HOME OFFICE News
Release (091/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 5 May 2008
A new poster
campaign to raise awareness of the exploitation and trafficking of
some women among men who pay for sex was launched today by Home
Office Minister Vernon Coaker, as part of the Government's
six month review into tackling the demand for prostitution.
The posters are being piloted in men's toilets in pubs and
clubs in Westminster and Nottingham. They will be supported by
online advertising, with additional advice on the UK Human
Trafficking Centre's "Blue Blindfold" website.
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said:
"Trafficking is a vile and evil trade and sex buyers must be
made to think twice about the consequences of their actions. These
women are being treated as commodities and are sold, controlled
and exploited by others for a profit. This is totally unacceptable.
"The advertising campaign we are launching today should help
draw attention to the plight these women face and make men think
again about what they are doing."
A 2007 research report by the Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit
revealed 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 over a fifth have children.
A key part of the UK Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking is
to undertake publicity and awareness-raising to reduce demand in
the UK. A six month review looking at what more the Government can
do to tackle the demand for prostitution began in January. The
evaluation of the pilot marketing campaign will feed into the
overall results of this review.
Notes to Editors:
1. Human trafficking is defined as the recruitment,
transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people, by
means of threat, use of force, abuse or other forms of coercion,
for the purposes of specified exploitation.
2. The posters being launched in Nottingham and Westminster today
can be seen at http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/humantrafficking003.htm.
The posters will run from 5 May until 30 May. The online
advertisements will run until 27 June.
2. More information about the UK Human Trafficking Centre's
Blue Blindfold campaign can be found at http://www.blueblindfold.co.uk
3. A copy of the 2007 Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit research
report "It's like going to the Supermarket": Men
who buy sex in East London can be found at: http://www.cwasu.org/filedown.asp?file=17242_LMU_Demand_Report_Text_screen-1.pdf
4. The Government launched a six month review in January 2008 to
look at what more could be done to tackle the demand for
prostitution. This began with a Ministerial visit to Sweden to
explore the impact that legislation which criminalises paying for
sex has had. A visit to the Netherlands is being scheduled for
later this year to look at their approach to the issue. The
results of this and the pilot poster campaign will feed into the
final decisions of the review process.