Abstracts: October 2004
October 1, 2004
Sex trafficking arrests
According to this article:
A man and woman from Streatham were arrested by National Crime Squad
officers as part of an investigation into international sex worker trafficking.
They are suspected of providing documentation and booking flights for Moldavian
and Russian women to be trafficked through Europe and into the United Kingdom to
work in the central London sex trade.
Detectives also searched an office in central London where they discovered a
passport forgery factory and at least 40 false passports, production equipment
and a "leave to remain" stamp. Detectives suspect the women are flown from
France, Spain and Italy and they are liaising with French authorities.
-
"Sex Trafficking Arrests" South London Press. Oct. 1, 2004. Nov. 29, 2004
<http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/
0400lambeth/tm_objectid=14704105&method=
full&siteid=50100&headline=sex-trafficking-arrests-name_page.html>
October 10, 2004
Refuges needed to curb sex trade
According to this article:
The Poppy Project in London warned that there will be a dramatic growth in the
number of women trafficked into the UK to work in the sex trade unless urgent
action is taken to provide more refuges for those forced into prostitution.
The Poppy Project accommodates up to 25 former prostitutes who were trafficked
into the UK and its facility is full. The women are supposed to stay for
no longer than 16 weeks but they often stay longer. It predicts that cities
across the country need to open similar centres to combat the problem. A second
refuge is planned in Glasgow. An article in today's Observer Magazine
investigates people-trafficking across Europe.
Representatives from the 45 member states of the Council of Europe met
last week to discuss plans to combat the problem of people-trafficking. The council is
preparing to draw up a convention that will oblige states to protect the rights
of trafficked people.
Quote:
'It's crucial that all governments, including the UK's, offers sufficient
protection for people who have been trafficked." ~ Beth Herzfeld, Anti-Slavery International spokeswoman
October 6, 2004
Foreign sex workers need rights, not sensationalism
Opinion
According to this article:
"Women who come from abroad to sell sex, who sit in flats and massage parlours
bored stiff when business is slow, don't make good headlines - or good drama.
Trafficked women, on the other hand, frequently provide sensationalist stories
for the media."
Channel 4's new drama, Sex Traffic, is about two beautiful young Moldavian sisters, Elena and Vara, who are trafficked into prostitution. They are dragged across
Europe, raped and violated along the way and finally arrive in London.
The article goes on give examples of real foreign women working in London - Joanna, from Poland, Kim from Thailand and Lara from Albania. The writer states that their lives are not ideal but not as hopeless as the stereotypes and that "vital issues" such as safety and sexual health could be addressed if there were regulation of indoor sex work.
Ms. Campbell goes on to express her belief that the consultation paper on prostitution - Paying the Price
- focused heavily on the victimisation of women in prostitution against their
will and the need to exit those women rather than how to reduce harm for those remaining. She expresses her belief that more should be done to improve the safety of sex workers, increase their access to health and support services and extend their career choices.
Rosie Campbell is chair of the UK Network of Sex Work Projects.
-
Rosie Campbell "Foreign sex workers need rights, not sensationalism" The
Guardian. Oct. 6, 2004. Nov. 19, 2004. <http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/
comment/0,11026,1320745,00.html>
October 13, 2004
Nigerian
woman quizzed over mother-of-two's murder
According to this article:
A 24-year-old Nigerian woman was arrested in Waterford on Oct. 12th questioned about the murder of Paiche Onyemaechi. The woman
can be held for up to 72 hours under Section 30 of the Offences Against the
State Act, 1939.
On July 23, Paiche's decapitated body was found near Piltown, Co.
Kilkenny. She was the daughter of Malawian Chief Justice Leonard Unyolo. She had
been missing from her Waterford home for three weeks before her body was found.
Two Nigerian men had already been questioned by Gardaí but were released without
charge. Ms Onyemaechi's husband, Chika, has not been seen since shortly after
her death.
October 14, 2004
£50,000 legal bid
to reverse lap dancing club licence
According to this article:
Glasgow city council lodged a writ at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Oct 13th aimed at overturning a decision by the licensing board to allow lap dancing at "For Your Eyes Only" club. The legal expenses could cost the taxpayers approximately £50,000. Glasgow council has a zero-tolerance attitude toward lapdancing.
Two months earlier an application by Privilege (Glasgow) to open a lapdancing club on the same site was rejected by the licensing board due to concerns about it becoming a public nuisance and the fact that the dancers would be fully nude.
October 14,
2004
MSPs urged to back
lap dance club veto
According to this article:
Jim Coleman, Glasgow City Council's deputy leader sent a letter to all 129 MSPs
requesting support for changes to the licencing law regarding lap-dancing clubs.
Currently club licencing regulations are the same as nightclubs, live music
venues and karaoke bars. Glasgow City Council wants to regulate
lap-dancing clubs in the same manner as sex shops. Glasgow currently has
four lap-dancing clubs and a licence was recently approved for a fifth.
The Glasgow council is considering going to court to have that licence
overturned.
The Licencing Board cannot oppose lap-dancing clubs on moral grounds.
Coleman believes that the decision allowing or disallowing clubs should be taken
away from the Licencing Board. Mr. Coleman believes that the current law
diminishes the council's ability to follow Executive policies on violence
against women, sexual exploitation and prostitution. An amendment to the
Civic Government (Scotland) Act would be needed to change the licencing laws.
The Scottish Executive said that the act is currently under review by an
independent working group.
Quote:
"Local authorities need the power to be able to control the location and
nature of this kind of business and determine what is acceptable for their
citizens. "We are asking all Scotland's MSPs across all parties to support us to
change the present legislation. "We're not asking you to ban such activities but
merely to provide the means by which individual local authorities can better
influence the location and nature of these businesses and determine the level of
provision. "Local authorities like Glasgow strive hard to create cities in which
all citizens feel included and respected. We believe the vast majority of
citizens feel that these establishments do no good for our reputation or image
and make women, in particular, feel objectified and demeaned." - Jim Coleman
October 15, 2004
Lap dance
clubs face city squeeze
This article discusses the response of lapdancing club owners to the efforts of Glasgow City Council to re-categorize lapdancing club licenses as sex shops.
According to this article:
Douglas Moffat, Truffle Club, expressed his belief that the Council will ultimately try to shut down all table dancing clubs in Glasgow.
The Glasgow City Council report "Profitable Exploits: Lap Dancing in the UK", describes lapdancing clubs as demeaning to women and states that policy changes are needed to prevent violence against women, sexual exploitation and prostitution. The report's author, Julie Bindel, of London Metropolitan University's Child and Woman Abuse Unit, said dancers suffered humiliation and sexual harassment on a regular basis, and that pay at the clubs was so poor that some women are pressured into offering sexual services. Bindel visited four clubs in Glasgow and said she found evidence of sexual services available in each. Club management denied the allegation.
The council has requested the Scottish Executive to amend the Civic Government (Scotland) Act to take these operations into the same category as those requiring sex shop licences.
October 30,
2004
Man appears over
people trafficking
According to this article:
Louise Philipe Nogueira De Macedo, a 41-year-old Portuguese citizen was arrested
on Oct. 29, 2004 and charged with people trafficking. He appeared in Dublin court on Oct. 30, 2004. Two Brazilian women accompanying De Macedo were refused
entry into Ireland. He is in custody at Clover Hill prison.
De Macedo was the second person to be charged with people trafficking within the
week. On October 28, a Nigerian solicitor, Olaitan Ilori, was charged with
people trafficking after 14 people from Mauritius were refused entry. Ilori was
remanded to appear in court again on Nov. 4.
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