EUROPE - Catholic women religious organise various initiatives of women to prevent prostitution during the World Football Championships in Germany

Madrid (Agenzia Fides) - The Union of the European Conferences of Religious Major Superiors UCESM, is giving full support to initiatives promoted by a number of religious congregations of women to prevent sexual abuse and forced prostitution during the month long World Cup event in Germany 9 June to 9 July. “Red card for sexual abuse and forced prostitution” is the slogan of a campaign which includes preventive activity in the countries from which the women come, awareness building campaigns in Europe and a telephone number for women in difficulty which will operate 24 hours a day during the event.
Catholic agencies which work to help women at risk estimate that about 40,000 young women will be transferred to Germany to exercise prostitution. All this action to counter the trade of prostitution is co-ordinated by Solidarity with women in Distress - SOLWODI a German NGO which helps women from eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa victims of trafficking of women.
RIGyS, the international network of the Oblate Missionaries, warns “offside” the event could be an excellent opportunity for boosting the trafficking of women!. Concern has been voiced by various authorities and NGOs. The Oblate Missionary Sisters - who give priority to rehabilitating prostitutes - with this initiative want to call people to support a resolution of the European Court which intends to fight forced corruption in the framework of world sports events presented by the Commission for Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. They also call on FIFA, UEFA and the German Football federation to denounce “loud and clear the trafficking of human persons and forced prostitution”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 22/5/2006; righe 24, parole 324)