On the 24 January, 2008, CHASTE held a conference in London to address the issue of demand. Speakers at the conference included Vernon Coaker MP among others and it examined ways in which we can curb the demand which creates the market for trafficked women.
CHASTE is committed to addressing the demand for commercial sex that creates a market which traffickers exploit..
In the bicentenary year we remembered how abolitionists working for the abolition of the Slave Trade called for the boycotting of sugar, and the removal of the market for enslaved labour in the plantations of the Caribbean. Now CHASTE is calling for an end to the demand for sexual enslavement through trafficking into commercial sex outlets.
Read the Briefing Paper Prostitution and Human Trafficking:Tackling Demand
The Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, by CARE
CHASTE has a Round Table to address demand. If you wish to join this round table please be in touch with our administrator – admin@chaste.org.uk mentioning your interest in this area, your geographical location and what organisational interests you would bring to this table.
Not for Sale Sunday, on 17th May 2009 brings to the attention of the churches and to policy makers the key elements which are needed for this movement for Abolition to get underway.We take heart from the example of Sweden which in 1999 introduced a law which criminalised the buying of sexual services. (Those who offer sex for sale are offered multiple routes for exiting prostitution and are not prosecuted). The Swedish law was part of an overall package to address violence against women, secure women’s rights and diminish the risk of young girls from entering into prostitution. The ‘signal’ effect of this law has been strong.
It is widely considered that trafficking for sexual exploitation has been reduced in Sweden and that there has been a considerable change in attitude amongst the potential male consumers. A survey on general attitudes in 2001 stated that more than 80 % of the population are found to be in favour of the law. About 100 cases of violation of the law are reported each year which are met with fines as well as imprisonment.
Whilst there are voices who claim that on street prostitution has become more marginalised and dangerous for those who are engaged with it from research undertaken in Malmo, it is clear that the age of those entering into Prostitution is rising year on year, and that attitudes amongst Swedish males are clearly changing to deeper respect for women as Not for Sale. See our research pages for more information on addressing demand.