Voorzitter Raad van Europa blij met campagne vrouwenhandel (en)

PACE President, Lluís Maria de Puig, today welcomed the Euro 2008 Campaign against Trafficking in Women, which has the backing of 25 Swiss organisations including NGOs, mutual assistance associations, advice centres and trade unions.

It was instigated by Ruth-Gaby Vermot-Mangold, former Chair of the PACE Sub-Committee on Trafficking in Human Beings. "Ruth-Gaby Vermot-Mangold always showed unstinting commitment to the cause of women in the Parliamentary Assembly. It was she who, in 2006, prepared the report on which PACE Resolution 1494 (2006) `Stopping trafficking in women before the FIFA World Cup' was based.

Although she left the Assembly in January 2008, I welcome the fact that she is continuing this struggle to which she is so personally attached, the fight against trafficking in women," said Mr de Puig. The Euro 2008 campaign, whose aim is to increase awareness about trafficking in women for the purposes of prostitution in Switzerland, calls for better protection for victims and witnesses and enhanced victims' rights.

It was launched on 8 March, will continue throughout the European Football Championship and will close in the autumn. Spurred on by Ruth-Gaby Vermot-Mangold, PACE has actively promoted the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, and was heavily involved in the Council of Europe's "Human being - not for sale" Campaign. Site of the Euro 2008 Campaign against Trafficking in Women Campaign spot Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings PACE action against trafficking in women PACE Resolution 1494 (2006) "Stopping trafficking in women before the FIFA World Cup" Parliamentary Assembly Communication Unit Tel: +33 3 88 41 31 93 Fax : +33 3 90 21 41 34 pace.com@coe.int www.coe.int/press