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General Assembly 2008: Connection between prostitution
and people trafficking, says Guild
In the hard hitting
report which it will present to the General Assembly
2008, the Church of Scotland Guild's reflection
on the work of the last year includes working with
presbyteries and others to investigate methods of
alerting potential brothel clients to the evils
of human trafficking.
| The General Assembly
will hear that, both within the church and in the
general population, there has undoubtedly been an
increased level of awareness of trafficking. Press
coverage has been considerable, due to the uncovering
of trafficking rings through the Pentameter 2 initiative
and the work of the UK Anti-trafficking centre,
set up to coincide with the government's signing
of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against
Trafficking of Human Beings. |
|
The Assembly will be told that grassroots Guild members
were part of the wave of revulsion that led to the emergence
of the significant 'Extra Mile' initiative held during
Guild Week in November. That provided an opportunity
for Guild members to raise issues with MSPs, including
the provision of safe accommodation in Scotland for
the period of recovery and the preparation of adequate
measures to combat trafficking in the context of the
Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The Guild will ask for the
Assembly's encouragement to continue pressing for meaningful
debate on the connection between prostitution and the
trafficking of people for the sex industry.
The Guild will remind the Assembly that the amendment
to the law on street prostitution in Scotland and the
intention to introduce similar legislation in Westminster
have led to renewed public debate about the relationship
between the demand for street prostitutes and the trafficking
of women for the sex industry. Many believe that there
is no connection at all and that prostitution - as the
oldest profession - will always be with us. The Assembly
will hear that the Guild has a different view and asks
what kind of profession ruins health, routinely risks
danger and erodes human dignity?
Other priorities are highlighted through the Guild's
projects scheme. The General Assembly will hear that
the Guild's support for the six projects in the Let's
Live series has now passed the halfway point
of the three year partnership. These include advice
services for homeless Scots in London and help for families
suffering the effects of post natal depression. Other
projects in the current scheme support initiatives to
tackle poverty caused by disease, injustice and climate
change in the developing world. The generous financial
support and commitment of guilds have enabled their
partner organisations to develop their work substantially.
The report concludes with a commitment to remain a movement
driven by a purpose, one that is resistant to becoming
consumer driven and fosters a sense of belonging to
a community, united in its aim to offer members opportunities
to express their Christian faith in worship, prayer
and action.
Ends.
Note to News Desks
For further information contact Alison Twaddle, General
Secretary of the Church of Scotland Guild. She will be
available on 0131 225 5722 or mobile : 07790 630710
A full copy of the report is available on our General
Assembly pages online
here.
GANR/09/04/2008
Tuesday 22, April 2008
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