Transaction Search Form: please type in any of the fields below.
Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
Time: 11:33 am
Time: 11:33 am
Results for victims of trafficking
37 results foundAuthor: Turukanova, Elena Title: ODIHR Anti-Trafficking Programme: Identification, Assistance and Protection of Victims of Trafficking in the Russian Federation (Focusing on the Moscow Region) Summary: The OSCE/ODIHR, the human rights institution of the OSCE, focuses on the protection of international rights in responses to trafficking. In particular it has developed the concept of 'National Referral Mechanisms' (NRMs) a human-rights based approach to identifying and protecting trafficking victims, which places protection of trafficked persons rights' at the center of its concern. This review provides an overview of the steps already taken by Russia to implement its OSCE commitments on anti-trafficking, with particular consideration given to the measures it has taken to establish an NRM. Details: Vienna: Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Organisation for Security and Cooperation Europe, 2008. 53p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: Russia URL: Shelf Number: 118710 Keywords: Human RightsHuman TraffickingVictims of Trafficking |
Author: Kelleher Associates Title: Globalisation, Sex Trafficking and Prostitution: The Experiences of Migrant Women in Ireland Summary: Globalisation, Sex Trafficking and Prostitution - the Experiences of Migrant Women in Ireland" presents stark evidence of the trafficking of women and girls into and through Ireland for the purposes of sexual exploitation. It shines a light on the reality of large numbers of migrant women being sexually exploited in indoor prostitution in Ireland. Drawing on the experiences of these women, the report illustrates the severe emotional, physical and psychological harm that women who are trafficked and sexually exploited in Ireland endure. Details: Dublin: Immigrant Council of Ireland, 2009. 207p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2011 at: http://www.immigrantcouncil.ie/images/stories/Trafficking_Report_FULL_LENGTH_FINAL.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Ireland URL: http://www.immigrantcouncil.ie/images/stories/Trafficking_Report_FULL_LENGTH_FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 121114 Keywords: Human Trafficking (Ireland)MigrantsProstitutionSexual ExploitationVictims of Trafficking |
Author: Smith, Gerard Title: The Criminal Justice Response to Human Trafficking: Recent Developments in the Greater Mekong Sub-region Summary: This article highlights developments in the criminal justice response to human trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) over the last three years. Developments in the strengthening of the legal framework, criminal justice institutions and in support provided to victims are highlighted while acknowledging that progress has been uneven across the region. Many obstacles remain and more needs to be done to ensure that recent developments result in real change where it matters: better protected and supported victims; more and better quality prosecutions that are in accordance with international criminal justice standards; greater levels of cooperation between the GMS counties; and a donor community that is facilitating and supporting such changes. Details: Bangkok: United Nationa Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking, 2010. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 24, 2011 at: http://www.no-trafficking.org/reports_docs/siren/GMS-08_eng.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Asia URL: http://www.no-trafficking.org/reports_docs/siren/GMS-08_eng.pdf Shelf Number: 121825 Keywords: Human Trafficking (Asia)ProsecutionVictims of Trafficking |
Author: Orfano, I. Title: Headway – Improving Social Intervention Systems for Victims of Trafficking Summary: Even though in the last decade many anti-trafficking initiatives have mushroomed throughout Europe, a lot still needs to be done. Human trafficking has a complex, multidimensional and ever-changing nature and often public and private service providers do not possess the proper instruments or approaches to respond to the needs of trafficked. Furthermore, the existing knowledge mainly concerns trafficking of women and girls into the sex industry (mostly street prostitution, more rarely behind-closed-doors prostitution). Very little is known about other forms of trafficking (i.e. for forced labour, begging, illegal activities, organ transplants, illegal adoption or forced marriage) and about other victims (minors, men or transgender people). Interventions frequently remain experimental, disjointed and not implemented as part of a structured, consistent and integrated model. This situation undermines the operators’ opportunities to acquire comprehensive knowledge of the phenomenon and of the practices of intervention and co-operation that already exist within the anti-trafficking sector and, consequently, it reduces their ability to provide proper support to trafficked persons. Given this scenario, within the framework of the EQUAL Community Initiative of the European Union), the Development Partnerships (DPs) of Headway – Improving Social Intervention Systems for Victims of Trafficking), developed and implemented a transnational multi-activity project. This was based on the rationale that exchanges co-operation between agencies concerned with victim assistance in the countries of origin, transit and destination – and represented within the transnational partnership – are crucial for the development and improvement of the standards and tools needed to monitor the phenomenon. Collaboration is equally essential for strengthening the social interventions intended to protect and assist trafficked persons and to improve their prospects of social inclusion and access to the labour market. The national DPs, which represent very different regional and national contexts (Estonia, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland and Portugal) and multidisciplinary compositions of public and private agencies, worked together for more than two years in order to achieve the following goals: – to broaden and share the level of knowledge as regards the phenomena of human trafficking (Activity 1) and the legislative systems (Activity 2) that protect victims of trafficking and prosecute the crime; – to collect examples of good practice interventions supporting the social and labour market inclusion of trafficked persons in their countries of destination and origin, seeing if innovative approaches can be applied elsewhere (Activity 3); – to analyse and compare current monitoring systems and jointly to develop common tools and mechanisms aimed at effectively and regularly monitoring different forms of human trafficking (Activity 4). Through the implementation of a monitoring mechanism and the mapping of available services it is possible, on the one hand, to improve the quality of the existing services and, on the other, to plan innovative ad hoc interventions capable of addressing the needs of trafficked persons in particular; – to map out existing interventions (Activity 5) and to link up various anti-trafficking activities through the establishment of an online transnational database (Activity 6). This database can then contribute to the prompt referral of trafficked persons to the appropriate service provider/s (locally, nationally or internationally) and can supply the necessary information about services available in a given place to the agencies engaged in the field. This publication thus contains the main results achieved by the Headway DPs over more than two years of co-operation in developing common methodologies and understandings of rather complex issues. Following this brief introduction, the publication offers an executive summary in seven different languages: English (the working language used) and the six national languages of the DPs: Estonian, German, Italian, Lithuanian, Polish and Portuguese. In Chapter One there is an analysis of the literature on trafficking as regards Estonia, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland and Portugal, and a brief overview of the phenomenon, as described in the seventy-one selected publications. Chapter Two brings together the national legal frameworks covering human trafficking and related areas in the partner countries. It also presents a brief analysis of the identified strengths and shortcomings of the national frameworks that support trafficked persons and fight trafficking. Chapter Three presents thirty-one selected examples of good practice in the field of protection of trafficked persons and prevention of trafficking in human beings in the six European partner countries, in order to promote a transnational exchange of practical experiences, working methods and results achieved. Chapter Four contains the main findings of the analysis and comparison of existing systems for monitoring human trafficking and the services available for trafficked persons in the partner countries and some other selected countries. It also describes what a monitoring system should look like, as well as putting forward a proposal to draft and implement a European model of monitoring trafficking phenomena. The main characteristics and the functioning of the Headway database are described in Chapter Five. The Headway database is a transnational database of organisations and institutions working on trafficking and is intended to be a tool that facilitates contacts between them and any other interested bodies. Given the lack of exposure usually suffered by the outcomes of external evaluation of projects, the Headway partners decided to include a specific chapter devoted to this in the publication, so contributing to the future work of the partners and of other agencies in the field. Thus, Chapter Six includes the observations of the external evaluator as to the project’s relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability. Finally, in the Annexes section, descriptions of the national DPs are provided, as well as their contact details. Details: Warsaw: Headway. Improving Social Intervention Systems for Victims of Trafficking Project, 2007. 243p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 26, 2011 at: http://lastradainternational.org/lsidocs/319%20Headway%20Project.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Europe URL: http://lastradainternational.org/lsidocs/319%20Headway%20Project.pdf Shelf Number: 112350 Keywords: Human TraffickingProstitutionSex TraffickingVictims of Trafficking |
Author: ECPAT UK Title: On the Safe Side: Principles for the Safe Accommodation of Child Victims of Trafficking Summary: This report details 10 principles for the safe accommodation of child victims of trafficking.It is a vital resource for those providing accommodation for child victims of trafficking and acts as a clear, easily accessible guide to safe accommodation that is aimed to reduce the number of child victims of trafficking going missing from local authority care. It brings together a wealth of research so that practitioners are able to successfully meet the required standards of safe accommodation, while taking into account the complex needs of a child victim of trafficking, putting the child at the heart of the model. Details: London: ECPAT UK, 2011. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 2, 2012 at: http://www.ecpat.org.uk/sites/default/files/on_the_safe_side.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.ecpat.org.uk/sites/default/files/on_the_safe_side.pdf Shelf Number: 124346 Keywords: Child PornographyChild ProstitutionChild Sexual ExploitationChild Trafficking (U.K.)Victims of Trafficking |
Author: Brunovskis, Anette Title: A Fuller Picture: Addressing trafficking-related assistance needs and socio-economic vulnerabilities Summary: Given the importance of assistance and protection in the lives of trafficked persons, it is critical that interventions are designed to meet their actual needs at various stages of their post-trafficking recovery. A comprehensive picture of assistance needs necessitates engaging directly with trafficked persons in the design, implementation and evaluation of assistance interventions. That is, what do trafficking victims themselves see as important and useful assistance in order to be able to recover and move on from trafficking? To what extent are these needs being met within the existing assistance system? How could interventions better respond to their different needs? These questions are the main focus of this paper. A second focus is the broader social and economic context of victims’ needs. For many victims, their assistance needs are not tied directly to trafficking but to their social and economic exclusion and vulnerability. Disentangling when victims’ assistance needs are directly caused by trafficking and which are manifestations of their general social and/or economic vulnerability, situates human trafficking in a wider context of socioeconomic vulnerability. In so doing, it pinpoints when and how trafficking involves distinct, specific needs and responses and when victim needs might be addressed within the existing social protection framework. This report is based on interviews with victims of trafficking in Albania, Moldova and Serbia. Details: Oslo, Norway: Fafo; Washington, DC: NEXUS Institute, 2012. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2013 at: http://www.fafo.no/pub/rapp/20256/20256.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Europe URL: http://www.fafo.no/pub/rapp/20256/20256.pdf Shelf Number: 128603 Keywords: Human Trafficking (Albania, Moldova, Serbia)Socioeconomic StatusVictim ServicesVictims of Trafficking |
Author: Goodman, Dara Title: Representing Victims of Human Trafficking in Massachusetts: A Guide for Attorneys Summary: This Guide provides attorneys with a general overview of human trafficking law in Massachusetts in an effort to help attorneys identify victims of human trafficking and determine how to meet their legal and non-legal needs. It provides attorneys with a foundation concerning federal and state law and refers them to more comprehensive resources, where appropriate. In particular, the Guide discusses the following topics in detail: -Identifying victims and recognizing indicators of human trafficking -An introduction to international, federal, and Massachusetts human trafficking laws -Advice on working with vulnerable and diverse populations -Immigration remedies for victims of human trafficking victims, including how to apply for and obtain T visas and U visas -Issues specific to child victims of human trafficking, including the safe harbor under Massachusetts law for minor victims involved in criminal prosecution -Issues specific to victims of human trafficking who are also criminal defendants -Aiding prosecution of traffickers -Civil remedies available to victims of human trafficking under federal and Massachusetts law -Non-legal benefits and resources available to victims of human trafficking under federal and Massachusetts law -Massachusetts resources available to victims of human trafficking Details: Boston: WilmerHale, 2013. 167p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2014 at: http://media.wix.com/ugd/6d5c12_e4e8c12d8ea3487fbebfa0f7d3eabdb0.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://media.wix.com/ugd/6d5c12_e4e8c12d8ea3487fbebfa0f7d3eabdb0.pdf Shelf Number: 133374 Keywords: Human Trafficking (U.S.)Legal ServicesVictim AssistanceVictims of Trafficking |
Author: Liberty Asia Title: Civil Remedies: Justice for Victims of Trafficking in Hong Kong Summary: - Victims of trafficking do not have a civil right of action against their traffickers for damages for the act of trafficking itself. However, there are a number of other potential civil claims that may be relevant in the circumstances of trafficking, depending on the facts of each individual's case. These include tortious claims such as trespass to the person, sexual harassment claims and employment law claims. - Overarching charters and the Basic Law of Hong Kong seek to protect basic civil rights, but these laws and charters do not of themselves provide an avenue for a civil claim. - Tortious claims are likely to apply to many trafficking situations. Even if the person against whom damages are claimed may not have sufficient resources to be in a position to pay a significant award of damages, the publicity and deterrent effect of bringing test cases in the Hong Kong Courts are likely to have value. - Employment tribunals are unlikely to offer an effective remedy for victims who are not legally employed. - There are other possible avenues of compensation for victims of crime including the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme, although there are a number of eligibility criteria to fulfil before access to this scheme can be gained. Details: Liberty Asia; New York: Hogan Lovells, 2014. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 23, 2015 at: http://static1.squarespace.com/static/53038dd2e4b0f8636b5fa8c3/t/5436213de4b040d26af83286/1412833597832/1153819v4-Liberty+Asia+-+civil+remedies-HKGLIB01-1.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Hong Kong URL: http://static1.squarespace.com/static/53038dd2e4b0f8636b5fa8c3/t/5436213de4b040d26af83286/1412833597832/1153819v4-Liberty+Asia+-+civil+remedies-HKGLIB01-1.pdf Shelf Number: 134441 Keywords: Civil RemediesHuman Trafficking (Hong Kong)Victim CompensationVictims of Trafficking |
Author: Boukli, Paraskevi Title: Imaginary penalities: reconsidering anti-trafficking discourses and technologies Summary: The antithesis between a criminalisation and a human rights approach in the context of trafficking in women has been considered a highly contested issue. On the one hand, it is argued that a criminalisation approach would be better, because security measures will be fortified, the number of convictions will inevitably increase, and states' interests will be safeguarded against security threats. On the other hand, it is maintained that a human rights approach would bring more effective results, as this will mobilise a more 'holistic' approach, bringing together prevention, prosecution, protection of victims and partnerships in delivering gendered victim services. This antithesis, discursively constructed at an international level, cuts across a decentralised reliance on the national competent authorities. To investigate this powerful discursive domain, I set these approaches within the larger framework of a tripartite 'anti-trafficking promise' that aims to eliminate trafficking through criminalisation, security and human rights. I ask how clearly and distinctively each term has been articulated, by the official anti-trafficking actors (police and service providers), and what the nature of their interaction is within the larger whole. In grappling with these questions, I undertake both empirical and theoretical enquiry. The empirical part is based on research I conducted at the Greek anti-trafficking mechanisms in 2008-2009. The theoretical discussion draws, in particular, on the concept of 'imaginary penalties' introduced in the criminological work of Pat Carlen. I consider what it might mean to bring this concept to bear in the context of anti-trafficking. In my analysis, criminalisation is linked to a 'toughness' rhetoric, an ever-encroaching and totalising demand for criminal governance. Security is shown to express the contemporary grammar of criminalisation, crafting a global language of risks and threats as core elements of the post 9/11 ideological conditions in the area of crime control. Finally, human rights are figured as tempering or correcting the criminal law for the sake of victims' protection. Together, these three elements constitute a promise that, once they are balanced and stabilised, trafficking can be abolished. Yet it is not only trafficking that is at stake. My study shows how anti-trafficking discursive formations also produce particular forms of subjectivity and conceptions of class, sex, ethnicity and race. The upshot is to bring into focus the imaginary penalities at the centre of anti-trafficking discourses and technologies, while also suggesting the possibilities for contesting and transforming their subjects and fields of operation. The thesis opens up the conceptual map of future critical engagement with the relation of structural inequalities and imaginary penalities. Details: London: London School of Economics, 2012. 390p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed March 18, 2015 at: http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/435/ Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/435/ Shelf Number: 134950 Keywords: Anti-TraffickingHuman TraffickingVictims of Trafficking |
Author: Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) Title: The International Legal Frameworks concerning Trafficking in Persons Summary: This paper characterizes key related elements of the anti-trafficking response today, highlights assumed features that still require development and recommends a number of prioritized actions to bring to bear provisions and legal obligations from different bodies of law and legal instruments that are relevant to the task of preventing human trafficking, protecting victims, and prosecuting perpetrators. Details: Vienna: ICAT, 2012. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 24, 2015 at: http://www.ungift.org/doc/knowledgehub/resource-centre/ICAT/ICAT_Policy_Paper_1_The_International_Legal_Instruments.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www.ungift.org/doc/knowledgehub/resource-centre/ICAT/ICAT_Policy_Paper_1_The_International_Legal_Instruments.pdf Shelf Number: 135381 Keywords: Human Trafficking Victims of Trafficking |
Author: Great Britain. Home Office Title: Review of the National Referral Mechanism for victims of human trafficking Summary: 2.1 Summary 2.1.1 The National Referral Mechanism Review was commissioned by the Home Secretary in April 2014 as part of the Government's wider commitment to eradicate slavery and protect victims. The Review's starting point has been the victim and their experiences; the lens we have used has been focused on them. We have been enormously helped by a wide range of practitioners, Parliamentarians, campaigners and crucially victims who have been willing to talk and tell us of their appalling experiences. 2.1.2 Between its inception in 2009 and September 2014 approximately 6,800 people were referred to the National Referral Mechanism (known as the NRM). It is a complex mechanism, involving a wide group of dedicated professionals, statutory and voluntary organisations. 2.1.3 The Review was asked to examine and make recommendations to the Home Secretary on six key areas: - identification of victims - how they access support - the level of support that victims receive - decision making - governance of the NRM - collection and sharing of data 2.1.4 In recognition of the specific issues affecting children we have investigated and provided recommendations focused on them and their particular needs. 2.1.5 The Review found many areas of good practice; however, we also saw a disjointed system where awareness of human trafficking was often low and of the NRM processes still lower. We heard of the difficulties faced by support providers in moving people on from the support provided under the victim care contract. There were many critics of decision making, the quality and communication of decisions and the ability to manage and share information effectively in the best interest of victims. Details: London: Home Office, 2014. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 15, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/467434/Review_of_the_National_Referral_Mechanism_for_victims_of_human_trafficking.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/467434/Review_of_the_National_Referral_Mechanism_for_victims_of_human_trafficking.pdf Shelf Number: 136992 Keywords: Human TraffickingVictim ServicesVictims of Trafficking |
Author: European Commission. Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs Title: Study on the gender dimension of trafficking in human beings: final report Summary: The purpose of this study is to contribute to the identification and understanding of what it means to be 'taking into account the gender perspective, to strengthen the prevention of this crime and protection of the victims thereof', as required in Article 1 of European Union (EU Directive 2011/36/EU on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Protecting its Victims in the context of the EU Strategy (COM(2012) 286 final) Towards the eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings. The study contributes to Priority E Action 2 of the Strategy, which states that "the Commission will develop knowledge on the gender dimensions of human trafficking, including the gender consequences of the various forms of trafficking and potential differences in the vulnerability of men and women to victimisation and its impact on them". Its specific objectives and tasks are to address: the "gender dimension of vulnerability, recruitment, and victimisation"; "gender issues related to traffickers and to those creating demand"; and "an examination of law and policy responses on trafficking in human beings from a gender perspective". This study, according to its terms of reference, aims to look specifically at the gender dimension of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. This follows evidence from statistical data from Eurostat, as well as data from The European Police Office (Europol) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), according to which the most reported form of exploitation of victims is that of sexual exploitation and its strong gender dimension (96 % women and girls). It further addresses recommendations addressed in the Resolution of the European Parliament of 26 February 2014 on sexual exploitation and prostitution and its impact on gender equality (2013/2103(INI)) urging the European Commission to evaluate the impact that the European legal framework designed to eliminate trafficking for sexual exploitation has had to date and to undertake further research on patterns of prostitution, on human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and on the increased level of sex tourism in the EU, with particular reference to minors, and to promote the exchange of best practices among the Member States. The study is situated within the law and policy environment in the EU on anti-trafficking in human beings and on gender equality. This includes analysis of the gender dimension of each of the fields that are identified as priorities in the EU Strategy (COM(2012) 286 final) towards the eradication of trafficking in human beings (victim assistance, law enforcement, prevention by demand reduction, coherence and coordination, and knowledge and emerging concerns). The study uses reviews of relevant literature, in-depth case studies and high-level analysis in order to reach conclusions with regard to the gender dimensions of trafficking in human beings and make recommendations concerning law and policy implementation and improvement. Details: Brussels: European Parliament, 2016. 240p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 1, 2016 at: https://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/sites/antitrafficking/files/study_on_the_gender_dimension_of_trafficking_in_human_beings._final_report.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Europe URL: https://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/sites/antitrafficking/files/study_on_the_gender_dimension_of_trafficking_in_human_beings._final_report.pdf Shelf Number: 138522 Keywords: Gender-Specific ResponsesHuman TraffickingSexual ExploitationVictimizationVictims of Trafficking |
Author: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) Title: Guardianship for children deprived of parental care - A handbook to reinforce guardianship systems to cater for the specific needs of child victims of trafficking Summary: The EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012-2016 recognises the importance of comprehensive child-sensitive protection systems, for which a robust guardianship system serves as a touchstone. Effective guardianship systems are key to preventing abuse, neglect and exploitation. Yet the roles, qualifications and competences of guardians vary from one Member State to another. This handbook, a joint publication of the European Commission and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, is designed to help standardise guardianship practice, ensuring also that it is better equipped to deal with the specific needs of child victims of trafficking. It provides guidance and recommendations to EU Member States on strengthening their guardianship systems, setting forth the core principles, fundamental design and management of such systems. By promoting a shared understanding of the main features of a guardianship system, it aims to improve conditions for children under guardianship and promote respect for their fundamental rights. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2015. 118p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 4, 2016 at: http://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2014/guardianship-children-deprived-parental-care-handbook-reinforce-guardianship Year: 2015 Country: Europe URL: http://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2014/guardianship-children-deprived-parental-care-handbook-reinforce-guardianship Shelf Number: 138924 Keywords: Child ProtectionChild TraffickingHuman TraffickingVictims of Trafficking |
Author: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) Title: Guardianship systems for children deprived of parental care in the European Union: With a particular focus on their role in responding to child trafficking Summary: Children who are deprived of parental care and are unaccompanied or separated from their primary caregiver are particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. They are entitled to special protection. Effective guardianship systems are key to preventing abuse, neglect and exploitation and they protect child victims of trafficking. Children who are separated from the parents are at heightened risk of exploitation, including falling victims of trafficking in human beings. In other cases, children have been separated from their primary care givers as they were also involved in exploiting the child they were responsible for. The EU Strategy towards the eradication of trafficking in human beings 2012-2016 underlines the importance of comprehensive child-sensitive protection systems to prevent and address child trafficking. Robust guardianship arrangements are a cornerstone of such child protection systems. Yet the roles, qualifications and competences of guardians vary substantially from one Member State to another. In June 2014, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), in close cooperation with the European Commission, published a handbook on Guardianship for children deprived of parental care - A handbook to reinforce guardianship systems to cater for the specific needs of child victims of trafficking. The handbook offers EU Member States comprehensive guidance and recommendations on strengthening national guardianship systems. The handbook lays down the core principles that should guide national guardianship systems and suggests how national authorities, as well as guardians, could strengthen guardianship arrangements to respond better to the needs of child victims of trafficking. By promoting a shared understanding of the main features of a guardianship system, the handbook aimed at improving conditions and respect for the fundamental rights for all children deprived of parental care. It also sought to respond better to the specific needs of child victims of trafficking. The agency mapped national guardianship systems with the aim of identifying common challenges and promising practises. This report presents the main findings of this background research, which were also used to develop the handbook. These two publications are the latest results from FRA's longstanding commitment to promote and protect the rights of the child. This comparative report may assist Member States to understand better the strengths and weaknesses of their national system. It may also assist them to take measures to promote the effective protection of all children and, more specifically, find an adequate response to the needs and rights of those who are in the most vulnerable situation, such as child victims of trafficking. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2015. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 5, 2016 at: https://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/sites/antitrafficking/files/guardianship_systems_for_children_deprived_of_parental_care_in_the_european_union_en.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Europe URL: https://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/sites/antitrafficking/files/guardianship_systems_for_children_deprived_of_parental_care_in_the_european_union_en.pdf Shelf Number: 138952 Keywords: Child ProtectionChild Trafficking Human Trafficking Victims of Trafficking |
Author: Miner-Romanoff, Karen Title: An Evaluation Study of a Criminal Justice Reform Specialty Court - CATCH Court: Changing Actions to Change Habits Summary: This article reports on an evaluation of a program for convicted prostitutes who are victims of human trafficking, the Changing Actions to Change Habits (CATCH) specialized docket in Franklin County, Columbus, Ohio. Founded by Judge Paul M. Herbert in 2009, CATCH blends punitive sentences with a 2-year treatment-oriented non-adversarial program for rearrested prostitutes who suffer from posttraumatic stress syndrome, depression, and drug addiction. Based on therapeutic jurisprudence, in its 5 years of existence CATCH has served 130 participants (12% graduation rate in first 4 years). The researcher was invited by the Franklin County Municipal Court to conduct the evaluation, the first of the program, with criminal justice referrers and program participants. Data were collected from Court records, a 9-item survey for referrers by email, a 20-item survey for participants, and a roundtable discussion with 20 volunteer participants. In the quantitative component, five goals and objectives were formulated. Results of descriptive statistics on participants' experiences indicated that from 48% to 100% were positively affected by the program. Program completers had fewer jail days, arrests, and recidivism, as well as improved living conditions, than noncompleters (those who were rejected or dropped out). Results of inferential statistics for completers and noncompleters indicated that for jail time and arrests, no significant differences were found among the groups. For recidivism, a significant difference was found, indicating that program completers had a statistically significant lower recidivism rate than the other groups. The five goals and objectives were partially met. In the qualitative component, participants singled out caring by the judge and staff, lack of judgment, encouragement of their self-esteem, improved family relationships, and the difficulty of asking for help. For increased awareness, participants suggested education of law enforcement officers about the program, education in communities of young girls, and creation of CATCH-type programs in other cities. Recommendations for future research included more frequent and discrete data collection by the court, larger sample sizes, and individual participant in-depth interviews. The success of the CATCH program indicates its use as a model for similar courts in Ohio and nationally. Details: Columbus, OH: Franklin University, 2015. 95p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 9, 2016 at: https://ext.dps.state.oh.us/OCCS/Pages/Public/Reports/CATCH%20FULL%20REPORT%20for%20Court%20CL%205.30.15.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://ext.dps.state.oh.us/OCCS/Pages/Public/Reports/CATCH%20FULL%20REPORT%20for%20Court%20CL%205.30.15.pdf Shelf Number: 139342 Keywords: Human TraffickingProblem-Solving CourtsProstitutesProstitutionRehabilitationVictims of Trafficking |
Author: United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking Title: United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking Annual Report 2016 Summary: The U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking is comprised of eleven survivor leaders who bring their knowledge and experience to advise and provide recommendations on federal anti-trafficking policies to the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF). The Council was established on May 29, 2015 by section 115 of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA), Pub. L . 114-22, also known as the Survivors of Human Trafficking Empowerment Act, and in December 2015 President Barack Obama appointed the eleven members of the Council, to: - Provide advice and recommendations to the U.S. government, specifically the Senior Policy Operating Group (SPOG) and the PITF, to strengthen federal policy and programming efforts that reflect best practices in the anti-trafficking field. - Review federal U.S. government policy and programs intended to combat human trafficking, including programs relating to the provision of services for victims. - Gather information from U.S. government agencies, states, and the community for the Council's annual report. - Publish an annual report that contains the findings derived from the reviews conducted of federal government policy and programs. - Serve as a point of contact for federal agencies reaching out to human trafficking survivors for input on anti-trafficking programming and policies in the United States. - Represent the diverse population of human trafficking survivors across the United States. Details: Washington, DC: The Advisory Council, 2016. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 7, 2016 at: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/263434.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/263434.pdf Shelf Number: 145386 Keywords: Human TraffickingVictims of Trafficking |
Author: International Centre for Migration Policy Development Title: Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings and Organised Crime -- Phase 2 (THB/IFS/2): Assessment of the National and Transnational Referral Mechanism for Victims of Trafficking in Albania Summary: The following assessment of Albania’s capacity to refer (potential) victims of trafficking was drafted in the framework of the project Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings and Organised Crime – Phase 2 (THB/IFS/2) implemented by ICMPD (International Centre for Migration Policy Development) in cooperation with EF (Expertise France) and FIIAPP (International Foundation of Administration and Public Policies of Spain). The project targets Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Pakistan and Turkey and is implemented in the framework of the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP), which succeeds the Instrument for Stability (IfS) and is one of the key external assistance instruments that enable the European Union (EU) to take a lead in helping to prevent and respond to actual or emerging crises around the world. Building on the achievements of the project Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings – Phase 1 implemented in Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova and Turkey from January 2013 to September 2014, the project seeks to contribute to the prevention of and fight against transnational organised crime, particularly in relation to trafficking in human beings (THB), by providing the participating countries with policy, legal and technical expertise and knowledge. The 36-month THB/IFS/2 project was launched in September 2014 and applies a three-step approach to enhance counter-trafficking measures in the participating countries as follows: Component 1: Support for the setting up or improvement of victim-centred referral systems  Research to assess the participating countries’ current capacity to refer (potential) victims of trafficking;  Revise/develop and improve the national and transnational referral mechanism in each participating country;  Training for relevant stakeholders in the participating countries on the revised national and transnational referral mechanisms. Component 2: Capacity building on THB data collection, analysis and information sharing (tailor-made follow-up actions to the project’s first phase)  Research to assess the needs of the two new project countries Albania and Pakistan, which did not participate in the first project phase, in the areas of data collection, analysis, information exchange, law enforcement cooperation and awareness on THB;  Continue and consolidate previous activities carried out in the project’s first phase in the areas of data collection, analysis, information exchange, law enforcement cooperation and awareness on THB and replicate activities, when relevant, in Albania and Pakistan. Component 3: Transnational partnerships: platform for improved coordination, cooperation and policy coherence  Increase the capacity of anti-trafficking stakeholders in the project countries to cooperate and coordinate with their relevant counterparts in EU Member States through targeted expert support in the framework of transnational workshops. The following assessment is part of project component 1, which aims at enhancing national and transnational referral mechanisms for (potential) victims of trafficking in human beings in the six project countries according to international human rights standards and harmonized procedures. Applying a participatory multi-agency approach as described in ICMPD’s Guidelines for the Development of a Transnational Referral Mechanism for Trafficked Persons and Cooperation Beyond Borders: Development of Transnational Referral Mechanisms for Trafficked Persons and taking into account the lessons learnt from establishing TRMs in SouthEastern Europe in the period 2006-2012 in the framework of the USAID-funded Programme to Support the Development of Transnational Referral Mechanisms for Trafficked Persons in South-Eastern Europe and follow-up initiative Enhancing Transnational Cooperation on Trafficking Cases in South-Eastern Europe (TRM-II), this component builds on already existing structures in the project countries as well as identified good practices in EU Member States and focuses on the revision/development of standardised procedures for victim referral. An assessment of the needs and capacity of each country participating in the project with regard to victim services and referral structures currently in place is the first activity under component 1, followed by an update/revision of the countries’ referral procedures based on the assessment results. Where referral procedures do not exist, steps will be taken to create them in accordance with international human rights standards focusing on victims’ needs. Antitrafficking stakeholders involved in the referral of (potential) victims will then re-evaluate the currently existing procedures in a series of national and transnational multi-agency workshops. The re-evaluation shall be guided by the principle of who needs to do what when and how, and will define an improved set of standardized procedures to be implemented by all relevant actors. With regard to Albania, the information gathered and analysed in the framework of the assessment was taken from the following sources:  desk research, using data from already existing reports1 ;  interviews with anti-trafficking stakeholders conducted in 2011 during an assessment carried out in the framework of the USAID-funded project Enhancing Transnational Cooperation on Trafficking Cases in South-Eastern Europe (TRM-II) implemented by ICMPD in 2010-2012;  information gathered by the Project Coordinator and Lead Expert, Mr. Steve Harvey, during his assessment mission to Albania on 20-23 February 2015;  Input provided by local NGO representatives on issues related to victims’ rights in response to a questionnaire developed and disseminated by ICMPD in spring 2015. In line with the objectives of the above-mentioned THB/IFS/2 project, the purpose of the assessment was to assess Albania’s capacity to refer (potential) victims at the national and transnational level as well as available victim support services, including a review of the rights of victims. The results and recommendations of this analysis are intended to serve as guidance for the relevant local stakeholders and experts supporting them in improving victim referral in Albania. Details: Vienna: ICMPD, 2015. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 15, 2016 at: http://www.icmpd.org/fileadmin/user_upload/NRM-TRM_assessment_Albania_final__1_.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Albania URL: http://www.icmpd.org/fileadmin/user_upload/NRM-TRM_assessment_Albania_final__1_.pdf Shelf Number: 140489 Keywords: Human Trafficking Organized Crime Victim Services Victims of Trafficking |
Author: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Title: Anti-trafficking response in Republic of Azerbaijan: assistance and services available to victims of trafficking and forced labour. Needs Assessment Report Summary: The Office's assessment includes the review and analysis of the assistance and services available to victims of trafficking and forced labour in Azerbaijan, with the objectives of identifying gaps and obstacles preventing provision of effective assistance to victims, and of seeking opportunities for improving these aspects of assistance. The review of legislation and practices included housing, social, medical, psychosocial, legal, physical safety and protection, and reintegration assistance services available in Baku, the capital city of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Details: Baku: OSCE Office in Baku, 2012. 52. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 3, 2017 at: http://www.osce.org/baku/105274?download=true Year: 2012 Country: Azerbaijan URL: http://www.osce.org/baku/105274?download=true Shelf Number: 146274 Keywords: Forced LaborHuman TraffickingVictims of Trafficking |
Author: Follmar-Otto, Petra Title: Human trafficking in Germany; strengthening victim's human rights Summary: The previously marginalised phenomenon of human trafficking became a mainstream political issue more than ten years ago. Human trafficking is not only perceived as a severe form of transnational organised crime but is also denounced as a human rights violation. Many international, regional, and national initiatives and programmes have been created. The 2000 UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons and the 2005 Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings are specialised legal instruments that have led to legal changes at the regional and national levels. In spite of these developments, human trafficking remains one of the most urgent human rights issues for Germany and other industrialised countries: first – in spite of the necessary scepticism about the data on human trafficking – there is every indication that the extent of human trafficking in Europe and worldwide remains very high. Second, victim's rights have made only marginal progress in spite of the attention human trafficking receives in Germany: the vast majority of trafficked persons are not identified as victims of human trafficking. In practice, even those who are so identified cannot assert rights to (temporary) residence, safe accommodation, material and psychosocial assistance, and remuneration and compensation unless they agree to appear as witnesses in criminal proceedings. Trafficked persons are not perceived as legal subjects, and there is a lack of legal clarity and legal certainty. Third, the prevention of human trafficking is not integrated into a way of organising (labour) migration that is generally oriented to human rights and aims to ensure that regular and irregular migrants never end up in situations of exploitation that are similar to slavery. Announcements are often made to the public that enough has been said about human trafficking and that it is now time to act. This is certainly right – but, given the steps that have already been taken, it is also necessary to review the underlying concepts and the effects that actions taken against human trafficking can have on human rights. Trafficked persons are caught in the competing political interests of fighting crime, migration policies, and human rights. In many countries, including Germany, actions that are taken and reforms of the law still emphasise criminal prosecution. A full human rights approach has not yet been developed. The specific international instruments on human trafficking are still far from covering all obligations under the core human rights treaties, such as the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights or the UN Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Measures against human trafficking can even lead to violations of the human rights of trafficked persons (or people who could potentially be trafficked) or other groups, such as migrants or sex workers. In some contexts, combating human trafficking is also used as a pretext for introducing restrictive and repressive measures into migration or security policies or the regulation of sex work. This study is therefore intended to contribute to the analysis of policies against human trafficking from the viewpoint of human rights. In the public debate there is often uncertainty about how to describe this phenomenon, which makes it difficult to take effective, appropriate action against human trafficking. This study therefore begins with definitions, explains the necessary distinctions, and provides data and facts about human trafficking (section 2). The third section covers the causes of human trafficking and the various approaches to combating it and describes the status quo in Germany. The fourth section discusses in greater detail how the prohibition of human trafficking and the resulting state obligations are anchored in human rights. The more recent specialised international agreements on human trafficking and law-making in the European Union are then presented (section 5). The emphasis is on the Council of Europe Convention, which professes to treat human trafficking in a human rights context. The final chapter summarizes elements of a human rights approach against human trafficking and makes recommendations for further development of policies. This study concentrates on trafficking in adults. Women, who make up the vast majority of the trafficked persons in Europe, are in the forefront. The field of trafficking in children is not covered by this study. Where that issue is concerned, reference is made to a recently published study by the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) of the European Union, which investigates the legal framework and measures against trafficking in children in the EU Member States. Details: Berlin: German Institute for Human Rights, 2009. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 28, 2017 at: http://www.stiftung-evz.de/fileadmin/user_upload/EVZ_Uploads/Publikationen/Studien/2009_study_human_trafficking_in_germany.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Germany URL: http://www.stiftung-evz.de/fileadmin/user_upload/EVZ_Uploads/Publikationen/Studien/2009_study_human_trafficking_in_germany.pdf Shelf Number: 141254 Keywords: Human Rights AbusesHuman TraffickingOrganized CrimeVictims of Trafficking |
Author: International Organization for Migration Title: Enhancing the Safety and Sustainability of the Return and Reintegration of Victims of Trafficking: Lessons Learnt from the CARE and TACT Projects Summary: This report follows on from the implementation of two distinct but complementary projects implemented by IOM: Coordinated Approach for the Reintegration of victims of trafficking returning voluntarily to any third country (CARE project) and Transnational Action - Safe and sustainable return and reintegration for victims of Trafficking returning voluntarily to priority countries: Albania, Morocco and Ukraine (TACT project). The two projects involved a total of 9 European Union Member States (EU MS) - Austria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom - committed to improving the return and reintegration programmes available for Victims of Trafficking (VoTs), in order to make the process safer and more sustainable, and to reduce the risks of re-trafficking. Bearing this objective in mind, IOM endeavored through the implementation of both projects to develop, implement, and fine-tune Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Return and Reintegration of Victims of Trafficking, ensuring a continuum of care. This joint report aims to gather and share the lessons learnt through the implementation of both projects, suggesting a way forward for the establishment of transnational referral mechanisms between EU MS and third countries. The issue of transnational referral mechanisms is a key priority in the current EU anti-trafficking efforts, as mentioned in the EU Anti-trafficking Strategy for the period 2012-2016. . As part of the introduction, this report will start with an overview of the key concepts and legal framework relating to trafficking and voluntary return, analyzing their linkage, and a brief explanation of the content of the EU Anti-trafficking Strategy, in the framework of which both the CARE and TACT projects are implemented. The first section will present in detail the CARE and TACT projects objectives and activities. The second section will go through the lessons drawn from the implementation of the CARE project and propose recommendations to enhance the assistance and protection provided to returning VoTs. The third and final section will go a step further, presenting some reflections in turn on the concept of the Transnational Referral Mechanism (TRM) and its possible concrete implementation throughout the EU and third countries. The international legislative framework on human trafficking is governed by the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its two Additional Protocols. The Convention, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly through resolution 55/252 on 15 November 2000, entered into force on 29 September 2003. It is complemented by the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children , also known as the Palermo Protocol (entered into force on 25 December 2003) and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air , which entered into force on 28 January 2004. According to Article 3 (a) of the Palermo Protocol, "Human trafficking" can be described as "the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs". Details: Paris, France: IOM, 2014. 126p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 15, 2017 at: http://iomfrance.org/sites/default/files/Enhancing%20the%20Safety%20and%20Sustainability%20of%20the%20Return%20and%20Reintegration%20of%20VoTs.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Europe URL: http://iomfrance.org/sites/default/files/Enhancing%20the%20Safety%20and%20Sustainability%20of%20the%20Return%20and%20Reintegration%20of%20VoTs.pdf Shelf Number: 145474 Keywords: Forced LaborHuman TraffickingModern SlaverySex TraffickingTrafficking in OrgansVictim ServicesVictims of Trafficking |
Author: Wasch, Sarah Title: An Analysis of Safe Harbor Laws for Minor Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation: Implications for Pennsylvania and Other States Summary: Child sex trafficking is increasingly recognized as a compelling legal and social problem in the United States. Reliable data does not yet exist due to both the paucity of scientific research and underground nature of the crime, but some estimates suggest a minimum of 100,000 cases of sexually exploited children on an annual basis. Although this issue may have appeared on the nation's radar only recently, the term "child sex trafficking" has supplanted "child prostitution" as the prevailing thought, shifting responsibility to the perpetrator's actions rather than focusing on those of the victim. By the end of 2015, a full two-thirds of states had passed some version of "Safe Harbor" legislation to move from a prosecutorial to a victim services focus for child sex trafficking victims. Safe Harbor legislation seeks to offer and engage victims in rehabilitative services in lieu of charging them with a crime. This paper examines the structure and components of Safe Harbor laws across the nation, challenges faced, and lessons learned, with recommendations for Pennsylvania and the other remaining states yet to pass Safe Harbor laws. New York was the first state to enact a Safe Harbor law, which went into effect in 2010. Due to the variance in laws from state to state, relatively recent implementation, and a paradigm shift in the criminal justice system approach to victims of commercial sexual exploitation, little outcome data exists at the present time. One of the more promising findings is that Minnesota, considered model legislation, evaluated their program after its first year of implementation and found a dramatic increase in both charges and convictions against sex traffickers subsequent to enacting Safe Harbor legislation. It is important to note that a greater focus on sex trafficking of minors often accompanies such legislation and may play a part in such findings. To inform recommendations for future legislation and program development for victims of sex trafficking, the authors conducted an examination of the research on victim compliance with specialized services, utilization of the child welfare system in lieu of the juvenile justice system, and approaches to gain compliance with prosecution of traffickers. The research supports engaging victims of sex trafficking in a voluntary system of trauma-informed specialized services to encourage their healing, foster service compliance, and develop trust so that they will assist in the identification and prosecution of sex traffickers. Involuntary detention was found to replicate the trauma experienced by sexually trafficked youth, preventing recovery, and increasing the likelihood of recidivism. In order to develop specialized services to be available in lieu of prosecution, it is suggested that implementation of new Safe Harbor legislation take place no less than six months after its passage. Better data collection and further research will assist in better understanding the problem of sex trafficked youth and the impact of Safe Harbor legislation and its various components. Details: Philadelphia: Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice & Research, University of Pennsylvania, 2016. 22p Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 14, 2017 at: https://fieldcenteratpenn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/SafeHarborWhitePaperFINAL.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://fieldcenteratpenn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/SafeHarborWhitePaperFINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 148165 Keywords: Child Prostitution Child Sex Trafficking Child Sexual Exploitation Child Welfare Victim Services Victims of Trafficking |
Author: Love, Hannah Title: Justice in Their Own Words Perceptions and Experiences of (In)Justice among Human Trafficking Survivors Summary: Survivors of interpersonal violence face many challenges when interacting with the criminal justice system, including the fear of being disbelieved, concerns about safety and retaliation, and a distrust in the system's ability to adequately respond to their cases. Although past studies have documented the challenges survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence face when interacting with the justice system, few have focused on survivors of human trafficking-a population that often experiences misconceptions regarding their victimization, stigma due to perceived involvement with illegal behavior, xenophobia, and criminalization. Without survivors' perspectives, little is known about how criminal justice actors can address these challenges and improve their interactions with human trafficking survivors. The Bending Towards Justice: Perceptions of Justice among Human Trafficking Survivors study is the first to ask survivors of human trafficking how they perceive their interactions with the justice system and how they define justice in their own terms. Drawing from qualitative interviews with 80 survivors of sex and labor trafficking and 100 human trafficking stakeholders in eight diverse metropolitan locations across the country, this brief documents survivors' difficulties achieving justice through traditional criminal justice means and provides their recommendations for how justice system responses to trafficking can be improved. It reveals that most survivors do not endorse traditional forms of retributive justice, such as incarceration, and instead prefer preventative remedies outside the formal criminal justice system. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2018. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2018 at: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/97351/justice_in_their_own_words_0.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/97351/justice_in_their_own_words_0.pdf Shelf Number: 149977 Keywords: Human Trafficking Victim ServicesVictims of Crime Victims of Trafficking |
Author: Yu, Lilly Title: Alternative Forms of Justice for Human Trafficking Survivors: Considering Procedural, Restorative, and Transitional Justice Summary: Alternative forms of justice show promise for human trafficking survivors, who often do not find resolution (such as conviction and incarceration for their traffickers) through the traditional criminal justice system. The Bending Towards Justice: Perceptions of Justice among Human Trafficking Survivors study is the first to ask survivors of human trafficking whether nonpunitive forms of justice would complement or compensate existing remedies. Drawing from qualitative interviews with 80 survivors of sex and labor trafficking, this brief documents survivors' experiences with and perceptions of alternative practices, including procedural, restorative, and transitional justice. While all survivors have extensive experience with procedural justice practices, only some survivors have experienced restorative and transitional justice practices. Those who had not experienced restorative and transitional justice found them desirable and promising. Service provider and criminal justice stakeholders may help survivors achieve justice for their victimization experiences by incorporating these alternative forms of justice in their practices. A key finding from the Bending Towards Justice study is human trafficking survivors' difficulty in achieving justice through the traditional criminal justice process. Various factors, including challenges survivors face participating in criminal cases against their traffickers and the inability of retributive justice outcomes, primarily the conviction and incarceration of a trafficker, impede justice for all survivors (Love et al. 2018b). As a result, practitioners, policymakers, and survivor advocates are rethinking how survivors of human trafficking can achieve justice for their experiences. Several alternative forms of justice have been shown to be viable additions or alternatives to traditional criminal justice. Three models show promise when applied to human trafficking cases: (1) procedural justice, (2) restorative justice, and (3) transitional justice. - Procedural justice models argue that the process by which justice is achieved is more important than the outcome of a case. More specifically, theories of procedural justice maintain that survivors' perceptions of justice are influenced by opportunities to be involved in the decisions made in service provision and criminal justice processes and the opportunities to participate in both by having a voice and expressing their side of the story (Thibaut and Walker 1975; Tyler 1988, 1990). An overarching element of procedural justice, therefore, is the respectful treatment of survivors as they pursue services for themselves and/or criminal justice outcomes for their traffickers. - Restorative justice models argue that criminal justice outcomes, including convictions and imprisonment, are not always the best response to crimes against a person (Bolivar 2013; Mika et al. 2004). In the case of human trafficking, nonpunitive, survivor-defined responses, including an acknowledgment of wrongdoing or an apology from traffickers, survivor confrontation of their traffickers, and the payment of reparations might significantly affect perceptions of justice. - Transitional justice models argue that larger community efforts to respond to crimes by acknowledging the harms that have occurred and preventing them from occurring again are most likely to promote peace, provide a sense of justice, and result in longer-term impacts (David and Yuk-Ping 2005; Teitel 2003; van Zyl 1999; Waldorf 2006). Transitional justice for human trafficking survivors primarily focuses on reforms to institutions and policies and educational and memorial initiatives, such as human trafficking awareness campaigns and speaking with policymakers regarding human trafficking-related legislation. While research on the effects of alternative forms of justice has largely been limited to people who are accused of crimes, these models could improve survivor perceptions of justice and reform traditional responses to human trafficking. In response, this brief explores how procedural, restorative, and transitional justice can lead to justice for survivors of human trafficking and complement or compensate for traditional justice system remedies. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2018. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2018 at: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/97341/alternative_forms_of_justice_for_human_trafficking_survivors_0.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/97341/alternative_forms_of_justice_for_human_trafficking_survivors_0.pdf Shelf Number: 149978 Keywords: Human Trafficking Procedural JusticeRestorative JusticeTransitional JusticeVictim Services Victims of Crime Victims of Trafficking |
Author: rights4girls Title: Survivor Protection: Reducing the Risk of Trauma to Child Sexual trafficking Victims Summary: Domestic child sex trafficking is a persistent problem in the United States. Under federal law, child sex trafficking occurs any time a minor under the age of eighteen is induced to perform a commercial sex act. Historically, domestic victims have received gravely insufficient protection and support due to a lack of awareness about domestic trafficking and the hidden nature of this crime. When information about human trafficking first gained traction in the United States, it was commonly believed that sex trafficking victims in the U.S. were primarily foreign nationals. However, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, from January 2008 to June 2010, eighty-three percent of confirmed sex trafficking victims identified in the United States were U.S. citizens, and approximately fifty-four percent were minors under the age of eighteen. Despite these children being subjected to violence, manipulation, and torture, the public still viewed victims of domestic child sex trafficking as criminals willingly engaged in prostitution, rather than as victims of violence and exploitation. In recent years, advocates have been working to shift both the law and public perception to ensure that survivors of domestic child sex trafficking are understood to be victims of gender-based violence5 and child abuse, rather than seen as "child prostitutes." Congress has played a significant role in working to advance greater protections for victims of domestic sex trafficking and increasing public awareness about the plight of American victims, and particularly, U.S. born children. Between 2013 and 2015, Congress passed a number of federal laws aimed at protecting domestic victims and assisting them in accessing many of the services and resources available to other victims of trafficking and sexual violence. Although the federal law has long been clear that child sex trafficking should be viewed as a severe form of trafficking in persons, victims of child sex trafficking are still denied the full scope of protections afforded to other victims of violence, and specifically child abuse, including protections that prevent re-traumatizing children who cooperate as victim witnesses in criminal prosecutions. This paper will provide an overview of the legal justifications for extending existing protections for child abuse victim witnesses to domestic child sex trafficking victim witnesses, and highlight various states that have passed legislation to this effect. Although this paper focuses on the use of Closed Circuit Television as a protection mechanism, we also identify other methods that can and should be utilized to protect child victim witnesses in human trafficking cases. The scope and landscape of protections for survivors of child sex trafficking is broad, but ensuring protections during human trafficking prosecutions is an area that has received little attention outside of victim advocacy spaces. The goal of this paper is to describe the legal framework that justifies extending courtroom protections that are offered to other victim witnesses to survivors of child sex trafficking testifying in criminal prosecutions. We encourage all systems officials working with this population, including judges, legislators, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and victim advocates to use the information provided to ensure that victims of child sex trafficking are afforded necessary protections, services, and support during trial. In doing so, the strength and success of prosecutions may improve. Most importantly, prioritizing the psychological, emotional, and physical protection of victim witnesses will bring us one step closer to achieving justice on behalf of survivors. Details: Washington, DC: rights4girls, 2018. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 7, 2018 at: http://rights4girls.org/wp-content/uploads/r4g/2018/01/Survivor-Protection.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: http://rights4girls.org/wp-content/uploads/r4g/2018/01/Survivor-Protection.pdf Shelf Number: 150071 Keywords: Child ProtectionsChild Sex TraffickingChild Sexual AbuseChild WitnessesVictims of Trafficking |
Author: McCoy, Evelyn Title: Delivering Justice for Human Trafficking Survivors: Implications for Practice Summary: System actors, including criminal justice stakeholders and social and legal services providers, face challenges in understanding, identifying, and responding to human trafficking cases and survivors' needs. At the same time, survivors of human trafficking often experience misconceptions regarding their victimization, stigma due to perceived involvement with illegal behavior, xenophobia, and criminalization. To date, few studies have documented these challenges for both survivors and system actors, as well as how survivors and system actors conceptualize "justice." This brief is intended for practitioners, including social and legal service providers, law enforcement officials and leadership, prosecutors, judges, and advocates to learn about the study's major findings and how they can inform their daily work with survivors. In addition to findings, this brief includes recommendations made by survivors and stakeholders to improve survivors' experience with service provision and the criminal justice system at several decision points, including arrest, investigation, and prosecution. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2018. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 10, 2018 at: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/97356/delivering_justice_for_human_trafficking_survivors.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/97356/delivering_justice_for_human_trafficking_survivors.pdf Shelf Number: 150142 Keywords: Human TraffickingVictim ServicesVictims of Trafficking |
Author: Alrabe, Khaled Title: Lifelines: Supporting Human Trafficking Survivors in the San Francisco Bay Area Summary: THIS REPORT PROVIDES the findings of a study of human trafficking in the San Francisco Bay Area. The primary objective of the study was to document the challenges law enforcement, service providers, and prosecutors face in (1) identifying, investigating, and prosecuting sex and labor trafficking cases, and (2) providing trafficking survivors with adequate services, protection, and shelter. California is a major locus of human trafficking-defined as recruiting, smuggling, transporting, harboring, buying, or selling of a person for exploitation1 -largely because of its international border, demand for cheap labor, criminal gangs, and a relatively thriving economy. In 2015, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center reported that its hotline had received more reports of sex and labor trafficking from California than from any other state. In addition, the thirteen areas identified by the FBI as having the highest incidence of sex trafficking domestically, three are in California: San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles. The Bay Area is home to a number of human trafficking task forces and coalitions that vary in terms of focus, structure, leadership, and geographic interest. Some task forces, such as the San Jose Police Human Trafficking Task Force and the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Task Force, focus on coordination within law enforcement in the pursuit of traffickers. Other coalitions, such as the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking, work to improve services and to strengthen local capacity to identify and assist trafficking survivors. Most counties have a human trafficking task force or other collaborative mechanism that include representatives from law enforcement, service providers, and local government. These organizations include the San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking, Contra Costa Alliance to End Abuse, Marin County Coalition to End Human Trafficking, and Alameda County HEAT Watch. Many of these organizations are led by local governing bodies, such as the Mayor's office or the Attorney General's office. Details: Berkeley, CA: Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley School of Law, 2018. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 14, 2018 at: https://www.law.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bay_Area_Trafficking_Report_final.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.law.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bay_Area_Trafficking_Report_final.pdf Shelf Number: 150177 Keywords: Human SmugglingHuman TraffickingLabor TraffickingSex TraffickingVictims of Trafficking |
Author: Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley School of Law. Title: Building Trust: Perspectives on a Victim-Centered Approach to Human Trafficking Investigations in Los Angeles County Summary: THIS REPORT PROVIDES THE FINDINGS of a study of the Human Trafficking Bureau (Bureau) of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, which is a member of the Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force (Task Force). The primary objective of the study was to document the strengths and challenges the Bureau and other members of the Task Force encountered as they apply a victim-centered approach to investigations of human trafficking cases in their first year of operations (November 2015 to December 2016). Such an approach prioritizes the needs of victims and works to minimize re-traumatization. Established in September 2015 through a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Task Force is a multi-agency partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement and social service agencies mandated to "prosecute traffickers and buyers who target them, and provide services designed to restore the victims to lives free from the trauma bonds they've been forced to endure." The Bureau, which had been established earlier by Los Angeles Country Sheriff Jim McDonnell, was assigned to lead the Task Force in combatting human trafficking-defined as the recruiting, smuggling, transporting, harboring, buying, or selling a person for exploitation-in the county. From the onset, the Bureau and the Task Force embraced a novel approach to human trafficking investigations by physically co-locating investigators, prosecutors, and representatives of service provider organizations in the Bureau's headquarters in Monterey Park. Using an open-floor plan, the Bureau houses representatives from the Task Force, including the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST); the FBI; District Attorney's Office; Los Angeles County Probation Department; Department of Children and Family Services; and Department of Homeland Security. The Bureau maintains an investigative unit called the Detective Information Research Center (DIRC), which provides backup research for investigators. The Bureau also maintains a separate unit called the Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Team (SAFE), which conducts cyber investigations of crimes against children (ICAC), including child pornography, sextortion, enticement, and crimes committed by California State sex registrants. The Bureau's human trafficking teams have access to a "soft room" for interviewing and offering services to trafficking victims. While the Task Force is mandated to investigate both labor and sex trafficking cases, the vast majority of cases during the first year of its operations have involved sex trafficking. The Bureau has a three-pronged approach to sex trafficking. The first is to identify and locate victims. Once victims are located, service providers are brought in to provide a range of services from medical care to housing. The second prong is to arrest traffickers and gather evidence for prosecutions. And the third is to staunch demand in the sex trade by targeting buyers, or "johns." Using semi-structured questionnaires, researchers at the Human Rights Center, in partnership with Berkeley Law's International Human Rights Law Clinic, interviewed 45 key informants, including investigators, researchers, service providers, and prosecutors directly located in the Bureau or connected to it. Researchers also reviewed seven case files representative of various sex trafficking cases the Bureau had investigated during the first six months of 2016 and observed two sting operations directed at buyers and traffickers in Los Angeles County. All key informant interviews were transcribed and coded. In all, more than 35 codes were developed and tagged, resulting in 412 pages of coded data. The codes included a range of topics, including reluctance of victims to cooperate with law enforcement, shelter and long-term housing, challenges of investigating labor trafficking, the hidden nature of the crime, relations between investigators and prosecutors, proving the elements of the crime of human trafficking, criminalization vs. decriminalization of prostitution, and inter-agency co-location and cooperation. Since the Bureau has investigated only a few cases of labor trafficking, the report's primary focus is on sex trafficking cases. Details: Berkeley, CA: The Center, 2017. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 14, 2018 at: https://www.law.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/LA_report_2017_Nov20release.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.law.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/LA_report_2017_Nov20release.pdf Shelf Number: 150178 Keywords: Criminal InvestigationsHuman SmugglingHuman TraffickingLabor TraffickingSex TraffickingSexual ExploitationVictims of Trafficking |
Author: Hussemann, Jeanette Title: Bending Towards Justice: Perceptions of Justice among Human Trafficking Survivors Summary: This study addresses gaps in knowledge about how survivors and stakeholders perceive justice in cases of human trafficking and the potential of alternative models of justice, including procedural, restorative, and transitional justice, to enhance survivors' experiences and the outcomes of their trafficking cases. Most survivors did not endorse traditional forms of retributive justice for their traffickers, such as incarceration, and instead felt justice could be best achieved through prevention. Survivors' perceptions of justice for themselves included the ability to move on from the trafficking experience and find autonomy and empowerment through achieving self-defined goals. Survivors and stakeholders both expressed concern with the justice system's ability to help survivors achieve their desired outcomes; however, survivors and social service providers did find promise in alternative forms of justice to achieve individualized goals. This study relies on semistructured interview data collected with 80 survivors and 100 social service and criminal justice stakeholders across eight diverse sites in the United States. Findings offer the most comprehensive understanding of survivor experiences with social service providers and criminal justice stakeholders and criminal justice processes to date. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2018. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 31, 2018 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251631.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251631.pdf Shelf Number: 150410 Keywords: Human TraffickingVictim ServicesVictims of Trafficking |
Author: U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Maine Advisory Committee Title: Human Trafficking in Maine Summary: Human trafficking - the coercion of human beings for the purpose of involuntary labor, sexual exploitation, or both - is a growing problem in Maine. President Obama has called human trafficking modern day slavery, declaring that the United States "must end this most serious, ongoing criminal civil rights violation." The Maine Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Maine SAC or Committee) started examining the issue of human trafficking in 2011 and convened a briefing in April 2012. The Committee heard from law enforcement officials, prosecutors, legislators, and advocates. Survivors of human trafficking also participated, putting a human face on the problem. The briefing shined a light on the fact that Maine did not have a stand-alone dedicated human trafficking law. Committee members questioned the panelists about the absence of this legislation and encouraged panelists to consider legislative actions to help address the human trafficking in Maine. Subsequent to the briefing, the Maine legislature enacted several provisions aimed at protecting victims and increasing penalties for violators. Specifically, in 2013, the Maine legislature passed LD 1159, an Act to Address Human Trafficking, Sex Trafficking, and Prostitution. The statute broadened the definition of "human trafficking offense," and established "sex trafficking" and "aggravated sex trafficking" as crimes. The Maine legislature later signed LD 1730, An Act to Assist Victims of Human Trafficking, into law. The statute has two main effects: first, it provides an affirmative defense for victims of trafficking who are charged with prostitution, and second, it adds an additional fine for those convicted of aggravated sex trafficking. The Maine SAC convened a second briefing on human trafficking in June 2014 to learn about the impact of the new trafficking laws and to find out what still needs to be done to address human trafficking in Maine. The Committee invited additional law enforcement officials, prosecutors, legislators, advocates, and survivors of human trafficking to update the Committee. In issuing this report, the Committee commends the state for the progress it has made in addressing human trafficking. Nonetheless, the Committee finds that more needs to done to help victims and survivors of trafficking, especially with regards to criminal liability of victims and assistance for victims. Regarding criminal liability, the Committee learned that two new laws are needed: a vacatur statute and a safe harbor law. A vacatur law allows courts to vacate the offenses committed by victims during the course of their being trafficked. An ideal vacatur statute would allow courts to vacate any prostitution, drug possession, or other criminal conviction, provided that the act in question was committed by a victim of human trafficking during the course of being trafficked. To this end, the Maine SAC recommends that the Maine legislature enact a vacatur law. The Maine legislature should also enact a safe harbor law that is designed to prevent minors who are victims of human trafficking from being charged with crimes committed during the period they were trafficked. Existing safe harbor laws vary significantly among the states. Thus, the Maine SAC recommends that the Maine legislature enact the safe harbor law. The Committee also recommends that the U.S. Department of Justice draft a model safe harbor law that may be introduced in state legislatures. Finally, one of the most critical components of a proper response to human trafficking is the provision of adequate services for trafficking victims. Services are so key, in fact, that Maine prosecutors have ranked them more important in fighting human trafficking than a dedicated human trafficking statute itself. Traffickers make great efforts to ensure that their victims are isolated and totally dependent on them not only for the material essentials of life, but also for any sort of stability or feeling of normalcy. The Committee learned that trafficking victims are often arrested as a way to ensure that they have shelter, food, and safety. In order to adequately address human trafficking, the state needs both to create and fund programs that provide services to human trafficking victims. An ideal system of victim assistance services in Maine would address the fundamental needs of trafficking victims, including living assistance, educational services, and working with federal agencies on immigration and citizenship services. These services would receive sufficient funding to adequately serve the growing number of individuals in Maine identified as victims of both sex and labor trafficking. Finally, while this report focuses its findings and recommendations on the issue of sex trafficking, both briefings included testimony from advocates working on the issue of labor trafficking. Some estimate that labor trafficking constitutes almost one-third of the total human trafficking market. Labor trafficking in Maine occurs in several industries, including construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and logging. The Committee discredited the myth that labor trafficking involves exclusively undocumented workers. There are cases throughout New England - in construction, domestic help, and restaurants - where trafficked individuals are documented immigrants or U.S. citizens. We hope that Maine will consider adopting a standalone labor trafficking statute similar to the sex trafficking statute it recently enacted. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 2016. 49p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 2, 2018 at: http://www.usccr.gov/pubs/Human-Trafficking-in-Maine.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.usccr.gov/pubs/Human-Trafficking-in-Maine.pdf Shelf Number: 150436 Keywords: Forced LaborHuman TraffickingLabor TraffickingModern Day SlaverySex TraffickingSexual ExploitationVictims of Trafficking |
Author: Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority Title: The Nature and Scale of Labour Exploitation across all sectors within the United Kingdom Summary: The prevalence of labour exploitation is difficult to accurately measure. However, an increasing number of suspected cases are being reported. The UK is described as being one of the main destinations of trafficked workers in Europe, and labour exploitation was recorded as the most frequent type of exploitation for both adults and minors in the UK in 2016 and 2017 according to National Referral Mechanism (NRM) data. The NRM was introduced in 2009 and is a framework for identifying victims of human trafficking and/or modern slavery and ensuring they receive support. NRM referral data shows that the number of Vietnamese potential victims is consistently high and continues to increase. In 2017; Vietnamese, British and Albanian were the most common nationalities referred for labour exploitation. In contrast, GLAA intelligence indicates that exploitation of Romanian workers is most frequently reported. It is important to note that NRM data for labour exploitation includes criminal exploitation, for example cannabis cultivation. There is often a correlation between the nationality of potential victims and exploiters; they may share a common language or cultural similarities which facilitates recruitment and control. British suspects appear more readily prepared to exploit victims from other backgrounds and who are already present in the UK. The criminal business process used by potential exploiters is not judged to have changed significantly over the past twelve months. Workers in several sectors may be erroneously labelled as self-employed, meaning they have little or no workplace rights, for example statutory benefits such as sick pay. Effective enforcement of labour regulations will protect workers against exploitative recruitment and employment practices. Efforts have been made to protect potential victims of exploitation at the UK border, however, offenders continue to find means and routes by which to transport victims into the UK. The impact of Britain leaving the EU is, at present, unknown despite it being the predominant factor likely to have a bearing upon the intelligence picture over the coming years. Current assessments so far are unclear as to how this will look for the labour market and GLAA intelligence does not yet identify a change in how criminals, businesses and potential victims will operate. Details: Nottingham, UK: GLAA, 2018. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 3, 2018 at: http://www.gla.gov.uk/media/3537/external-nature-and-scale-of-labour-exploitation-report-final-version-may-2018.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.gla.gov.uk/media/3537/external-nature-and-scale-of-labour-exploitation-report-final-version-may-2018.pdf Shelf Number: 150454 Keywords: Forced Labor Human Trafficking Labor Exploitation Trafficking for Labor Victims of Trafficking |
Author: Rijken, Conny Title: Trafficking Victims in The Netherlands: An exploratory study Summary: In recent years there has been a substantial increase in the number of victims of trafficking in the Netherlands, from 993 in 2010 to 1,222 in 2011 and 1,711 in 2012 (CoMensha Annual Reports, www.mensenhandel.nl). The actual number of victims is likely to be much higher than this, as many victims do not approach the authorities. FairWork, an organisation striving to end slavery in the Netherlands, estimated (based on the global estimates of the International Labour Organization) that at any one time in the Netherlands there are 9,000 victims of sexual exploitation and 21,000 victims of other forms of exploitation including labour exploitation (FairWork 2012). However, these figures are only guesstimates and further quantitative research is required to substantiate these figures and to better understand the effects of policies on combating human trafficking. Approximately a quarter of the registered victims are victims of labour exploitation, although this figure dropped in 2012. The majority of victims are registered after identification by the police. Based on a study by the Dutch Rapporteur on Human Trafficking (BNRM 2012b, BNRM 2012c) it can be estimated that per year 200 victims appear in the files of the prosecution service, which means that approximately 20 to 25% of victim registrations lead to prosecution. The report also found that only 15% of registrations lead to a conviction. Although these rates are low and more than half of the cases prosecuted in 2010 ended with an acquittal, the number of victims registered and the number of prosecutions and convictions is high compared to other European destination countries. Historically, protection and assistance to victims of human trafficking in the Netherlands, as in many other countries, is provided in Dutch migration law and dependent on whether or not a residence permit is granted to the victim (Chapter 9, Part B, Aliens Circular). Given that many victims have Dutch nationality (around 25%) or EU citizenship and do not need a residence permit, this link with migration law needs to be revised to extend protection to all victims of trafficking. Apart from some limited exceptions, cooperation with law enforcement authorities in criminal investigations is a condition for the granting of a residence permit to victims of trafficking. However, many victims do not want to go to the police or do not consider themself a victim of trafficking and are unaware of the protection and assistance facilities available. This triggers the question whether or not the current protection and assistance provided to victims of trafficking in the Netherlands matches the needs of these victims. Accordingly, the current study was undertaken to answer the following two questions: 1. What factors and patterns play a role in the decision by victims of trafficking to leave the situation of exploitation, make use of assistance, and report to the police or testify against the trafficker? 2. What are the needs of victims of trafficking and what changes need to be made to the assistance provided to victims to better meet their needs. To answer these questions, a survey was conducted in 2012 on 36 victims of human trafficking in the Netherlands whose stories were elicited in focus groups and open‐ended in‐depth interviews. The respondents included victims of labour exploitation and sexual exploitation and can be categorised according to the type of exploitation and country of origin as victims of sexual exploitation originating from the Netherlands (eight), the EU (five) and non‐EU countries (fourteen) and victims of labour exploitation from the EU (five) and non‐EU countries (four). Dutch victims of labour exploitation were not included in the sample group. To contextualise the information gathered during the focus groups and interviews, a literature review was undertaken together with a secondary analysis of available statistics. A quantitative analysis was conducted on the information on victims of trafficking contained in 78 criminal case files of the prosecution service and 25 victim case files compiled by a relief organisation. In addition, elaborate interviews with 15 experts in the field of human trafficking for sexual or labour exploitation were conducted to facilitate understanding of the needs of victims of human trafficking. Details: Tilburg: International Victimology Institute Tilburg (INTERVICT), Tilburg University, 2013. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed july 2, 2018 at: https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/upload/855033a0-aa90-4fdc-90d1-547993fcf881_Human%20Trafficking%20Eng%20summary.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Netherlands URL: https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/upload/855033a0-aa90-4fdc-90d1-547993fcf881_Human%20Trafficking%20Eng%20summary.pdf Shelf Number: 150760 Keywords: Forced Labor Human Trafficking Sexual Exploitation Victims of Trafficking |
Author: Mann, Lori Title: Trafficking in Human Beings and Smuggling of Migrants in ACP Countries: Key Challenges and Ways Forward Informing discussions of the ACP-EU Dialogue on Migration and Development Summary: This report was commissioned by the ACP-EU Migration Action in 2017 as part of the Action's efforts to collect, analyse and disseminate information and knowledge on the results achieved through its activities. Focusing on trafficking in human beings (THB) and the smuggling of migrants (SoM), experts from ACP and EU countries met in Brussels in July 2014 to discuss their respective policies pertaining to these fields, and to identify concrete areas of cooperation in order to tackle both phenomena in a spirit of shared responsibility and cooperation. The meeting demonstrated a shared commitment to address challenges, and recognized the necessity to deepen cooperation among countries of origin, transit and destination, including by fostering a South-South perspective. The recommendations elaborated during the experts' meeting were subsequently validated by the Ambassadors' meeting in January 2015. Soon after, the ACP-EU Migration Action began implementing activities to address the issues of THB and SoM. The ACP-EU Dialogue recommendations on THB and SoM include: - Enact (or amend) comprehensive national legislation on both trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of migrants, in line with the Palermo Protocols and EU legislation; - Effectively implement national legislation on trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling, ensuring victim identification and protection and the prosecution of perpetrators for the full range of existing forms of exploitation; - Raise awareness regarding THB and SoM among all key stakeholders, including: law enforcement, the judiciary, health care workers and labour inspectors, among others, by providing information and training; - Promote cross-border and international cooperation among countries of origin, transit and destination through bilateral Memorandums of Understandings (MoUs) and a special focus on South-South cooperation; - Improve data collection on THB and SoM as a prerequisite for evidence-based policy action; - Promote a victim-centred, human rights-based, gender-sensitive approach to ensure victim protection and identification in full cooperation with NGOs; - Dismantle criminal networks through financial tracking and tackling corruption among public officials, and prosecute traffickers and smugglers to prevent impunity; mentation of existing laws, the lack of comprehensive legislation on trafficking- and smuggling-related issues and underlying primary governance problems constitute additional significant barriers to addressing THB and SoM. The prevention of, and response to, trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling requires a comprehensive, "whole of government" approach. It touches upon a myriad of related issues, inter alia: corruption, access to civil registration documents, labour laws and inspections, access to social welfare, gender-based violence, child protection and migration. As many of the recipients of the Action's support are poor and/or Small Island States, they face basic infrastructure and primary governance challenges that necessitate, but at the same time complicate, the provision of specialized technical assistance. Meeting the demand for institutional strengthening and capacity building requires adapting methodologies to the particularities of each country, including geographical and resource constraints, as well as the ways in which social and cultural norms function in relation to forms of exploitation and gender-based violence that lead to, or themselves might constitute of trafficking in human beings. Cooperation is the cornerstone of effective anti-trafficking and anti-migrant smuggling initiatives, and is required between States, institutions and non-State actors at all levels: subnational, national and international. Several ACP State recipients demonstrate increasingly effective cooperation at diverse levels, especially where such efforts benefit from existing structures and/or support at the regional level, such as regional platforms or cooperation agreements. However, for most State recipients, weak inter-agency cooperation at the national level constitutes a huge barrier to the effective implementation of laws and policies. National inter-agency coordination mechanisms to address trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling (where existent) remain new for many of the examined ACP States, and few work systematically with civil society organizations. Cooperation between States is crucial for disrupting both the smuggling and trafficking business models, given the inherently transnational nature of the former and the often -albeit not always- international character of the latter. Cross-border collaboration must hence also be strengthened, especially with regards to data sharing, investigations, prosecutions and returns. Yet, the best examples of cooperation do not focus on policing alone, but include elements of prevention and development, and the integration of a human rights-based approach. The potential use of regional mechanisms should be highlighted too, given the increased interest by stakeholders in this modality of South-South cooperation, and the large percentage of victims trafficked regionally. The most striking gap among ACP State recipients is the absence of the provision of assistance to, and the protection of, trafficking victims and smuggled migrants, which should be at the heart of any anti-THB and anti-SoM strategy. Upholding human rights remains central for all cases. In addition to the rights accorded to trafficking victims, and those accorded to smuggled migrants, specific needs due to individual trafficking or smuggling experience, as well as characteristics such as gender and age and socio-cultural norms, should be taken into account. To date, little efforts have been made in most of the examined countries to develop referral systems and for ensuring that victims are duly identified and receive the needed assistance. Moreover, cases were noted where victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants were not shielded from prosecution - as is set forth by the Protocols - and in few countries they are subject to immediate deportation and potential refoulement. In some countries, civil society actors play an important role in providing shelter and other basic necessities. Yet sometimes they operate with no clear mandate to assist trafficking victims or vulnerable migrants specifically, indicating a potential lack of experience and expertise in addressing the needs and rights of trafficking victims and smuggled migrants. In addition, many operate with little if any government support or involvement. Prevention efforts should raise awareness on trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants among the public, while addressing the root causes of both phenomena, and targeting a wide range of stakeholders. Many of the examined ACP countries have organized, or are in the process of organizing capacity building for government entities at the policy and/or frontline level, including awareness raising on these phenomena. However, prevention and awareness raising should target and actively involve a wider range of stakeholders, for example traditional community leaders and diaspora, given the direct contact they have with (aspiring) migrants in many ACP countries. Communities should also be consulted in the design of awareness campaigns. The private sector is another key partner for prevention efforts in ACP countries, especially when addressing the demand side of the trafficking chain. Any meaningful prevention effort must be associated with realistic alternative options to unsafe migration, such as development and work opportunities that benefit migrants and their societies in the countries of origin and destination. Finally, reliable data is the most basic prerequisite for developing policies that are evidence based and respond appropriately to the local context. However, in many of the examined ACP countries, data tends to range from anecdotical to non-existent. In many instances, capacity building on data management, analysis and sharing is needed, at the inter-agency as well as the international level. Proper case management systems with standardized interfaces are also essential. However, the limitations in both infrastructure and resources should be taken into account and in that sense, international methodologies and systems for data collection and management should be adapted to the local context. Through a series of baseline assessments, the ACP-EU Migration Action has identified the above mentioned gaps among other specific barriers to effective anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling strategies. Such assessments are conducted within each targeted country and form the foundation of the related technical assistance support. In light of its work with States and Regional Organizations throughout the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions, the Action remains poised to provide the needed technical assistance and to contribute new knowledge to the concrete dialogue that is ongoing between States within the ACP-EU Partnership framework. The recommendations presented at the conclusion of the report build upon those issued by the ACP-EU Dialogue on Migration and Development and seek to highlight emerging challenges while bringing the achievement of stakeholders and the related good practices to the fore. This analysis seeks to produce knowledge that can be adapted for use in other context where States struggle with these same phenomena. Details: Brussels: IOM, 2018. 233p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 1, 2018 at: http://acpeumigrationaction.iom.int/sites/default/files/final_web.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Africa URL: http://acpeumigrationaction.iom.int/sites/default/files/final_web.pdf Shelf Number: 151003 Keywords: Criminal NetworksHuman SmugglingHuman TraffickingIllegal ImmigrationImmigrantsMigrationOrganized CrimeVictims of Trafficking |
Author: Castelli, Denisse Araya Title: Sistematizacion Proyecto: Aportando a la Autonomia de Mujeres Victimas de Trata y Mujeres Migrantes Victimas de Explotacion en la Construccion de Neuvos Proyectos de Vida (Systematization Project: Contributing to the Autonomy of Women Victims of Trafficki Summary: The Project "Contributing to the autonomy of women victims of trafficking and migrant women victims of exploitation in the construction of new life projects" (January-December 2016), whose systematization is exposed in this document, arises from the urgent need to support women who have been raped by the crime of trafficking in persons and migrant women victims of exploitation who leave the Casa Josefina Bahati, refuge of the National Service for Women and Gender Equity executed by the NGO Raices. This document systematizes those strategies that contributed to the autonomy and empowerment of women beneficiaries to be able to disseminate them and present them to the competent authorities so that it can constitute a contribution to the development of a comprehensive protection policy for victims of trafficking in persons and, eventually, migrant women who have experienced exploitation, in any of its manifestations. The project was proposed to facilitate and finance instances of professional training for the labor insertion of the beneficiary women, as well as to provide accompaniment and financial support for the search and / or lease of housing solutions. In order to strengthen their autonomy, independence and abilities to face a new path with greater security and tranquility, considering that women who have suffered extreme situations of violence and abuse, decisional autonomy in the construction of new life projects represents an achievement highly relevant to their empowerment. In the individual and group care provided to women in the Shelter, an important aspect of working is autonomy and economic self-sufficiency, dimensions necessary to break permanently with the reality of slavery experienced previously, avoiding cases of recidivism and delivering new opportunities, labor and social, that empower the feelings of appreciation and confidence. Details: Latin America, 2016. 51p. Source: Internet Resource (in Spanish): Accessed January 14, 2019 at: https://riselearningnetwork.org/resource/sistematizacion-proyecto-aportando-a-la-autonomia-de-mujeres-victimas-de-trata-y-mujeres-migrantes-victimas-de-explotacion-en-la-construccion-de-nuevos-proyectos-de-vida/ Year: 2016 Country: Latin America URL: https://riselearningnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Sistematizacion-P.-Autonomia-Trata-ONG-Raices-2016.pdf Shelf Number: 154151 Keywords: Empowerment Exploitation Human Trafficking Migrants Rape RISE Trafficking in Persons Victims of Trafficking |
Author: Lyneham, Samantha Title: Estimating the dark figure of human trafficking and slavery victimisation in Australia Summary: The true extent of crime victimisation is unlikely to ever be known, yet new statistical techniques offer a promising method of uncovering the 'dark figure' of hidden victimisation. One such technique is multiple systems estimation (MSE), which counts the overlap of victims appearing in different combinations across multiple data sources. Using this technique, it is estimated that the number of human trafficking and slavery victims in Australia in 2015-16 and 2016-17 was between 1,300 and 1,900. This means there are approximately four undetected victims for every victim detected. Quantifying the extent of human trafficking and slavery victimisation enhances our understanding of the problem and provides a sound evidence base for informing policy development, the provision of victim support and law enforcement activities. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2019. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: AIC Statistical Bulletin 16: Accessed February 15, 2019 at: https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2019/02/apo-nid220271-1332516.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Australia URL: https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2019/02/apo-nid220271-1332516.pdf Shelf Number: 154629 Keywords: Human TraffickingModern SlaveryVictims of Trafficking |
Author: Advocates for Human Rights Title: Labor Trafficking Protocol Guidelines: Identifying and Responding to Victims of Labor Trafficking 24 Years Old and Under Summary: Labor trafficking is a serious crime and a public health issue that inflicts lasting physical, psychological, emotional, and financial harm on its victims. Labor trafficking also harms society as a whole, from businesses facing unfair competition to local communities bearing the costs of recovery from the trafficker's actions. Youth especially are at high risk of labor trafficking and deserve special protections from society because of their vulnerability to abuse and limited ability to meet their own basic needs. Victims of labor trafficking rarely come forward on their own because they fear retaliation by their trafficker and because they do not know that they are victims of a crime. Thus, individuals across Minnesota need to be able to recognize the signs of labor trafficking and know how to respond. Minnesotans also need to work together and develop relationships between governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations in a wide range of sectors, as recovery requires substantial resources and a victim's needs cannot be met by one organization alone. Minnesota has an obligation and an opportunity to take action against labor trafficking. Anyone - from individuals interested in learning more about how they can help, to professionals experienced in working with trafficking victims - can and should use these protocol guidelines. These protocol guidelines provide comprehensive information on the diverse needs of labor trafficking victims and different forms of relief available to them. The protocol guidelines also provide a roadmap for state and local governments, service providers, community organizations and others to prevent labor trafficking, protect and support victims, and hold traffickers accountable. Section 1: Background provides key information for individuals and organizations wanting to understand the definitions of labor trafficking and how it occurs. Section 2: Universal Protocol contains information that should be reviewed by anyone who may interact with victims of labor trafficking or who would like to learn more about the multiple components to a comprehensive response to labor trafficking, centered on protecting victims. To respond effectively, all sectors must be actively involved, and communities must understand who they should contact if they suspect labor trafficking. The Universal Protocol provides an overview of which organizations and agencies may need to be involved in a response, as well as guidance on prevention, identification, confidentiality, and special considerations for victims who are minors, foreign nationals, or vulnerable adults. Minnesota's unique context may place a greater burden on organizations and agencies to implement the protocol guidelines. Many government services are decentralized, with elected county and city officials exerting substantial control over agency policies and practices and affecting the conduct of law enforcement, child protection, adult protection, social welfare services, education, and other sectors. This allows policies to be responsive to local conditions, but also requires organizations and agencies implementing the protocol guidelines to investigate who is best placed to serve labor trafficking victims at the local level and the process their community will follow. Section 3: Protocol Implementation Worksheet provides an easy-to-use tool to help communities plan their response to labor trafficking. As part of the development of these protocol guidelines, there were several types of organizations and agencies that were identified as regularly interacting with - or having the potential to regularly interact with - victims of labor trafficking. Section 4: Sector-Specific Protocols includes detailed guidelines and best practices for these sectors. These chapters are designed to be used in conjunction with the Universal Protocol Section. The Sector-Specific Protocols do not include chapters for every sector that may interact with trafficking victims; all sectors should refer to the Universal Protocol for guidance. Section 5: Recommendations includes suggested changes in law and practice for policymakers, government agencies, and funders to improve Minnesota's response to youth victims of labor trafficking. Section 6: Appendices provides a detailed list of federal and state statutes related to labor trafficking, a directory of Minnesota labor trafficking service providers, a list of key resources, materials for trafficking victims, and a sample of the survey that was developed to research existing services for labor trafficking victims. Details: Minneapolis, MN: Author, 2019. 114p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 7, 2019 at: http://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/uploads/labor_trafficking_protocol_guidelines_final.pdf Year: 2019 Country: International URL: http://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/uploads/labor_trafficking_protocol_guidelines_final.pdf Shelf Number: 155670 Keywords: Child Labor Forced Labor Human Rights Abuses Human Trafficking Labor Trafficking Victims of Trafficking |
Author: Hestia Title: Underground Lives: Police response to victims of modern slavery Summary: In 2018 there was a 250% increase in the number of modern slavery operations reported by UK police forces. However, numbers of prosecutions for perpetrators of modern slavery offences remain considerably low, with only 7% of recorded cases of modern slavery referred to the CPS. Securing the cooperation of vulnerable victims with criminal proceedings is key to the success of prosecutions for this highly complex crime. However, two years since Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) reported widespread police failings that left many victims unidentified and not given the protection they deserve, the police response continues to fall short of the standards required to afford victims the full safeguards and support they need. Following on from concerning witness statements to the Home Affairs Select Committee on Modern Slavery, Hestia has undertaken an experience-based analysis to further understand the needs of victims who are engaging with the police and what more is required to meet them. The combination of these two forms the basis of the first police super-complaint on modern slavery highlighting that while considerable progress has been made, many victims are still not receiving the appropriate level of service and support by nonspecialist police officers and calling for sustainable plans from police forces to ensure an improved response to this abhorrent crime. Details: London: Author, 2019. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 15, 2019 at: https://www.hestia.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=952a9bfc-b57e-42f0-9ff3-6efcafb5db6f Year: 2019 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.hestia.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=952a9bfc-b57e-42f0-9ff3-6efcafb5db6f Shelf Number: 155849 Keywords: Human TraffickingModern SlaveryPolice Response to Human TraffickingVictims of Trafficking |
Author: Minnesota Department of Health Title: Safe Harbor for All: Statewide Sex Trafficking Victim/Survivors Strategic Plan Summary: Over the past decade, Minnesota's response to sex trafficking and exploitation has focused primarily on youth. In 2017, the Minnesota State Legislature, in response to stakeholder requests for an enhanced vision of the Safe Harbor system, directed the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), in consultation with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and Office of Justice Programs (OJP) in the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS), to develop a strategic plan that expands the current Safe Harbor system to address the needs of all victim/survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation, regardless of age. MDH, through a competitive process, contracted with three partner organizations, The Urban Research and Outreach -Engagement Center at the University of Minnesota, The Advocates for Human Rights, and Rainbow Research, to design and implement a community engagement process involving stakeholders statewide, including persons most impacted by sexual exploitation and trafficking. In January 2019, MDH submitted a strategic plan (PDF) to the legislature providing immediate and long-term suggestions for expanding Safe Harbor to all ages. This plan is informed by the recommendations and findings developed through the community engagement process and outlined in the report submitted by the partner organizations, Safe Harbor for All: Results from a Strategic Planning Process in Minnesota. Details: St. Paul, Minnesota: Department of Health, 2019. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 10, 2019 at: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/safeharbor/response/safeharborforall.html Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/safeharbor/documents/mdhSH4ALLreport.pdf Shelf Number: 156360 Keywords: Community Engagement Exploitation Human Trafficking Minnesota Sex Trafficking Victims of Trafficking |