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What is the Dignity Project?
Dignity is an interagency initiative working to deliver quality services for victims of sex-trafficking in Ireland.
What is sex trafficking?
The Council of Europe Convention on Trafficking and The UN Convention on Trafficking agree that trafficking in human beings consists of: “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability… for the purposes of exploitation… ” (2005). Trafficking for sexual exploitation is recognised as a problem in the European Union and a major form of violence against women and children. As an industry it is an enormous commercial concern, with an annual turnover world wide of approximately €14 billion.
Globally, some 5-7 million people are moved from one country to another or within borders each year by others for profit.
A global problem
United Nations data and USA Traffi cking In Persons reports show that 200,000 people were trafficked into North West Europe (2008) and that the vast majority of them (80%) were traffi cked for the purposes of sexual exploitation. It is estimated that the number of organised groups arranging the traffi cking of women is on the increase. The numbers of women from Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia is now evident in off -street prostitution across the EU , where these women are being sexually exploited. The growth of the sex industry and prostitution is both a feature of increasing trafficking for sexual exploitation and a factor in the growth of demand for victims.
What will the Dignity Project do?
The Dignity project is an EU Daphne funded project of transnational partners who will study and document the good practice that is identifi ed in each partner country in services to victims of traffi cking. It will then look at how best to replicate such models at the local level. The aim of the Dignity Project is to work towards an integrated, holistic victim-centered approach, including provision of services to those vulnerable to exploitation (women in prostitution), as well as health services, counselling, accommodation, advocacy services, education and skills development for victims. Victim witness support and protection will also be examined, as well as victim integration and processes of safe returns to country of origin of victims.
In 2009-2010 partners will embark on a series of study visits, staff exchanges, seminars and publications to raise awareness and share experiences of the realities of traffi cking for sexual exploitation and good practice policy and services. Partners will work to show how best practice models can be replicate across the participating member states of Ireland, Lithuania, Scotland/UK and Spain.
| An initiative of Dublin Employment Pact and Immigrant Council of Ireland |
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| Carried out in association with: |
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Other Sections & Related Information
Meetings - Information & Related Documentation
Lithuanian Study Visit August 2009
Glasgow Study Visit May 2009
Madrid Study Visit October 2009
Dublin Study Visit November 2009
Dignity & Demand Conference November 5th 2009
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