Today MEPs will raise concerns about the risk of increased trafficking of women for the purpose of prostitution during the European Championships and the Olympic Games by raising the issue in an oral question to the European Commission. MEPs are calling on the European Commission to put in place an action plan to combat the trafficking of women and girls.
The European football championship will start this Saturday, 7th June. Swiss and Austrian police have announced that they will be taking action during the event by increasing checks during the tournament. NGOs will carry out prevention and awareness programs.
Mary Honeyball MEP, Labour Member of the Women's Committee of the European Parliament, is calling for a "Red Card Campaign" to be rolled out during major sport events: "The 'Red Card Campaign' during the World Championships in 2006 was a success because it contributed positively towards reducing trafficking and the exploitation of women. We should therefore raise public awareness again during the UEFA Euro 2008 Championship in Austria and Switzerland."
Notes to editors:
1. The "Rod Card Campaign" calls for a range of measures, including a multilingual telephone hotline and a high-profile communication campaign to help women who have been coerced into the sex industry
For more information please call the European Parliamentary Labour Party press officer, Silke Thomson on +32 479 790 053.
European Parliamentary Labour Party, European Parliament, Rue Wiertz, 1047 BRUSSELS, Belgium -
Tel: 00 32 2 28 43736 Fax: 00 32 2 28 4906
