After terrorism, prostitution

After terrorism, prostitution
By ANNA KARAMANOU MEP, President of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality of the European Parliament	19. 06. 2003

I am not bothered by the fact that the U.S. government is interested in and mobilized globally to combat the trafficking of women and children, this new form of slavery of the 21st century, the trafficking of people for economic and sexual exploitation, known internationally as trafficking. On the contrary, I am pleased that the superpower has included this issue in its political agenda and has given work to its local embassies by assigning them the task of collecting data and information for the preparation of the State Department’s annual report on the matter.

I am bothered by the fact that this report is biased, that it does not limit itself to describing the situation, analyzing it, and honestly proposing policy measures and ways to combat the phenomenon, but goes further by establishing criteria and ranking countries into three categories—based on the measures they have taken to prevent, prosecute traffickers, and protect victims—into good, fair, and bad countries. In fact, it threatens the “bad” countries, 15 in number, including Greece, with sanctions, financial penalties, cuts to programs, cultural exchanges, etc.

As the report itself admits, it is a “diplomatic tool,” obviously for exerting pressure on third countries, in this case, Greece, just as it happened with terrorism and “17 November.” Because, as much as I recognize the seriousness of the problem in our country, and as much as the issuance of presidential decrees has been delayed, I am by no means convinced that the situation here is worse than in other countries in the fight against trafficking, such as Ghana, Benin, Colombia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Mauritius, Morocco, Poland, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates! Not to mention the long list of the second category, the “fair” countries, such as Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Philippines, Angola, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gabon, India, Kuwait, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, etc. All these countries, many of which are characterized by corruption and the non-recognition of fundamental human rights for women, are considered by the U.S. to be better than Greece in combating trafficking.

Certainly, things are not as the report presents them, which is based on data provided by the U.S. embassy in Greece and subjective judgments and assessments. It therefore lacks any scientific credibility. It is well known that the law was passed last year, with the support of all political wings of Parliament, which provides for very strict penalties for traffickers, and many arrests and dismantling of networks have taken place, and initiatives have been undertaken to raise awareness of the issue and to care for victims of violence and sexual exploitation, by the General Secretariat for Equality, the Archbishopric, and many Non-Governmental Organizations. It is also worth noting that Mrs. Miller, wife of the U.S. Ambassador, had developed—honorably—friendly relations and good cooperation with these organizations.

There is no doubt that much more needs to be done to address the criminal activities of international human trafficking gangs, which have reached explosive proportions in recent years, alongside the increase in migration flows and the economic destitution of large social groups. In the European Union, it is estimated that 500,000 women and children are sold and bought every day. Therefore, efforts must be intensified, and initiatives must be undertaken on many fronts, at both the national and European levels.

We need more and more effective legislative and administrative measures, strict penalties, protection for victims, training and cooperation of police and judicial authorities, common prevention and prosecution plans in all EU member states, the creation of a European Observatory / Center for the prevention and combat of trafficking, and of course, strengthening Non-Governmental Organizations. Above all, we need political will and commitment at the highest possible level. Personally, I believe that all strategies to combat human trafficking should aim at punishing both those who reap enormous profits from the buying and selling of human bodies, as well as those who fuel the demand and inflate the sex industry and the market for prostitution services.

ELEFTHEROTYPIA – 18/06/2003