Yesterday, on Wednesday 11 June 2003, the U.S. Department of State released a Trafficking in Persons Report, in which Finland was criticized for being a destination and transit country for organized and professional trafficking in women.

According to the Minister of Justice, Mr Johannes Koskinen, the information about Finland in the report contains several inaccuracies, both regarding the present prostitution situation and the content of the penal code in Finland. ”The problem should not be underestimated, but the overall assessment of the situation in Finland is incorrect.”

”The claim in the report that the Government of Finland has not conducted campaigns to prevent trafficking in persons is not true. The Finnish Government is strongly committed to prevention of trafficking in human beings. In Finland trafficking is mainly related to prostitution, and the former Government, led by Prime Minister Lipponen, conducted a significant prostitution prevention campaign.”

” According to the programme of Prime Minister Jäätteenmäki's Government, enough resources for combating prostitution and violence against women will be reserved for the whole administrative period. The government programme also states that the resources allocated to support services for victims of violence and prostitutes will be added and the protection of the victims of trafficking in women will be strengthened.”

”A working group set up by the Ministry of Justice is preparing the legislation on trafficking in human beings. There are also plans to add provisions on aggravated pandering to the penal code and to strengthen the coercive measures in use of the police. Furthermore, the working group is examining the possibilities to prohibit buying of sexual services. The working group will draw up its proposals by 3 July 2003. ”

”The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is currently carrying out a survey to find out how to develop the help offered to victims of trafficking of human beings.”

Further information:
Counsellor of legislation, Mr Jukka Lindstedt, tel. +358 9 1606 7725