans, which specifically

address this issue, could be an important standing point. Other possibilities for action could be the introduction

of elements of direct democracy; civic education at an early age; the promoting of ‘easy to understand’

communication about political decisions and processes; and as the most extreme measure, the introduction of

compulsory voting.

The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe recently confirmed through his own research

that the right to participate in public affairs and to transparency has suffered as a result of the crisis. Failure to

consult with the people over important measures such as austerity can cause serious social unrest and

engenders mistrust in the democratic system. It is therefore important for governments to uphold the highest

standards of democracy and good governance at any time.

To promote the above-mentioned social and civic rights, the Council of Europe has developed legal

standards to tackle social exclusion, such as the revised European Social Charter. Next to the specific

recommendations to national governments just referred to, it is therefore important for us to further promote the

signature, ratification and implementation of the Charter by member States. Both these objectives are pursued

by the draft resolution and recommendation submitted to you herewith which I would invite you to support.

ANEXO C

Speech by Mr. Mendes Bota, rapporteur on “Prostitution and Trafficking” of the Parliamentary

Assembly of the Council of Europe, at the seminar about “Trafficking” organized by the Scandinavian

Human Rights Lawyers

Brussels, European Parliament, 18th November 2014

Ladies and gentlemen,

First of all let me thank the organisers of this conference for inviting me. It is really a pleasure to remember,

one year and a half after, the visit I conducted to Sweden for the preparation of my report on “Prostitution,

trafficking and modern slavery in Europe”.

Sweden and my country, Portugal, have something in common, something which is very relevant to the

cause that brought us here today.

Back in 1761, Portugal was the first country to abolish slavery. Other European countries followed this

example only many years later. In 1999, Sweden was the first country adopting groundbreaking legislation on

prostitution, followed by others, such as Norway, Iceland and, most recently, Canada. That was a major step in

the fight on today’s slavery — that is trafficking in human beings.

The origin of the report

I do not need to explain to this audience that the Swedish law on prostitution is based on the idea that

people in prostitution are victims of a system, not criminals, and that the most effective way to reduce

prostitution is to target those who buy sexual services, not those who sell them. In turn, as the vast majority of

people in prostitution are victims of trafficking in human beings, reducing prostitution is instrumental to fighting

trafficking.

However, I did feel the need to explain this concept to my colleagues at the Parliamentary Assembly and,

through them, to the Parliaments and the Governments of all the Council of Europe member states. That

means 47 Parliaments. Most of them do not share Sweden’s approach to prostitution. Some of them are

discussing reforms of their legislation which may bring them in line with this approach. Some other are perhaps

not even familiar with it.

I deemed it necessary to prepare a report for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the

link between prostitution and trafficking in Europe, and to have a resolution discussed by the Parliamentary

Assembly, for various reasons: