International Olympic Committee
Ch?teau de Vidy, Route de Vidy 9
1007 Lausanne
Switzerland
Copenhagen, 4th June 2004
APPEAL to the International Olympic Committee
Dear Mr. President,
In connection with the forthcoming Olympic games in Athens 2004, as many
other organisations have before us, we wish to bring to your attention an
issue of utmost importance.
In an era when the world is becoming aware of the extent of violence
committed against women, the IAF hereby officialy protests against the
use of people in prostitution as a public security measure to calm the
participants and the supporters of the Olympic games. Allowing the abuse
of people in prostitution is unacceptable, and especially not in connection
with an event that celebrates the highest human values. We all know that
prostitution is a method of survival for people, who are excluded from all
protection, with the exception of that provided for them by those who
exploit them.
The philosophies and ethics fundamental to our movement and the Olympics
are essentially the same:
The respect for human dignity.
The respect for physical and intellectual integrity.
In light of the above we ask you to intervene so that the celebration
of the 100th anniversary of the Olympic movement will also be the birth
of an international movement of refusal of all abuse and violence of the
human body in sex as well as in sports.
We wish to meet with you to study together possible steps towards the launch
of activities that will lead to a conceptual change. We are certain that you
will fully grasp the humanitarian urgency of this issue.
Dorit OTZEN
President
About IAF : For almost 130 years the IAF has been combatting the inequalities
and violence that are the reason why the prostituted person is never really
free, even if the person is consenings. Our fight has led to the adoption by
the UN of the Convention of December, 2nd ,1949. Ratified today by 70
countries, this convention aims to abolish all forms of legalized prostitution.
Secretariat international : Gasvaeerksvej 24 - 1656 Copenhaguen- Denmark-
Phone + 45 33 23 40 52 - Fax : + 45 33 23 40 51 -
IAF is an NGO fonded in 1875 - IAF has consultative status with UN,
ECOSOC, Council of Europe, UNESCO, UNICEF and ILO
