[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.