EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator to speak at EWL European conference on prostitution on 04 December
[Brussels, 14 November 2012] The EWL will on 04 December host a European conference entitled “10 years of policies on prostitution: outcomes of the Swedish and Dutch options, and ways forward”. The goal of the event, to take place in the European Parliament, is to raise awareness on the issue of prostitution and engage a dialogue at EU level.
A first session will address the outcomes of the Swedish and Dutch models, referred to as the two main legislative options to deal with prostitution, based on opposing views of the system of prostitution. Speakers will be Anna Skarhed, Chancellor for Justice, Sweden; Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen, National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings, the Netherlands; Olga Persson, Swedish Association of Women’s Shelters and Young Women’s Empowerment Centres (SKR), Sweden; Karin Werkman, researcher, the Netherlands.
Developments in other countries will also show some ways forward, with information about Belgium and France, through the presentations of Joëlle Milquet, Vice-Prime Minister, Minister for Interior and Equality, Belgium, and Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, Minister for Women’s Rights, France (tbc).
Finally, a European panel will allow to address the issue at European level, with a first contribution from the EU Anti-trafficking Coordinator Myria Vassiliadou. Then, MEPs from different countries and different political groups will join to express their views on the issue of prostitution and share their recommendations towards a Europe free from prostitution: Sophie Auconie (France, EPP), Antonyia Parvanova (Bulgaria, ALDE), Emer Costello (Ireland, S&D), and Inês Zuber (Portugal, GUE) have already confirmed their presence.
If you would like to attend, please email bjorklund@womenlobby.org by 19 November.
If you require an access badge to the EP, please send your name, organisation, nationality, date of birth and ID number.
Download the poster/invitation in French and English.
