Mijas council doing its bit to tackle human trafficking

LIKE much of Spain, the Mijas Council is totally opposed to the exploitation of women for any reason, especially human trafficking which is a world-wide problem according to the United Nations. 

To coincide with the UN International Day against Trafficking, the Councillor for Equality and Diversity Natalia Martínez, presented details of a new campaign which says ‘Without you there is no trafficking’. 

The sale of sex within Spain is rife and whilst many people may not agree with the ease in which prostitutes can operate, the focus of this campaign is not against those who make a conscious decision to follow that life but targets trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation which has effectively become a form of slavery in the 21st century with 94 per cent of women and girls being considered victims. 

According to data released by the councillor this business is worth some €32 billion around the world and sadly Spain is one of the major markets for the sex industry in Spain with some 14,000 females being victims in this country alone. 

She went on to point out that it is estimated that some 15 million men in Spain visit prostitutes but according to UN 90 per cent of the women who become prostitutes do so against their will.  

If there was no demand, there would be no market and the council plans to run its campaign from now until the end of October in the hope that this will educate users and help to eradicate trafficking in the municipality.