Cyprus Women's Lobby asking New anti-trafficking policy
The Cyprus Women’s Lobby, an umbrella network of 16 women’s organizations issued a press release on 11/06/2009 expressing concern at the failure of the Cypriot government to implement the policy measure announced by the Ministry of Interior on 01/11/2008 to the abolition of ‘artiste’ visas, as a measure to combat sex trafficking, adding that entry visas for women to work in high risk establishments continue to be issued. The press release criticised the decision to grant a permit to a convicted rapist and murderer to employ a foreign woman who had been identified as a victim of trafficking; this man subsequently attempted to kill the trafficked victim. The press release further criticised the government for lack of transparency in policy decisions and for failing to adopt a holistic approach against trafficking taking into consideration the most important factors, which are the criminal networks, the continued operation of high risk establishments, the demand for sexual services and low public awareness of the conditions of exploitation of the victims. The 2009 US State Department on Trafficking in Persons Country Report, published in June 2009, which places Cyprus in Tier 2 Watch List for a fourth consecutive year, criticises the Cypriot government for not fully complying with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. The report expresses concern over the increase in ‘barmaid’ visas (526 “barmaid” work permits were issued in 2008, compared to 416 issued in 2007), fearing that the barmaid work permit may take the place of the “artiste” work permit
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Sources:
Cyprus Women's Lobby, 11.06.2009, http://www.medinstgenderstudies.org/wp-content/uploads/CWL-Press-Release_Trafficking-in-Women_EN.PDF
US Department of State, Date of Access 15.11.2011, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/123361.pdf
