THE ROOT causes of trafficking in women for sexual exploitation are not analysed at all in the Cyprus National Action Plan nor in the legislative framework.
That was the verdict of the Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies (MIGS), which has recently completed a research project with the aim to gain and share awareness, knowledge and understanding on the phenomenon of trafficking in women in Cyprus for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
The research was carried out using a gender-sensitive, feminist perspective and attempted to map and assess existing data on the extent of trafficking in women for sexual exploitation in Cyprus; outline state and non-governmental responses to the problem and suggest ways to combat this increasingly widespread phenomenon.
According to MIGS, these root causes can be very complex and are related to globalisation, poverty, gender discrimination, ethnic and racial discrimination, demand for sexual services, migration policies and unemployment.
“The Cyprus legislative framework to combat trafficking in human beings fails to address the particularities and specificities of the gender dimension and the important issue of demand for services of sexual exploitation,” the Executive Summary states.
“Also, trafficking prevention strategies, although in accordance with human rights norms, do not incorporate a gender-sensitive perspective and do not prioritise the protection of the women affected.
“Furthermore, evidence suggests that there has been an increase in marriages between ‘artistes’ and Cypriot men resulting in the removal of these women from sexual exploitation. This research study suggests that many of these women are subjected to physical and psychological abuse from their Cypriot husbands.”
Evidence demonstrates that an estimated 2,000 foreign women enter the island every year with short term ‘artistes’ or ‘entertainment’ visas. However, these women are not legally accounted for as ‘labourers’, since ‘entertainment/artiste’ vacancies are not listed by the Cyprus Labour Department, as are vacancies in other sectors open to third-country nationals. This means that these jobs are not available to foreign members of Cypriot families or Cypriots seeking employment.
MIGS points out that with the Cyprus Ministerial Committee’s decision in 2005 on the establishment of guidelines in relation to the access to the labour force by migrants that prohibits the employment of Cypriot women or foreign women married to Cypriots, a tolerance is generated for the continuation of ‘importing’ women as ‘entertainers’ to work predominantly in cabarets.
“In this way, the government appears to tolerate trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and contributes to demand for sexual services through the issuing of specific ‘artiste’ visas as well as of licences for the operation of ‘high risk establishments,” the Summary states.
Cyprus’ only recorded numbers of trafficked women available are those collected as a result of police raids and inspections of cabarets, nightclubs and pubs. MIGS’ research and observations indicate that regular police checks as to the living conditions of women working as ‘artistes’ are rarely carried out. As a consequence of the lack of sufficient measures taken by related stakeholders, trafficking cases often remain unreported because the victims fear reprisals by their traffickers and/ or government penalties because of their legal status.
According to its conclusions and recommendations, MIGS is highly concerned about the current situation and stresses that there is no evidence of concrete efforts being made by either the Cyprus government or civil society in general to address it in a concrete manner.
The organisation is urgently calling for the government and respective authorities to immediately account for the issuing of ‘artistes visas’ and proceed with their abolition.
“Any efforts by the Government to combat trafficking in women for sexual exploitation are and will be undermined by the existence of such visas.”
There is also a recommendation to thoroughly monitor and evaluate the measures and strategies of the National Action Plan on Trafficking and ensure that such monitoring is undertaken by an independent organisation not party to the Plan.
There are also call for the adopting of measures to cooperate with authorities and NGOs in the countries of origin with a view to identifying possible cases of trafficking.
“To that effect, administrative control officers, embassies and consulates should be adequately trained and informed.”
Finally, the Summary calls for the exploration of measures to deter and punish the purchaser of sexual services along the lines of the newly adopted Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings that criminalises the buying of services of a victim of trafficking.
