Campaign Against Trafficking Of Women During World Cup

I'd like to draw people's attention to a new online petition calling for the prevention of mass trafficking of women and girls into Germany for prostitution during this summer's World Cup. It can be found at Pes.org

This initiative has been undertaken by the Party of European Socialists, to which the Labour Party is affiliated.

The World Cup is a global celebration of football, which remains the most popular sport in the world. However, the influx of tourists and football supporters to Germany carries with it a dark underbelly. Thousands of women and girls will be illegally trafficked into Germany over the course of the next few months to be exploited as prostitutes. This is a reality that must be confronted in the build-up to the tournament in order to save as many women as possible from this form of sexual slavery.

The online petition created by the PES calls on the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, to take a specific initiative with Member States to prevent women being brought into Germany for prostitution.

I urge as many people as possible to visit the site and add their support for this campaign. The petition will be open for signatures until 08 March, which is International Women’s Day.

Only through concerted pressure will we be able to save women from this brutal form of exploitation.