Dire predictions of sex trafficking during to World Cup have no confirmation

Global migration group didn’t confirm the dire predictions that tens of thousands of sexual slaves had been trafficked into Germany during the soccer World Cup. Only five forced prostitutes were found.

A report by the International Organization for Migration praised Germany for working with campaign groups well in advance of the June-July 2006 event to put in place the necessary measures against trafficking.

Before the World Cup, some trafficking experts warned that up to 40,000 foreign women, many from Eastern Europe, would be forced into sex work during the four-week tournament.

The European Union, the United States and the Vatican put pressure on Germany for supposedly not doing enough to stop an expected tide of sex workers arriving for the event.

"The estimate of 40,000 women expected to be trafficked was unfounded and unrealistic," the 48-page report said.

IOM said Germany's raids on brothels, information campaigns and coordination with non-governmental groups should serve as a model for hosts of future major sporting events, such as next year's Olympics in Beijing or European soccer championships in Austria and Switzerland.

The migration body said, however, that more accountability was needed among rights groups and media when citing figures, so that no one could be accused of organizing a scare campaign while highlighting the serious dangers in human trafficking.