Article by the WG in Balticness Journal Nov 2010

Are you supporting human trafficking?Human trafficking is often associated with A local and an international problem nature of the subject has made it possiblewomen who, through coercion or prom- International organisations have released for the working group to reach agreementises of work, are sold across national bor- estimates which indicate that there are ap- on these recommendations across coun-ders and forced to prostitute themselves. proximately 2.5 million people who are tries, regions and political parties. WhenThis is not a distorted picture, but the vic- victims of human trafficking worldwide. the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conferencetims of human trafficking – or slavery as it But it is difficult to provide a precise pic- met in the Aland Islands 29–31 August itshould perhaps more tellingly be called – ture of the extent of human trafficking. resulted in a resolution with recommen-not only find themselves in unsavoury sur- This is partly because it is a question of dations addressed to the governments ofroundings that are far removed from the organised criminality which, in the nature the Baltic Sea States and the EU Memberlives of ordinary people. They also include of the case, is covert, and partly because States. The working group has forwardedwomen, men and children who function there is no systematic and comparable six recommendations in connection withas slaves in our private homes – as clean- collection of data. this potential resolution.ing ladies, labourers and gardeners. They Just as the victims of human traffickingare exploited in the restaurants where we not only end up far removed from ordi- • All countries are called on to subscribeeat and the hotels where we sleep. They are nary people’s everyday lives, trafficking is to all relevant international conventions,sold as factory workers and agricultural la- not only something that involves crossing treaties and decisions and adapt theirbourers, as beggars and illegal adoptees or borders where people are exported. Peo- national legislation in order to criminal-as organ donors. ple are also sold within the borders of our ise all aspects of human trafficking.countries. The problem is thus local and • The countries must recognise that hu-People can be sold again and again international and must therefore be placed man trafficking is international crimi-There is a simple reason for this. On the high on the political agenda at both levels. nality that requires international coop-one hand there is a demand for cheap la- It is not enough to leave the problem to eration to combat. At the same timebour and sexual services, and on the other international organisations. Human traf- victims are exploited locally so it musthand there are people with poor living con- ficking is very much a local problem. We also be combated locally.ditions and no or little hope for the future. must fight the factors that make people • Countries must earmark adequate, per-This market is exploited by criminals who vulnerable and we have to make sure that manent, goal-oriented funds and re-lure or coerce their victims into slavery. victims find the necessary support to re- sources for the public authorities, NGOs,They take advantage of people who have gain control over their lives. We all have to international organisations and projectslittle or no opportunities to provide for help fighting it by making sure that we are such as the Baltic Sea States Task Forcethemselves and their family. This is some- not contributing to the exploitation in one against Trafficking in Human Beings.thing that goes on not only in poor, remote way or the other. We must demand that • Countries must strive to develop andcountries. It happens also here within our we are not serviced by victims of traffick- coordinate data collection on humanown region. People are sold on an equal ing in hotels and restaurants, and we must trafficking in order to heighten under-footing with drugs and weapons but unlike make sure that the food we are buying is standing of the problem, to developdrug and weapons, where profit can only not produced by victims. In other words, appropriate measures against humanbe made once, victims of trafficking can be we all need to be better at identifying the trafficking, support research and legalsold again and again. And this is the brutal victims of trafficking and act accordingly. proceedings and provide victims of hu-perspective that makes human trafficking man trafficking with the best possiblesuch an extremely lucrative business with a Agreement across borders support.very high profit margin. At the same time, and parties • Countries must strive to ensure thatthere is little risk of the people responsible Human trafficking was a focal point at the the focus is always on victims. Humanbeing caught and punished, which is why 2009 annual Baltic Sea Parliamentary Con- trafficking is exploitation irrespective ofhuman trafficking is one of the most rapid- ference. The working group that was set where it is practiced and which form itly-growing types of criminality, not only in up at the conference has since drawn up a takes. Human rights must constitutethe Baltic region and Europe, but also in a list of political recommendations designed the core of these measures.global context. to combat human trafficking. The grave• The Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) comprises members from national and regional parliaments in the Baltic Sea States.• A decision was made at the 2009 conference to set up a working group comprising politicians from parliaments which, across nationalborders, regions and political parties, would come up with joint political recommendations designed to combat human trafficking.• The Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference held its annual conference in the Aland Islands 29–31 August. In this connection a resolutionwhich will help to combat human trafficking, among other things, was adopted. The working group has submitted six recommendationsto the governments of the Baltic Sea States and EU Member States.26 BALTICNESS~AUTUMN2010• Countries must strive at operational Human trafficking is an issue that con- shown in the working group that it reallylevel to develop efficient methods and cerns us all, irrespective of where we come is possible to set out common goals acrossmodels to ensure that the relevant na- from and which political beliefs we have. the political spectrum. It is now up to thetional players and NGOs help victims We have a duty to act as private individu- governments of the Baltic Sea States andand their relations and to increase the als and at political level. We must demand EU Member States to commit themselvesnumber of convictions of the criminals that the exploitation of women, men and to the attainment of these common goals.and exploiters behind human traffick- children who have been sold into slaverying. is not part of our daily lives. We haveMs Line Barfod, MP Ms Silva Bendrãte, MP Ms Sonja Mandt, MP(Denmark) (Latvia) (Norway)Ms Maria Stenberg, MP Ms Leena Harkimo, MP(Sweden) (Finland)Mr André Oktay Dahl, MP Ms Gun-Mari Lindholm, MP Mr Johan Linander, MP(Norway) (Åland) (Sweden)Ms Gabi Dobusch, MP Ms Luise Amtsberg, MP(Hamburg/Germany) (Schleswig-Holstein/Germany)Ms. Sonja Steffen, MP Ms Tatjana Muravjova, MP Dr Armin Jäger, MP(Germany) (Estonia) (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)SIGNED BY BSPC WORKING GROUP ON CIVIL SECURITY MEMBERS:• Ms Line Barfod, MP, the Parliament of • Ms Leena Harkimo, MP, the Parliament of • Dr Armin Jäger, MP, the Parliament ofDenmark, Chairman of the Working Group, Finland, National Coalition Party Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Faction of theRed-Green Alliance • Ms. Sonja Steffen, MP, Parliament of the CDU (Christian Democratic Union)• Mr André Oktay Dahl, MP, the Parliament of Federal Republic of Germany, Social • Ms Sonja Mandt, MP, the Parliament ofNorway, Vice Chairman of the Working Group, Democratic Party (SPD) Norway, Labour PartyConservative Party • Ms Gabi Dobusch, MP, the Parliament of • Ms Luise Amtsberg, MP, the Parliament of• Mr Johan Linander, MP, the Parliament Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Social Schleswig-Holstein, Alliance ‘90/The Greensof Sweden, Vice Chairman of the Working Democratic Party (SPD) • Ms Maria Stenberg, MP, the Parliament ofGroup, Centre Party • Ms Silva Bendrãte, MP, the Parliament of Sweden, Swedish Social Democratic Party• Ms Tatjana Muravjova, MP, the Parliament of Latvia, New Era Parliamentary Group • Ms Gun-Mari Lindholm, MP, the ParliamentEstonia, Estonian Reform Party of Åland, Non-aligned CoalitionBALTICNESS~AUTUMN2010 27