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[zan]

Europe rights chief slams Cyprus vice trade
Agence France-Presse | 12/13/2008 12:23 AM

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STRASBOURG - The Council of Europe's human rights commissioner slammed Cyprus for permitting a flourishing trade in young foreign women imported for sex in the island's cabarets, in a report issued Friday.

"Cyprus is still associated with trafficking in human beings, in particular trafficking of women for sexual exploitation mainly in bars, nightclubs and so-called cabarets," Thomas Hammarberg said.

His report, compiled after a visit to Cyprus in July, kept up the criticism of the government some three weeks after a conference on human trafficking organised in Nicosia by associations fighting the practice.

Hammarberg singled out the issue of special visas for so-called artistes, which has facilitated the lucrative trade.

"The Commissioner is deeply concerned that the scheme of so-called cabaret 'artiste' work permits is still in place depsite continued international criticism and expressed commitment of the authorities to abolish it," he said.

"The Commissioner strongly urges the authorities to abolish the current 'artiste' work permit scheme and to ensure that no other scheme could be used for the same unlawful purpose."

Cyprus issued some 3,000 artiste visas in 2007. Growing pressure from NGOs and the international community led it to abolish the scheme this year, but only with effect from November 1, so many are still valid.

Participants at a conference in Nicosia last month expressed concern that vigilance was still needed because bar owners would be looking for other ways to bring women in, including on tourist visas.

Hammarberg said Cyprus currently had some 120 cabarets, each employing between 10 and 15 women, and that the average establishment has yearly earnings of around one million euros (1.3 million dollars).

"In 2008, the island still is a destination country for a large number of women trafficked from the Philippines, Russia, Moldova, Hungary, Ukraine, Greece, Vietnam, Uzbekistan and the Dominican Republic for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation," he said.

[Get Real!]

What’s wrong with women being imported for sex? They are all over 18 and the job offers consensual. In fact many of them return for six-monthly working “tours” over and over… I don’t see a problem.

[zan]

What’s wrong with women being imported for sex? They are all over 18 and the job offers consensual. In fact many of them return for six-monthly working “tours” over and over… I don’t see a problem.

But you don't think that gambling in the TRNC is right...

[Get Real!]

What’s wrong with women being imported for sex? They are all over 18 and the job offers consensual. In fact many of them return for six-monthly working “tours” over and over… I don’t see a problem.

But you don't think that gambling in the TRNC is right...

There are laws against gambling because it ruins families (but I do agree with controlled gambling via a special ID card like they do in Malta).

Another problem with the "TRNC" is that they are lawless... even to the point of denying people's wins like what happened to a GC recently. That's disgusting!

[zan]

What’s wrong with women being imported for sex? They are all over 18 and the job offers consensual. In fact many of them return for six-monthly working “tours” over and over… I don’t see a problem.

But you don't think that gambling in the TRNC is right...

There are laws against gambling because it ruins families (but I do agree with controlled gambling via a special ID card like they do in Malta).

Another problem with the "TRNC" is that they are lawless... even to the point of denying people's wins like what happened to a GC recently. That's disgusting!

I am sure that your whore houses have the cleanest records in the world...


And you also think that passing diseases and men getting sex outside of marriage and gangsters controlling women and setting off bombs against each other doesn't destroy families.... That these same men then go off to the casinos.....

[zan]

Look at how these girls are suffering GR....I hope you are happy!!

Rare bird found in Paphos
By Bejay Browne
A BIRD rarely seen in Cyprus was found in a garden in Chlorakas in Paphos yesterday.

The bird is believed to have either collided with an electricity wire, or to have landed in the garden due to exhaustion.

A neighbour was alerted to the rare creature’s presence by his dog barking. The game authority were called in, who called on the Paphos Bird and Animal park for help.

Manager of BirdLife Cyprus, Martin Hellicar said the bird is called a bittern, with the scientific name Botaurus stellaris.

A few of these birds winter in the wetlands of Cyprus and they need reed-beds to hide in. The species has suffered big declines across Europe because of the clearing of reed-beds.

Hellicar continued, “It’s classified as having an ‘unfavorable conservation status’ by BirdLife International, the authority of bird status, and is listed in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive, which means Member States have to take action to protect it.”

There are a number of reed-beds at Fasouri marsh and a few just below Aspro Kremmnos dam in Paphos.

“I hope the bird will be able to fill up on food such as frogs and fish before he finds any remaining reed-beds in Paphos,” he said.

Christos Chrystoforou the owner and manager of the Paphos Bird and Animal park told the Cyprus Mail.

“I think the bird was in shock, but he still seemed to be quite feisty, which is a good sign. I think he must have either flow into something or didn’t have any energy to continue flying. He did seem a little weak and probably needed to eat something.”

Chrystoforou started the park in Paphos because of his love of birds. The establishment has since grown to house animals as well.

“I have collected them from a young age but I wouldn’t take in wild birds such as this one, as I would be afraid they might carry disease, which would spread to the parks’ inhabitants.”

He added, “This is a beautiful bird and I hope it survives.”

Officers of the game department took the bird to Aspro Kremmnos dam, where it was safely released back into the wild yesterday morning.

Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008

[Get Real!]

Look at how these girls are suffering GR....I hope you are happy!!

Rare bird found in Paphos
By Bejay Browne

Quick! Someone club it to death before the hunters get it...

[zan]

Look at how these girls are suffering GR....I hope you are happy!!

Rare bird found in Paphos
By Bejay Browne

Quick! Someone club it to death before the hunters get it...

The hunters are in the casinos...

really going to bed now...That Kikapu takes forever to post....Can't wait all night for him to get his pecker up so that he can type a few words. If he gets it stuck between the keys then we could be here until next week...

[Get Real!]

Look at how these girls are suffering GR....I hope you are happy!!

Rare bird found in Paphos
By Bejay Browne

Quick! Someone club it to death before the hunters get it...

The hunters are in the casinos...

really going to bed now...That Kikapu takes forever to post....Can't wait all night for him to get his pecker up so that he can type a few words. If he gets it stuck between the keys then we could be here until next week...

He probably dozed off on the keyboard...

[purdey]

I pity anyone who finds the the trafficking of women for sex acceptable. I am aware of many women who work in caberet in Cyprus are well under the age of consent and working against their will.
A well known son of a prominent Limassol businessman (Cypriot) is still trafficking these young girls from all over ex eastern block countries and forceing them to work in the sex industry, I for one find the hold practice disgusting. I am also disgusted at the sad individuals who feel the need to use these services. In my eyes it is rape of minors, traffickers and clients should be imprisoned and names made public.
Let me ask all of you a question who use these services, do your wives, daughters and sons know what you are doing ?