EU to give red card to forced prostitution

STRASBOURG, France, June 13 (Reuters) Forced prostitution has risen as feared as a result of the World Cup in Germany and the European Union will step up border checks to try to halt it, a top EU official has said.

EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini told the European Parliament yesterday that the event, expected to attract 3 million fans, has added to the problem and organisers could do more to help.

''There has been this knock-on effect we have feared,'' Frattini said.

Groups of traffickers were bringing young girls into Germany from countries on the eastern borders of the EU, he said.

Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic have carried out hundreds of border checks to catch many potential traffickers in recent months, Frattini said.

''We are going to have to step up our checks on those borders,'' he said.

A German news report said the World Cup would have no effect on forced prostitution, but Frattini disagreed.

''There has been a significant impact,'' he said.

The EU has funded telephone help lines for women, but members of the Parliament said more could have been done.

''During the events there is a spectacular increase in demand for sexual services,'' said centre-right deputy Christa Klass.

''I would urge all of you to show the red card against forced prostitution, to all of those who promote it through silence or omission,'' added socialist Genowefa Grabowska.

FIFA, the international football federation which was asked by the assembly in April to condemn forced prostitution, came under fire for not responding more positively.

FIFA has said it is responsible for football and that it was up to the authorities to tackle human trafficking. It has also noted that prostitution is legal in Germany.

''What I am going to try and do is to see to it at the headquarters of FIFA that a number of positive steps are being taken,'' Frattini said.

He would report back to parliament on lessons learnt during the World Cup regarding forced prostitution and the event's effect on trafficking of people for sexual exploitation.

REUTERS AY BST1013