Trafficking and prostitution –Event 24 September:

In the circles of those who are working against human trafficking you have heard debates between those who argue for the legalization of prostitution and those, like Alma from the Philippines who is a survivor, who tell us: “We don’t want prostitution to be legalized.  This would make the oppression we experience legitimate and we don’t ever want that to happen – not for us and not for our daughters.”

 On 24 September in New York, UNANIMA International, the Medical Mission Sisters and the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) will co-sponsor a presentation by Dagmar Plum, MMS. She will tell us about her experiences with trafficked women under the German law which legalizes prostitution.  After she speaks, Norma Ramos from CATW and an attorney who works with trafficked women in New York will respond to her.

 Dagmar’s words tell the story best.

  I have been working for years at SOLWODI (Solidarity with women in distress) in Germany.  SOLWODI has 22 years of fighting trafficking of women and forced prostitution.

 I will speak about the consequences of legalizing prostitution in  Germany in 2002. Since then brothels and other places of prostitution (caravans, motels, wellness centre, escort services, rented apartments etc.) have shot up like mushrooms.

 Prostitution is a system with enormous financial gains. It supplies the German sex market with women from all over the world. Since the EU expansion thousands of poor, unsuspecting women from Eastern Europe have been lured into degrading jobs, where they are forced to fill the seemingly insatiable sexual appetites of German men. It is estimated that prostitutes are being frequented by up to one million men each day.

Legalizing Prostitution was meant to do away with double moral standards by accepting it as a social reality and part of the service industry. It was hoped to strengthen the status of those who – for various reasons - opt for this way of income generation. But five years later less than 10% of prostitutes have even officially registered. Instead this law inhibits the detection of victims of trafficking and forced prostitution by police who find it much more difficult to differentiate between legal and criminal prostitution.

 If you are in New York on 24 September, we invite you to this session to be held from 10-11:30 am at the Church Center on the corner of East 44^th and 1rst Avenue.

 Congratulations to UI Board Member Rita Larivee, SSA.  At the general chapter of the Sisters of Saint Anne in July, Rita was chosen to be their next Superior General.  She will begin her term in November.  We are delighted for the SSA and also very pleased that she will continue on our Board of Directors.

 Coming up in September:

NGO DPI Conference on Human Rights at UNESCO in Paris from 3-5 September. We hope to have information on this in the next updates.

 International Day of Peace, 21 September.  UNANIMA International invites any of you who have special events on this day to share with us.  Send your information to fergcf@earthlink.net. Photos and prayers are particularly welcome.

 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly  (UN Headquarters, New York - Begins 16 September 2008.  General Debate:  23 September - 1 October 2008).

 Millennium Development Goals High-level Event  (UN Headquarters, New York - 25 September 2008)  UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon states the purpose of the event:

"The year 2008 should mark a turning point in progress towards the MDGs. This high level gathering will bring together world leaders, representatives of the private sector and our civil society partners to discuss specific ways to energize our efforts. The meeting will also send a strong message that governments are ready to rise to the financing for development challenge. Together, we must make this year one of unprecedented progress for the poorest of the poor, so that we can realize a better, more prosperous future for all."

 Oct. 2-4 – UNANIMA International Board meeting in New York.