Seminar on the Effects of Legalisation of Prosti- tution Activities, Stockholm 5–6 November, 2002 Gunilla Ekberg Special advisor on Rosario Carracedo Lawyer and expert Jenny Westerstrand PhD student in issues of prostitution and trafficking on prostitution and trafficking for the Public International Law at Uppsala in women at the Swedish Division for C.I.M.T.M (Comisión para la Investiga- University. Jenny Westerstrand has a Gender Equality. Gunilla Ekberg is the ción de Malos Tratos a Mujeres), Mad- special interest in legislation of prostitu- coordinator of the Nordic Baltic cam- rid, Spain tion in Europe in relation to human rights paign against trafficking in women, a issues, especially in regards to the right lawyer and long time feminist activist. Marianna Solomatova Development to bodily integrity. Coordinator of the Director of the Moscow office of the Angel Swedish national prevalence study on Janice Raymond Professor Emerita of Coalition (an anti-trafficking organization male violence against women presen- Women’s Studies and Medical Ethics of 43 NGO in Russia and the Common- ted in the report Captured Queen. at the University of Massachusetts in wealth of Independent States). Amherst, USA. A longtime feminist acti- Esohe Aghatise Specialist in Interna- vist against violence against women and Sheila Jeffreys Associate Professor in tional Economic and Trade Law and in sexual exploitation, as well as against Political Science at the University of Ethno-Clinical Mediation with foreign the medical abuse of women. Janice Melbourne, Australia and a founding immigrants especially victims of traf- Raymond is also Co-Executive Director member of Coalition Against Traffick- ficking. Esohe Aghatise is an expert on of the Coalition Against Trafficking in ing in Women in Australia (CATWA). trafficking in persons for prostitution Women (CATW), an international NGO Sheila Jeffereys is also the author of and other purposes. having Category II Consultative Status five books on the history and politics with ECOSOC, and with branches in of sexuality including The Idea of Pro- every world region. stitution. Jean D’Cunha Senior Programme Specialist with UNIFEM East and Southeast Asia Regional Office, Bangkok, Thailand. Jean D’Cunha has published widely on a variety of gender concerns, but especially on the issue of sexuality, with special reference to prostitution and prostitu- tion laws. SEMINAR ON THE EFFECTS OF LEGALISATION OF PROSTITUTION ACTIVITIES – A CRITICAL ANALYSIS 1 Speech by Deputy Prime Minister Margareta Winberg 5 November 2002 ing in women. By accepting various sexually exploit women and children forms of prostitution activities, they commit a crime. Ladies and Gentlemen, have created a large local prostitution We expressly state that prostitu- It gives me great pleasure to wish you market that is attractive for traffickers tion is a form of sexualised violence all welcome to our seminar, which is from all over the world. And here we by men against women. We know that about the effects of the legalisation of have the connection – without prosti- without men’s demand for women prostitution. tution, there would be no trafficking and children, the prostitution industry I hope that the international experts in women. would not be able to flourish and that we have invited will inspire us all in the I believe that we will never succeed trafficking in women would therefore fight against prostitution and traffick- in combating trafficking in women if not be able to continue. This is why it is ing in women and that the ensuing we do not simultaneously work to abo- important, but controversial, to focus debate will be extended, both in Swe- lish prostitution and the sexual exploi- on the demand. But we must dare to den and elsewhere. And in the longer tation of women and children. Parti- take this step. term, will bring us positive results. cularly in light of the fact that many I believe that Sweden has an impor- In recent years, as you know, a num- women in prostitution in countries that tant role to play in Europe and interna- ber of countries in Europe have lega- have legalised prostitution are original- tionally in efforts to combat prostitu- lised brothels and implemented other ly victims of trafficking in women. Here tion and the growing global trafficking measures to enable the acceptance we can also see the connection. in women and children. We have long of prostitution and its normalisation as I consider that we are now in a given priority to the fight against pro- a so-called ”profession”. Certain other major period of upheaval, interna- stitution and trafficking in women as countries around the world are also tionally speaking. Shall we allow the an important element of Swedish gen- considering whether or not to enact global prostitution industry, i.e., the der equality efforts, both at the natio- similar legislative amendments, or in individuals, groups and organisations nal level and internationally. some cases, even to decriminalise all that are behind the organised sale of In July 2002, a new law against those active in national prostitution women and children, and the industri- trafficking in human beings for sexual industries: pimps, brothel owners, etc. es that use pornography and prostitu- purposes entered into force in Swe- I consider that these countries tion as sales arguments and that pro- den. This means that all the links in have capitulated and succumbed to fit from the oppression of women and the prostitution and women-traffick- pressure from the profit-seeking pro- girls – shall we allow them to continue, ing chain have been made a crimi- stitution industry. I do not think that it without protesting? nal offence in Sweden: the buyers of is acceptable for states that call them- Shall we tacitly accept the fact that women and children in prostitution, selves democratic to legalise men’s men buy and sexually exploit genera- pimps and traffickers in women. sexual exploitation of women. By tions of girls and women around the We are also investigating ways of legalising brothels and other prosti- world? protecting and supporting women tution-related activities, these states’ Shall we accept the fact that cer- and children who are the victims of governments and parliaments are say- tain women and children, primarily trafficking in women in Sweden. ing that it is right that women, and in girls, often those who are most eco- An acceptance of prostitution, pro- some cases children, can and will be nomically and ethnically marginalised, curing and other forms of activity rela- put up for sale, bought and consumed are treated as a lower class, whose ted to prostitution is a serious threat like any other commodity. purpose is to serve men sexually? to our gender equality objective and is And ultimately, are not also these No, of course not. I believe that in not compatible with a society in which states acting as pimps in collecting Sweden we have a particular responsi- we can realise this objective. taxes and making money from the bility. We have long taken a position It also means a serious violation sex trade? against prostitution and the oppres- of the women and children who are What is more, I am convinced that sion of women that this entails. We bought, sold and exploited by men for these countries will not be able to work have made it clear in no uncertain sexual purposes. successfully against the global traffick- terms that those men who buy and It was against this background 2 SEMINAR ON THE EFFECTS OF LEGALISATION OF PROSTITUTION ACTIVITIES – A CRITICAL ANALYSIS SEMINAR ON THE EFFECTS OF LEGALISATION OF PROSTITUTION ACTIVITIES – A CRITICAL ANALYSIS 3 that in June 2001, at the Women and rians from all the Nordic countries and der equality I will give priority to, and Democracy conference in Vilnius, I the autonomous areas. intensify, efforts to combat prostitution suggested to my colleagues, ministers I sincerely hope that the Nordic and trafficking in women – both within responsible for gender equality issues countries will be able to set an Sweden’s borders and internationally. in the Nordic and Baltic countries, that example to the rest of the world on In conclusion, I would like to we should undertake a joint campaign this issue! remind us all that efforts to combat against trafficking in women in 2002. However, the campaign that was prostitution and trafficking in women The ministers of justice subsequently initiated is just a first step in a long- can only succeed if we refuse to be joined in this campaign. term programme to combat prostitu- the stooges of the international pro- The efforts of non governmen- tion and trafficking in women in the stitution industry. Instead of adop- tal organisations in the fight against Nordic and Baltic countries. On 1 ting the superficial and individualised prostitution and trafficking in women January 2003, Sweden will take over arguments put forward by advocates in our region are also indispensable. the Presidency of the Nordic Coun- of legalisation, we must take a stand They have valuable expertise and cil of Ministers. We will be active in against a society in which women and experience that we must make use ensuring that efforts continue against children are regarded as commodi- of. Their role is to put pressure on prostitution and trafficking in human ties for trade; against the purchase and inspire us; we must therefore be beings, and especially in women and of women and children by men, and receptive to their ideas and support children, that they are undertaken for a future in which all women and their work. from a holistic perspective and given children are given equal opportunities The aim of our campaign was to political priority.