An IOM study on human trafficking and the football world cup in
Germany which found inconclusive evidence of an increase in
trafficking for sexual exploitation paid credit to the activities
put in place by the German authorities and NGOs to counter
trafficking during the event. It was, however, concluded that
focusing on only one type of human trafficking led to a narrow
perception of the issue as a whole by many commentators and
observers and missed a vital opportunity to address other forms of
forced exploitation.

The study, the latest of IOM's Migration Research Series and
entitled "Trafficking in Human Beings and the 2006 World Cup in
Germany", recommended that future event organizers and host cities
should widen the scope of counter-trafficking activities to include
forced labour, particularly within the construction industry,
criminal activities and begging, and advocate more strongly for
adequate reporting by the media on the true nature and scope of
human trafficking. Furthermore, in focusing solely on the
trafficking of women for sexual exploitation, event commentators
often confused prostitution and trafficking as being
synonymous.

 

Previously anticipated estimates of 40,000 prostitutes being
brought to Germany possibly against their will to meet the demand
for sexual services during the World Cup were quickly found to be
unrealistic and unfounded hype. With human trafficking requiring
significant logistics and investment by traffickers, the study
suggests that the short duration of the event was unlikely to yield
enough profits. Increased police focus and prevention campaigns may
also have contributed to the outcome.

The study also recommends more research on the profile of fans
attending such events and whether they have an impact on the demand
for sexual services as it could be argued that the characteristics
of the spectator community attending the World Cup in Germany,
including families and couples, reduced the need for such
services.

With the coming UEFA Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and the
Olympics, the study makes recommendations on countering human
trafficking during such events and provides a tool for future event
organizers, policymakers and relevant authorities and NGOs.

Such recommendations include sustainable public
awareness-raising and advocacy campaigns based on early and
reliable situation assessments and cooperation with local experts
from the police, international organizations and NGOs being
extremely important. A coordinated media approach to disseminate
the facts from the hype is also essential. However, the study
suggests that a single, large, comprehensive and professionally
organized campaign covering different target groups, and with an
overall consistent message, would be more effective than several
separate campaigns.

The study also stressed that while information campaigns and
increased law enforcement efforts were important, they are not the
only solution to countering human trafficking. Practical and direct
assistance to victims of trafficking, effective trans-national
investigation and prosecution, as well as dealing with root causes
of human trafficking in countries of origin and demand issues in
countries of destination, represent other key pillars to an overall
counter-trafficking response.

This study is funding by the Swedish International Development
Cooperation Agency, Sida.

For further information, please contact:

Richard Danziger

IOM Geneva

Tel +00 41 22 717 93 34

E-mail: "mailto:rdanziger@iom.int">rdanziger@iom.int