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

No one is quite sure where the number originated. But in the past few years, whenevera 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

CASE STUDY: South Africa World Cup 2010

PREDICTION: 40,000 extra women were to 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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

Next Steps

Define concrete aims of campaign – short / medium / long

Structuring the campaign

Slogans/ key messages/ publicity materials