2007 Trafficking in Persons Report - Center for Women Policy Studies

F I N L A N D
100
and subsequent coerced sexual exploitation. The
Fijian government should consider increasing its
and the Fijian public’s understanding of trafficking
through focused public awareness and demand
reduction campaigns together with civil society. The
government should increase efforts to educate law
enforcement and immigration officials about trafficking
to increase investigations against traffickers,
sex tourists, and exploitative employers.
Prosecution
The Government of Fiji demonstrated some efforts
to combat trafficking in persons; however, a lack of
training and resources limited law enforcement efficacy.
Fiji prohibits sex and labor trafficking through
its Immigration Act of 2003, which prescribes
punishments that are sufficiently stringent and
commensurate with those prescribed for rape.
However, there were no prosecutions or convictions
during the reporting period. The current interim
government began a crackdown on prostitution as
part of a “clean-up” campaign and detained several
minors and women in prostitution. Law enforcement
officials did not recognize minors used in
prostitution as victims, nor was there evidence
that officials increased investigations or arrests of
brothel owners or facilitators or clients of child
prostitution. Immigration officials intervened in
several cases of P.R.C. citizens who were lured to Fiji
with job offers and then forced into sexual exploitation,
but officials did not arrest the traffickers and
the women were deported. Immigration authorities
are beginning to monitor migration patterns for
evidence of trafficking. There were no reports of
public officials’ complicity in trafficking, and there
were no reported arrests or convictions of complicit
officials.
Protection
The Government of Fiji demonstrated
limited efforts to protect or assist victims
of trafficking. Due to severe resource
constraints, the government relies on
services provided by international
organizations or NGOs. The government
showed no sign of having a policy
or procedures for the identification of
victims of trafficking and their referral to protection
services. The Government of Fiji did not actively
encourage victim participation in the investigation
of traffickers, sex tourists, or exploitative employers
during the year. There is no legal alternative to
removal for victims that may face hardship or retribution
in a source country. The interim government
quickly deported P.R.C. women in prostitution
without attempting to identify them as victims of
trafficking. Foreigners who may have been trafficked
are detained and deported for unlawful acts such as
prostitution or immigration violations. As part of
a “clean up” campaign, the current interim government
arrested women and children in prostitution.
There is no government referral program for victims
or training for law enforcement or immigration
officials to recognize trafficking or how to treat
victims.
Prevention
The Government of Fiji demonstrated few efforts to
raise awareness and prevent trafficking in persons
in 2006. Prior to the late 2006 coup, the Ministry
of Tourism conducted a child protection workshop
for hotel workers that included information about
underage prostitution. A formal committee, chaired
by the Ministry of Justice and including representatives
from the police, the Reserve Bank, security
agencies, customs, and immigration, has among its
responsibilities the coordination of anti-trafficking
efforts. However, the committee has not met since
the coup. Fiji has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP
Protocol.
FINLAND (Tier 1)
Finland is a transit and destination country for
women and girls trafficked from Russia for the
purpose of sexual exploitation. Women from China,
Estonia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Azerbaijan,
and Thailand are also trafficked to and through
Finland to Nordic and Western European countries
for purposes of sexual exploitation. Finland is a
destination country for men and women trafficked
from the People’s Republic of China, Vietnam,
and India for purposes of forced labor; victims are
exploited in the construction industry, restaurants,
and as domestic servants. In 2006, South Asian men
were trafficked through Finland to Western Europe
for purposes of forced labor.
The Government of Finland fully complies with the
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.
The government made appreciable progress