    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [November 1, 1999]
    [Page 1946]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement by President Clinton and Prime Minister Kjell Bondevik
    November 1, 1999

        We share concern about the growing problem of trafficking in women
    for the purpose of placing them into slavery-like conditions. This is a
    problem worldwide, although trafficking in women within the OSCE area
    has come more into focus recently. The need to address this issue in the
    Nordic-Baltic region also arose as one of the recommendations of the
    Reykjavik conference on Women and Democracy. We attach great importance
    to cooperation between our two countries to focus on the need to combat
    this problem.
        It is important to focus on the economic and social structures that
    give rise to prostitution and sexual exploitation, and to find methods
    to empower the women involved.
        Norway is proposing to host a conference next spring on trafficking
    in the OSCE area. The aim would be to (1) develop national and
    international policies to combat trafficking and (2) to design and put
    into practice joint action.
        The issue should also be addressed at the OSCE Summit in Istanbul.
    Norway, in its capacity as OSCE Chairmanship, is actively considering
    the possibility of an event focusing on trafficking on the margins of
    the Summit.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.