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Education International
Education International

EI protests against trafficking of women and young girls during the World Cup

published 19 June 2006 updated 19 June 2006

In a letter addressed to the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, on 19 June, EI expressed its concern about the trafficking of women and girls into Germany who are being exploited in the sex industry for the World Cup season.

EI has also written to the President of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), requesting a clear statement from FIFA that sport is an activity that must promote human dignity and fundamental rights. "Buying sex is not a sport! Sexual exploitation must end," wrote EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen.

EI also deplores the use of child labourers in the sportwear industry. As an active partner of The "Global Campaign Against Child Labour" EI would very much appreciate the involvement of FIFA in combating these activities which impede children’s right to a better future.

EI requests all member organisations and partners to address similar letters to the German authorities and FIFA. Please copy your letters to the Deutscher Frauenrat, the German National Women's Council which is collecting the protest letters to present them to Angela Merkel in September. More information can be found on their website: http://www.frauenrat.de/

Below are EI's letters in English to the German Chancellor and to FIFA President dated 19 June:

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Ms Angela Merkel

Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany

Bundeskanzleramt

Willy-Brandt-Straße 1

10557 Berlin/ Germany

Email: [email protected]

Brussels, 19 June 2006

Dear Chancellor Merkel,

Education International (EI) is a global union federation representing 29 million teachers and education workers worldwide. EI joins a large number of trade unions and civil society organisations, including our member "Gewerkschaft für Erziehung und Wissenschaft" (GEW), in expressing deep concern about the recent construction of a 3000 square metre brothel in Berlin allowing for up to 650 clients to be present at one time. EI calls your attention to this and other purpose-built facilities which could further increase the trafficking of women and young girls during the Football World Cup.

Education International deplores the use of women as a sexual commodity.

We kindly request that your government considers taking measures,

  • to prevent the trade of trafficking women and girls
  • to stop the "hiring" of women and young girls who are not employed under German law and subsequently do not have the protection and regulation which your laws provide.

We are confident that your government shares the view that sexual exploitation must end. All women and young people deserve decent work and a decent life. Sport activities like the Football World Cup should promote human dignity and rights, not human degradation.

Education International is also deeply concerned about the exploitation of children in the sportswear industry.

We are an active partner of the "Global Campaign Against Child Labour" and we seek the involvement of your government in combating activities which deny children their fundamental rights, particularly the right to fully enjoy the benefits of quality education.

Thank you for giving your attention to this request.

Yours sincerely,

Fred van Leeuwen

Secretary General

CC. Deutscher Frauenrat

Axel-Springer-Str. 54a

10117 Berlin

Telefon: 030/20 45 69-0

Fax: 030/20 45 69-44

E-Mail: [email protected]

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Mr Joseph S. Blatter

President FIFA

Hitzigweg 11

P.O. Box 85

8030 Zürich, Switzerland

Brussels, June 16, 2006

Dear Mr Blatter,

Education International (EI) is a global union federation representing 29 million teachers and education workers worldwide. EI adds its voice to the deep concern expressed by civil society organisations and trade unions on the recent construction of a 3,000 square meter brothel in Berlin. This venue, built next to the main World Cup football stadium, has the capacity to house up to 650 male clients at any one time.

EI calls your attention to this and other purpose built facilities which could further encourage the trafficking of women and young girls during the Football World Cup.

Education International requests from FIFA a clear statement that sport is an activity that must promote human dignity and fundamental rights. Buying sex is not a sport! Sexual exploitation must end.

We are also deeply concerned about the utilisation of child labourers within the sportswear industry. Education International is an active partner of The Global Campaign Against Child Labour and would very much appreciate the involvement of FIFA in combating these activities which impede children’s right to a better future.

All women and young people deserve decent work and a decent life. Children should be able to fully enjoy their childhood and the benefits of quality education. International sport activities like the Football World Cup give us an extraordinary opportunity to raise our concerns on behalf of those affected by these intolerable practices.

Yours sincerely,

Fred van Leeuwen

Secretary General