[Brussels, 17 April 2014] Last week, on 8 April, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) voted a resolution entitled “Prostitution, trafficking and modern slavery in Europe“, which supports the Swedish model to address the system of prostitution.
Drafted by the EPP/CD Portuguese rapporteur Mr Mendes Bota, the resolution has been adopted by a great majority by parliamentarians from the 47 countries represented in the PACE. The resolution states that “legislation and policies on prostitution are indispensable anti-trafficking tools”, therefore recognizing the links between the two phenomena. Read here the article “Laws and policies on prostitution are indispensable anti-trafficking tools” on PACE website.
The resolution calls on Council of Europe member and observer States to consider “criminalising the purchase of sexual services, based on the Swedish model, as the most effective tool for preventing and combating trafficking in human beings”. It calls for the criminalisation of pimping, banning the advertising of sexual services, and setting up ‘exit programmes’ as well as counselling centres providing legal and health assistance to persons in prostitution.
The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) welcomes this resolution, which comes as a confirmation that Europe sees prostitution and trafficking as obstacles to gender equality. 6 weeks after the adoption of the EP resolution on “Prostitution, sexual exploitation and their impact on gender equality”, the EWL is reassured that we moving towards more equality, dignity and respect in Europe.
Considering prostitution as a form of violence against women is one of the demands of the EWL for the European elections. Read EWL manifesto “Act now for her future, commit to gender equality!“, and find out more about EWL campaign “Together for a Europe free from prostitution“.
You can read the full resolution here. You can also read information about the PACE resolution in French.
