European Conference Preventing and Combating 
Trafficking in Human Beings
Global Challenge for the 21st Centrury

Brussels, 18-20.9.2002 

Address delivered on 18.9.2002, by Søren Christensen, Secretary General, Nordic Council of Ministers
 

Ladies and gentlemen,

The fight against trafficking is a high political priority in the Nordic countries both nationally and internationally. 

In the discussion of trafficking in women it is important to broaden the perspective. Where does it fit in? Is trafficking something that can be seen as an isolated phenomenon? Is it only a question of men suppressing women? 

I think that the issue is more complex than that. Trafficking in human beings is an integrated part of international organised crime. Here money is transferred from one country to another and the risks for the persons involved are the least.

The modern slave traders are businessmen. The trafficking business is huge and is sensitive for changes of the demands in the market. 
As you notice, I am using the vocabulary of an economist; I am talking of market mechanisms and of supply and demand. Because that is exactly what it is – a demand for young women and children.

Have the buyers a responsibility for the existence of trafficking? I dare say yes. 
Have the governments, law makers and law enforcement agencies a responsibility as well? I dare say yes.  

The authorities as well as NGOs can set some – though not all – rules on the market and they have many of the political tools that could be used to control the market.

So what can we do? 

Last year the Nordic and Baltic Ministers of Gender Equality invited the Ministers of Justice to participate in a joint Nordic-Baltic Campaign against Trafficking in Women. The campaign was given a high priority in the Nordic Council of Ministers, and it was supported with one million Danish crowns, to be used in the Baltic countries. 

All Nordic countries have – at a national level – initiated extensive measures against trafficking in women. Surveys, action plans and various task forces have been launched to eliminate trafficking. 

It is not possible to combat trafficking in women solely at a national level. It has a transitional dimension and is often carried out by highly organised criminal groups. It requires close cross-border co-operation between law enforcement authorities. It is therefore very important that law enforcement co-operation between the Nordic and Baltic countries is further strengthened. Information campaigns and re-socialisation programmes play an important role in this context.

The Nordic Ministers of Justice have decided that cross boarder actions must include all competent authorities. The Europol and the Baltic Sea Task Force are important players. An efficient cross boarder exchange of information, especially between the police authorities, was also the conclusion of the Nordic and Baltic Ministers of Justice. They stressed the importness of fighting this widespread, illegal business.

The focus of this panel is how to prevent young women and children from becoming victims of organised crime. The Nordic Baltic Campaign against Trafficking in Women is going on in all eight participating countries at the same time. In addition to joint activities, each country is organising a national campaign according to their special needs and conditions. The campaign was launched at a seminar in May in Tallinn in Estonia the campaign co-operates with the IOM in the Baltic countries. 

The aim of the Baltic campaigns is to increase the awareness of the target groups: young girls, border guards, custom officers, police, lawyers. 
In Estonia a survey of young girls' attitudes towards working abroad is arranged. A training seminar for secondary school teachers, youth workers, hobby group teachers and vocational advisers will be arranged in three rural towns in Estonia.

In Vilnius, Lithuania on October 20-22 a seminar focusing on victim protection and support will take place. The aim is to find methods for how governments and NGOs can collaborate in order to support and protect victims in women and children. The seminar will identify measures that can be taken in countries of origin, transit countries and countries of destination. 

In Riga, Latvia, in November the final seminar will discusses the demand side of trafficking. During the seminar the Nordic and Baltic Ministers of Justice and Gender Equality will meet. The ambition of the informal ministerial meeting is to discuss and hopefully agree on common strategies of co-operation and action to be taken in the Nordic and Baltic countries in the years to come. The Latvian campaign includes seminars for governmental officials, schools pupils, unemplyed women and the police. 

I think that it is important to go for “the harts and minds” of us all in order to reduce the demand for the sexual services of young women and children. New laws can influence the public opinion and change the basic values. Since 1999 Sweden has a law that prohibits the buying of sexual services. The maximum time of imprisonment for the buyer is 6 months. This law is rather unique and I understand that it serves well today. A question that I would like to rise, is whether the Swedish model is a good one or not.

Trafficking in human beings is an important question in Nordic gender equality policy. It is important to find strategies and working methods that are based on each country’s own particular history and situation. And it is also very important to have the courage to learn from each other. Gender equality is quality of life. 

This conference will give the participants a possibility to exchange experience, and discuss trafficking in women and children this important burning issue of today. 

Thank you for your attention.