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What is the link between Trafficking and Big Sporting events?

What is the link between Trafficking and Big Sporting events? Link has been made most forcefully by abolitionists Equation : a large group of men results in an increased demand for paid sexual services, and that this demand will be met through trafficking. Hype based on: Misinformation

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What is the link between Trafficking and Big Sporting events?

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  1. What is the link between Trafficking and Big Sporting events? Link has been made most forcefully by abolitionists Equation : a large group of men results in an increased demand for paid sexual services, and that this demand will be met through trafficking. Hype based on: • Misinformation • Poor data • Sensationalism Idea is often uncritically repeated by politicians. eg. Stella Creasy MP

  2. No one is quite sure where the number originated. But in the past few years, whenever a place holds a great sporting event the rumour of a flood of prostitutes soon blossoms. And for some reason that number is 40,000. Laura Agustin, What is the evidence? • There is none • Neither is there any evidence that demand for sexual services increases

  3. CASE STUDY: South Africa World Cup 2010 PREDICTION: 40,000 extra women wereto be ‘imported’ for the event REALITY: The South African Department of Justice and Constitutional Development did not find one case of trafficking during the World Cup.

  4. CASE STUDY: Vancouver Olympics, 2010 PREDICTION: Salvation Army, abolitionists and faith groups predict an 'explosion' in human trafficking REALITY: Researchers are still examining the data, but anecdotal reports suggest no trafficking cases were identified and business was down for sex workers.

  5. If there's no evidence, why does the rumour persist? 'Better Victims' - its usefulness as a fundraising strategy - as a way to grab the media or the public's attention, - being a quick, easy way to 'do something' about trafficking, and - its usefulness in justifying social control measures (e.g. anti-migration measures, crackdowns on sex workers) and cultivating 'moral panics'. Abolitionist Agendas Immigration Controls

  6. What's the problem? What are the consequences of purveying this myth? Does not address real instances of trafficking Immigration controls: tighter border restrictions and racial profiling Police crackdowns on prostitution, brothel raids can make sex workers more vulnerable Disempowers sex workers and undermines sex worker rights

  7. How can we protect the rights and safety of sex workers during the Olympics? • Call for moratorium on sex worker arrests and sex establishment closures • Demand that sex workers are consulted about decisions that affect them • 'Rights' campaign: fact sheets to sex workers/ clients/ others that outline their rights • Media campaign: challenge sensationalist coverage of the issues

  8. What have we done so far • Legal case for suspension • Suspension of offences that refer directly to sex workers • Soliciting, rehabilitation orders, ASBOs / Keeping a brothel • Suspension of arrests of sex workers, administrative detainment and / or removal, during the enforcement of offences relating to third parties • Controlling for gain / Arrest of those purchasing sex from an ‘exploited person.’ • Suspension of the closure of premises • Closure notices, whether related to the Policing and Crime Act or Brothel related offences.

  9. Next Steps • Define concrete aims of campaign – short / medium / long • Structuring the campaign • Slogans/ key messages/ publicity materials

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