CABINET OFFICE News
Release (Cabinet Office on behalf of Government Equalities Office)
issued by COI News Distribution Service. 4 September 2008
Harriet Harman,
Minister for Women and Equality, today visited the POPPY Project
and met with women who have been trafficked into sexual
exploitation. POPPY provides accommodation and support to
trafficked women.
The visit coincides with new survey findings which show that more
than half of men and women (58%) support making it illegal to pay
for sex if it will help reduce women and children trafficked into
the UK for sexual exploitation.
The research also finds divergent attitudes between women and
men. Whereas a clear majority of women find either paying for sex
or selling it unacceptable (61% and 65% respectively, men are much
more equivocal with just 42% and 40% respectively finding it unacceptable.
Over half questioned (60%) would feel ashamed if they found out a
family member was working as a prostitute.
Interestingly the majority of men are much more likely to find it
unacceptable for a female relative to sell sex (61%), yet they are
more relaxed about a male relative paying for sex (50%). This
difference is most stark amongst men over 55, who are the most
accepting of buying sex in general (50 %), but just 21% of whom
believe it is acceptable for a female relative to sell sex
(compared to 11% of women aged over 55).
Young people are less likely than older people to find paying for
sex or selling sex acceptable, (64% and 69% respectively).
Ms Harman said:
"Our survey suggests that there are double standards out
there: Even amongst people who thought selling sex was a
reasonable choice to make, the overwhelming majority would then
find it unacceptable if a family member was working as a prostitute.
"While the majority of men and women agree that paying for
sex should be made illegal if it will help stop the trafficking of
women for sexual exploitation, women and young people are much
more likely to find the whole idea of paying for sex unacceptable.
"We know that paying for sex fuels the demand for trafficked
women and children, but we can't talk about tackling demand
without challenging cultural attitudes more widely."
The Home Office is conducting a wide ranging review looking at
what more the Government can do to tackle demand for prostitution,
exploring both the legislative and non-legislative options. The
review started in January this year and is due to report later
this year. As part of this Ministers have visited Sweden and The
Netherlands to look at how trafficking is being tackled internationally.
The Government has established a dedicated UK Human Trafficking
centre and is on course to ratify the Council of Europe Convention
on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the end of 2008.
We have already invested £5.8 million into the POPPY project,
which provides accommodation and a package of support to women
that have been trafficked into sexual exploitation. .
Notes for editors
* The survey was conducted by Ipsos-MORI between 11th and 12th
June, and 29 and 31 August 2008among a nationally represented
sample of British adults aged 18+. Results are based on 1,012
respondents and 1,010 respondents respectively.
* A 2007 research report by the Child and Woman Abuse Studies
Unit showed that the peak age for buying sex is 34, with men aged
20-40 counting for the majority. Most are employed, around half
are in a relationship, and more than a fifth have children.
* In January, as part of the drive to tackle human trafficking,
the government published a report, 'Women Not for Sale',
which found sex ads in 75% of the local newspapers, that in all
parts of England local newspapers are carrying ads selling women,
and nearly half the ads in local papers refer to women as being
from abroad. Since then the Newspaper Society has tightened up
guidance which has led to a number of newspapers refusing
offending adverts.
* In 2003, a Home Office study on organised crime markets
estimated that there were 4,000 women in the UK who had been
trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
* Operation Pentameter 2 (a six month, national enforcement
campaign focusing on the off-street market) resulted in: the
identification of 167 victims of human trafficking for sexual
exploitation (13 of which were children) 528 arrests; and over
£500K seized in cash, with an excess of £3m assets held under restraint.]
In January the Government announced that it will ratify the
Council of Europe Convention against trafficking in human beings
by the end of the year.
* The POPPY Project was set up in 2003. It is funded by the
Office for Criminal Justice Reform (reporting to the Ministry of
Justice) and the Home Office to provide accommodation and support
to women who have been trafficked into sexual exploitation.
* The UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking (published in
March 2007) outlines the Government's comprehensive strategy
in the areas of prevention,
investigations/enforcement/prosecutions and the protection of
victims. An Update to the UK Action Plan was published on July 2nd
this year; highlighting progress and identifying key new measures.