Germany plays host to the World Cup this year, bringing thousands of soccer fans from across the globe together in one place. The World Cup will also lure unsuspecting girls and women from Africa and other parts of the world who have been tricked by promises of good jobs and high pay. The trafficking of girls and women for the purposes of sexual exploitation is an unfortunate consequence of an event of this kind, but one that must be paid careful attention to.

Germany is in soccer fever. From June 9th to July 9th 2006 Germany is host to an estimated 1 million foreign football fans and a further 2 million domestic supporters. Under the motto “A time to make friends”, the national authorities and tourist offices are determined to improve Germany’s image abroad and show that it can be a hospitable and friendly country. Much has been done in the hosting cities to ensure the visitors feel at home – but there are fears that it will not be fun and games for everyone involved. Traffickers and pimps are seizing the chance to make money by bringing thousands of young women into the country to satisfy the sexual appetite of the fans. In most cases, the women have no idea what is waiting for them when they accept a job offer abroad. The traffickers target vulnerable women from the poorest countries where hopes and dreams often cloud vision.

“Many of the girls who come to us for help were tricked into coming with false promises, thinking they will get work in hotels or restaurants”, says Sister Lea Ackermann, founder of the women’s aid organisation SOLWODI (Solidarity With Women in Distress). “They hear about a chance to earn enough money for their families and have very unrealistic ideas of life in the West. Even those who know they will be working in a bar or brothel have no idea of the exploitation, abuse and violence that is waiting for them. Often the women are locked up by the brothel owners and forced to work in prostitution under terrible conditions. They see little of the money they make – the pimps and brothel owners make money at their expense”.

Exploitation of African girls and women According to official reports, victims are trafficked to Western Europe from Asia, South and Middle America, Africa and Eastern Europe. Of the 998 women who contacted one of the 10 SOLWODI centres in Germany last year, 236 originated from African states, with Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana taking the lead. Not all women who contact SOLWODI-Germany are victims of trafficking in the norrower sense of the word. But in almost every case they are brought to Germany with hopes of a better life, only to be confronted with violence and sexual exploitation, whether in the sex industry or in a relationship. Take Kenya, for example, which is considered to be an emerging center for human trafficking. As a transit country, victims of traffickers are illegally brought from South Africa and Asia via Kenya’s harbours and across the borders destined for Europe, where they are exploited in domestic labour or commercial sex work. Kenya is also a country of origin, where Kenyan girls, in particular those from the Coast region, are first lured into sex work by rich tourists during their holidays. In some cases their exploiters even take them to Europe, but there is seldom a happy end to the story. Without legal documents or only a tourist visa, they have no way of legally finding work, which means they remain completely dependent on their exploiters. Solidarity with the victims Those victims who find themselves stranded in Germany and hear about SOLWODI can contact one of the 10 counselling centres spread across the country. SOLWODI-Germany offers its clients access to information and support and helps in finding ways out of the distressing situation. Where possible, clients are supported in taking legal action against their tormentors. Those eligible for SOLWODI’s returnee programme are helped by the counsellors to develop plans for the future. Together with non-goverment organisations in the home countries, the counsellors organise the return home. Depending on the individual situation, clients may be able to receive financial assistance with an income-generating project, such as setting up a small vegetable stand or a hairdressing business. In the case of Kenyan women, returnees may continue to receive counselling and support from the sister organisation, SOLWODI-Kenya, which has centres along the Coast in the Mombasa, Mtwapa and Malindi regions. SOLWODI-Kenya, which was founded over 20 years ago, has long been engaged in outreach programmes for women and girls at risk of being drawn into prostitution and offers counselling, education on women’s rights and HIV/AIDS, and vocational skills training.

Prevention is better than salvation As part of its World Cup anti-traffickign activities SOLWODI-Germany launched a prevention campaign to warn potential victims in the typical countries of origin and transit. Material was sent to more than 100 organisations in Middle and Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa to explain the dangers of accepting lucrative job offers in Germany during the months leading up to the World Cup. For those women who could not be reached by the prevention campaign and who now find themselves in trouble in Germany, SOLWODI has set up a multi-language hotline from 1st May till 31th July 2006. Helpers who speak both German and at least one further language are staffing the hotline, which is available around the clock. Although the hotline is set up for foreign women in distress, calls have also been received by male customers who have reported cases of suspected forced prostitution and violence in brothels they have visited. This goes to show that SOLWODI’s awareness raising activities within Germany have been successful in also reaching the male population. Since there is no market without demand, the customers play a key role in trafficking and forced prostitution.

The best way of preventing women from becoming victims lies in empowerment. Elizabeth Akinyi, SOLWODI-Kenya’s leader in Mombasa, says that most of the 15- to 18-year-olds who get into commercial sex work are often school drop-outs from poor families. Initiation into transactional sex for cash or goods and favours starts between the ages of 12 –to 13 years. Many girls have dropped out of school because their parents/guardians are not able to meet their basic needs, which entail food, education [fees, uniform, books etc], shelter and other needs like clothing. Girls who are victims of commercial sex exploitation of children [CSEC] do so to supplement family income.” It is important that they understand the dangers of being involved in commercial sex work and there are other alternatives and this can be discussed when they come to SOLWODI”, says Ms Akinyi. “Almost every girl who contacts us would prefer to quit commercial sex exploitation by men and instead go for vocational /skills training. We have a waiting list for girls who want vocational training. None of the girls want to remain at the mercy of men who abuse them. As soon as the girls get a chance to start a new life, they take it and work hard to succeed. CSEC is one of the worst forms of child labour and we need to advocate for these poor girls who do not understand the health risks involved. SOLWODI works with young girls from ages 8 to 25 year who are at risk and those already in sex work. Our biggest problem is finding enough funds to pay for the school and college fees. We also urgently need a rescue centre.”

Outlook As long as there are women living in poverty and misery, traffickers will have no problem finding new victims. Just how many girls and women have been trafficked to Germany for the World Cup 2006 will probably never be known. Most will return home disillusioned and dejected. Others will remain in the country at the mercy of the brothel owners. For the traffickers the World Cup was another opportunity to trick vulnerable women and girls into coming to the Europe. And they will be looking out for the next chance.

To combat trafficking and exploitation realistic alternatives must be offered to girls and young women to enable them to live an independent life free from exploitation and abuse. Empowerment, through education, training and start-up loan programmes like those offered by SOLWODI, is one the best ways to prevent girls falling victims to traffickers.

For further information contact: SOLWODI in Kenya: solwodi AT wananchi.com SOLWODI in Germany: info AT solwodi.de

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