CONFERENCE:
'WOMEN AND TRAFFICKING FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION'

This half day conference was organised by Bristol Fawcett members Dr Margaret Page of the University of the West of England, and Dr Geetanjali Gangoli, of Bristol University. It was an opportunity to:
- find out what is known locally about trafficking for sexual exploitation and how women are involved;
- hear about the work of local and national researchers and activists;
- decide how to support this work.

The event was supported by the National Alliance of Women's Organisations (NAWO)
in partnership with the United Nations, who have consulted widely with women through
their Special Reporter ('rapporteur') on Violence against Women (UNSRVAW).  Representatives from a wide number of organisations, both local and national, attended the conference and continue to contribute through networks that were established on the day.


Read on to find out more about the conference, and follow the links for further details.  




The conference was opened by Helen Mott, co-ordinator of Bristol Fawcett.  Helen gave some background on the history and work of Fawcett nationally, and in Bristol.  She explained why trafficking is specifically an issue for feminists because it is part of a global system of oppression of women and of the undermining of women's human rights.  Helen described the work to date of Bristol Fawcett's trafficking subgroup and outlined the role of Bristol Fawcett as a catalyst for action, explaining that the purpose of today's conference was for delegates to come away informed, inspired and equipped with ideas for action.

Our next speaker was Annette Lawson, a longterm activist and chair of NAWO, a previous chair of Fawcett,  elected UK representative to the European Women's Lobby, and Women's National Commissioner.  Annette spoke of trafficking of women for sexual exploitation as one of many forms of violence against women. In this context she spoke of NAWO 's organisation of three days of consultation attended by 100 organisations from all over Europe in London in 2007 with Professor Yakin Erturk, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women.  NAWO has also hosted a range of follow-up meetings to the consultation, including the Bristol conference.  Annette's presentation includes information, statistics and links from this report and it can be downloaded here.  Annette also spoke about the European Women's Lobby and its policy action centre on violence against women.  We look forward to the development of a UK observatory on violence against women.


We heard next from Cezara Nanu, a doctoral student at the University of the West of England.  Cezara described some of the pitfalls of stereotyping that can be encountered when we think about campaigning against the trafficking of women. She told us the story of how young women she knew had been drawn into sexual exploitation through trafficking  and described the changing patterns of sexual exploitation of women.  She raised important questions of how to reach women in the context of shifting pathways into trafficking, and addressed issues of prevention from awareness-raising to social policy.


Our next speaker was Dr Christien van den Anker, an academic based at UWE who is researching and has published research findings about the changing forms of trafficking in Europe, including the UK and central and eastern Europe.  Christien outlined the legal definitions of trafficking and explored its links with violence against women through for example domestic abuse and forced marriage, in the context of poverty and the criminalisation of migration.

Our final speaker was Peter Hammond, deputy leader of Bristol City Council and cabinet member for Equalities.  Peter has taken an active interest in developing a city-wide approach to human trafficking and was instrumental in Bristol's signing of the declaration in support of the Council of Europe's Convention for Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings.  He outlined the need for Bristol as a city to take responsibility for the needs of all its citizens, including trafficked and exploited women living behind closed doors in the city.

A stimulating discussion followed during which key themes included:

• The role of tight migration controls in feeding the profits of traffickers
• The criminalising of people who are desperate - for education, or to put food on the table
• No recourse to public funds for abused spouses in the country with a 2-year spouse visa
• The failure of policy-makers to attend to, and take up, academic research in the field
• Lack of leadership at high levels to give credence to the fight against trafficking
• The need to work across 'factions' including faith-based groups and those with differing views of prostitution
• The lack of awareness of racism, and the unresolved legacy of slavery in Bristol
• The need to challenge men's behaviour which is at the root of demand and exploitation
• The need for cross-cutting strategic focus - locally and nationally - on all forms of violence against women

Workshops
Annette Lawson led a workshop on globalism and activism - notes to follow.

Geetanjali Gangoli led a workshop on forced marriage: brief notes are available here.  The need to map and publicise services within Bristol who offer support to victims/ survivors of forced marriages was agreed and an informal mapping process was begun. Click here for the document -  Bristol contacts for advice and support on forced marriage - which will be updated from time to time.










Christien Van den Anker led a workshop on trafficking including links with domestic abuse.  A plan for further action was developed:

• Develop a women's forum on trafficking
• Work on a broad partnership level involving health, education, police, crown prosecution service, UK Border authorities
• Develop a vulnerable adult protection group on trafficking
• Develop a checklist of identifying victims for different statutory agencies in health, education, private sector (businesses) etc
• Establish human rights centre at the UWE relating to NGOs and policy makers
• Introduce a 'flexi-card' as promoted by Stop the Traffik
• Consider employing an Information Co-ordinator and/or establish website to circulate information
• Develop training on the concepts of trafficking
• Move away from 'box' to holistic view on trafficking
• Commission research in Bristol and/or on a national level on the links between trafficking and Asylum
• Communicate and circulate the strengths of delegates e.g. housing professionals, outreach workers

Back to main trafficking page or Bristol Fawcett home page