Causes Prostitution This presentation is based on information gathered at a series of training days on Understanding the Harm caused through

Prostitution which was delivered by the Womens Support Project over the past two years. These were attended by between 180 and 200 people from a range of backgrounds homelessness, addiction, mental health, health, social work, education, voluntary sector, criminal justice. Around 80% of participants were female. In the course of the training participants were asked to give their view on what causes prostitution. A total of 417 suggestions were offered on the cause, including repeat suggestions. All the suggestions were then organised into 23 categories, and it was noted how many times each cause had been suggested. Category Number of times suggested Poverty 62 (poverty / debt / low benefits / pay for education / no recourse to public funds) Addiction 57 (drugs / partners drugs / alcohol) Coerced / pressured / forced 48 (pressured / forced by partner 24 Forced / pimped 18 Trafficked 5 Tricked into it 1) Childhood abuse or neglect 35 (child sexual abuse most frequently mentioned form of abuse) Lack of alternatives 29 (no choices / no skills/ poor education easy to fall into)

Homelessness 25 Family history of prostitution 16 (learned behaviour / its all you know) Lack of self esteem 16 (form of self harm) Peer pressure 14 (in with the wrong crowd) Think it will lead to a better life for self/family 14 (status / getting used to money / for children perceived financial gain) Demand 13 Publics attitude 11 (historical, myths, cultural acceptance) Family breakdown 10 Miscellaneous 9 (under a spell, likes sex and gets paid, sexual confusion, slavery, bereavement, tolerance zone, through sex industry, reclaiming control, turning the tables) Mental health issues 9 Easy or quick money 8 Survival 8 Lack of support networks 8 (isolation / no social networks) Power imbalance 7

(abuse of power / social inequality / men have money) Need for love and affection 6 (Loneliness and boredom) Lack of deterrent 5 (preferred to other crimes / Criminal Justice response) Media coverage / glamorisation 4 Learning disability 3 Many of the suggested causes reflect a lack of knowledge and understanding of the reality of prostitution. Reclaiming control and turning the tables was puzzling at first but these refer to women who support their partners drug use through prostitution. The assumption is that the woman will now have the upper hand in the relationship because she is providing the money. This is not our experience it is more likely that the woman will have to cope with the prostitution, plus be blamed and abused if she doesnt make enough money, plus have most or all of the money taken away, and on top of all that, probably be abused by her partner because of her involvement in prostitution, and be made to feel guilty that he has to put up with her going with other men. Similarly loneliness and boredom implies that prostitution will lead to positive attention and some social excitement. Peer pressure / in with the wrong crowd may have some truth in it but there is a tendency to see this as being about a woman making bad choices or being nave and there is a lack of awareness of the extent to which women and girls are actively targeted and groomed by men seeking to exploit them. Likes sex and gets paid for it suggests a lack of understanding of unwanted sex and of the impact on women of repeatedly submitting to unwanted sex. We need to be clear that although the women are consenting to sexual activity, this is unwanted sex. In order to be able to cope with constant unwanted sex, the women need to dissociate, either by splitting off within their own head, or

revention and awareness in the domain of prostitution

Prevention and awareness regarding prostitution are two paramount actions to combat both exploitation of prostitution and human trafficking with the purpose of sexual exploitation. Prevention consists of anticipatory actions and "all preventative measures against danger, risk and nuisance in order to prevent their occurrence."1 Awareness deals with making someone or a group of people sensitive to someone or something: "Apply concretely the arousing of interest (of someone, of a group)"2 The modes of prevention are visible since they aim to combat the motivations for prostitution. However the causes are actually more diverse though they are often akin to social marginalisation linked to destitution or drug addiction. The point is to put an end to silence and taboos through awareness and prevention. Getting to know prostitution in a more objective way allows one to consider the question in a more effective and realistic way, as it should be. Awareness and prevention are as necessary as reintegration. Although awareness and prevention are different stages in the domain of prostitution , nevertheless they occur most of the time simultaneously: actually it is difficult to increase awareness whilst leaving aside prevention; similarly there is no good prevention in the absence of previous awareness. Thus prevention and awareness go hand in hand as dissemination of the knowledge necessarily comes before prevention. They will therefore be addressed jointly herein.

1. The people involved

If we consider that prostitution is " the magnifying mirror of men's domination over women "3, it is necessary to fight the all the causes which lead some persons to become prostitutes, clients of prostitutes or pimps. To become a prostitute, or even a client or a pimp is due to social and psychological factors( see files: Prostitutes, Pimps). Prevention and awareness initiatives should concern all members of the public, from children to adults, particularly the high-risk groups (youth, delinquents....)The types of awareness methods will differ depending on whether they focus on men, women, children, adults, the victim's social class. Thus ways of thinking and mentalities have to be changed in the domain of prostitution. "Governmental and UNESCO decision-makers should be advised to develop programmes aimed at schools and the media, intended to restore the image of women in society, to erase prejudices towards women and to promote full gender equality through concrete measures."4 It is obvious then that "regular information campaigns"5 should be launched.

2. Programs that have been implemented

The modes of awareness and prevention of prostitution include all the means which aim to improve women's position as well as equal opportunity for men and women. Here are a few examples : 2.1 Educational actions These actions are intended for children, adolescents or adults. For instance, the "Mouvement du Nid" has published several awareness and prevention tools. In 1996 they published a stripcartoon entitled "Pour toi Sandra" (For you Sandra) by Derib showing a teenage girl about to enter a prostitution network. The same year a special edition of the review Prostitution and Society' was also launched: "Prostitution: a hundred questions meant to aid understanding", which was updated in 2003 under the title "Prostitution: a hundred words to aid understanding", describes prostitution as a societal issue and a breach of human rights through ten chapters and a hundred key-words. In 1999 the Mouvement du Nid published a booklet about the realities of prostitution specifically aimed at young people: "Prostitution has nothing to do with love!" as a n126 Prostitution and Society supplement. Starting from a score of key-words( body, occupation, client, pornography, money....),this booklet deals with actual prostitution in simple and clear terms and thus shows that restoring the value of the human person leads to a new definition of sexual intercourse and a new relationship between men and women. In 2001 an educational kit is published "Bascule" which consists of a film and a booklet aimed at educators so that an awareness and prevention operation can be worked out with adolescents or adults who are in contact with adolescents6. In 2002 the Mouvement du Nid together with the Association la Vie launched a CD named It's your life' including three songs intended to improve young people's awareness of respect towards others, rejection of violence and prostitution....This CD is often used by social workers and can be listened to in groups or may initiate a discussion. Awareness and prevention operations can take place in schools at various levels. The point is to establish a non- sexist and gender egalitarian education. The child should learn how to respect one's own body and others' so that once he is an adult, he won't be lured into to paying for sexual intercourse. Later on, in junior and senior high school, the prostitution issue should be dealt with as much as drugs or HIV/AIDS as some young people who are psychologically weak may be affected by prostitution as often as drugs and HIV/AIDS. Thus the "Week of prevention against all forms of violence" developed by the delegation of the Morbihan Mouvement du Nid, from January 15 to 19 2001 in Lorient was an opportunity to show prostitution as a form of violence to the 250 4th grade students who attended the various discussions raised by the exhibition "Give up your violent feelings and fight" which was shown

during that week.7 Similarly the Mouvement du Nid led prevention actions in junior high- schools of the city of Tours following requests by nurses who had to respond to children who had been abused by other students.8 In addition, the travelling campaign "Giga la Vie" carries out awareness and prevention actions which take place in a gymnasium provided by the welcoming communities in front of an audience mainly composed of students from public and private junior high-schools. In the Hauts-de-Seine suburb, the results are thought to be quite positive as "Giga la Vie is, in the Hauts-de-Seine delegation's view, an effective opportunity for adolescents to talk about and be warned of certain risk behaviours, also to have their questions answered about what prostitution actually is. It provides a forum for a frank and open discussion about prostitution. Adolescents have a right to understand so they can make the right choice. Giga la Vie represents a good chance for them."9 The ACPE (association against child prostitution) and the Association "je, tu, il..."produced a prevention/ awareness film in 2000 "clients of prostitution" accompanied by a booklet. This film is aimed at young people, potential clients of prostitutes and any other people who are interested in the fight against the exploitation of prostitution and offers a general review of human sexuality. Through its various reports, evidence and remarks, this film is intended to challenge the relationship between the client and the prostitute. Last of all, in order to stop violence among young people, particularly in gender relationships, the Association "je, tu il...", who is entitled to intervene in schools, produced an audiovisual tool in 2003 "Cet autre que moi"(the one who is different from me) aimed at 13/14 year old students, in the 4th grade. This tool consists of three different 10mn long films, each of which deals successively with the following themes: feelings of love, verbal and sexual abuse. Discussions occur between each film. The aim is to get the spectator past his or her identification with the protagonists to overcome gender opposition and be able to discuss the notions of subject/object in the domain of violence and sexuality. The project of the Association "je, tu, il..."develops in several phases: - a preparatory meeting with the teaching and health staff before the intervention, during which the audiovisual program is introduced, demonstrating its scopes and limitations ; - The intervention itself in the presence of the young people with the screening of the films, each of them being followed by a discussion about the notions of violence and of victim/offender ; - a follow-up task based on a brief survey for each student within two weeks after the meeting ; - another evaluation on the basis of a specific questionnaire is undertaken with the link-adults at the school ; - "je, tu, il..." representatives come back one month later in order to assess the students' reactions on the basis of the qualitative analysis of the questionnaires during a meeting which will gather all the classes involved so that the ties established between youth and - - - - adults and the ties among the youth themselves continue ; - a global assessment of the action will be worked out at the end of the school year.

After an agreement was reached between the gender equality watch commission of the Paris city Council and the Paris Rectorate during the last term of 2003, the Association "je, tu, il..." has started its program in various schools since Dec. 2003. It will be developed at the beginning of January in collaboration with the Val de Marne General Council, the Director of Childhood and family and also with the Creteil Rectorate10. When awareness is considered a prevention action, it also requires specific training for social workers who are in touch with young people who are at risk of prostitution or already have ties with the dark world of prostitution. The aim is to work on risk factors and help young people on the way to rehabilitation. To that end, three days of training took place in Mulhouse in 200111. In 1998 Arcades Association completed a film "Si loin, si proche" (so far, so close) showing the people who access their service: "This film will be used as an educational tool meant to help us heighten awareness among social workers and more widely all people who are likely to encounter aspects of prostitution within their job, such as teachers, physicians, social assistants, guidance counsellors, vocational trainers."12 Concerning harm minimization and outreach work where prostitution occurs, Arcades has developed a prevention kit "including a condom, some lubricant and a brochure with the service's address and phone number together with the outreach workers' first name."13 In the South East of France, four associations, l'Appart', ALC Nice, l'Embellie d' Avignon and the ARS14 in Marseille, have developed training modules for social workers and a video "consisting of evidence by people who prostitute or prostituted themselves...This cassette is entitled "Prises de vie" and is used as an aid during the awareness campaign organized by the group."15 Initiatives were also launched in Pointe Pitre (Guadeloupe) by the Mouvement du Nid in 2002, such as a five-day training for social workers.16 Although some associations intervene in schools, these actions are far too scarce if compared with what should be done and can't actually be efficient. The ministry of national Education should share in this prevention/awareness campaign so that it has more significant reach. The general meeting about the fight regarding violence against women which took place on January 25th 2001 at the Sorbonne was attended by Nicole Pry, the then Secretary of State for Women's rights and vocational training. It incorporated prostitution and remains an example of partnership between associations and institutions.17 2.2 Research actions Meetings, debates, seminars and various other forums are fertile opportunities to lead actions in relation to prevention and awareness of prostitution, through the partnerships and exchanges they initiate. The MAPP Association (Movement for the Abolition of Prostitution and Pornography) conceives and publishes awareness-raising tools. We can mention here the brochure "March du corps humain cot en bourse? Le silence tue", which is available in French and English and the

"guide de bonne conduite l'intention des journalistes" in partnership with the European Association of women in journalism (January 2001, available in French, English and Spanish).18 Two European days about prostitution prevention took place on November 22/23 1996. Each of them tackled a specific topic; the first one focuses on social actors, the second one on young people.19 On Tuesday May 16th 2000, a seminar was held at UNESCO; it was organized by the Scelles Foundation and about ten organizations which fight against prostitution and intended to denounce both acceptance and clichs pertaining to prostitution.20 In 2001, following a survey about prostitution in the Morbihan, 250 socio-educational professionals gathered in Vannes in order to discuss prostitution prevention.21 Another instance of action is noteworthy: in September 2001, the "Actuel Marx convention" took place at Paris X-Nanterre University; one of the workshops was entitled: "Pornography, rape prostitution, representations of gender violence and sexuality."22

2.3 Internet The web has developed a lot in the last ten years and in parallel pornography and prostitution sites have also increased in number, operating as important recruiting channels. Thus it is necessary to take into account the prevention aspect and to create sites of awareness and prevention regarding prostitution. This is what the UN economic and social Council suggests: "It would be appropriate to pass laws preventing new forms of technology, particularly modern electronic means of communication, from being used to facilitate and encourage prostitution, children's sexual exploitation and pornography."23

2.4 Fight against procuring In 1999 an open letter from the Comit permanent de liaison, to the Chairman of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, and to the then President of the European Parliament, Nicole Fontaine, denounced the countries that had made prostitution and procuring legal24. It informed the public about pimping and let prostitutes know about their rights and the dangers they may encounter. As the trade in women increases, information concerning foreigners entering the national territory develops; concerning in particular people with visas as cabaret artists, a position traffickers of women exploit very often. On the one hand, the fight against procurers relates to prevention insofar as recruitment opportunities for the pimps are restricted, but on the other hand this specific form of prevention doesn't have sufficient means to be actually efficient.

2.5. Social actions Posters which are placed everywhere in the city centre, present the advantage of being seen by everyone. Consequently they may increase the awareness that prostitution is a form of violence. Many posters were displayed for two months in the Brussels underground in 2001.25 Plays may also act as reflections of current social problems; a street show was held in Aurillac then in Charleroi (Belgium) during the second part of the year 2002, which heightened the interest in the violence and questioning related to prostitution.26 In a wider approach, the aim is to make men and women more aware of the increasing trivialization of the body, in particular of the feminine body, which is considered a mere commodity in consumer society. Thus the Mouvement du Nid launched an appeal to the EU President in its declaration: "Le corps est inalienable" (the body cannot be sold).27 Economic and social measures can "stop people from falling into positions with a prostitution risk, such as minors running away and being estranged from their family, women marginalized particularly because of drugs or destitution, foreigners with an insecure status, or from remaining in this position with the risk of getting trapped in the prostitution system. When ongoing support of these people is possible, it represents an actual prevention process."28

3. What is at stake
Awareness as well as prevention intend to protect potential victims from prostitution and human trafficking; they also intend to have the client understand he is an actual perpetrator of this violence. The aim is to act with all guarantee that human trafficking, particularly in women and children, does not occur through sham marriages, job listings, illegal immigration channels, domestic service jobs or false adoptions. The report , Les politiques publiques et la prostitution , declares : As a whole, prevention, in the first instance, has to do with public policy in its entirety, social policies, of course, but also with economic policy so as to improve the general situation of women, education policy and even cultural and information policy, foreign and cooperation policy as a prevention strategy must take into account the globalization of the prostitution phenomenon and the impact of economic and cultural disparities among states. 29 An actual will to fight against these forms of prostitution is therefore absolutely necessary if we want to stop this scourge. All sectors of society and public policy makers must become aware of the dangers prostitution and the trade in human trafficking engender. The existing judicial tools must be harmonized and enforced. The Nov. 1960 directives and circular provide specific measures for people who are at risk of prostitution. Yet their effects are only weakly felt. "In order to suppress the human trade and the exploitation of someone through prostitution, it is necessary to increase international cooperation and to take concerted measures in the domain of information and economic support so as to promote the enforcement

of development and rehabilitation programs on national, regional and international levels. Legislative measures must also be passed and the implementation of the legislation in force must be encouraged too. It would also be convenient to develop coordination agencies."30 Awareness, as well as prevention, can only be really efficient insofar as a partnership policy is established among the various health, social, housing and job services, police and the judiciary and associations. However, as long as there is a shortage of material and financial means, this policy will have few results though the urgency of its development is widely felt.

Conclusion
The methods for increasing the public's awareness and prevention as far as prostitution is concerned are numerous but far from harmonized; we have described some of them above, showing different fields of action that could be explored for fighting against the exploitation of prostitution. Although the whole population should be concerned by the problems related to awareness and prevention of prostitution, states, except for a few actions limited in time, don't involve themselves a lot and, as a consequence, the associations fighting against commercial sexual exploitation organize campaigns alone and with poor financial means. The point is to make everyone responsible through a greater attention to the prostitution risk affecting himself or herself or his or her close relations. To this end, it is most important to provide education which takes into account the gender differences and the relationship with the other so that, on one hand, the relationships between men and women may be different and that, on the other hand, the views conveyed by pornography considering the woman as a sexual object, may be swept away. But above all, prevention and increased awareness demand personal reflection by each member of the population.