UBC against trafficking

According to the United Nation reports, approximately 4 million women and children have been annually trafficked and used for sexual exploitation and prostitution. Being opposed to the trade with people, the UBC Executive Board during its 45^th Meeting held in Kaunas signed the Statement against trafficking upon the initiative of the city of Umea. The Statement defines trafficking as a trade of human beings for sexual exploitation closely connected with national prostitution. As this is an illegal business, it is not possible to give the exact data reflecting the real situation but the number of trafficked women and children is increasing.

Traffickers usesometactics including deception, fraud, intimidation, isolation, threat and use of physical force to control their victims. The recruitment is usually the same -women are promised good and well-paid jobs in other countries or provinces, and, due to lack of perspectives or bad Thnancial condition at home, they agree to migrate. Through agents and brokers who arrange the travel and job placements, women are escorted to their destinations and delivered to the employers.

Bearing in mind the fact that all people are born free and have the same value and human rights, the document emphasizes the necessity of undertaking actions against trafficking. The trade with women and children is not only an affront to human dignity but also an infringement of international human rights regulations. The UBC Statement stipulates therefore to recognize the trafficking as a serious problem to be solved both at political and social level as the trafficked women and children made to prostitute are the victims of crime and deserve support from the society.

The UBC which promotes gender equality and human rights committed the member cities to work for women's and men's right to have influence on their own lives and to increase of the awareness of the society.