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Representatives of Churches and Church-related organisations from Belgium, Germany, Greece and Italy visited the Czech Republic
from 10th to 13th May 2003 for the fourth visit in the context of the project “Christian Action and Networking against Trafficking
in Women (CAT)”.
The visit was an occasion to examine the situation in the Czech Republic as country of origin, transit and destination in
the global context of trafficking in women. Participants visited the town Dubi on the German-Czech border, which is strongly
dominated by the presence of sex clubs and street prostitution along the E 55 motorway. The visiting group learnt how women
and girls, who have been trafficked, are held in slave-like conditions in sex clubs in this region and across the Czech Republic.
Participants met with representatives of the Czech Ministry of Interior to discuss the legal and social provisions against
trafficking, which are being developed in the Czech Republic. The group had a series of exchange of experiences with church-related
organisations and NGOs active in assistance to sex workers and in particular victims of trafficking. The visit was also an
occasion to meet with representatives of the delegation of the European Commission in Prague. This meeting underlined the
importance of the pre-EU-accession strategy for the efforts to combat trafficking in the Czech Republic. The obligation to
fulfil the acquis communautaire in the field of Justice and Home Affairs had been an important instrument for establishing
a national strategy against trafficking in the Czech Republic. Representatives of NGOs expressed concern about the sustainability
of the activities against trafficking after Czech accession to the EU.
Jindriska Krpalkova of the Czech Caritas summarised the visit: “The awareness for the problem of trafficking is still low
in the Czech Republic, the legal framework against trafficking still needs to be improved. Accession of the Czech Republic
to the EU should not lead us to reduce our efforts. The fight against trafficking has only just begun in our country.”
For further information please contact Torsten Moritz at CCME, Tel. + 32 2 234 68 00
The CAT (Christian Action and Networking against Trafficking in Women) Project is funded by the European Commission STOP Programme.
The views expressed and information provided by the project and the partners involved do not necessarily reflect the point
of view of the European Commission and do in no way fall under the responsibility of the European Commission.
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