France and Sweden take a joint initiative to combat trafficking for sexual exploitation and the exploitation of prostitution of women and girls.
PRESS RELEASE
8 March 2019
In this year marking historic abolitionist anniversaries, France and Sweden take a crucial joint initiative to combat trafficking for sexual exploitation and the exploitation of prostitution of women and girls.
CAP international and its 27 member organisations from 22 countries welcome the historic decision taken by the Governments of Sweden and France to launch together a global abolitionist strategy aimed at combatting human trafficking and the exploitation of prostitution of the most vulnerable women and girls.
This significant announcement comes at a critical time as 2019 will mark the 40th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW convention) and the 70th anniversary of the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (UN 1949 Convention).
Article 6 of CEDAW convention: “States Parties shall take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to suppress all forms of traffic in women and exploitation of prostitution of women” (art 6).
Preamble of the UN 1949 Convention: “Whereas prostitution and the accompanying evil of the traffic in persons for the purpose of prostitution are incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person”
In their joint statement, French Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves le Drian, and Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Margot Wallström rightfully identify the main root cause of the trafficking for sexual exploitation of women and girls:
“The main focus of our common strategy will be the need to reduce the demand for girls and women in prostitution, in Europe and globally. The reason for this is the clear nexus between trafficking for sexual exploitation and prostitution. A nexus that is well described in numerous studies and also highlighted by the European Parliament in resolution (2013/2103(INI)) on sexual exploitation and prostitution and its impact on gender equality. Trafficking for sexual exploitation will continue as long as there is a demand for girls and women in prostitution. Therefore, focusing on reducing demand will be an important measure for combating trafficking for sexual exploitation, for combating violence against women and children and for enhanced gender equality”.
In 2019, CAP international and its member organisations will initiate joint actions to invite more States parties to these conventions, and UN agencies, to join the abolitionist struggle for the elimination of trafficking and prostitution exploitation of women and girls.
