On the 24 January, 2008, CHASTE will be holding a conference in London to address the issue of demand. Speakers at the conference include Dr Carrie Pemberton and Vernon Coaker MP amoungst others and will examine ways in which we can curb the demand which creates the market for trafficked women.
For more information about this conference and to recieve an invitation, please email contact@chaste.org.uk.
CHASTE is committed to addressing the frequently avoided link in the chain of the market for trafficked women in the UK – that of demand. In this bicentenary year when we remember 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, CHASTE is calling an end to the demand for sexually enslaved labour in 2007.
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. We plan to be cascading demand round tables regionally in order to help engage this issue locally as well as nationally.
Not for Sale Sunday, on May 20th 2007 (to be held again on May 18th 2008) brought 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 crimalised the buying of sexual services whilst those who offer sex for sale are offered multiple routes for exiting prostitution and are not prosecuted. The 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.