News Releases

No. 21/06
March 8, 2006

STATEMENT BY EU COMMISSIONERS FRATTINI AND ŠPIDLA ON THE FIGHT AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN ON THE OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

EU Vice President Franco Frattini, Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security, and Commissioner for Social Affairs and Employment, Vladimír Špidla spoke on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 at a seminar at the European Parliament on "Forced Prostitution in the Framework of World Sports Events." They highlighted the importance of eradicating gender-based violence and trafficking in women, predominantly for forced prostitution and reiterated that the European Commission remains committed to combating female exploitation, notably forced prostitution and in the current context prostitution in connection with large scale sporting events such as the World Cup football tournament in Germany.

Vice President Franco Frattini (pictured at left) stated, “I had set out my concerns regarding this issue in my letter of 8 February 2006 to the German Interior Minister Schäuble. I will also shortly write to Minister Prokob, who holds the Presidency of the Council, and so address all competent ministers of the Schengen Member States. I will stress the importance of the need for vigilant controls, both by border police as well as consular- visa issuing- authorities with a view to ensuring that people potentially “compromising public order,” one of the grounds for refusal of entry into the Schengen area, are indeed refused such entry. Following the EU action plan on combating and preventing trafficking in human beings, I am also considering launching an EU Anti-Trafficking Day to increase public awareness in this area. Furthermore I am committed to increasing and targeting the funds allocated to support combating measures such as those established via the Daphne programme.”

Commissioner for Social Affairs and Employment, Vladimír Špidla (pictured below, right), stated that “Gender equality policy has always preceded social evolution in combating discrimination. European legislation in this field is a precious and efficient instrument; it is a main political pillar. In our new 'Roadmap' towards gender equality for the period 2006-2010, which was recently adopted by the [European] Commission, eradicating gender-based violence and trafficking is one of six priorities.”

Background

The Daphne program, established in 1997, provides NGOs and voluntary organizations with funding for Europe-wide initiatives and programs to combat violence against children, young people and women. The Daphne II program has been running since May 2004 (following on from Daphne I, 2000-2003) and provides a forum for sharing ideas to fight such violence along with the financial backing to do so.

The EU action plan on best practices, standards and procedures for combating and preventing trafficking in human beings, which was adopted by the European Council on 1 December 2005 provides a framework on best practice, standards and procedures for combating and preventing trafficking in human beings to be undertaken by Member States, the Council, the Commission and various EU bodies such as Europol and Eurojust. The action plan will be regularly reviewed and updated in order to reflect the position of Member States accurately as they take forward implementation of the plan.

On 3 March 2006 a new gender equality roadmap was published by the European Commission. In the “Roadmap towards gender equality for the period 2006-2010” six main priority actions are highlighted: equal economic independence for women and men, enhancing reconciliation of work, private and family life, promoting equal participation of men and women in decision-making, eradicating gender-based violence and trafficking, eliminating gender stereotypes in society, and promoting gender equality outside the EU.

The Roadmap furthermore includes the establishment of a new €50 million European institute for gender equality, reviewing all existing EU gender equality law, increasing awareness of gender inequality and ensuring gender equality is considered in all policies and pressing for better statistics. The roadmap aims to, inter alia, tackle the pay gap between men and women, support better work/life balance, eliminate violence and trafficking, support gender budgeting and promote gender equality both within and outside the EU.

More information on the above can be found at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/fsj/crime/trafficking/fsj_crime_human_trafficking_en.htm and http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/gender_equality/index_en.html.
 

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