Public Perception and Awareness

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5th Baltic Seminar Tartu Estonia 22nd of
May 2004
Public Perception and Awareness of Trafficking
in Women in the Baltic States
By María José Landeira Østergård Governor
District 13, 2002-2004
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Trafficking in human beings A global problem
"It is incomprehensible that trafficking in human
beings should be taking place in the 21st century
incomprehensible, but it's true, very
true." Secretary of State Colin Powell
Secretary of State Colin Powell discusses the
report on human trafficking. (Photo AP)
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Examples of Seminars in our region in 2004
Many activities all over the world Conferences
Meetings Campaigns Reports
Oslo, Norway, 25 March 2004 Debate meeting about
Anti-traffiking, arranged by Juridisk rådgivning
for kvinner. Co-operation with Lithuania Tartu,
Estonia, 22 May 2004 5th Baltic
Seminar Reykjavik, Iceland, 10-12 June
2004 Womens movements inspiration,
intervention, irritation
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The roots
Poverty Unemployment Lack of training and
education Lack of access to resources
Trafficking is a gender equality problem
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Public Perception and Awareness

• June 2001
• Women and Democracy Conference in Vilnius,
  Lithuania
• Nordic-Baltic information campaign
• proposal from Margareta Winberg, Swedish Minister
  of Gender Equality.
• Signed by the Nordic and Baltic Ministers of
  Gender Equality.
• Signed in August 2001 by the Nordic and Baltic
  Ministers
• of Justice
• January 2002 a document setting the objectives
  of the campaign were set out.

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Nordic-Baltic information campaign
Aim To increase knowledge and awareness among
the public, and to initiate discussion about the
problems surrounding the issue of trafficking in
women. Planning and implementation The Nordic
Baltic Working Group Against Trafficking in Women
decided to use the UN Protocol to Prevent,
Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons,
Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the
UN Convention against Transnational Organised
Crime.
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In Denmark, Iceland, Norway and
Lithuania National Plans Focus on
Prosecution of the traffickers Support for the
victims of trafficking Prevention (theme of
other lecture)
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Denmark
The National Plan Launched in December 2002 by
Henriette Kjær, Minister of Social Affairs and
Gender Equality. Aim To give relevant
information to trafficked women. Rise awareness
about the issue among customers and the public
in general. On top of these measures, new
legislation regarding trafficking in human beings
has been introduced.
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Denmark
Prosecution of the traffickers Strengthening the
polices possibilities for prosecuting the
backers. Support for the victims of
trafficking Through the information campaign,
information about the possibilities for support
and the rights and regulations are
provided. Prevention Creation of international
networks, strengthening the model of prepared
return, development of embassy networks.
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Denmark - Results

• Prosecution of the traffickers
• The Danish Plan presented in February 2003, at
  the 7th Nordic Conference about Prostitution
  Copenhagen.
• Trafficking in women is already on the political
  agenda.
• The National Commissioner of Police is
  systematically policing the area of trafficking
  in women.
• On the 31st of May, section 262 was added to the
  penal code, strengthening criminal protection
  against human trafficking. The criminals behind
  trafficking can now be sentenced to up to 8 years
  imprisonment.
• Co-operation between judicial authorities in the
  Baltic region established.
• Task Force on Organised Crime in the Baltic Sea
  Region is engaged in combating people smuggling
  and trafficking in women.

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Denmark - Results

• Awareness
• Development of a model for the prepared return of
  women living in Denmark as victims of trafficking
  in women.
• Shelters for victims of trafficking in women
• Co-operation agreements between partners from the
  police, public health authorities and NGOs,
  national and international.
• Development of embassy networks
• Compilation of knowledge on how police
  trafficking in women, to provide inspiration and
  allowing countries to compare experiences.
• Creation of an information hotline. ( 7020 2550)
  and its website www.stoptrafficking.dk

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Denmark - Results

• Awareness
• Creation of fieldworkers to participate in
  information and consultation.
• Ads on trafficking in women in the major Danish
  newspapers.
• Denmark will hold a seminar where authorities and
  NGOs can share experience and develop
  interdisciplinary co-operation.
• The webside of the Department of Gender Equality
  runs an extensive theme on trafficking in women,
  including links to related pages.
• Distribution of written information material for
  trafficked women on the possibilities of
  obtaining support and their rights in Denmark.

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Iceland
The National Campaign Launched. Aim To
introduce the issue of trafficking in women to
the public, especially buyers and potential
buyers. To inform women who apply to come to
Iceland on work permits and dancers of their
legal rights.
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Iceland - Results

• A low entered into force in March 10th 2003
  prohibits trafficking in persons.
• Victims of trafficking can seek help at the
  womens shelter, counselling centre and
  hospitals.
• There are no domestic NGOs dedicated solely to
  assisting victims of trafficking.
• Following the 7th Nordic Conference about
  Prostitution held in February 2003, the Minister
  of Social Affairs formed an advisory committee to
  coordinate government action to combat violence
  against women.
• At the Nordic Conference which will be held in
  Iceland in June 10-12, 2004, session 4 will be
  dedicated to trafficking, prostitution and
  violence against women. Co-ordinators Maria
  Eriksson Trine Lynggard.

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Iceland - Results
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Norway
Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Women and
Children Launched in 2003. Aim To prepare
measures to protect and assist the victims, to
prevent human trafficking and prosecute the
organisers. To promote co-operation between
authorities, professionals and NGOs.
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Norway

• The Plan
• Focus on the demand side of trafficking men as
  potential buyers of women in prostitution.
• Prepares and introduces ethical rules against
  buying and accepting sexual services for
  employees of public enterprises.
• Rises awareness, give information and educate the
  police force, immigration and border authorities
  etc.

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Norway - Results

• The Government
• Takes the initiative to ensure safe places for
  victims of trafficking to stay, where they have
  access to assistance and information.
• Considers the introduction of a reflection
  period, during which expulsion decisions
  concerning victims of trafficking may be
  suspended for up to 45 days to provide practical
  assistance and counselling to the individual
  concerned.
• Develops and implements routines for
  co-ordinating the follow-up, return and
  rehabilitation of women and children on basis of
  networks between NGOs and the authorities.
• Follows up and assesses the need for further
  protection.

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Norway - Results

• The Government
• Supports the establishment of a team to
• work with prostitutes and disseminate information
  to them.
• prepare written information in different
  languages about rights and available assistance
  and protection.
• help to raise awareness and enhance the
  expertise of the established public services

• Works to enhance knowledge and intensify
  co-operation.
• By supporting a survey of relevant research and
  studies in the area ensuring that they are
  updated and maintained.
• By establishing a forum for the authorities and
  NGOs where they can share their experience and
  expertise

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Lithuania
Campaign to Combat Trafficking in Women in all
Nordic-Baltic Countries General objective To
Increase the knowledge and awareness among the
public to initiate discussion about the issue of
trafficking in women.
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Lithuania

• Campaign to Combat Trafficking in Women in all
  Nordic-Baltic Countries
• Aim
• To raise awareness about the problem with
• The general public
• Target groups such as journalists, students,
  potential victims, local authorities, others
• Focus
• On prevention and assistance.
• Co-operation with NGOs and authorities.

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Lithuania

• The White Slaves brochure
• An informative and preventive measure developed
  by NGO Praities pedos (Footsteps of the Past).
• Publication
• Distribution to high-risk groups, i.e. girls from
  case
• homes, vocational education institutions and
• secondary schools
• Preparation of a lecture called Beware of the
  White
• Slavery

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Lithuania

• A new campaing started in 2002
• Preventive, informative campaign against
  trafficking in girls and women in Baltic States.
• Carried on at several levels
• Meetings with senior students and teachers from
  Estonian and Lithuanian provinces
• Training seminars in Lithuania and Estonia, to
  pass the information from NGOs in both countries
  and discuss the results of the former
  Anti-Trafficking projects.

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• Trafficking is a global problem
• The three ps
• Prevention, Protection and Prosecution
• Perception and awareness is of crucial
  importance.
• As NGOs we play an important role by
• Arranging Meetings, Seminars, Conferences
• Taking Initiatives, Preparing Action plans,
  Making Reports
• through strong Co-operation

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