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A. General matters
2. The CDCJ stressed the scale and topical relevance of the phenomenon of traffic in women and forced prostitution in Council of Europe member States. In this connection it referred to the existence of several legal instruments dealing directly or indirectly with this subject. Any work undertaken in this field should therefore take this fact into account and the need to deal with the global scope of traffic in women and forced prostitution. In this connection, the United Nations work for the establishment of an International Criminal Court, where enforced prostitution was being considered as a crime to be included in the Court's jurisdiction, is also relevant. 3. The CDCJ noted that, although traffic in human beings affects women more seriously than men, men are also not spared. In addition in view of the serious nature of sexual exploitation of children, children should receive specific consideration. 4. The CDCJ noted that the Committee of Ministers had set up the Multisectoral Group on action against trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation (EG-S-TS). This Multisectoral Group of specialists is composed of experts from various committees of the Council of Europe (including the CDCJ), under the authority of the Steering Committee for equality between women and men (CDEG). 5. As the questions considered by the CDCJ fall under the terms of reference of the EG-S-TS, it should be considered by this Group, in particular as this problem concerns immigration matters, the European Committee on migration (CDMG) and the European Committee on crime problems (CDPC) are called upon to designate an expert to participate in the EG-S-TS. B. Paragraph 6.ii of the Assembly Recommendation 6. In paragraph 6.ii the Assembly recommends the Committee of Ministers to urge member States to: "... ii. introduce training of immigration staff, in particular in consulates delivering visas and at border points, in order to ensure that such staff are fully aware of the problem, are provided with up to date information on trafficking methods and trends, and are trained to recognise potential victims". The CDCJ recognised the importance of involving fully immigration staff in this problem. It therefore supports this proposal. C. Paragraph 6.v of the Assembly Recommendation 7. In paragraph 6.v the Assembly recommends the Committee of Ministers to urge member States to: "... v. grant residence prmits to victims of traffic and forced prostitution who are willing to testify in court, and include them in witness protection pogrammes if necessary". 8. The CDCJ recognised that such measures would be very efficient to fight traffic and forced prostitution. However, as indicated by Mrs Johansson in her Opinion (Doc. 7808, paragraph 2), the estimated traffic of women to the European Union member states in 1995 is 500,000. While agreeing that the permits envisaged by paragraph 6.v of this Recommendation may be necessary for a short time, the CDCJ realised that owing to the large number of persons involved there would be many difficulties for States to find satisfactory solutions in all cases. Indeed some States may have to consider such measures on a case by case basis, on their merits. However steps taken under this Recommendation, in particular if the recommendation under paragraph 6.ii concerning immigration results in a reduction of cases, would assist States in carrying out the proposal contained in paragraph 6.v. 9. The CDCJ also noted that in several international fora the granting of a temporary residence permit to victims of traffic and forced prostitution who are willing to testify in court has been recommended. Reference is made to the European guidelines for effective measures to prevent and combat trafficking in women for the purpose of sexual exploitation adopted at the Ministerial Conference under the Presidency of the European Union in The Hague from 24 to 26 April 1997 and the recommendations adopted at the Conference of Ministers on the Prevention of Illegal Migration (Budapest Process) held in Prague on 14 and 15 October 1997. Opinion of the Steering Committee on the Mass Media (CDMM) on paragraph 6 i) of Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1325 (1997) General remarks 1. The Steering Committee on the Mass Media (CDMM) shares the concerns of the Parliamentary Assembly on the phenomenon of traffic in women and forced prostitution. It strongly condemns these practices, which run contrary to the fundamental principle of human rights and human dignity. It fully supports the move by the Parliamentary Assembly to undertake urgent joint action against these phenomena at the Council of Europe level. 2. The CDMM notes that these phenomena raise, inter alia, the question of the portrayal of women in the media, given that the stereotype and degrading image of women sometimes represented in some media may influence the behaviour/attitude of those involved, as providers or "consumers," in the trafficking of women and prostitution. The CDMM recalls that it has always been attentive to the question of presenting a fair image of women in the media, respecting the cardinal principle of editorial independence of the latter. In particular, as early as 1993, the CDMM submitted a written contribution to the 3rd European Ministerial Conference on equality between women and men (Rome, 1993). In this contribution, entitled "the causes of violence against women: the role of the media," the CDMM underlined its interest in carrying out activities aimed at heightening the media's awareness of their own specific responsibilities and to encourage the media to practise self-regulation in order to "promote the communication of a more positive image of women in society and to avoid depicting them in circumstances suggestive of vulnerability and violence". 3. Following this contribution, the CDMM organised in 1994, in co-operation with the Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men (CDEG), a seminar on "Human rights and gender: the responsibility of the media," which led to the formulation of several proposals for concrete action. One of these proposals was that the Council of Europe organise an activity specifically aimed at media professionals to examine in a practical manner the image and portrayal of the sexes in the media. As a result, the CDMM and the CDMM will organise in Strasbourg on 28-29 September 1998 a workshop on ""good" and "bad" practices regarding the image of women in the media" which will be attended by professionals from the written press, the audiovisual and the new communications services. 4. Besides the question of the image of women in the media, trafficking in women and forced prostitution also raise the problem of the use of means of public communication in promoting these activities. If the use of the traditional media in the written press and broadcasting sectors do not seem to be in question in this respect, on the other hand the use by networks of prostitution and trafficking in women of the new communication services accessible on line, notably on the Internet, calls for particular attention. 5. Faced with this problem, but also with the use of the new communications services in undermining the fundamental rights and dignity of other individuals, such as children, the States participating in the 5th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy, held in Thessaloniki (Greece) on 11-12 December 1997, agreed, within the framework of Resolution No. 1 adopted at the Conference, to take any measures which are considered necessary to "combat the use of the new communications and information services for spreading any ideology, or carrying out any activity, which is contrary to human rights, human dignity and the fundamental rights of others" and "to co-operate in the fight against such use". Any initiatives which might be taken as a follow-up to Recommendation 1325 (1997) of the Parliamentary Assembly could be based on this Resolution. Observations concerning paragraph 6 (i) of the Recommendation 6. At the general level, the CDMM notes that the range of measures which might be taken in application of this paragraph go beyond the strict scope of its competence, in that the measures to increase public awareness might be (and might gain from being) led via larger channels than the media, for example via educational and social institutions, in particular those which are addressed at women, and especially young women. In the same respect, the question of information provided "by the staff of consulates and embassies dealing with requests for visas and work permits" goes beyond the area of competence of the CDMM and, therefore, will not be commented on. 7. Concerning the particular field of the media, the CDMM notes that the latter might play an effective role in the relay of information and in raising public awareness, not only to "traffickers' potential victims," but also to the public in general. To be efficient, the fight against trafficking in women and forced prostitution means that all individuals should be made aware of the seriousness of these phenomena and also of the different forms that they may take and the actions or sanctions which might be taken against those who are at the origin of or who "benefit" from these activities. 8. The CDMM recalls that the contribution of the media to such an information and awareness raising policy can only take place if they are voluntarily willing to do so, and that they have themselves to be aware of the importance of such a contribution. Such action might notably be taken by the joint organisation of activities - by public authorities and professional media organisations, at the national or European level - aimed at media professionals, and which might also be open to other bodies, such as women's defence organisations. 9. This being so, it should be kept in mind that the editorial treatment in the media of society and public questions, which include trafficking in women and forced prostitution, vary according to their nature and content. Any strategy aimed at increasing awareness amongst the media should be sufficiently flexible and targeted to take into account the specificity of the different media. In this context, particular attention should be given to the media which are essentially, if not exclusively, aimed at men. Opinion of the Steering Committee on Social Policy (CDPS) on Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1325 (1997) (adopted by the Bureau of the CDPS on 15 September 1998) 1. Following the request of the Committee of Ministers to submit an opinion on Recommendation 1325 (1997) of the Parliamentary Assembly the Bureau of the CDPS has adopted the following response: 2. The Bureau of the CDPS welcomes the Recommendation as highly timely and important. 3. The Bureau of the CDPS considers that the scope of this Recommendation is largely covered by the legal and criminal law field. 4. The particular contribution that can be made from the social field is currently taken into account in the framework of the Multisectoral Group on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings for the purpose of Sexual Exploitation (EG-S-TS), where CDPS has been represented up till now. 5. The Bureau of CDPS considers that the appropriate reply to the Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation will be made through the draft Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers currently being prepared by the EG-S-TS.
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