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WI asked to help tackle sex trade | WI asked to help tackle sex trade |
(19 minutes later) | |
The minister for women is to ask Women's Institute members across England to help root out sleazy adverts in their local newspapers. | The minister for women is to ask Women's Institute members across England to help root out sleazy adverts in their local newspapers. |
Harriet Harman is concerned about adverts selling sex with foreign women, many of whom may have been trafficked and forced into prostitution. | Harriet Harman is concerned about adverts selling sex with foreign women, many of whom may have been trafficked and forced into prostitution. |
In a speech to the WI, she will urge members to complain to editors if they see such adverts in their local papers. | In a speech to the WI, she will urge members to complain to editors if they see such adverts in their local papers. |
A WI spokeswoman said she believed this could make a difference. | A WI spokeswoman said she believed this could make a difference. |
'Dreadful conditions' | 'Dreadful conditions' |
The WI, which with 205,000 members is the UK's largest voluntary women's organisation, has already indicated it is interested in helping the campaign against trafficking in this way. | The WI, which with 205,000 members is the UK's largest voluntary women's organisation, has already indicated it is interested in helping the campaign against trafficking in this way. |
There are an estimated 4,000 females currently living in the UK who have been trafficked to work as prostitutes. | There are an estimated 4,000 females currently living in the UK who have been trafficked to work as prostitutes. |
The WI says many of women, some in their early teens, have been tricked and abducted from their own country and forced to live and work in "dreadful conditions". | The WI says many of women, some in their early teens, have been tricked and abducted from their own country and forced to live and work in "dreadful conditions". |
Some of the girls thought they were coming to improve the quality of their lives Jenny Massey, WI member Your views: Can WI tackle the sex trade? | Some of the girls thought they were coming to improve the quality of their lives Jenny Massey, WI member Your views: Can WI tackle the sex trade? |
It argues that newspaper adverts are the most common method used by men to access sexual services. | It argues that newspaper adverts are the most common method used by men to access sexual services. |
The WI is encouraging its members to pass on details to the organisation, although it has yet to decide what it will do with the information. | The WI is encouraging its members to pass on details to the organisation, although it has yet to decide what it will do with the information. |
Spokeswoman Ira Arundell said the WI had the option to "name and shame" newspapers which published such adverts although its "absolute focus" was on helping the women concerned. | Spokeswoman Ira Arundell said the WI had the option to "name and shame" newspapers which published such adverts although its "absolute focus" was on helping the women concerned. |
"We want to raise awareness and spread the message about what is happening with these girls," she said. | "We want to raise awareness and spread the message about what is happening with these girls," she said. |
'Reactionary attitudes' | 'Reactionary attitudes' |
Ms Harman has already won the support of The Newspaper Society, which represents local papers, to discourage such adverts while several publishers have agreed to stop publishing them. | Ms Harman has already won the support of The Newspaper Society, which represents local papers, to discourage such adverts while several publishers have agreed to stop publishing them. |
Jenny Massey, a WI member in Cambridge, told BBC News: "Some of the girls thought they were coming to improve the quality of their lives and then have ended up where their lives are very miserable. | Jenny Massey, a WI member in Cambridge, told BBC News: "Some of the girls thought they were coming to improve the quality of their lives and then have ended up where their lives are very miserable. |
"As a women's organisation, we're concerned that the quality of their life isn't deteriorating because they've come to Britain in these circumstances." | "As a women's organisation, we're concerned that the quality of their life isn't deteriorating because they've come to Britain in these circumstances." |
Womens Institute members' concern about sex adverts | Womens Institute members' concern about sex adverts |
The initiative comes as a survey of 143 WI members found nearly half of them had suffered violent or sexual attacks or knew someone who had. | The initiative comes as a survey of 143 WI members found nearly half of them had suffered violent or sexual attacks or knew someone who had. |
The research was in conjunction with a Bristol University project on violence against women in rural areas. | The research was in conjunction with a Bristol University project on violence against women in rural areas. |
Ms Harman said: "Fewer crimes and more convictions is the trend we want to see continue. | Ms Harman said: "Fewer crimes and more convictions is the trend we want to see continue. |
"But we have to continue to challenge reactionary attitudes - that domestic violence is a private matter between husband and wife and we shouldn't intervene, or that she has brought it on herself. | "But we have to continue to challenge reactionary attitudes - that domestic violence is a private matter between husband and wife and we shouldn't intervene, or that she has brought it on herself. |
"Whatever happens in a relationship, domestic violence should never be excused." | "Whatever happens in a relationship, domestic violence should never be excused." |
The WI members who were surveyed criticised support services for victims of domestic violence, with 90% feeling the police did not give the support they needed. | The WI members who were surveyed criticised support services for victims of domestic violence, with 90% feeling the police did not give the support they needed. |