PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN INTO THE UK (6 December 2001)

That this House condemns the high level of trafficking of women into the UK for exploitation in the sex trade; commends UNIFEM for bringing this issue to the fore; congratulates the International Labour Organisation and the United Nations Information Centre on the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10th December, for its declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its longstanding efforts to protect and promote human rights in the field of employment; and supports the National Council of Women's call upon the Government to give urgent consideration to enacting penalties for specific crimes of sexual exploitation and the trafficking of women in their current review of the Sexual Offences Act; to enhance the penalties for coerced prostitution as recommended in the police research series paper 'Stopping traffic'; and to ensure that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office works with the Department for International Development to increase preventative campaigns in countries of origin by providing economic opportunities for women and raising awareness of the sex trade.

Sponsored by:
Mr Tony Colman (Labour)