EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Anna Karamanou MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT President of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

Dear Minister,

Dear Madam General,

I have the honor to submit to you a proposal for the establishment and operation of a Center for the Combating of Violence and Trafficking of Women and Children, a phenomenon that has reached massive proportions in recent years in our country, as well as in all EU countries. This proposal was discussed and developed in collaboration with the President of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mr. Peter von Bethlenfalvy. This Center could operate within the framework of the Migration Observatory that is set to be established in Greece following a decision by the Council.

The main objective of the Center will be to study the phenomena of violence and trafficking of women and children, in order to strengthen the European structures that provide protection and assistance to the victims of violence, as well as to act preventively and deterrently.

Given your sensitivity to social policy issues, as well as the declared and proven will of the government to address the huge problems arising from the activities of criminal trafficking networks, I would like to request your support for this initiative. For your complete information regarding its objectives, I am attaching a detailed proposal.

I am convinced that the entity being developed will highlight both the intentions of the Greek side and its ability to effectively address the major national and European issues.

I am at your disposal for any clarification.

With deep respect,

Anna Karamanou

Recipients:

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. George Papandreou

Minister of the Interior

Mr. Kostas Skandalidis

Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs

Ms. Anna Diamantopoulou

Center for the Prevention and Combating of Violence

and Trafficking of Women and Children

(within the framework of the European Observatory on Migration, to be established)

Proposal by Anna Karamanou

Member of the European Parliament, PASOK

INTRODUCTION

Violence against women and children is a widespread phenomenon in all societies and is the result of historically unequal power relations between men and women. Domestic violence is the most silenced crime in the world and affects women and children regardless of their environment, age, or social status. Statistics show that at least one in four women has suffered some form of violence. In recent years, with the increase in migration flows, violence against women and children for the purpose of sexual exploitation has reached explosive proportions. According to estimates by the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration, over 500,000 victims of human trafficking are trafficked annually within the European Union. Flows from Eastern and Central European countries are constantly increasing, adding to those from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Women and children are the most affected by this modern form of slavery, which violates fundamental human rights and is linked both to poverty and the inferior position of women in society, as well as to a culture of violence and patriarchy. Greece is directly impacted by the activities of internationally organized criminal networks, as due to its geographic location, it serves as both a host country and a transit point for trafficking victims. Therefore, in addition to the existing legislation, initiatives must be taken, and specific measures should be designed to combat sexual violence and the trafficking of women and children.

Such an effective measure could be the establishment and operation of a Center, which would function within the framework of the European Observatory on Migration, the headquarters of which, according to a decision by the European Council, has been designated to be in Greece.

OBJECTIVES

The main purpose of the Center will be to strengthen the response, both in Greece and throughout the European Union, to the problem of violence against women and children, with particular care for the most vulnerable groups, such as victims of domestic violence, single-parent families of women, victims of forced prostitution and trafficking, and migrant women.

The Center will aim to strengthen the capabilities and structures of the European Union for providing assistance and protection to the aforementioned groups, as well as for the development and promotion of European approaches to improve protection and support programs across the Enlarged Europe. Therefore, the Center will also contribute to strengthening the integration of the new EU member states into community structures for the prevention and combat of violence against these groups, as well as in preventing their social exclusion.

The Center will also aim to raise public awareness about the issue of violence and human trafficking at an expanded European level, and to change the prevailing stereotypical view of the victims of violence and trafficking, which often tends to be more negative towards the victims than towards the perpetrators.

Furthermore, the Center will contribute to strengthening the ability of victims to integrate into the broader social and professional framework, thereby compensating for the discrimination and inequalities in access to the labor market, social services, healthcare services, etc. The Center will also promote the social integration of trafficking victims who are legally residing in their host countries, as well as voluntary return and reintegration programs in their countries of origin.

Taking into account, in particular, the aspects of the phenomenon related to social and human rights, as well as gender discrimination, the Center will strengthen ties and network various parallel initiatives that have been undertaken at both the community and national levels within the framework of different policy areas, such as Employment and Social Affairs, Gender Equality, Development and Health Policy, Justice and Internal Affairs, as well as Foreign Policy.

The activities of the Center will be based on the European policy of equal opportunities and gender mainstreaming. The Center will also take into account all the recommendations related to the prevention and assistance of victims, as outlined in the Brussels Declaration, which was adopted at the “European Conference on the Prevention and Combating of Human Trafficking: A Global Challenge for the ^21st Century,” held on September 18-20, 2002, in Brussels, during the Danish Presidency of the European Union.

The work of the Center will therefore contribute to the further development, strengthening, and coordination of future European policies in the areas of prevention, combating, and assistance to victims. The Center will also help reduce overlaps, both internally and between member states, and achieve savings in resources from European programs.

COORDINATION, COLLABORATIONS, AND GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE OF IMPLEMENTATION

The Center will be managed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Research Center for Gender Equality (KETHI). There will be close cooperation with the European Commission, particularly with the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, as well as the General Secretariat for Gender Equality. Additionally, there will be collaboration and coordination with national and community services involved in the fight against organized crime at various levels.

There will also be close cooperation and coordination with the European Parliament, particularly with the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, as well as with other Committees that deal with various aspects of these issues at the European level, namely the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Development and Cooperation.

The Center will also closely collaborate with the following European institutions: the European Council, the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee, Eurostat, the European Centre for Combating Racism and Xenophobia, etc.

Additionally, there will be cooperation with specialized United Nations agencies (particularly UNDP, ILO, UNHCHR, UNHCR), as well as with other intergovernmental organizations such as the Council of Europe, the OECD, and others.

The Center will cover the member states of the European Union and the candidate countries. Special emphasis will be placed on strengthening the further integration of candidate countries into the cooperation structures for the prevention and combating of human trafficking. The work will include relevant government institutions and organizations, NGOs, civil society, universities, research institutes, etc.

The Center will also cover third countries of origin and transit for trafficking victims, as well as any country or region of European interest regarding human trafficking. Through cooperation between the European Union and the countries of origin and transit, the Center will contribute to addressing the root causes of trafficking and the exploitation of women and children, and to preventing the further expansion and strengthening of this phenomenon.

THE ROLE OF THE CENTER

The Center will have the following functions:

1. To shape and strengthen the networks connecting relevant European institutions, government bodies and institutions, international organizations, and NGOs involved in providing assistance and protection to the victims of trafficking, with particular focus on the most vulnerable groups, such as women and children. In this context, the following measures should be taken:

• To collect, analyze, and evaluate information on legislative initiatives, as well as on trends in the field of protection and assistance to victims of trafficking, both at the European level and at the level of EU member states and candidate countries.
• To adopt, support, and promote measures and policies aimed at improving the integration of trafficking victims in their host countries, as well as measures that will enhance the ability of victims to be repatriated and resettled smoothly in their countries of origin.
• To strengthen international exchange of information and best practices, and to ensure the validation, transfer, and implementation of best practices for the prevention and assistance of victims.
• To encourage cooperation between relevant European, governmental and non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and other stakeholders, and to promote, develop, and implement joint initiatives in the field of protection and assistance to victims.
• To support the creation and strengthen existing capabilities and programs specifically aimed at providing protection and assistance to victims of violence and human trafficking, such as shelters for victims, counseling centers, etc.
• To facilitate dialogue with the relevant European institutions in order to strengthen victim protection and assistance programs at an expanded European level.
• To promote the transparency of European integration policies before the European public and third countries.

2. To enhance awareness at a broader European level about the issue of violence against women and children, as well as human trafficking, with the aim of preventing and combating these phenomena through:

• Awareness and information campaigns aimed at providing the general public with information about these phenomena and counteracting the often negative perceptions that prevail about the victims of violence and sexual exploitation.
• Special educational programs that will enhance knowledge about the issue of human trafficking among young girls who are at risk of becoming victims of trafficking.

3. To strengthen the ability of victims of violence and trafficking to integrate into the socio-economic and professional framework, allowing them access to social programs as well as health and employment programs, while simultaneously facilitating their voluntary return and reintegration into their countries of origin.

• To facilitate access to information on the availability of both governmental and non-governmental infrastructure and resources, including shelter in appropriate “safe houses,” support measures from specialized professionals, as well as voluntary return and reintegration programs available for trafficking victims.
• To design, create, and implement social and vocational orientation programs for victims of human trafficking who legally reside in host countries, in order to facilitate their integration into the socio-economic framework of those countries.
• To design, create, and implement specific voluntary return and reintegration programs for victims of human trafficking who decide to return to their countries of origin, in close cooperation with relevant governmental and non-governmental structures in the countries of origin.