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Representatives of Christian organisations from Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy and Romania have been visiting
Essen and Dortmund from 26th February to 2nd March in order to learn how assistance centres and authorities in both cities
are active in combating trafficking in women. The visit is the first one in a series of exchange visits between Christian
organisations from all over Europe, which take place in the context of the „Christian Action and networking against Trafficking
in women (CAT)“ project. The CAT project has been launched by the Brussels-based Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe
(CCME) and Caritas Europa. It aims at improving the capacity of Christian organisations and their partners to combat trafficking
in women by building a European network. The project receives funding from the STOP programme of the European Commission.
During the stay participants visited the assistance centres „Nachtfalter“ in Essen and „Mitternachtsmission“ in Dortmund.
Staff from both centres gave an overview how they assist women, who have become victims of trafficking.
In Essen, the group also visited the police headquarter. High-ranking representatives of the Essen police department, the
Landeskriminalamt (regional Criminal Police Office) and the regional police training academy met with the group. They gave
an overview about their cooperation with assistance centres and how the fight against trafficking in women is incorporated
into police training curricula and recommendations for police work The meeting underlined the importance of good and trusting
cooperation between assistance centres and police.
In Dortmund the group learnt about the situation of under-age victims of trafficking. It met with an owner of a sex club,
who aim at ensuring that prostitutes are working under acceptable and safe conditions.
The meeting underlined the importance of awareness-raising on trafficking among clients of prostitutes.
During the various meeting it became clear that the current cooperation activities are an important step forward in assisting
victims. It also became clear that the impact of the assistance to victims remains limited as long as victims are legally
obliged to return to their country of origin.
In an evaluation of the visit CCME moderator Annemarie Dupré said: "We need to tackle trafficking in Human Beings from all
possible angles. Cooperation with partners from different sectors in the field is a high priority. We also urgently need long-term
residence titles for the victims, which go beyond the temporary schemes currently offered." Martina Liebsch Chairperson of
the Migration Commission of Caritas Europa evaluated the visit along similar lines: "To be efficient in our struggle against
trafficking we need a strong network, high standards of professionalism and a high awareness for the issue in society".
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