Torture in [Iceland] [other countries]
Human Trafficking in [Iceland] [other countries]
Street Children in [Iceland] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Iceland] [other countries]
 

Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery

In the early years of the 21st Century gvnet.com/humantrafficking/Iceland.htm

Iceland Iceland's Scandinavian-type social-market economy combines a capitalist structure and free-market principles with an extensive welfare system, including generous housing subsidies. Prior to the 2008 crisis, Iceland had achieved high growth, low unemployment, and a remarkably even distribution of income. A protracted recession is expected in 2009 and 2010 with GDP likely to contract and unemployment likely to surpass 10%. Iceland's coalition government collapsed in January 2009 following protests over growing joblessness and losses to personal savings. [The World Factbook, U.S.C.I.A. 2009]

Iceland is primarily a destination country and, to a lesser extent, a transit country for men and women from the Baltic states, Poland, Russia, Bulgaria, Equatorial Guinea, Brazil, and China trafficked to and through Iceland to Western European states for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor in the restaurant and construction industries. - U.S. State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report, June, 2009 [full country report]

CAUTION:  The following links have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in Iceland. Some of these links may lead to websites that present allegations that are unsubstantiated or even false.  No attempt has been made to validate their authenticity or to verify their content.

*** FEATURED ARTICLE ***

In Iceland, Our Long-Sought Victory in Battling Human Trafficking

Gudrún Jónsdóttir, Women's Media Center, April 21, 2009

www.womensmediacenter.com/blog/entry/in-iceland-our-long-sought-victory-in-battling-human-trafficking

[accessed 17 April 2012]

On April 17, the last day before Iceland’s parliament adjourned to prepare for elections on April 25, members passed a bill criminalizing the act of buying individuals for purposes of prostitution. Patterned on the Swedish law that addresses the demand fueling the commercial sex industry, the action was hailed as an historic moment in the international struggle against human trafficking.

The entire women´s movement in Iceland joined forces. In 2003 and again this year some 15 NGOs urged members of parliament and the government to consult seriously with women’s groups. An opinion poll taken in 2007 showed that 70 percent of the nation wanted to criminalize the buying of prostitution—including a majority of both women and men and within every political party. Parliamentarian Kolbrun Halldorsdóttir of the Left-Green party took the lead in the debates. When the Left-Greens came into the government two months ago, she became minister of environmental affairs and brokered her power to get the legislation passed.

*** ARCHIVES ***

Human Rights Reports » 2008 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

U.S. Dept of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, February 25, 2009

www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/eur/119084.htm

[accessed 9 February 2011]

TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS – Cases fell into several categories, none of which included more than a few documented victims: undocumented Asian and eastern European workers in construction and manufacturing who were underpaid and forced to live in substandard employer-provided housing; "mail-order" or "Internet" brides from eastern Europe and Asia trapped with abusive husbands, with some reports of forced prostitution; and underpaid or mistreated prostitutes and workers in nightclubs and massage parlors. In March labor authorities and union representatives reported that a Chinese restaurant in Reykjavik was suspected of having trafficked several of its kitchen staff to the country. The restaurant was investigated for labor code violations and subsequently closed. No prosecutions resulted. The Directorate of Labor investigated other cases throughout the year involving undocumented workers who were potentially victims of trafficking. In some cases employers were fined for noncompliance with labor laws but none were charged with trafficking.

The Protection Project - Iceland [DOC]

The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), The Johns Hopkins University

www.protectionproject.org/human_rights_reports/report_documents/iceland.doc

[accessed 2009]

FORMS OF TRAFFICKING – In February 2002, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women expressed concern that Iceland might be a destination country for trafficking in women. The Icelandic government has also admitted that it is aware that trafficking in women exists in Iceland. Every year foreign women arrive in Iceland to work in strip clubs. Research commissioned by the Icelandic Ministry of Justice confirmed a link between strip clubs in Reykjavik and prostitution. Some of the foreign women may have been forced into prostitution. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, part of the Council of Europe, reported that some of the women currently employed in Icelandic strip clubs, especially those from Eastern and Central Europe, have been trafficked there. Local police also believe that most of the North American women who work in strip clubs in Iceland have been trafficked into the country ...

Woman Arrested for Human Trafficking in Iceland

Iceland Review, 25.02.2009

www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=21123&ew_0_a_id=320433

[accessed 9 February 2011]

A woman, who is suspected of human trafficking, having organized prostitution in Iceland and profited from it, was arrested at Keflavík International Airport last week and has been taken into custody until Friday.

Iceland’s Capital Region Police have been monitoring the woman for some time. She is suspected of having operated brothels both in central Reykjavík and in Hafnarfjördur, a neighboring town …

Red Cross Reacts to Human Trafficking in Iceland

Iceland Review, 04.02.2008

www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=21123&ew_0_a_id=300165

[accessed 9 February 2011]

Margrét Steinarsdóttir, a lawyer at Ahús who has assisted victims of human trafficking, said it has different forms but what all victims have in common is that they are in a desperate situation which criminals take advantage of.

They may come to Iceland on their own accord and agree to marriage to obtain a residence permit, but once they are here they are deprived of their freedom and their passports are often taken away, Steinarsdóttir said.

Freedom House Country Report - Political Rights: 1 Civil Liberties: 1 Status: Free

2009 Edition

www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2009/iceland

[accessed 26 June 2012]

Actions Against Human Trafficking

Iceland Review, 11 June 2008

www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=21123&ew_0_a_id=307522

[accessed 9 February 2011]

The Icelandic government is preparing a plan on how to act on human trafficking. The plan will be ready in the fall. Current Icelandic laws include no clauses on how to protect the victims of human trafficking. Those who have been sold to slavery cannot file for residence or work permits on the grounds of human trafficking. Morgunbladid reports. The Icelandic police are also not equipment to deal with those circumstances. According to Hildur Jónsdóttir, a member of the task force which is creating the plan, there is a huge task to be done. The police must be capable of recognizing human trafficking and make those involved in it stand trial. The welfare system must also be fit enough to receive the victims. The operation plan calls for co-operation between the police, the welfare system as well as health institutes and organizations that work for human rights.

In Iceland, Our Long-Sought Victory in Battling Human Trafficking

Gudrún Jónsdóttir, Women's Media Center, April 21, 2009

www.womensmediacenter.com/blog/entry/in-iceland-our-long-sought-victory-in-battling-human-trafficking

[accessed 17 April 2012]

On April 17, the last day before Iceland’s parliament adjourned to prepare for elections on April 25, members passed a bill criminalizing the act of buying individuals for purposes of prostitution. Patterned on the Swedish law that addresses the demand fueling the commercial sex industry, the action was hailed as an historic moment in the international struggle against human trafficking.

The entire women´s movement in Iceland joined forces. In 2003 and again this year some 15 NGOs urged members of parliament and the government to consult seriously with women’s groups. An opinion poll taken in 2007 showed that 70 percent of the nation wanted to criminalize the buying of prostitution—including a majority of both women and men and within every political party. Parliamentarian Kolbrun Halldorsdóttir of the Left-Green party took the lead in the debates. When the Left-Greens came into the government two months ago, she became minister of environmental affairs and brokered her power to get the legislation passed.

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Torture in [Iceland] [other countries]
Human Trafficking in [Iceland] [other countries]
Street Children in [Iceland] [other countries]
Child Prostitution in [Iceland] [other countries]