In 2007-2008, CATW carried out The Challenge Project
in Bulgaria and Romania to contest the trend in legislative proposals
and programs to legalize and decriminalize the sex industry and the
prostitution sector. This prevention project used various means to raise
awareness in public contexts, such as media and civic forums, about the
consequences of legalization for increasing sex trafficking into these
countries. The project encouraged and strengthened key state
institutions, NGOs and the general citizenry to remedy gaps in
anti-trafficking programs and policies by addressing gender equality,
protection for victims, the demand for sexual exploitation that promotes
trafficking, and the links between corruption, prostitution and
trafficking.
CATW
worked with two organizations in Sofia, Bulgaria – the Institute for
Democracy, Stability and Security in Southeast Europe (IDSSee) and the
Bulgarian Gender Research Association (BGRF); and in Romania with
Caritas and a diverse network of religious, feminist and civic
organizations. As a result this comprehensive project in Bulgaria,
public opinion about legalization of prostitution changed, government
proposals for legalizing prostitution were rejected publicly by
government authorities and changes for prostitution law reform that
addressed demand and increased the penalties for recruiters, pimps and
traffickers were submitted to the Parliament. In Albania, this project
changed public and media awareness about the situation of prostitution
and trafficking. Led by Caritas, the most striking achievement of the
project was the creation of a strong network of diverse Romanian
organizations.
