Call to stamp down on World Cup prostitution gangs

A Europe-wide crackdown was urged today on gangs planning to smuggle thousands of women into Germany to work as prostitutes during this summer’s World Cup.

The call came on International Women’s Day as Euro MPs from all parties launched a “Red card to forced prostitution” campaign.

A petition calls on European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to put pressure on governments to tighten up border controls and step up efforts to identify women and children being moved illegally through EU countries to Germany.

British Labour MEP Mary Honeyball said: “Human trafficking and forced prostitution are modern day forms of slavery. We have a duty to shout loud, expose the disgrace of trafficking and put the authorities under such pressure that they cannot turn a blind eye to it.

“Between 600,000 and 800,000 women and children are trafficked through international borders each year.

“We have a pressing moral duty, as the eyes of the world focus on the football in Germany to make sure that we are protecting the women and children who are being exploited away from the eyes of the cameras.”

Lissy Groener, women’s rights spokeswoman of the European Parliament’s 200-strong Socialist Group, called on football fans to join the campaign by reporting evidence of trafficking.

She urged the German authorities to set up refuges in match centres to take care of women rescued from the gangs.

She added: “Organised criminals are now preparing to exploit the World Cup. Thousands of poor women will be lured to Germany by false promises of work, only to be forced into prostitution and a life of misery.

“We need Europe-wide action and the involvement, not just of the police and politicians, but also of the fans themselves.

“I urge fans attending the World Cup to be alert to this scandal and to report any suspicions of trafficking that they might have.”