Human Trafficking Search

The Persistence of Slavery: An Economic History of Child Trafficking in Nigeria

My forthcoming book The Persistence of Slavery: An Economic History of Child Trafficking in Nigeria. Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press, Childhoods: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Children and Youth Series - will be out January 2021. Reviews:

Despite efforts to abolish slavery throughout Africa in the nineteenth century, the coercive labor systems that constitute "modern slavery" have continued to the present day. To understand why, Robin Phylisia Chapdelaine explores child trafficking, pawning, and marriages in Nigeria's Bight of Biafra, and the ways in which British colonial authorities and Igbo, Ibibio, Efik, and Ijaw populations mobilized children's labor during the early twentieth century. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources that include oral interviews, British and Nigerian archival materials, newspaper holdings, and missionary and anthropological accounts, Chapdelaine argues that slavery's endurance can only be understood when we fully examine "the social economy of a child" -- the broader commercial, domestic, and reproductive contexts in which children are economic vehicles. The Persistence of Slavery provides an invaluable investigation into the origins of modern slavery and early efforts to combat it, locating this practice in the political, social, and economic changes that occurred as a result of British colonialism and its lingering effects, which perpetuate child trafficking in Nigeria today.

The Persistence of Slavery: An Economic History of Child Trafficking in Nigeria

Enseñanza Secundaria: Guía y Video sobre la Trata de Personas

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

Esta Guía es un complemento al video "Human Trafficking" contra la trata de personas. El propósito de estos recursos que constan de dos partes es hacer involucrar con sentido crítico a los estudiantes de secundaria (13-18) en la comprensión del significado y el impacto de la trata de personas. La Guía está diseñada para ayudar a los docentes de nivel secundario a ampliar el contenido del video; se recomiendan buenas prácticas y estrategias educativas que se pueden utilizar en conjunto con el video. La Guía utiliza un enfoque centrado en las víctimas para las actividades que acompañan el video. El enfoque se centra en cómo proteger a las víctimas y atender mejor sus necesidades. La Guía está compuesta por cuatro módulos:

El Módulo 1 presenta las instrucciones para el desarrollo de una justificación para el uso del video en el aula. También incluye actividades que los docentes pueden llevar a cabo utilizando el video.

El Módulo 2 presenta ideas para el análisis previo de las estrategias que permiten a los estudiantes obtener un mayor provecho del video. Incluye un plan de lecciones que los docentes pueden aplicar al proceso de análisis previo.

El Módulo 3 se enfoca en animar a los estudiantes a comprometerse activamente con el contenido de video e incluye estrategias para mejorar la experiencia de visualización.

El Módulo 4 se centra en la etapa posterior a la visualización del proceso. Incluye un plan de lección para una sesión de evaluación y una guía para el debate.

Además, la Guía contiene recursos para apoyar la implementación de los módulos como:

Una guía para el debate.
Un glosario.
Una lista de verificación para no ser víctima.
Una hoja informativa para permanecer seguros.
Una hoja informativa para mantenerse seguro en Internet.
Y más

Esta guía se ha desarrollado con el apoyo de la iniciativa de Educación para la Justicia de la Oficina de las Naciones Unidas contra la Droga y el Delito (ONUDD) (E4J) que promueve el respeto al Estado de derecho a través de la educación.

La pandemia podría incrementar el trabajo infantil en América Latina y el Caribe

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

El documento elaborado por CEPAL y OIT alerta que la crisis actual exacerbará las vulnerabilidades ya existentes, incluyendo un mayor riesgo de matrimonio infantil, trabajo infantil y embarazo adolescente.

Actualmente el mundo atraviesa una crisis sanitaria, social y económica sin precedentes debido a la pandemia causada por la enfermedad COVID-19 (CEPAL, 2020a), catalogada incluso como el mayor reto económico y social que enfrenta la humanidad desde la Gran Depresión de 1930 y la Segunda Guerra Mundial (CEPAL, 2020d; OIT, 2020). Por lo general, en crisis de esta naturaleza, hay efectos inmediatos sobre la salud y en los aspectos económicos, productivos o laborales; pero también hay un conjunto de impactos menos visibles y probablemente más duraderos en las mujeres, afectadas por la brecha salarial, un mayor índice de pobreza y sobrerrepresentadas en la economía informal y del cuidado, así como en los grupos en situación de vulnerabilidad tales como las personas migrantes y refugiadas, la población indígena y afrodescendiente, los niños, niñas, adolescentes y los jóvenes. Precisamente, en periodos de crisis, los niños y las niñas suelen pasar desapercibidos, su bienestar es opacado por otras prioridades y muchas veces sus derechos se ven amenazados (UNICEF, 2016). Si bien en la actual crisis sanitaria derivada de la COVID-19, la frecuencia de la infección y la mortalidad en la población infantil son más bajas que en otros grupos de edad, los niños y las niñas están siendo afectados por los impactos socioeconómicos y, en algunos casos, por las medidas de mitigación que inadvertidamente pueden provocar más daño que beneficio (ONU, 2020). La pandemia exacerbará las vulnerabilidades ya existentes, incluyendo un mayor riesgo de matrimonio infantil1, trabajo infantil y embarazo adolescente.

Lee más aquí.

Moroccan Human trafficking

Stop Moroccan human trafficking in the Netherlands.

Copy of - Herramientas de juventud para la prevención de la trata de mujeres y niñas con fines de explotación sexual

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 15:42:25 +0000

Si estás leyendo esta guía es porque tú también quieres una juventud libre de violencia, que conozca y practique los cuidados, que absorba, produzca y expanda igualdad por todos los costados. Que sea justa entre sus pares, que multiplique potenciales, que se desarrolle, que crezca y haga crecer. España es considerado como uno de los principales países de tránsito y destino de mujeres y niñas con fines de explotación sexual, aunque también se conocen casos de captación de mujeres y niñas dentro de nuestras fronteras. El delito de la trata con fines de explotación sexual es complejo y funciona mediante grandes dosis de oscurantismo; sin embargo, se da en el marco de la prostitución, pornografía y sexo online que tenemos presente en todo momento en nuestro entorno. Este negocio es fomentado por el consumo indiscriminado por parte de hombres de todas las edades y condiciones, quienes consideran libre el producto ofertado por mujeres y niñas que siempre encuentran disponibles. A través de esta guía intentaremos acercar algunas claves que se esconden tras el ciclo de la trata. Atravesaremos algunos de los momentos de inflexión de la verdadera historia de una mujer superviviente de prostitución y trata, hoy activista por los derechos de las mujeres. Su historia ejemplifica qué cerca estamos de la trata, y la importancia de consolidar desde nuestra juventud una auténtica igualdad entre todas las personas, coherencia, buenos tratos y cuidados en todos los ámbitos de nuestra vida. Lee más aquí.

‘Ways of Seeing’—Policy paradigms and unfree labour in India

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

This article traces the trajectory of different initiatives to address unfree labour and their impact on workers’ capacity to aspire to and exercise their rights in India. We attempt to understand the dimensions and effects of different ‘ways of seeing’ precarity and exploitation within the larger context of economic policies, social structures such as caste-based discrimination, gender-based violence, and state indifference. In a caste and gender-unequal society such as India, with deep regional disparities, we examine how different lenses have impacted on development-led historical processes of informalisation and flexibilisation of work. We do this by contrasting two different ‘models’ in the country, one in the north in a rural setting and the other in the west in an urban context. Context is important, but the organisations and activists involved in our two case studies saw their role and that of workers differently, operating according to distinct goals and working practices. Our research demonstrates that ‘ways of seeing’ matter, as they lead to disparate results in terms of workers’ capacity to mobilise and claim their rights. Read more here.

The Brief: 20th Annual Trafficking in Persons Report

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

Human Trafficking in Thailand: A Story Map

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

We often hear horror stories about tourists on vacation being kidnapped and sold into prostitution or forced into begging on the streets of Bangkok, but what is human trafficking? And who are the people involved?

Mujeres Migrantes Con

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

El presente estudio se ha realizado bajo el proyecto “Mujeres migrantes contra la violencia en el mundo del trabajo” y se ha llevado a cabo de forma paralela por ocho organizaciones en seis países de América Latina (México, Guatemala, Colombia, Perú, Brasil, y Argentina). El objetivo ha sido explorar las violencias de género en el mundo del trabajo para entender su naturaleza desde la propia perspectiva de las (nueve) mujeres que tomaron voluntariamente la decisión de migrar para fines laborales. Así mismo, conocer las estrategias que ellas implementan para afrontar di- chas violencias, apoyar y promover acciones que contribuyan positivamente a cambiar la realidad presentada y mejorar las condiciones de vida y trabajo de las mujeres migrantes.

De las nueve mujeres participantes cuatro son colombianas, cuatro venezolanas y una española. Tres de ellas (todas colombianas) fueron objeto de Trata y, tras analizar que en sus narraciones coexisten los elementos constitutivos del delito, nos referiremos a ellas como víctimas de trata. Sin embargo, lo analizado en este documento toma en cuenta su reconocimiento como mujeres trabajadoras migrantes, condición que ellas mismas destacaron de su experiencia. Si bien gran parte de las migrantes cuenta con competencias laborales que les permiten ingresar al mercado nacional, muchas lo hacen desconociendo las condiciones laborales y migratorias del país de destino, permaneciendo en la clandestinidad, imposibilitando su acceso a

la seguridad social y, en ocasiones, bajo condiciones discriminatorias y de explotación. Como resultado, se evidencia que la precariedad laboral en Colombia no hace diferencias entre la mujer trabaja- dora colombiana y la mujer migrante venezolana; sin embargo, dependiendo del país de origen de la trabajadora migran- te, su permanencia en el país de destino puede convertirse en una oportunidad o en una desventaja. La decisión de migrar supuso para las participantes una opción para mejorar sus condiciones de vida o la única salida a la situación política, social y económica en su país de origen. No obstante, las violencias en el hogar aparecen también en muchos casos como el motivo que las empujó a migrar. Lee más aquí.

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

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AbuseLawsuit.com

We provide legal support for survivors of institutional sexual abuse. When organizations allow abuse to happen, we help you hold them accountable.

Beyond Compliance in the Hotel Sector: A Review of UK Modern Slavery Act Statements

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

Read full report here.

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

In early 2018, the EU-funded ILO Ship to Shore Rights Project’s “Baseline Research Findings on Fishers and Seafood Workers in Thailand” put figures to the stories of exploitation of workers in the fishing and seafood processing industries. These figures allowed the Royal Thai Government, Ministry of Labour, industry associations, trade unions and civil society organizations to see more clearly the scale and shape of working conditions and abuses in both sectors. The report also pointed to holes in the enforcement systems built since 2015 to protect fishers and seafood workers, and migrant workers in particular. In an effort to respond to these findings, the Project’s partners stepped up their work with the Ship to Shore Rights Project and implemented an integrated approach to the fundamental principles and rights at work to address major gaps that had been identified. This included the ratifications by the Royal Thai Government of the ILO’s Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188) and Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention (P029). Other major achievements, since 2017, include the deployment of an additional 180 newly trained labour inspectors around Thailand, the rolling out of the Good Labour Practices programmes by leading seafood-processing associations, and the strengthening of the workers’ voice and representation. This Endline Research report gives us a much-needed window on the results of those efforts over the past two years. We see, for example, more migrant workers entering the workforce through regular migration channels, and salary increases in the order of 28 per cent for fishers surveyed in 2019, and 15 per cent for seafood workers. We see improvements in housing conditions over the last five years, and a perception among workers in both sectors that change is moving in the right direction. Nevertheless, the data in this report also indicates that there is still a lot of work to be done. Two out of three fishers lack full control over their ATM cards and hence, pay. Nearly half (44 per cent) of all workers surveyed cannot recall signing a work contract, and illegal wage deductions for food and accommodation stand at 16 per cent among fishers surveyed and 18 per cent for seafood workers. The industry’s forced labour problem—the issue that brought global attention to Thai fishing seafood processing—is measured in this report using the ILO’s new methodology. Seven per cent of seafood processing workers interviewed experienced both involuntary work and coercion—the elements of forced labour. The figure for fishers surveyed stands at 14 per cent. Read the full report here.

Menschenhandel im Zeichen von Corona

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

Read full report here.

Theresa Flores, Human Trafficking Survivor and Advocate, Founder of the SOAP Project

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

Theresa Flores, Human Trafficking Survivor and Advocate, Founder of the SOAP Project

In this episode, Karen speaks with Theresa Flores, a survivor and author who travels the United States to share her story of being trafficked and used as a sex slave as a teenager, all while living under her parents roof in an upper-middle class suburb of Detroit, Michigan. Ms. Flores has been a licensed Social Worker for over thirty years. She received a Master’s in Counseling Education from University of Dayton and a Bachelor’s of Social Work from Ball State University. Ms. Flores was appointed to the Ohio Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Commission in 2009 and has testified before the Ohio House and Senate in supports of Human Trafficking Legislation. Her efforts were a major part of the success of these bills being passed into laws. The “Theresa Flores Law” was passed in Michigan that eliminates the statute of limitation for children who have been trafficked. Additionally, Ms. Flores was in the Oval Office to witness the signing of SESTA/FOSTA bill (Backpage.com legislation) into law along with other survivors, the creator of the documentary “I am Jane Doe” and US Senator Rob Portman. Flores is a survivor of domestic child sex trafficking and was sold in an underground crime ring in an upper middle class suburb outside Detroit from the time she was 15-17 years old. Now, she is the Assistant Investigator with Global Centurion researching the mental and physical health problems of over 200 domestic trafficking survivors. The study entitled, “The Health Consequences of Human Trafficking” will provide best practices and systemic recommendations for health care providers. She founded The SOAP Project in 2001 and they have given away over a million bars of soap labeled with the National Human Trafficking Hotline number all across the states and assisted in rescuing many victims. She also is passionate about helping to restore survivors and provides them with a free weekend retreat each year as well as a monthly support group. Listen to full podcast here.

Copy of - Theresa Flores, Human Trafficking Survivor and Advocate, Founder of the SOAP Project

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 14:25:43 +0000

Theresa Flores, Human Trafficking Survivor and Advocate, Founder of the SOAP Project

Copy of - Theresa Flores, Human Trafficking Survivor and Advocate, Founder of the SOAP Project

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 14:26:45 +0000

Theresa Flores, Human Trafficking Survivor and Advocate, Founder of the SOAP Project

Catholic nuns lead global fight against human trafficking

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

Tens of thousands of brave Catholic sisters are fighting human trafficking head on, often putting their own lives on the line. As part of our Keeping the Faith series, NBC’s Cynthia McFadden tells the story of strong women who have been working mostly in the shadows until now. Watch video here.

Does the U.N. human trafficking protocol create a more just world?

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

In November 2000 the UN General Assembly adopted a supplementary protocol to the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime that aimed “to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children”. In the two plus decades that have followed, the influence of this protocol, also known as the Palermo Protocol after the city in which it was finalised, has been immense. By firmly positioning labour exploitation and irregular migration within the orbit of transnational organised crime it has encouraged governments to concentrate their energies upon a small number of ‘exceptional’ victims of human trafficking. There is no doubt that the Palermo protocol has had an impact. Nearly every country in the world has signed on, and it has long been regarded as a touchstone for both official policies and popular anti-trafficking campaigns. It is by no means clear, however, whether its overall influence has been positive or negative. Despite all the cash that has been pumped into anti-trafficking efforts criminal prosecutions remain rare. Workers continue to be treated terribly. Migrants continue to be abused and deported. There are many researchers who question whether or not anti-trafficking interventions have been effective, while others worry that they have done outright damage. Anniversaries are a good time to take stock. At openDemocracy, we recently asked prominent voices in the field to reflect on two key questions that twenty plus years of anti-trafficking work have yet to properly answer. First, where does exploitation begin and end? And second, do the practical and political benefits of taking up the cause of ending human trafficking outweigh the costs and complications which arise along the way? The Palermo Protocol avoids taking a position on the first of these questions, while the second raises deeply uncomfortable issues which people in the field regularly grapple with in private yet remain reluctant to speak about in public. What is exploitation? The Palermo Protocol does a poor job of addressing this central question. While it establishes exploitation as integral to the definition of human trafficking it does not define what exploitation actually means. This has contributed to a widespread tendency among policymakers and activists to approach exploitation as they do pornography, where ‘you know it when you see it’. This lack of clarity has important political consequences, as governments and corporations have sought to reduce conversations about exploitation to the most extreme cases of individual suffering. Powerful corporations and fabulously wealthy individuals routinely use their market power to capture the vast majority of the economic value produced by precarious workers and vulnerable migrants, yet these exploitative systems do not figure prominently within conversations about human trafficking. Are we better off on the inside? Most experts with first-hand experience of anti-trafficking interventions are well aware that they can be ineffective or compromised by other agendas. However, this recognition tends to be accompanied with the strategic calculation that it is better to remain inside the tent, despite these problems, since this will maximise their chances of moving things forward over time. This frequently results in self-censorship, since speaking out too loudly or too often puts one at risk of losing access, influence, and funding. Organisation and individuals who oppose human trafficking and related problems must decide whether it is better to work towards modest gains that might actually be achievable in the short term, or to embrace more radical positions that might be harder to realise. Read more here. Photo credit: Kevin Gessner

Chameli (2003)

akankshab — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 16:40:00 +0000

108 min | Feature Film, Drama

Chameli is a film about an investment banker who befriends a prostitute from Nepal in Mumbai, leading to encounters with pimps and traffickers.

Notes: Subtitles in English
Diretor: Ravi Baral
Studio: Pritish Nandy Communications (PNC)
Website | IMDB Listing

All the Invisible Children (2005)

akankshab — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 19:17:22 +0000

90 min | Feature Film, Drama

Chameli is a film about an investment banker who befriends a prostitute from Nepal in Mumbai, leading to encounters with pimps and traffickers.

Notes: Subtitles in English
Diretor: Ravi Baral
Studio: Pritish Nandy Communications (PNC)
Website | IMDB Listing

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Anonymously Yours (2002)

akankshab — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 19:20:39 +0000

90 min | Documentary

Anonymously Yours is a film on sex trafficking in Myanmar (formerly Burma), featuring the stories of four women. Notes: Diretor: Gayle Ferraro Studio: Berkeley Media Website | IMDB Listing

Born into Brothels (2004)

akankshab — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 19:36:47 +0000

85 min | Documentary

Born into Brothels is a documentary about Kids With Cameras, a non-profit that teaches photography to children in marginalized communities. The film focuses on the children of prostitutes in the redlight district of Calcutta, India, and their photographs.

Notes: Subtitles in English
Diretors: Zana Briski, Ross Kauffman
Studio: Redlight Films, Think Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Call + Response (2008)

akankshab — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 20:21:54 +0000

86 min | Documentary

Call + Response is a documentary film on modern-day slavery, uncovering situations of slavery and the high profits that traffickers reap.

Notes:
Diretors: Justin Dillon
Studio: Fair Trade Pictures
Website | IMDB Listing
Watch on Vimeo Here

Cargo: Innocence Lost (2007)

akankshab — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 20:56:26 +0000

74 min | Documentary

Cargo: Innocence Lost is a documentary on sex trafficking in the US, featuring interviews from government officials, service providers, and former trafficked persons in Texas.

Notes:
Diretors: Michael Cory Davis
Studio: The Journey Film Group
Website | IMDB Listing

Children for Sale (2010)

akankshab — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 21:26:25 +0000

35 min | Documentary

Children for Sale is a documentary on sex trafficking in Brazil.

Notes:
Diretor:
Studio: Top Documentry Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Forgotten (2009)

akankshab — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 15:23:01 +0000

27 min | Drama

Forgotten is a short dramatic film about FBI agents working with a surviving "Jane Doe" to track down a group of human traffickers.

Director: Reuel Kim
Studio: Talent 1 Media
Website | IMDB Listing

Eastern Promises (2007)

akankshab — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 15:48:20 +0000

100 min | Drama

The arrival of a dying Russian pregnant teenager sets off a sequence of events that eventually uncovers a plot of sex trafficking in Russia.

Director: David Cronenberg
Studio: Focus Features
Website | IMDB Listing

Last Seen at Angkor (2006)

akankshab — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 16:08:10 +0000

83 min | Drama

When an American man returns to Cambodia to look for his missing fiancee, a local private detective believes she has been kidnapped by an illicit human trafficking ring.

Director: Michael Morris
Studio: Lifesize Entertainment
Website | IMDB Listing

Dreams Die Hard (2005)

akankshab — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 20:11:23 +0000

36 min | Documentary

Dreams Die Hard is a documentary on trafficking in the United States, and exposes how modern-day slavery puts food on tables, cleans middle-class homes, and forces individuals into prostitution.

Notes: In English
Diretor: Peggy Callahan
Studio: Free the Slaves
Website | IMDB Listing

Dying to Leave (2003)

akankshab — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 20:21:45 +0000

Documentary, News Investigation

Dying to Leave, a Wide Angle special, explores the intersection between smuggling and trafficking around the world.

Notes: Video No Longer Available
Director: Aaron Gwin Woolf
Studio: Wide Angle
Website | IMDB Listing

Flesh (2010)

akankshab — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 20:33:52 +0000

35 min | Documentary, Training Video

Flesh is a documentary on sex trafficking in the United States.

Notes: Full-length film no longer exists; training video exists on Vimeo page.
Director:
Studio:
Website | IMDB Listing

A Silent Monsoon (2006)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 19:19:02 +0000

34 min | Drama, Short

Set in a remote village in Nepal, Nabarsiyeko Jhari (A Silent Monsoon) explores the world of a woman struggling to set her twelve-year-old daughter free from the family profession, prostitution.

Notes: No link available. In Nepalese.
Director: Pravesh Gurung
Website | IMDB Listing

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: Prostituted Children in the United States, Identifying and Responding to America's Trafficked Youth (2007)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 19:31:10 +0000

40 min | Training, Educational Film

An interactive training tool for agencies and organizations that may come into contact with child sex trafficking victims in the United States, including law enforcement, social services, non-governmental organizations, and juvenile justice. This training tool offers a comprehensive guide to understanding domestic minor sex trafficking including the law, victim profiles and vulnerabilities, pimp control and manipulation, and effective responses.

Notes: Link to Purchase
Studio: Shared Hope International
Website | IMDB Listing

Freedom and Beyond (2006)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 19:38:18 +0000

24 min | Documentary

Rambho was enslaved weaving carpets when he was just ten years old. "Freedom and Beyond" traces the story of Rambho and other child slaves in Northern India.

Notes: In English
Diretor: Peggy Callahan
Studio: Free the Slaves
Website | IMDB Listing

The Virgin of Tijuana (2010)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 19:39:09 +0000

Feature Film, Drama

Sarah, a young diabetic woman, leaves for the U.S. border to find the American dream in Los Angeles. She is taken to a party of wealthy older men where she is auctioned off as the "Virgin of Tijuana." When Sarah's brother Zero realizes that she has left without her insulin, he goes on a mission to save her.

Notes: No link to watch.
Director: Emilio Roso
Studio: Under the Border Pictures
Website | IMDB Listing

US Customs and Border Protection monitors imports to curb products made by forced labor

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

Around the globe, from factories to fishing boats, millions of people are forced to do work against their will. Like many governments, the US is stepping up efforts to do something about it, either with sanctions, or by establishing reporting requirements for companies to make sure they’re monitoring supply chains. Advocates say US Customs and Border Protection could play a crucial role, by seizing goods made through forced labor, so that they can’t enter the US. “Frankly, it all comes down to economics,” said John Leonard, CBP’s top trade enforcement official who also oversees its efforts to combat forced labor. “They want to stay in business. If a lot of their market is in the US, they'll take those steps. And that's what you want to happen, because hopefully the lives of the workers will be better.” CBP currently has 48 active bans in place. That includes a ban on cotton and tomato products from the Xinjiang province of China, where independent groups have found Uyghurs are being forced to work in factories. Leonard says that since October, CBP has stopped about 350 shipments worth $50 million. Read more here.

How Polaris is fighting QAnon

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

When tech entrepreneur Anjana Rajan joined Polaris as its Chief Technology Officer last year, she thought she was setting aside her prior focus on domestic terrorism to help Polaris with its core mission of fighting human trafficking. But then Rajan learned the far-right conspiracy group QAnon had been making outlandish human trafficking allegations against Polaris resulting in massive Denial of Service or DDoS attacks by QAnon followers who were even making death threats against the non-profit. Suddenly, Rajan found that her world had come full circle. Over the past year, she’s had to bring all of her national security and technology skills to bear to expand Polaris’s mission to investigate this nexus of human trafficking and domestic terrorism. Anjana Rajan’s work and that of her Polaris team resulted in a recent report called — Countering QAnon: Understanding the Role of Human Trafficking in the Disinformation-Extremist Nexus. Rajan shares the key findings from that report and what it means for U.S. domestic security. This is another fascinating episode in our yearlong exploration of conspiracy theories, radicalization, and domestic terrorism in the wake of the January 6th attacks on the U.S. Capitol by armed, violent supporters of former President Donald Trump. Read more and listen here.

Analyzing Modern Slavery Risks in Portfolio Companies: guidance for investors

Mi Ki Kyaw Myint

Today, the International Federation for Human Rights published its new report where it gives investors tools to identify and address human rights risks, including modern slavery risks, in their investment portfolios, from the perspective of an international human rights organization working with members and communities around the world to protect human rights from corporate abuses.

As a result of the progressive legalization of international business and human rights “soft law” standards, the “S” of “ESG” is no longer an optional criterion for investors to include in their decision-making process – it is becoming part of their normative duty to respect human rights.
In the framework of its work with La Banque Postale Assent Management on the ethical mutual fund “SRI Human Rights fund”, FIDH has developed a human rights methodology in order to assess which companies are suitable to join the investment portfolio. This is a unique example of a partnership between a human rights organization and an investor that is focused on improving respect for human rights by companies and States. Indeed, discussions concerning measurement of the human rights performance of companies for investment purposes rarely involve human rights NGOs with expertise at the local and national level, limiting the quality of the human rights data used. As part of the Moving the Market Initiative, FIDH has revised its existing human rights evaluation methodology to include performance tools that can facilitate assessment of modern slavery and has used this updated methodology to analyse a list of companies in four sectors: Tourism, Construction, Food and Beverage, as well as Textile and Footwear. The conclusions of this analysis are presented in the report, which includes a specific description of the results per sector, with a focus on modern slavery, along with the identification of transversal risk areas which relate to some of the root causes of modern slavery. The results of our report show that investors need to improve the indicators they take into account when assessing companies; be more critical regarding how companies are effectively putting in place their human rights commitments; and engage and consult with rights-holders and organizations on the ground in the design and implementation of preventive and mitigating measures. Moreover, the report demonstrates that the work that Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and human rights defenders carry out by documenting, advocating, and litigating against companies for human rights abuses taking place in their operations and supply chains plays a critical watchdog role. As a result, investors have a duty to take this factor in account and assess to what extent the companies in their investment portfolios value civic space, how they address the impacts on human rights defenders, and more specifically how they react to the existence of voices who are critical of their operations, since those are precisely the voices that the company needs to heed and amplify.

Off Jackson Avenue (2008)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 19:48:49 +0000

80 min | Feature Film, Drama

A Mexican woman sold into sexual slavery, a local car thief with dreams of respectability, and a Japanese English-language teacher who moonlights as an assassin unknowingly race toward a single denouement across the international no-man's-land of Queens, NY.

Notes: Link to rent or purchase.
Director: John-Luke Montias
Studio: The Group Entertainment
Website | IMDB Listing

Dancing Boys of Afghanistan (2010)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 19:58:52 +0000

56 min | News Investigation, Documentary

A documentary exploring a practice in Afghanistan called "Bacha bazi" (boy play) in which warlords pay families to give over their sons, use them for entertainment, and often exploit them sexually.

Notes: In English
Director:
Studio: Frontline
Website | Link to View in Full

The Gatekeeper (2002)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 19:59:47 +0000

103 min | Drama, Feature Film

A border patrol agent goes undercover to cross with a group of undocumented immigrants, only to be forced to work for a drug ring.

Director: John Carlos Frey
Studio: Screen Media
Website | IMDB Listing

Hell on Earth: Slavery Today (2006)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 20:10:33 +0000

Documentary

A film on modern forms of slavery in Niger and the Philippines.

Notes:
Diretor:
Studio: Anti-Slavery.org
Website | IMDB Listing

Night Girl (2001)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 20:06:29 +0000

45 min | Drama, Feature Film

From the series "Girls Around the World," Night Girl reveals the life of 17-year-old Han Lin who is forced to work as a go-go dancer to provide money for her family.

Director: Yingli Ma
Studio: Woman Make Movies
Website | IMDB Listing

Playground (2009)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 20:13:55 +0000

85 min | Documentary

Sexual exploitation of children is a problem that we tend to relegate to back-alley brothels in developing countries. This film traces the epidemic to its disparate, and decidedly domestic, roots.

Director: Libby Spears
Studio: Blue-print Films, The Nest Foundation
Website | IMDB Listing

Highway Courtesans (2005)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 20:19:50 +0000

71 min | Documentary

In rural India, 6 years in the life of young Guddi Chauhan are examined, as she struggles against the centuries-old tradition of prostitution she's expected to honor.

Director: Mystelle Brabee
Studio: Women Make Movies
Website | IMDB Listing

I Just Keep Quiet: The Voices of Human Trafficking (2006)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 20:19:24 +0000

20 min | Documentary, Short Film, News Investigation

An educational overview of human trafficking in the US, including interviews with victimd, law enforcement, and social service providers

Notes:
Diretor: Thea Mercouffer
Studio: Seattle Police Department
Website | IMDB Listing

Iska's Journey (2007)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 20:33:57 +0000

92 min | Drama

A Hungarian film following the journey of Maria Varga, a street child, from her small town to the Black Sea, where she becomes a victim of human trafficking.

Notes: In Hungarian, Romanian
Original Title: Iszka utazása
Director: Csaba Bollók
Studio: Merkelfilm
Website | IMDB Listing

Smooth Flight (2002)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 20:57:28 +0000

42 min | Documentary

This documentary serves as a guide for teens in the Baltic states seeking to work and travel abroad safely and protect themselves from labor abuses.

Director: Amala Lane
Studio: Hummingbird Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Anamika/The Nameless (2005)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 21:09:56 +0000

26 min | Documentary, Short

A short documentary on trafficking of women and children from Andhra Pradesh to various parts of India. It investigates dancing bars, nude dance programs, and massage parlors in the red light areas of Pune, Mumbai, and Delhi.

Director: Rajesh Touchriver
Studio: Touchriver Pictures Pvt., Ltd. and Prajwala
Website | IMDB Listing

Kavi (2009)

akankshab — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 17:54:36 +0000

19 min | Drama, Short Film

A film about a boy in India names Kavi, who is forced to work in a brick kiln as a modern-day slave.

Notes: In Hindi
Directors: Gregg Helvey
Studio:
Website | IMDB Listing

Link to Rent

Lives for Sale (2007)

akankshab — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 18:17:52 +0000

58 min | Documentary

An Investigative documentary exploring illegal immigration and the growing black market trade of human beings.

Notes:
Diretors: Gayla Jamison
Studio: Lightfoot Films, Inc.
Website | IMDB Listing

Selling the Girl Next Door (2011)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 20:30:26 +0000

42 min | Documentary

In a year-long investigation, CNN correspondent Amber Lyon examines the realities of the business of underage sex.

Producer: Steve Turnham
Studio: CNN
Website | IMDB Listing

Sold in America (2009)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 20:37:45 +0000

9 min | Documentary, Short

Sold in America is a documentary that follows three women, Maria, Miriam, and Michele, as they recount their stories of being sold into prostitution in the United States.

Director: Chelo Alvarez
Studio: innerLENS Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

The Peacekeepers and the Women (2003)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 20:43:17 +0000

80 min | Documentary

This film examines the sex trafficking industry in Bosnia and Kosovo and investigates the role of UN peacekeeping forces and the local military in perpetuating the sex trade industry.

Director: Karin Jurschick
Studio: Women Make Movies
Website | IMDB Listing

No Risk, No Champagne (2002)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 20:49:15 +0000

90 min | Documentary

No Risk, No Champagne narrates the experiences of women who leave Ukraine to become successful in the West. In concordance with the Russian proverb that says "who takes no risks drinks no champagne," these women risk everything for a chance to move westward and find a husband or a career.

Director: Enrica Colusso
Website | IMDB Listing

Demand (2012)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 21:04:03 +0000

43 min | Documentary

Demand sheds light on the business model that sustains sex trafficking and exposes the role demand plays in fueling the sex industry.

Studio: Shared Hope International
Website | IMDB Listing

Children for Sale: The Fight to End Human Trafficking (2015)

akankshab — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 21:16:54 +0000

41 min | News Investigation

In this CNN Special Report, Jada Pinkett uncovers the horrific realities of modern-era slavery in the U.S., where children are kidnapped and exploited by traffickers.

Studio: CNN Special Report
Website | IMDB Listing

Making of a Girl (2013)

akankshab — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 18:44:40 +0000

5 min | Short

A journey of a hypothetical preteen girl as she faces a life of sexual exploitation. Narrated by Rachel Lloyd, founder of Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS), who uncovers the trauma and pain of sex trafficking, abuse, and sexual exploitation.

Notes:
Filmmaker: Jillian Buckley
Studio: GEMS
Website | IMDB Listing

Nefarious: Merchant of Souls (2013)

akankshab — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 18:52:47 +0000

96 min | Documentary

A documentary that exposes the trends of modern-day slavery, specifically sex trafficking. Features analysis from international humanitarian leaders and testimonies from survivors.

Notes:
Directors: Benjamin Nolot, Matt Dickey
Website | IMDB Listing

Not My Life (2011)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 16:39:46 +0000

84 min | Documentary

Filmed on five continents, in a dozen countries, Not My Life takes viewers into a world where millions of children are exploited, every day, through an astonishing array of practices including forced labor, domestic servitude, begging, sex tourism, sexual violence, and child soldiering.

Notes: Subtitles in English
Director: Robert Bilheimer
Studio: Worldwide Documentaries
Website | IMDB Listing

Promised Land (2004)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 16:51:58 +0000

88 min | Drama

Promised Land tells the story of a group of young Estonian girls smuggled through Egypt to be auctioned off as prostitutes in Israel.

Languages: Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, English, German
Director: Amos Gitai
Studio: Agav Hafakot
Website | IMDB Listing

Link to Purchase

Stop the Traffick (2001)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 18:05:58 +0000

27 min | Documentary, News Investigation, TV Series

Thirty years of war left Cambodia ravaged and poverty-stricken. Since the end of the brutal Khmer Rouge rule, poverty, corruption and global tourism have all made it particularly vulnerable to the child labor industry. Children are trafficked into cities from rural areas to become sex slaves or sex workers, or trafficked out to comparatively wealthy Thailand to work in Bangkok as beggars, domestic workers, or laborers on construction sites.

Director: Emily Marlow
Studio: Television Trust for the Environment
Website | Website

The Day My God Died (2003)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 20:39:04 +0000

70 min | Documentary, News Investigation

The Day My God Died documents child sexual slavery of Nepalese girls using spy camera technology and profiles the abolitionists that work to stop these human rights violations.

Notes:
Diretors: Andrew Levine
Studio: Andrew Levine Productions, PBS
Website | IMDB Listing

The Price of Sugar (2007)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 20:50:32 +0000

90 min | Documentary

A fiery Spanish priest risks his life to confront modern-day slavery on the sugar plantations of the Dominican Republic.

Notes: In Spanish, Subtitles in English
Director: Bill Haney
Studio: Uncommon Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

The Shanghai Hotel (2011)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 21:24:47 +0000

110 min | Drama

A young woman named Yin Yin (Eugenia Yuan) illegally buys her way to the USA from communist China hoping to make a better life for herself and her family. After a long, treacherous journey stowed away in a dark hull of an overcrowded cargo ship, Yin Yin arrives in New York City for what she thinks will be the beginning of a better life. Falsely promised a job in the technology industry, her dreams are shattered when she is told by the Snakeheads, an Asian gang, that her debt is much higher than expected. To pay off that additional debt she will have to work it off by being a prostitute.

Notes: Subtitles in English
Director: Jerry Allen Davis
Studio: Cornucopia Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

Turning A Corner (2006)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 22:30:00 +0000

60 min | Documentary

Turning a Corner tells the stories of people who have been involved in sex work and emphasizes their attempts to raise awareness of the injustices and of the need for reforms within the industry. This documentary focuses specifically on Chicago's sex trade industry.

Notes:
Director: Salome Chasnoff
Studio: Beyondmedia Education
Website | IMDB Listing

Very Young Girls (2007)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 22:39:41 +0000

83 min | Documentary

Very Young Girls follows thirteen and fourteen year old girls as they are lured into the sex work industry. This film provides insight into how life in the sex trade begins for these girls who are seduced by pimps and treated like adults by the police. It also focuses on the organization Girls Education and Mentoring Services (GEMS) that works to advocate for these girls.

Notes:
Diretors: David Schisgall, Priya Swaminathan, Nina Alvarez
Studio: Swinging T Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

Virgin Harvest (2008)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 22:48:33 +0000

112 min | Documentary

After decades of civil war, Cambodia’s culture has been shattered and the family base has been broken. In this gap, a flourishing child trafficking industry has evolved. Childhood survivors tell their stories with the help of two women who seek to fight the sex trade.

Notes:
Diretors: Charles Kiselyak
Studio: Priority Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Lonely Pack (2010)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 23:01:02 +0000

48 min | Documentary

Together with other children, the eleven year old Sonu lives on the streets of Katmandu. Their daily routine is a fight to survive in the chaotic capital of Nepal: always on the prowl for food, drugs, charitable tourists and what they seek most – as small boys do anywhere– is fun and adventure. The life of Sonu and his pack is shaped by hunger and violence but is also filled with childlike moments of freedom on the streets.

Notes: Subtitles in English
Directors: Justin Peach and Lisa Engelbach
Website

Link to Buy and Download

Forced Prostitution: Exploited, Abused, and Harmed (2010)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 23:12:46 +0000

85 min | Documentary

A documentary on forced prostitution and human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation. The documentary shows the situation of survivors of trafficking and how they were lured into an exploitative situation. Additionally different stakeholders from the anti-trafficking movement are portrayed to show their work and the full spectrum of actors.

Notes: Available in German Only
Studio: W24 TV Channel
Link to TV Station Website

No 556 13th Lane, Kamathipura, Mumbai (2002)

akankshab — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 19:16:54 +0000

17 min | Documentary

A documentary about a raid on a brothel in Mumbai, which resulted in the rescue of 14 girls.

Notes: In Hindi
Diretors: Sushmita Basnet
Studio: Bigtree Pictures
Website | IMDB Listing

Not for Sale: The Documentary (2007)

akankshab — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 19:17:44 +0000

117 min | Documentary

Based on the book Not For Sale by David Batstone, the documentary covers what modern-day abolitionists are doing to fight the rampant terrors of human trafficking in the US and abroad. Traveling over 120,000 miles across five continents, Producer and Director Robert Marcarelli and his film crew gathered undercover footage on this billion-dollar industry and interviewed the heroes that are determined to see it end.

Notes:
Directors: Robert Marcarelli
Studio: Vision Video
Website | IMDB Listing

Paper Cannot Wrap Ember (2007)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 14:45:19 +0000

90 min | Documentary

Cambodian sex workers discuss their experiences in the industry.

Notes: In French
Directors: Rithy Pahn
Studio: Catherine Dussart Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

In the Name of Safety (1999)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 14:53:57 +0000

23 min | Documentary, Short

A documentary exploring the false imprisonment of trafficked Bangladeshi women and children.

Directors: Catherine and Tareque Masud
Studio: Bullfrog Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Slavery: A Global Investigation

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 17:44:44 +0000

80 min | Documentary

True Vision of London produced this 80-minute documentary inspired by Kevin Bales' book Disposable People (freetheslaves.net/SSLPage.aspx?pid=364). Filmmakers Brian Edwards and Kate Blewett actually buy slaves in Africa and help free child slaves in India. The film exposes slavery in the rug-making sector of Northwest India, the cocoa plantations in the Ivory Coast, and even the home of a World Bank official in Washington, D.C. Small, personal stories of slavery are woven together to tell the larger story of slavery in the global economy. This film won the Peabody Award in 2001. Directors: Brian Edwards, Kate Blewett Studio: True Vision of London Website | IMDB Listing

The Whistleblower (2011)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 21:31:55 +0000

112 min | Drama

A drama based on the experiences of Kathryn Bolkovac, a Nebraska cop who served as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia and outed the U.N. for covering up a sex scandal.

Notes:
Director: Larysa Kondracki
Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Films, Barry Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Trading Women (2003)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 22:16:38 +0000

77 min | Documentary

Narrated by Angelina Jolie, this film documents the sex trafficking trade in China, Thailand, Laos, and Burma, depicted as not just a local, but international problem.

Notes: Subtitles in English
Director: David Feingold
Studio: Ophidian Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Link to Buy Film

Trafficking Cinderella (2000, 2001)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 22:19:31 +0000

48 min | Documentary

After the fall of the Soviet Union, economic ruin left many Eastern European states vulnerable to the lure of sex trafficking. This documentary follows testimonies of Eastern European women who were forced into prostitution.

Notes:
Director: Mira Niagolova
Studio: Miran Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

Redlight (2009)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 23:32:14 +0000

72 min | Documentary

A documentary about child sexual exploitation. Filmed over a four year period, REDLIGHT focuses on the personal stories of young Cambodian victims and two remarkable advocates for change: grass-roots activist Somaly Mam and politician Mu Sochua.

Diretors: Adi Ezeroni, Guy Jacobson, Charles Kiselyak
Studio: Guggenheim Girvin Pictures, Max Entertainment (I), Priority Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Friends of Orphans: Healing the Wounds of War

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 23:46:52 +0000

10 min | Documentary, Short

Friends of Orphans in northern Uganda is the story of former child slaves.

Studio: Free the Slaves
Website | IMDB Listing

Machine Gun Preacher (2011)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 23:56:09 +0000

129 min | Drama

The true story of Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing biker tough guy who found God and became a crusader for Sudanese child soldiers.

Director: Marc Forster
Studio: Relativity Media
Website | IMDB Listing

Stolen Childhoods (2005)

akankshab — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 00:04:14 +0000

85 min | Documentary, Feature Film

Meryl Streep narrates this feature film documentary on global child labor.

Director: Len Morris, U. Roberto Romano
Studio: Galen Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Bought and Sold: An Investigative Documentary About the International Trade in Women (1997)

akankshab — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 00:13:11 +0000

42 min | Documentary, Investigative Documentary

Based on a two year undercover investigation conducted by GSN (Global Survivor Network), this documentary explores the illegal trafficking of women from the Former Soviet Republics. The documentary features interviews with traffickers, Russian mafia, trafficked women, and groups working to provide services to trafficked women.

Director: Gillian Caldwell
Studio: Global Survivor Network
Website | IMDB Listing

Sex Trafficking in America: ABC News Primetime (2007)

akankshab — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:44:27 +0000

41 min | News Investigation

The stories of two American teenagers kidnapped and forced into prostitution.

Studio: ABC News
Website | IMDB Listing

The Slavery Business (2005)

akankshab — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:56:24 +0000

60 min | TV Series

In 1743, a government inspector Robert Dinwiddie investigates a slave trader for tax fraud.

Studio: BBC Bristol
Website | IMDB Listing

A Path Appears (2015)

akankshab — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 14:12:27 +0000

60 min | Documentary, TV Series

A Path Appears, from the creative team that brought you the groundbreaking series Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, follows intrepid reporters Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn and actor/advocates Malin Ackerman, Mia Farrow, Ronan Farrow, Jennifer Garner, Regina Hall, Ashley Judd, Blake Lively, Eva Longoria, and Alfre Woodard to Colombia, Haiti, Kenya, and throughout the United States as they uncover the harshest forms of gender-based oppression and human rights violations, as well as the effective solutions being implemented to combat them.

Director: Maro Chermayeff
Studio: Show of Force
Website | IMDB Listing

Sex Slaves: PBS Frontline (2006)

akankshab — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 14:20:30 +0000

60 min | News Investigation

FRONTLINE presents a hidden-camera look at the world of sexual slavery, talking with traffickers and their victims, and exposing the government indifference that allows this to continue virtually unchecked.

Studio: PBS Frontline

Website | IMDB Listing

Human Trafficking: Three-Part Role Call Training Video

akankshab — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 14:29:34 +0000

29 min | Training/Educational

The 29-minute law enforcement training video is divided into three segments on defining the crime of human trafficking, identifying and responding to victims, and investigating and interviewing.

Studio: International Association of Chiefs of Police
Website | IMDB Listing

Modern Slavery (2009)

akankshab — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 15:52:10 +0000

108 min | Documentary

There are 27 million slaves in the world today, more slaves than at any given point before in history. We find them in the sex industry, as child soldiers, as unpaid maids, in the production of goods and in shops. Why does slavery still exist despite the fact that it is illegal and what will it take to finally get rid of it?

Director: Tina Davis, Thomas Robsahm
Studio: First Hand Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Trade (2007)

akankshab — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 16:13:38 +0000

120 min | Drama

A young girl is kidnapped by sex traffickers in Mexico City.

Director: Marco Kreuzpaintner
Studio: Lions Gate Films

Website | IMDB Listing

Say I Do (2003)

akankshab — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 16:31:12 +0000

60 min | Documentary

Chronicles the stories of three mail-order brides from the Philippines now living in Canada. In order to escape lives of poverty and support their families, these women married men they didn't know. Upon arriving in Canada, they found themselves isolated in the remote regions of the country.

Notes: No link available.

Director: Arlene Ami
Studio: Red Storm Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

Women on the Frontline (2008)

akankshab — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 23:41:04 +0000

72 min | Documentary, Series

A video documentary series, presented by Annie Lennox, that shines a light on violence against women and girls. The series takes the front to homes, villages, and cities around the world where a largely unreported war against females is being waged.

Studio: UN Population Fund Media
Website | IMDB Listing

War/Dance (2007)

akankshab — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 15:59:42 +0000

105 min | Documentary

Three children living in a displacement camp in northern Uganda compete in their country's national music and dance festival.

Director: Sean Fine, Andrea Nix
Studio: Rogues Harbor Studios, Fine Films, Shine Global
Website | IMDB Listing

Trafficked No More (2014)

akankshab — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 16:06:56 +0000

27 min | Documentary, Short

A documentary produced by the Nevada Sex Trafficking Campaign.

Director: The Nevada Sex Trafficking Campaign
Studio: Children's Advocacy Alliance: An Independent Voice for Nevada's Children
Website | IMDB Listing

Taxi Driver (1976)

akankshab — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 16:18:34 +0000

113 min | Drama

Martin Scorsese's story of a NYC taxi driver (Robert De Niro) trying to save a 12-year-old prostitute (Jodie Foster) earned four Academy Award nominations.

Director: Martin Scorsese
Studio: Columbia Pictures Corporation

Website | IMDB Listing

Tapoori (1992)

akankshab — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 16:24:14 +0000

26 min | Documentary, Short

The story of two street boys in Bombay, Anwar and Subra, who earn money by picking trash from the streets and selling what they find at the market. To escape their dreary life, they inhale glue, they patronize the local prostitutes, and visit the video parlors.

Director: Alan Handel
Studio: Alan Handel Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

The Selling of Innocents (1996)

akankshab — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 16:42:26 +0000

60 min | Documentary

This documentary exposes the trafficking in young women and children from the villages of Nepal to the brothels of Mumbai. Winner of the 1997 Emmy in News and Journalism.

Director: William Cobban, Ruchira Gupta
Studio: Malofilm Video, in association with CBC
Website | IMDB Listing

Ghosts (2006)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 15:21:06 +0000

96 min | Drama

A young Chinese girl is smuggled into the UK so she can support her son and family in China.

Director: Nick Broomfield
Studio: Beyond Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Remote Sensing (2001)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 15:27:16 +0000

53 min | Documentary

The sex industry has become a business without borders. As sex industries expand, they seek out new global markets, and often new and younger victims. This video essay discusses the routes and reasons women travel across the globe for work in the sex industry.

Director: Ursula Biemann
Studio: Women Make Moves
Website | IMDB Listing

Pimps Up, Ho's Down (1998)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 15:42:04 +0000

62 min | Documentary

Pimps Up, Ho's Down is a 1998 television documentary about pimping in the United States as part of the HBO documentary anthology series America Undercover.

Director: Fredrik Gertten
Studio: HBO
Website | IMDB Listing

Bangkok Girl (2005)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 15:49:15 +0000

50 min | Documentary

This documentary provides a glimpse into Thailand's notorious and booming sex tourism industry through the experiences of a 19-year-old bar girl named Pla.

Director: Jordan Clark
Studio: High Banked Entertainment
Website | IMDB Listing

Girls from Chaka Street (1998)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 16:00:37 +0000

15 min | Documentary, Short

This documentary details the thriving sex trade within Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia that substantially flourished after the Baltic countries gained independence from the Soviet Union and were devastated by crashing economies.

Director: Antra Cilinska
Studio: Television Trust for the Environment
Website | IMDB Listing

China Dolls (2008)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 16:11:41 +0000

77 min | Feature Film, Drama

Jerri and Marie were born into human trafficking and prostitution and are being held by the mob.

Director: Don Barnhart Jr.
Studio: CreateSpace
Website | IMDB Listing

American Pimp (1999)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 16:20:41 +0000

87 min | Documentary

A documentary examining the pimp subculture in the United States.

Director: Albert and Allen Hughes
Studio: Underworld Entertainment
Website | IMDB Listing

Taken 2 (2012)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 16:29:53 +0000

92 min | Drama

The sequel to the popular action thriller starring Liam Neeson.

Director: Olivier Megaton
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Website | IMDB Listing

Taken (2009)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 16:28:35 +0000

91 min | Drama

When 17-year-old Kim and her friend Amanda are abducted by a gang of traffickers in Paris, Kim’s father Bryan travels to Paris to search for the girls and punish the traffickers.

Notes:
Diretors: Pierre Morel
Studio: Europa Corp.
Website | IMDB Listing

The Jammed (2007)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 17:29:28 +0000

89 min | Drama

A thriller about trafficking, governmental deportation and the sex slave trade in Melbourne.

Notes: Watch in German for free below
Diretors: Dee McLachlan
Studio: Jammed Films, Picture Tank
Website | IMDB Listing

Trapped (2007)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 18:06:34 +0000

52 min | Documentary

Two women tell their story of being trafficking for sex from Nigeria to Denmark. The documentary reveals the suffering endured by many trafficked women, as they are coerced into prostitution, constantly threatened by unscrupulous criminal networks and systematically treated as criminals rather than victims by the social authorities.

Notes:
Director: Anja Dalhoff
Studio: Danish Doc Production
Website | IMDB Listing

Link to Buy and Download

Not for Sale II: Join the Fight (2010)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 18:08:27 +0000

60 min | Documentary

After more than ten years of global efforts to combat slavery, the heartbreaking reality is that this massive, multi-billion dollar criminal activity continues to grow. Tens of millions of people still endure slavery today. In spite of these tragic figures, there are modern-day abolitionists who battle human trafficking. "Not for Sale II" tells the story of five such heroes.

Director: Robert Marcarelli
Studio: Vision Video
Website | IMDB Listing

Sacrifice: The Story of Child Prostitutes from Burma (1998)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 18:13:42 +0000

50 min | Documentary

Sacrifice examines the social, cultural, and economic forces at work in the trafficking of Burmese girls into prostitution in Thailand.

Notes: Subtitles in English
Director: Ellen Bruno
Studio: Bruno Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Link to Purchase

Magnificent Girl (2013)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 18:17:15 +0000

Drama

A story about an unlikely friendship between a troubled family from Harlem and young woman from Moldova who narrowly escapes a kidnapping.

Director: Tatia Pilieva
Studio: Notable Features
Website | IMDB Listing

Amazing Grace (2006)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 18:32:47 +0000

118 min | Drama

The idealist William Wilberforce maneuvers his way through Parliament, endeavoring to end the British transatlantic slave trade.

Notes:
Diretors: Michael Apted
Studio: Walden Media, Ingenious Film Partners, Bristol Bay Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

Trade (2007)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 18:43:16 +0000

120 min | Drama

When 13-year-old Adriana (Paulina Gaitan) is kidnapped by sex traffickers in Mexico City, her 17-year-old brother, Jorge (Cesar Ramos), sets off on a desperate mission to save her.

Notes:
Diretors: Marco Kreuzpaintner
Studio: Lionsgate
Website | IMDB Listing

The Gatekeeper (2002)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 18:49:13 +0000

103 min | Drama

Adam Fields is a rage-filled U.S. Border Patrol Agent who often crosses the line in his job. A member of a vigilante group, Fields decides to go undercover with a hidden camera and cross with a group of undocumented immigrants. His plan goes awry, however, when the group is forced to work for a drug ring. Suddenly, Fields realizes that he has more in common with the migrants and their search for home, family and freedom than he thought.

Notes:
Director: John Carlos Frey
Studio: Gatekeeper Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

Kayan Beauties (2012)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 18:56:44 +0000

93 min I Drama

Three women and a girl from a remote Kayan village in Myanmar go to a distant city to sell their crafts. In the city, the girl is kidnapped by human traffickers. Out of their element, the Kayan women are determined to find the girl.

Director: Aung Ko Latt
Studio: Aung Ko Latt Motion Pictures
Website | IMDB Listing

Modern Slavery (2009)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 18:58:10 +0000

108 min | Documentary

An encounter with people living under extremely restricted conditions, in Uganda, India, Moldova, Kambodia and France. The film is also a critical investigation of the negative consequences of neoliberal economical politics. The project examines the claim that its in the interest of certain economical and social forces to preserve modern slavery, and that these forces are supported by corrupt authorities and indirect participation by multinational companies.

Notes: Film to Rent Below
Directors: Thomas Robsahm, Tina Davis
Studio: Norwegian Film Institute
Website | IMDB Listing

The K-11 Journey (2007)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 19:20:47 +0000

Documentary

The K-11 Journey is three intense years caught on tape of the stories and difficulties of a group of international filmmakers trying to expose the explosive subject matter of child trafficking and child prostitution in one of the most dangerous and corrupt countries in the world.

Notes: The first installment of three documentaries.
Directors: Daniel Kedem, Charles Kiselyak
Studio: Priority Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Sold Children - Albania (2006)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 19:07:01 +0000

10 min | Documentary, Short

Since the 1990s, an average of one child a week has vanished in Albania. Locals suspect the children are being sold abroad. There are even claims they're being abducted for their organs. "The danger of abduction is always there", laments a school warden. He takes the threat so seriously, the school gates are manned at all times. Nasim Greka sold newborn babies for adoption in Greece. "We made maybe 20,30 deals at the most".

Notes:
Studio: Journeyman Pictures
Website | IMDB Listing

Daryl Hannah's Human Trafficking Documentary (2006)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 21:06:41 +0000

Documentary

Using her own money and resources for this low-budget film, actress Daryl Hannah straps microphones to her body and carries a hidden camera as she travels to brothels around the world. Her goal in making the film is to shed light on the serious issue of sex slavery and save the innocent people being heldhostage and raped for profit.

Notes: Film not available
Website

The Dark Side of Chocolate (2010)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 19:30:36 +0000

46 min | Documentary

Journalists investigate child trafficking in the Ivory Coast and show how it fuels the worldwide chocolate industry.

Director: Miki Mistrati, U. Roberto Romano
Studio: Helle Faber
Website | IMDB Listing

A Dance for Bethany (2007)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 19:37:43 +0000

104 min | Drama

An idealistic investigative reporter risks everything to help a twelve-year-old victim of the sex trade.

Director: Brian Gurley
Studio: Raise the Bar Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

Black Gold (2006)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 19:46:29 +0000

78 min | Documentary

As westerners revel in designer lattes and cappuccinos, impoverished Ethiopian coffee growers suffer the bitter taste of injustice. In this eye-opening expose of the multi-billion dollar industry, Black Gold traces one man's fight for a fair price.

Director: Marc and Nick Francis
Studio: Fulcrum Productions, Speak-it Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

There is No Place for You Here (2011)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 19:53:06 +0000

16 min | Documentary, Short

Students from Chapman University document child slavery at Ghana gold mines.

Director: Elliott C. Balsley, Ravi Lloyd, Sam Price-Waldman, Haley Quartarone, Ruby Stociking
Studio: student-produced at Chapman University
Website | IMDB Listing

It's a Girl! (2012)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 20:00:46 +0000

64 min | Documentary

The film tells the stories of abandoned and trafficked girls and women who suffer extreme dowry-related violence while exploring "gendercide" in India and China.

Director: Evan Grae Davis
Studio: Shadowline Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Trade of Innocents (2012)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 20:23:02 +0000

91 min | Drama

Still dealing with the grief of losing their own child years earlier, a couple (Dermot Mulroney and Mira Sorvino) rescue young girls from sex traffickers in Southeast Asia.

Director: Christopher Bessette
Studio: Monterey Media
Website | IMDB Listing

Sex + Money: A National Search for Human Worth (2011)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 20:36:55 +0000

92 min | Feature Film, Documentary

Sex + Money is a feature length documentary that follows a group of students as they travel across the USA, seeking to understand how the sexual exploitation of children has become the nation's fastest growing form of organized crime.

Director: Joel Angyal
Website | IMDB Listing

Not Today (2013)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 20:55:18 +0000

118 min | Drama

While on vacation with friends in Hyderabad, India, Caden Welles--a privileged young man with the world at his disposal--takes an unexpected turn in life after initially refusing to help a starving man and his daughter.

Director: Jon Van Dyke
Studio: Friends Media

Website | IMDB Listing

In Plain Sight (2014)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 21:05:27 +0000

69 min | Documentary

A feature-length documentary focused on six modern-day abolitionists as they fight sex trafficking across America.

Director: Noah Lamberth, David Trotter
Studio: Awaken Media
Website | IMDB Listing

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide (2012)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 21:15:39 +0000

224 min | Documentary

Half the Sky is a passionate call-to-arms, urging us not only to bear witness to the plight of the world's women, but to help to transform their oppression into opportunity. Our future is in the hands of women everywhere.

Director: Maro Chermayeff
Studio: Blue Sky Films
Website | IMDB Listing

It Happened Just Before (2006)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 21:10:13 +0000

72 min | Documentary

It Happened Just Before is an artistic confrontation with the global phenomenon of trafficking in women. The film is based on narratives by women who were the objects of trafficking.

Notes: Known as Kurz Davor Ist es Passiert
Director: Anja Salomonowitz
Studio: Amour Fou Filmproduktion
Website | IMDB Listing

Link to Purchase

FREEDOM: Indifference is Not an Option (2012)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 21:25:00 +0000

36 min | Documentary

A documentary about three people who were held captive as modern-day slaves.

Studio: 2012 Passion Conferences
Website | IMDB Listing

Human Trafficking (2005)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 21:24:27 +0000

176 min | Drama, TV Series

A drama TV series about the brutal realities behind the international trafficking of women and children for sex and the battle to rescue its victims enslaved in America.

Notes: Buy and Watch in Full on Amazon
Director: Christian Duguay
Studio: For Sale Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

Trafficked (2005)

akankshab — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 21:41:31 +0000

52 min | Documentary

Trafficked tells the story of a former Australian Federal Police officer’s ongoing investigation into the fate of two young Thai girls trafficked to Australia: Nikki, a thirteen year old Thai girl found in a Sydney brothel in 1995, and, Phuongtong Simpalee, a 27 year old Thai woman who died in custody at the Villawood Detention centre in 2000.

Notes: Subtitles in English
Director: Luigi Acquisto
Studio: Film Australia/SBS TV
Website | Additional Website

Svetlana's Journey (2004)

akankshab — Sun, 17 Jul 2016 21:53:56 +0000

40 min | Drama

Based on a true story, this film focuses on the story of a 13 year old Bulgarian girl who is sold into prostitution by her adoptive parents.

Notes: In English
Director: Michael Cory Davis
Studio: Topform Studio, Inc
Website | IMDB Listing

Human Cargo (2004)

akankshab — Sun, 17 Jul 2016 22:10:19 +0000

Drama, TV Series

A thriller shot on location in Vancouver and South Africa, HUMAN CARGO examines the world of refugees in the post 9/11 world and of the people who sacrifice their lives to help or hinder them.

Notes:
Director: Brad Turner
Studio: CBC Canada, Force Four Entertainment, Howe Sound Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Fields of Mudan (2004)

akankshab — Sun, 17 Jul 2016 23:08:57 +0000

23 min | Short Film, Drama

A young girl who is forced into sex slavery befriends another girl in the brothel and dreams of freedom with her mother in America.

Notes: Watch Here or Below
Director: Steven Chang
Studio: Florida State University School of Motion Picture
Website | IMDB Listing

Sex Traffic (2004)

akankshab — Sun, 17 Jul 2016 23:23:34 +0000

225 min (2 parts) | Drama, TV Series

A powerful two-part drama about two young Moldovan sisters kidnapped and trafficked through Europe to the dark side of London, betrayed by pimps and police, and fighting for their lives.

Notes: Watch Here or Below
Diretors: Channel 4 UK
Studio: Big Motion Pictures, CBC, Channel 4 UK
Website | IMDB Listing

Tin Girls (2003)

akankshab — Sun, 17 Jul 2016 23:42:31 +0000

56 min | Documentary

Tin Girls focuses on the trafficking of girls for prostitution from Nepal to India.

Notes:
Director: Miguel Bardem
Studio: InnerLENS Productions
Website

Chosen--The True Story of America's Trafficked Teens (2012)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 17:02:43 +0000

34 min | Documentary, Educational Material

This documentary tells the stories of three teen girls' experience with sex trafficking.

Studio: Shared Hope International
Website | IMDB Listing

Lilya 4-ever (2002)

akankshab — Sun, 17 Jul 2016 23:51:00 +0000

109 min | Drama

Lilya, a young girl living in the Soviet Union and abandoned by her mother, turns to prostitution to survive and is later trafficked to Sweden by her boyfriend.

Notes: Subtitles in English
Diretors: Lukas Moodysson
Studio: Memfis Film
Website | IMDB Listing

Cheated of Childhood - Russia (2003)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 00:42:22 +0000

23 min | Documentary, News Investigation

Once the glittering capital of Russia, the city of St. Petersburg and its magnificent metro stations have become home to a generation of street children who survive by begging, informal child labor or prostitution. This installment of LIFE looks at the work of the International Labor Organization, whose efforts to rescue and rehabilitate these street children are a wholly new phenomenon.

Notes:
Diretors: Emily Marlow
Studio: BullFrog Films; Television Trust for the Environment
Website

The Candy Shop (2010)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 17:07:50 +0000

30 min | Drama, Short

The film is a fairytale/parable about the child sex trafficking epidemic that has overrun the city of Atlanta.

Notes: In English
Director: Brandon McCormick
Studio: Whitestone Motion Pictures
Website | IMDB Listing

At the End of Slavery (2010)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 17:18:08 +0000

34 min | Documentary, Drama

Narrated by actor Danny Glover, At the End of Slavery: The Battle for Justice in our Times takes you inside the violent and ugly business of modern-day slavery--the buying and selling of human beings--from the brothels of the Philippines to the brick kilns of India.

Notes: In English
Director: Ted Haddock
Studio: International Justice Mission
Website | IMDB Listing

10 Seconds (2011)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 17:23:28 +0000

33 min | Drama, Short

10 Seconds is the story of a sex addict and a sex slave.

Notes: In English
Director: David Perry
Studio: Bella Veritas Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

Breaking Chains (2013)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 17:30:01 +0000

11 min | Drama, Short

After being manipulated by someone she trusted, Jane is driven to a cabin in the middle of nowhere and thrown into a room with other trafficked girls where she is mentally, physically and emotionally broken down. Ultimately, Jane will be forced to make the decision whether to save her life or someone else.

Notes: In English
Director: Ben Silverman
Studio: Bubba's Chop Shop
Website | IMDB Listing

Every Day in Cambodia: A CNN Freedom Project Documentary (2013)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 17:41:11 +0000

50 min | Documentary

The film, presented by actress Mira Sorvino, documents the appalling plight of children sold into sex slavery, sometimes by their own mothers, and the people fighting to stop the practice.

Studio: A CNN Freedom Project Documentary
Website | IMDB Listing

Out of Reach (2004)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 17:46:35 +0000

86 min | Action, Crime, Drama

Billy Ray Lansing (Steven Seagal) discovers that the foster program he is using to help a young girl is actually a human trafficking network.

Notes: In English
Director: Po-Chih Leong
Studio: Franchise Pictures
Website | IMDB Listing

The Sisters (2011)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 17:51:44 +0000

89 min | Drama

Two sisters from Krusevac, Serbia become victims of human trafficking.

Director: Vladimir Paskaljevic
Studio: Monte Royal Pictures Int.
Website | IMDB Listing

Spartan (2004)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 18:03:21 +0000

106 min | Feature Film, Drama

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning screenwriter and director David Mamet: Scott, a trigger-happy lone wolf, is assigned to help find the kidnapped daughter of a high ranking U.S. government official. The hunt, starting with her boyfriend, leads him to uncover a slave trade in the Middle East.

Notes: In English
Director: David Mamet
Studio: Apollo Media, Warner Bros.
Website | IMDB Listing

FRONTLINE: Sex Slaves (2005)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 18:22:14 +0000

89 min | Documentary, News Investigation

Sex Slaves is a gripping documentary investigating the global sex trade in women from the former Soviet bloc.

Notes: In English
Director: Ric Esther Bienstock
Studio: CBC, Frontline, Channel 4
Website | IMDB Listing

The Pink Room (2011)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 18:33:19 +0000

57 min | Documentary, Drama

A documentary about young girls trafficked for sex in Cambodia.

Notes: In English
Director: Joel Sandvos
Studio: Goat Rock Films
Website | IMDB Listing

The Storm Makers (2014)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 18:43:45 +0000

66 min | Documentary

The Storm Makers profiles modern-day slavery in Cambodia by following the daily lives of two human traffickers, a local recruiter and the head of an agency.

Notes: In Khmer
Director: Guillaume Suon
Studio: Tipasa Production, Bophana Production
Website | IMDB Listing

Mardaani (2014)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 19:34:15 +0000

113 min | Drama

A cop's search for a missing teenage girl leads her to the depraved world of child trafficking. What follows is a cat-and-mouse game between the fearless cop and a ruthless mafia kingpin.

Director: Pradeep Sarkar
Studio: Yash Raj Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Tricked (2013)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 19:44:06 +0000

80 min | Documentary

Embedded with the Denver Vice squad, Tricked follows Sgt. Dan Steele and his colleagues in their pursuit of traffickers.

Notes: In English
Director: John Keith Wasson, Jane Wells
Studio: 3 Generations
Website | IMDB Listing

Holly (2006)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 19:50:35 +0000

113 min | Drama, Feature Film

An American stolen artifacts dealer comes across a 12-year-old Vietnamese girl sold by her family into prostitution. The film focuses on his attempt to bring the girl to safety and raise awareness about child trafficking.

Notes: In English
Director: Guy Moshe
Studio: Priority Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Eden (2012)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 19:59:07 +0000

98 min | Drama

A young Korean-American girl, abducted and forced into prostitution by domestic human traffickers, joins forces with her captors in a desperate plea to survive.

Notes: In English
Director: Megan Griffiths
Studio: Eden Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

The Price of Sex (2011)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 20:06:13 +0000

72 min | Documentary

Photojournalist and filmmaker Mimi Chakarova documents the stories of Eastern European women trafficked for sex.

Notes: In English
Director: Mimi Chakarova
Studio: Women Make Movies, Center for Investigative Reporting
Website | IMDB Listing

Red Light Green Light (2013)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 18:23:14 +0000

77 min | Documentary, Drama

As nations around the globe attempt to fight sex trafficking, many consider legalizing prostitution. Two filmmakers travel across ten countries to explore the issue. Notes: In English Director: Jared and Michelle Brock Studio: Hope Films Website | IMDB Listing

Global Sex Trade and Women Trafficking in Nigeria

rsdadmin — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 17:20:44 +0000

This paper argues that trafficking in women reflects inequality on a global scale, or the transfer of resources from depressed economies to prosperous ones, from periphery to core, from rural to urban. Further, the weakening influence of the Nigerian government in the global economy and international diplomacy has undermined its efforts in rolling back trafficking of women.

Sex Trafficking in Nepal: A Review of Intervention and Prevention Programs

rsdadmin — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 20:48:16 +0000

Trafficking of girls and women for the purpose of sexual exploitation is a problem worldwide, particularly in South Asia. This review focuses on Nepal-to-India sex trafficking with an examination of current anti-trafficking intervention and prevention programs. The activities of both governmental agencies and nongovernment organizations are described and critically analyzed. Suggestions for evaluating and improving interventions, and thereby reducing the trafficking of girls and women, are discussed.

The Impact of Advancing Technologies Upon Global Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Society Today

rsdadmin — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 16:19:58 +0000

The Impact of Advancing Technologies Upon Global Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Society Today

18 U.S. Code Chapter 96 - Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations

rsdadmin — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 15:44:57 +0000

RICO was created to be a tool for the federal government to more effectively prosecute members of organized crime for racketeering offenses. Federal human trafficking offenses are included as racketeering offenses, thus giving law enforcement a powerful tool when prosecuting traffickers.

Suspected Kidney Trafficking at New Delhi Hospital

rsdadmin — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 15:51:27 +0000

Police arrested at least five people in connection to an alleged kidney trafficking racket, some associated with one of India's top hospitals.

Modern Heroes, Modern Slaves (1999)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 20:11:53 +0000

44 min | Investigative Documentary, Documentary

A look into the lives of "modern day heroes," the term the Philippine government uses to call female domestic contract workers, who are often trafficked after leaving the country.

Notes: In English
Director: Marie Boti
Studio: Filmoption International
Website | IMDB Listing

Bucharest Express (2004)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 20:16:53 +0000

Drama, Feature Film

An American journalist, a mysterious Gypsy woman and a bookkeeper with an inside angle try to stay one step ahead of a gang of ruthless killers as they uncover the horrors of the human trafficking of sex slaves in the Balkans.

Notes: No Link Available
Director: Chuck Portz
Studio: SawHorse Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

The Abolitionists (2014)

akankshab — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 22:32:24 +0000

85 min | Drama, Documentary

Tim Ballard, a former Homeland Security and CIA agent specializing in infiltrating and dismantling trafficking organizations, leads high-risk rescue operations all over the world, liberating at-risk children from sex trafficking.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: Darrin Fletcher, Chet Thomas
Studio: FletChet Entertainment
Website | IMDB Listing

Affected for Life (2009)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 17:28:52 +0000

24 min | Training, Educational Film

Affected for Life promotes awareness of human trafficking. The film is targeted at prosecutors, judges, law enforcement officers and other specialized audiences, and illustrates the elements and different forms of human trafficking. The film is available in both full-length and abbreviated versions in Arabic, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Studio: UNODC
Website | IMDB Listing

Human Trafficking and the Justice System (2013)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 17:36:37 +0000

14 min | Training, Educational

This video is tailored to benefit law enforcement, legal professionals, first responders, and professionals within our judicial system. The experts at the forefront of investigation and prosecuting human trafficking discuss Federal and Florida State legislation, best practices in reaching out to resources, task forces, within or out of the jurisdiction in which they work, how to identify victims and the challenges of working with the victims.

Studio: St. Thomas University School of Law
Website | IMDB Listing

Finding Home (2014)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 18:10:38 +0000

118 min | Documentary

Finding Home is a unique documentary about trafficking, as the stories go far beyond the actual trafficking experiences. Finding Home shows in depth the struggle, growth, and challenges that come with trying to pick a life back up after it has been fragmented. Each of these three young women has a unique story with unique hurdles to overcome. The difficulties and complexities of learning how to deal with life after horrific abuse by slave owners and men looking to exploit sex with underage girls are unpacked in a way that communicates cross-culturally and proves the connectivity in the human spirit.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: Derek Hammeke
Studio: Flying Treasure LLC
Website | IMDB Listing

Sex Trafficking: Florida's Safe Harbour Act (2013)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 17:40:50 +0000

9 min | Training, Educational

This video discusses human trafficking in the context of the changes in Florida's Anti-Trafficking legislation, specifically the Safe Harbor Act. Children at risk of being sexually exploited in Florida have new hope with the implementation of the state's Safe Harbor Act, effective January 1, 2013. This new legislation helps ensure the safety of child victims who have been trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation and provides for children who are rescued from prostitution to get the necessary help from child welfare professionals, instead of being placed in juvenile delinquency

Studio: St. Thomas University School of Law
Website | IMDB Listing

Human Trafficking: A Public Health Concern (2013)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 17:46:45 +0000

15 min | Training, Educational

The experts featured in this video discuss human trafficking as a major global health problem, and the important role of health care providers in identifying and providing care and services to victims of human trafficking. Human trafficking is best understood as a very serious health risk for victims of trafficking, because it is associated with physical and psychological harm. Health care service providers have a crucial opportunity for identification of victims and early intervention to rescue and protect them. They are one of the few groups of professionals likely to interact with victims of human trafficking while the victim is still under the control of the criminals who are manipulating and profiting from them.

Studio: St. Thomas University School of Law
Website | IMDB Listing

Human Trafficking and Faith-Based Communities (2013)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 17:49:55 +0000

13 min | Training, Educational

Religious organizations are a powerful force uniquely situated to come into contact with victims of human trafficking. They are present everywhere: in countries of origin, transit and destination. In source countries they can help prevent human trafficking by raising awareness on the issue and by addressing the public and potential victims and their families about the risk and dire consequences of human trafficking. They may come into contact with victims of human trafficking while they are still under the control of the trafficker. They can provide assistance of all sorts to the victims and their families, and they can serve as an influential source of networking with various institutions. This video discusses ways in which religious organizations can help identify and provide services to victims.

Studio: St. Thomas University School of Law
Website | IMDB Listing

Human Trafficking and Our Schools (2013)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 17:52:15 +0000

10 min | Training, Educational

Education is a cornerstone for the prevention of human trafficking. Schools are a dependable institution to reach out to the public, the new generation and their families and to educate them about the problem of human trafficking. This video discusses the relevance of educating the community at large and how to identify victims of trafficking in a school setting. The experts featured in the video address the signs that might indicate that a person has been or is currently trafficked, the different context in which human trafficking flourishes, the typical behavior demonstrated by someone trapped in a trafficking situation, and some of the barriers encountered by educators when dealing with potential victims of human trafficking. It further provides insights on the ways to engage in anti-trafficking activities in a school setting.

Studio: St. Thomas University School of Law
Website | IMDB Listing

La Promesa (2013)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 18:04:32 +0000

TV Series

Tres mujeres se venden a la prostitución y tienen que arriesgar sus vidas para escaparse.

Directors: Klych López, Liliana Bocanegra
Studio: CMO Productiones
Website | IMDB Listing

Sands of Silence (2015)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 18:16:40 +0000

86 min | Documentary

In Sands of Silence, a 15-year quest to expose the underworld of sex trafficking from Asia to the Americas leads journalist Chelo Alvarez-Stehle back to the windswept beach where her childhood ended and family secrets began. Documenting the transformation of young women in Mexico and Nepal from powerless victims to resilient survivors and passionate advocates, Chelo undertakes a parallel journey toward personal healing and family reconciliation.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: Chelo Alvarez-Stehle
Studio: innerLENS Productions
Website | IMDB Listing

Rape for Profit (2012)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 18:25:23 +0000

86 min | Documentary

A few selectively chosen cases of underage girls being forced into prostitution is used to condemn the entire prostitution industry.

Directors: Eric Esau, Jason Pamer
Studio: Mew Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Notes to My Father (2017)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 18:33:01 +0000

Documentary (Virtual Reality)

Set in the beautiful landscape of Southern India, this VR film is a moving story about love, trauma and reconciliation between a father and daughter. Centered around a sex trafficking survivor named Ramadevi, the VR film takes you into her traumatic world through a letter written for her father, who unintentionally played a role in her adolescence living in a brothel.

Notes: See website for screening information
Directors: Jayisha Patel
Studio: VR For Good
Website | IMDB Listing

The K-11 Project (2012) (VIDEO)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 18:18:21 +0000

86 min | Documentary

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options Directors: Chelo Alvarez-Stehle Studio: Priority Films Website | IMDB Listing

Great Decisions in Foreign Policy: Modern Day Slavery (2016)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 18:39:16 +0000

26 min | TV Series

Human trafficking represents a multibillion in international trade per annum and continues to be one of the fastest growing criminal industries. While undeniably a global phenomenon, the U.S., as one of the world’s leading human trafficking importers, bears a special responsibility to combat this practice. The U.S. and the international community have adopted various treaties and laws to prevent trafficking, but to truly understand and combat the issue, they must find the root causes enabling traffickers to exploit millions of victims.

Notes: Full episode below
Studio: PBS/ Foreign Policy Association
Website | IMDB Listing

Cecilia (2015)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 18:43:17 +0000

83 min | Documentary

Delhi-based documentary filmmaker Johar Pankaj investigates the mysterious death of his housekeeper’s 14-year-old daughter. The human trafficker whom he believes is responsible is being protected by city officials and by the deceased teenager’s own relatives. But continual threats and promises of large sums of hush money won’t stop the filmmaker and his housekeeper from seeking the truth.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: Johar Pankaj
Studio: Penny Wise Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Girl Model (2011)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 18:49:35 +0000

78 min | Documentary

Despite a lack of obvious similarities between Siberia and Tokyo, a thriving model industry connects these distant regions. Girl Model follows two protagonists involved in this industry: Ashley, a deeply ambivalent model scout who scours the Siberian countryside looking for fresh faces to send to the Japanese market, and one of her discoveries, Nadya, a thirteen year-old plucked from the Siberian countryside and dropped into the center of Tokyo with promises of a profitable career.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: David Redmon, Ashley Sabin Studio: First Run Features
Website | IMDB Listing

Tracers of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North (2008)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 18:57:08 +0000

86 min | Documentary

Producer/Director Katrina Browne tells the story of her forefathers, the largest slave-trading family in U.S. history. Given the myth that the South is solely responsible for slavery, viewers will be surprised to learn that Browne’s ancestors were Northerners. The film follows Browne and nine fellow family members on a remarkable journey which brings them face-to-face with the history and legacy of New England’s hidden enterprise.

Directors: Katrina Browne, Alla Kovgan, Jude Ray Studio: PBS
Website | IMDB Listing

Private Violence (2014)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 19:19:19 +0000

81 min | Documentary

Every day in the U.S., at least four women are murdered by abusive (and often, ex-) partners. The knee-jerk response is to ask: why doesn’t she just leave?” Private Violence shatters the brutality of this logic. Through the eyes of two survivors – Deanna Walters, a mother who seeks justice for the crimes committed against her at the hands of her estranged husband, and Kit Gruelle, an advocate who seeks justice for all women – we bear witness to the complicated and complex realities of intimate partner violence.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: Cynthia Hill Studio: Candescent Films
Website | IMDB Listing

Red Light Green Light (2013)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 19:23:55 +0000

77 min | Documentary

As nations around the globe attempt to fight sex trafficking, many consider legalizing prostitution. Two filmmakers travel across ten countries to explore the issue, attempting to answer the question: ‘How can we prevent sexual exploitation before it happens in the first place?’ Though governments are getting better at prosecuting traffickers and providing aftercare to victims, it is time we begin to ask the question of what lies at the root.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: Jared Brock and Michelle Brock
Website | IMDB Listing

Willful Entrapment (2009)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 19:29:42 +0000

21 min | Short Film

A visually arresting short film that removes the veil from the the perception of “innocent fun” from pornography and depicts it as the door to psychotic addiction and destruction that it really is.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: Francois Driessen
Website | IMDB Listing

Mujeres en venta (2014)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 19:35:45 +0000

Multimedia Documentary

Un proyecto publico para documentar la trata de personas que consiste en fotos, videos, mapas, y audios.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Studio: DocuMedia de la Universidad Nacional de Rosario
Website | IMDB Listing

Chicas Nuevas 24 Horas (2015)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 19:39:57 +0000

55 min | Documentary

Un documental de investigación sobre a través de cinco países en el negocio grande de esclavitud sexual.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: Mabel Lozano
Studio: Genial Media
Website | IMDB Listing

La Guayaba (2012)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 19:44:04 +0000

88 min | Drama

Florencia tiene 17 años y vive con su familia en las afueras de Puerto Iguazú. Una mujer, con falsas promesas de un trabajo, la convence para ir a otra ciudad, en donde comienza su inﬁerno de castigos, prostitución y encierro. Un accidente en la puerta del local, una mujer misteriosa y un plan endeble quizás puedan lograr devolverle su libertad.

Directors: Maximiliano González
Website | IMDB Listing

Las eligadas (2015)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 19:48:37 +0000

110 min | Drama

Las elegidas’ sigue a Ulises y Sofía, dos adolescentes enamorados que caen en las manos de Marcos, el padre de Ulises, quien obliga a su hijo a prostituir a chicas jóvenes, haciendo que Sofía sea su primera víctima. Así, Ulises termina por entrar al mundo que negó: el negocio de tráfico de mujeres que existe en su familia.

Directors: David Pablos
Website | IMDB Listing

Tan frágil como un segundo (2014)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 19:54:33 +0000

107 min | Drama

Aborda la explotación sexual comercial de niñas y jóvenes y la trata de mujeres en el Uruguay.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: Santiago Ventura Studio: Dodecá Producciones
Website | IMDB Listing

Bordertown (2006)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 19:59:12 +0000

112 min | Drama

A journalist investigates a series of murders near American-owned factories on the border of Juarez and El Paso.

Directors: Gregory Nava Studio: ThinkFilm
Website | IMDB Listing

Sisters for Sale (2016)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 20:02:52 +0000

Documentary

The shocking true story of the search for my (Ben Randall's) missing friends to raise awareness of human trafficking.

Directors: Ben Randall Studio: The Human, Earth Project
Website | IMDB Listing

Evelyn (2012)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 20:09:54 +0000

96 min | Drama

Un mujer joven de Peru está engañada a ir a España con la promesa de trabajo pero se le fuerza a prostituirse

Director: Isabel de Ocampo
Website | IMDB Listing

De la servidumbre moderna (2009)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 20:12:07 +0000

52 min | Documentary

El objetivo central de esta película es revelar la condición del esclavo moderno en el marco del sistema totalitario mercantil y dar a conocer las formas de mistificación que ocultan su condición servil.

Director: Jean Françios Brient
Website | IMDB Listing

What do you see?

akankshab — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:03:19 +0000

2 min | Short Animation, Educational

An animation showing how Modern Slavery works in the UK.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: Sally Arthur
Studio: Unchosen
Website | IMDB Listing

The Trip (2013)

akankshab — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:08:34 +0000

10 min | Short Drama, Educational

The true story of Hung, a young Vietnamese man trafficked abroad on the promise of a job and a new life, only to be forced to work in a cannabis factory upon arrival. Now a prisoner, his existence becomes monotonous and claustrophobic.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: Prano Bailey-Bond
Studio: Unchosen
Website | IMDB Listing

Fishers of Men (2017)

akankshab — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 20:03:10 +0000

112 min | Documentary

Fishers of Men is a documentary film that follows the Catrambones as they embark on the MOAS journey and gives an inside view into the work of the NGO throughout their time at sea. Notes: See Website for Viewing Options Studio: MOAS Website | IMDB Listing

What do you see? (2009)

akankshab — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 14:53:04 +0000

2 min | Short Animation, Educational

An animation showing how Modern Slavery works in the UK. Notes: Director: Sally Arthur Studio: Unchosen Website | IMDB Listing

Human Trafficking of Minors and Childhood Adversity in Florida

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:39:08 +0000

Objectives. To examine the link between human trafficking of minors and childhood adversity. Methods. We compared the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and cumulative childhood adversity (ACE score) among a sample of 913 juvenile justice– involved boys and girls in Florida for whom the Florida child abuse hotline accepted human trafficking abuse reports between 2009 and 2015 with those of a matched sample. Results. ACE composite scores were higher and 6 ACEs indicative of child maltreatment were more prevalent among youths who had human trafficking abuse reports. Sexual abuse was the strongest predictor of human trafficking: the odds of human trafficking was 2.52 times greater for girls who experienced sexual abuse, and there was a 8.21 times greater risk for boys who had histories of sexual abuse. Conclusions. Maltreated youths are more susceptible to exploitation in human trafficking. Sexual abuse in connection with high ACE scores may serve as a key predictor of exploitation in human trafficking for both boys and girls. (Am J Public Health. 2017;107: 306–311. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2016.303564)

Child Trafficking in East and South-East Asia: Reversing the Trend

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:38:27 +0000

For nearly a decade, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has spearheaded child trafficking initiatives in the East and South-East Asian region. In close partnership with governments, nongovernmental organizations and civil society, UNICEF helped shape the foundation and institute building blocks to prevent trafficking and to protect children who have fallen victim to trafficking and exploitation. Initially UNICEF worked in only a few countries, but has since expanded its programming to ten countries across the region which aim to prevent and respond to child trafficking at the local, national, bilateral and regional levels. Interventions have been structured broadly around a framework that promotes prevention, coordination and cooperation, protection, recovery, reintegration and child participation. UNICEF is exploring a more longterm and strategic approach to addressing child trafficking in the region. This regional report is a synthesis of seven UNICEF country assessments conducted in China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. The report also serves to develop evidence-based practice and policy to the region and complement the global picture on trafficking.

South Africa's "Act No. 7 of 2013: Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act"

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:37:55 +0000

This act, signed into South African law in July 2013, details South Africa's legal position on human trafficking. It is not yet operational, however, as supporting regulations have yet to be passed. Notably, the Act presents a wider definition for human trafficking than the UN.

Stopping Traffic: Exploring the extent of, and responses to, trafficking in women for sexual exploitation in the UK

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:37:19 +0000

This paper presents the findings of research carried out to assess the extent of trafficking in women for the purposes of sexual exploitation and the law enforcement responses in the UK. It estimates the number of women trafficked into conditions of sexual slavery, the ways in which they are trafficked and the responses of all relevant agencies in tackling and preventing such trafficking. A wide range of data sources have been used in this study, though finding accurate estimates of the scale of either the sex industry in general, or trafficking in particular, has proven problematic. The research establishes base-line data on the number of women known to have been trafficked into the UK during 1998. From this, a series of assumptions are used to produce a maximum estimate of the size of the problem. This information is presented as the range of numbers of women possibly trafficked in the UK during this period. A number of methods of ‘supplying’ women are identified and are discussed in a series of case studies indicating how they became known to the police and how the cases were resolved. The research identifies the current law enforcement responses and the legislation drawn on in tackling women identified as having been trafficked. In doing so, a ‘human-rights’ based approach, endorsed by the Association of Chief Police Officers, is suggested as ‘good practice’. A range of recommendations are made by the researchers for the police, immigration service, local and central governments and many other organisations with a potential impact on this activity. A co-ordinated, partnership, response is suggested as likely to be the most effective in reducing the scale and cost of this criminal activity.

美國2016年人口販運問題報告台灣部分

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:36:38 +0000

台灣是強迫勞動和性販運受害男女被送往的目的地；雖較為少見，但也有一些強迫勞動的受害男女以及性販運的受害婦女和兒童來自台灣。台灣的人口販運被害人大多是來自印尼、菲律賓、泰國、和越南的外籍勞工，少數來自中國和柬埔寨。台灣逾587,000名的外籍勞工多數透過招聘機構及仲介掮客在母國被僱用，有些招聘機構和仲介掮客是來自台灣，招攬這些外籍勞工來台從事低技術工作，如充當家庭看護和家庭幫傭，或從事農漁業、製造業、和營造業。有些來自中國和東南亞國家的婦女，因為假結婚或不實受僱機會而受騙來台，實則進行性販運。有報導指出來自台灣的男女在海外從事不法商業行為，疑似遭到人口販運；有些台灣女性則受到誘騙到美國後被迫賣淫。然而台灣當局完全符合消除人口販運問題的最低標準。對於很多可能涉及人口販運的案子，檢察官和法官依然未將其視為嚴重的犯罪，最後的判刑也過輕。

Yemen's Torture Camps: Abuse of Migrants by Human Traffickers in a Climate of Impunity

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:36:07 +0000

This report, produced by Human Rights Watch in May 2014, discusses exploitation of the migrant community in Yemen. The report focuses on the town of Haradh, a town many migrant workers pass through in order to reach employment in Saudi Arabia. According to the report, human traffickers in the area force migrants into camps referred to as "torture camps" in order to extort resources from either the victims themselves or the victims' friends and family. This resource discusses topics such as migration to and from Yemen, the town of Haradh, corruption, life in the torture camps, life after the torture camps, and both the Yemeni and Saudi governmental role in this particular instance of human trafficking. The report concludes by discussing international obligations and by providing a list of Haradh police cases regarding trafficking of migrants. Since this information was produced in 2014, one might find that it is not presented in the context of the Yemeni Civil War that began in 2015.

Your company may unwittingly be conducting business with human traffickers: How can you prevent this?

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:35:01 +0000

A new concern is beginning to gain notoriety in society: human trafficking. This issue, which can result in slavery, should concern businesses. Almost 30 million slaves exist globally today. The fact that human trafficking is a $32 billion business indicates either indifference for human rights or an ignorance of the injustice occurring. Even though companies may be against the idea of human trafficking, they may not recognize that they could be contributing to this problem through their business operations and relationships. However, companies can exercise social re- sponsibility by using their influence over suppliers and business partners to prohibit human trafficking. This article examines the extent to which companies are involved in combating human trafficking, and helps companies identify where they are at risk for involvement with human trafficking. Moreover, steps are suggested to prevent human trafficking from occurring within company operations and supply chains. # 2014 Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Vulnerability and exploitation along the Balkan route: Identifying victims of human trafficking in Serbia

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:34:18 +0000

A dramatic influx of migrants and refugees have moved through the Balkans (often referred to as “the Balkan route”) in recent years in their attempt to reach and resettle in the European Union (EU). This has involved migrants and refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as various countries in Africa and Asia. Many of these migrants and refugees are exposed to different risks, vulnerabilities and exploitation at different stages of their journeys, including, in some cases, human trafficking. And yet, to date, there is little empirical evidence of when, why and how vulnerability to human trafficking arises in mass movements of migrants and refugees, nor how to identify and assist trafficking victims within migrant and refugee populations. Undertaken in collaboration with the Fafo Institute and Serbian NGOs Atina and Centre for Youth Integration (CYI), this project explores the different ways in which refugees and migrants become vulnerable and are subjected to human trafficking while en route or in transit in Serbia. The project also considers challenges and barriers to their formal identification and assistance as victims of human trafficking. This project will increase the knowledge and evidence of risks to and experiences of human trafficking among migrants and refugees to improve policy and programmatic responses in the fields of migration, asylum and human trafficking.

Thailand's Seafood Slaves: Human Trafficking, Slavery, and Murder in Katang's Fishing Industry

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:42:47 +0000

Slavery, 'pirate' fishing and other serious crimes continue to plague Thailand's seafood sector highlighting the shortcomings in private sector initiatives and government controls.

Health and Rights at the Margins: Human trafficking and HIV/AIDS amongst Jingpo ethnic communities in Ruili City, China

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:43:17 +0000

In 2007, China and Myanmar signed their first Bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on human trafficking. The two countries cemented this agreement with the unveiling of the first Border Liaison Office in Ruili City, located in China's southwestern Yunnan Province - one of the primary border crossing points between China and Myanmar. The government focus on human trafficking on this border intersects with decades of struggles to curb the border's porousness to drugs and HIV/AIDS. This paper is based on qualitative ethnographic participant observation and interviews with young Jingpo women living in Ruili City and investigates the risk of human trafficking as a by-product of cultural stigma associated with ethnic marginality, drugs, and HIV/AIDS. The case of Ruili warns us that the global shift towards regarding human trafficking as the single most perilous phenomenon of the current age obscures ongoing issues of vulnerability and cultural stigma for ethnic minority peoples globally. In lieu of state sponsored patrol and monitoring of the border, more attention must be paid to overlapping concerns of people living in border communities, including drug prevalence, disease, and ethnic marginalization.

Queering the Support for Trafficked Persons: LGBTQ Communities and Human Trafficking in the Heartland

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:44:33 +0000

Human trafficking justice centers on the “Three Ps” model of prevention, protection, and prosecution. While protection and prosecution efforts have been moderately successful, prevention remains elusive, as “upstream” structural factors—class, gender, and sexuality inequalities—remain difficult to target. Individuals who are affected by these factors are not fully served within linear service frameworks. Based on a 12-month study in Kansas City, we find that service providers recognize the limitations of a “one-size-fits all” approach. Using a public health model, our research team conducted a public health surveillance, explored risk and protective factors, and facilitated organizational self-assessments of services. Our findings support a prevention approach that supports a survivor-centered model, which creates new, non-linear or queered avenues of agency and community for trafficking survivors. This model allows survivors to make use of services in moments of vulnerability and opt out of others in moments of resilience. Given the systematic cuts in funding that have affected service providers, this research contends that prevention is cheaper, more effective, and more ethical than relying on prosecutions to curb trafficking. Developing a model that fosters survivor empowerment is a key step toward individual justice and survivor resilience for vulnerable and marginalized populations.

Human Trafficking: Trading in Shame

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:45:16 +0000

Phillip Martin travels to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to the home of a man whose 19-year old daughter was just rescued from a brothel in China. It's a story too shameful to reveal, even to neighbors. The shame has not only kept the people who trafficked her in business, but also it kept trafficking alive in Asia. In Vietnamese culture, how one became a prostitute is less important than the fact that you were or are a prostitute. You are perceived as tainted, and thus you are shunned. Therefore, no victim testifies.

Sexual Exploitation and Shame in Vietnamese Culture

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:46:15 +0000

When WGBH Boston Public Radio’s investigative reporter Phillip Martin meets “Qui” and “Phong,” two Vietnamese teenage girls, they are laughing. You wouldn’t know they had just survived a year in which Martin says they “were kidnapped, severely beaten, raped and sold into slavery by organized human trafficking rings.” While their jovial behavior following such horrific experiences may seem inconsistent to Westerners, even puzzling, aspects of Vietnamese culture must be fully explored to help understand their attitudes.

"I Was Sold": Abuse and Exploitation of Migrant Domestic Workers in Oman

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:47:00 +0000

This research report focuses on migrant domestic workers in Oman, who are sometimes invited to work for Omani families and find themselves trapped in households where they receive no pay, little food, abuse, and long working hours. Through interviews with 59 female migrant workers, the researchers were able to gather information on the working conditions of domestic workers in Oman. The report details an overview of the backgrounds of migrant domestic female workers, the abuses they face/ faced while in employment, the relationship of Omani law with domestic workers, and recommendations for international actors whose citizens are involved in this exploitation. The report also discusses hardships faced by workers when trying to leave their situation, both physically and legally.

Tantalum (2014)

akankshab — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:11:22 +0000

5 min | Short Drama, Educational

A wealthy business woman discovers the human cost of conflict minerals.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: Johannes Richard Voelkel
Studio: Unchosen
Website | IMDB Listing

Michael (2014)

akankshab — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:15:22 +0000

10 min | Short Drama

When a homeless man is promised a better life working on a farm, he finds himself a prisoner and yearns to escape.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: Jonathan Kemp
Studio: Unchosen
Website | IMDB Listing

My Friend Ivor (2014)

akankshab — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:18:03 +0000

10 min | Short Drama

Polish Piotr is sixty years old when he and his younger friend Ivor come to England in search of work. What they find shocks them both.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: Aleksandra Czenczek
Studio: Unchosen
Website | IMDB Listing

Yoke Farm (2014)

akankshab — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:29:40 +0000

9 min | Short Drama

Henry runs a corner shop in a sleepy English town by the coast, and begins to notice that his new free range egg supplier may not be as ethical as he seems.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: Tim Keeling
Studio: Unchosen
Website | IMDB Listing

Nicu (2014)

akankshab — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:32:46 +0000

6 min | Short Drama

A letter home to mama from Nicu, a newly trafficked, 9 year old Romanian boy.

Notes: See Website for Viewing Options
Directors: Niki Anastasi
Studio: Unchosen
Website | IMDB Listing

Copy of My Friend Ivor (2014)

akankshab — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:30:51 +0000

10 min | Short Drama

Polish Piotr is sixty years old when he and his younger friend Ivor come to England in search of work. What they find shocks them both. Notes: See Website for Viewing Options Directors: Aleksandra Czenczek Studio: Unchosen Website | IMDB Listing

Sorting Victims From Workers: Forced Labour, Trafficking, and the Process of Jurisdiction

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:48:00 +0000

This paper builds on work on forced labour and human trafficking to argue for the value of geographical approaches to legal scale, and for more geographical research on the process of jurisdiction. Vulnerability to forced labour and human trafficking is related to processes of social and political categorization and legal characterization. Yet territorial understandings of jurisdiction, and those which conceptualize jurisdiction as a process of sorting, often imply a relatively straightforward correspondence between legal scales and legal subjects. I propose an approach to legal scale that builds on feminist analyses in labour law and human geography.

Progress in Human Geography 2017, Vol. 41(2) 140–158

Human Trafficking and Media Myths: Federal Funding, Communications Strategies, and Canadian Anti-Trafficking Programs

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:49:25 +0000

This article looks at debates over human trafficking by considering the linkages between federal funding, media myths, and non-governmental organization (NGO) activities and by examining the textual and visual content of NGO websites. By highlighting the ways in which NGOs echo government communication strategies, we argue that these debates are constrained not only by the current political terrain, but also by an ingrained and problematic anti-trafficking discourse. Further, we interrogate the language and emotive appeals of NGOs that receive federal funding for anti-trafficking programming through the exploration of counter-discourses developed by both scholars and independent organizations that are critical of dominant narratives and policies. We conclude by suggesting that alternative narratives and media strategies are needed for the development of more nuanced and authentic conceptions of labour, migration, and sex work.

Human Rights Watch submission to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women concerning Malaysia

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:50:06 +0000

This submission focuses on child marriage, marital rape, the situation of transgender persons, domestic workers, and education. It relates to Articles 1, 2, 6, 10, 11, 12, 15, and 16 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (the “Convention”), and proposes issues and questions that Committee members may wish to raise with the government.

The Tragedy of Human Trafficking: Competing Theories and European Evidence

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:50:47 +0000

This paper explores an issue that is both domestic and international: whether legalization of prostitution leads to an increase in human trafficking. For both theory and public policy, this is an important query to answer, with implications beyond the cases in question. The principal domains of investigation are Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. These states subscribe to UN, EU, Council of Europe and OSCE agreements and are located in the same geographic region, yet have adopted opposite approaches to prostitution. The Netherlands and Germany legalized prostitution in 2000 and 2002, respectively. Sweden outlawed it in 1999 and imposed criminal penalties for the purchase of illicit sex. The preceding characteristics make these states ideal for a comparative exercise in the context of competing perspectives on human trafficking and legalized prostitution. We find that legalization leads to an increase in trafficking. The dynamics of trafficking are also associated with numerous factors, among which the most critical are government efforts specifically targeting the activity in the field of law enforcement. Implications for theory and public policy are offered, along with ideas about future research.

World Report: Japan

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:51:49 +0000

Japan is a strong democracy with rule of law and an active civil society. Basic freedoms of expression, association, and assembly are well-respected. However, in February 2016 the Internal Affairs and Communications minister prompted an outcry when she said the government may shut down broadcasters if they repeatedly air programs that run counter to political impartiality. The United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of expression voiced concerns during his visit in April that the Broadcast Act gives regulatory authority to the government instead of an independent third party.

"No More": Ending Sex Trafficking in Canada

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:52:30 +0000

When we accepted the honor of co-chairing this Task Force, we knew there was an issue, but we had no idea of the scale, the scope and the human tragedy being played out in our own communities. Girls, often as young as 13, are being lured, recruited and procured into sexual slavery by predators who profit from their endeavors, rob them of their dignity, and often wound them with lifelong scars, changing forever the trajectories of otherwise happy lives. Poverty, violence and widespread gender inequity are the preconditions for trafficking, but not the only factors. Any one of the previously trafficked girls and women we have come to know could be our own daughter, our sister, our niece, our aunt. The diversity of those who are trafficked is sobering: any girl, anywhere, at any time.

Bangladesh Events of 2016

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:53:47 +0000

Bangladesh witnessed a spate of violent attacks against secular bloggers, academics, gay rights activists, foreigners, and members of religious minorities in 2016. There were two separate incidents on July 1 and July 8. Although Islamist extremist groups, including the Islamic State or ISIS, claimed responsibility for most of these killings, the government blamed domestic groups, and said some had links to the main opposition political parties. Thousands of people were arrested, and dozens of alleged members or supporters of extremist groups are said to have been killed in armed encounters. This report indicates that Bangladesh has various human rights violations, including labor violation, violence against women, child marriage and human trafficking.

Human trafficking in Eastern Europe: The case of Bulgaria

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:55:27 +0000

Eastern Europe is among the major sources of migrants who travel for work to other European nations. In this research, in-depth interviews and analysis of legal cases of migration in Bulgaria reveal that the typical kinds of human trafficking in the region are sexual exploitation, labor exploitation, forced servitude, and trafficking of pregnant women for the sale of their babies. For each type, I examine victim profiles, recruitment strategies, transportation, and the types of control and exploitation that traffickers use. Comparisons are drawn between the Bulgarian findings and patterns in other Eastern European nations. Source: Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol 653(1), May, 2014. pp. 162-182.

Back to square one? Remigration of Bulgarian women after exploitation in the prostitution sector in the Netherlands

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:57:33 +0000

The aim of this research was twofold: firstly to describe the process of remigration of Bulgarian women who (un)voluntarily return from the Netherlands to Bulgaria after having been exploited in prostitution. Secondly, to gain a better understanding of the aspects that influence the remigration process at different levels: that of the individual (micro), the family and direct environment of a trafficked person (meso) and the macro structural level of Bulgaria as a society.

Report From The National Roundtable on Service Delivery for Trafficked Women and Girls in Canada

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:58:26 +0000

On September 18th, 2013 the Canadian Women’s Foundation brought together 46 of Canada’s leading providers of services for trafficked women and girls. THE GOAL: To identify the services and system changes that could:

prevent trafficking
respond to the immediate needs of trafficked women and girls, and
help women and girls leave exploitive situations and rebuild their lives.During this full-day roundtable, representatives from women’s-, Aboriginal- and immigrant-serving organizations, police departments, shelters, hospitals, community organizations and anti-trafficking initiatives generated hundreds of ideas, practices and recommendations.For many participants, this was their first chance to meet with their counterparts from across Canada. It was also a unique opportunity for police and nurses, shelter workers and women’s advocates to meet together as colleagues in the trafficking sector.

Report of the Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, on her Mission to Jordan

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:59:05 +0000

Note by the Secretariat General: "The Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, visited Jordan 28 January to 4 February 2016, at the invitation of the Government. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur highlights the country’s commitment to combating trafficking in persons, as evidenced by its legislative and policy framework that protects migrant workers, its multidisciplinary approach in taking anti-trafficking measures and the establishment of a shelter for trafficked persons. Various initiatives further improve implementation of labour standards while promoting competitiveness. She nonetheless expresses concern about, inter alia, the perception that human trafficking in Jordan mainly involves labour exploitation of non-Jordanians, to the neglect of other forms of trafficking including trafficking for sexual exploitation, begging and organ transplant, which involve Jordanians, migrants and the refugee and asylum-seeking population. Moreover, given the influx of migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers, immigration practices do not provide opportunity for accurate identification and protection of trafficked persons. Other concerns include the absence of an updated national strategy to combat trafficking and standard operating procedures, the placement of victims in shelters without freedom of movement and the low prosecution rates for trafficking cases. On that basis, the Special Rapporteur makes a number of recommendations to the Government, including with regard to ratification of key international legal instruments, strengthening of national legislation and policies to combat trafficking, and increasing capacity-building activities for government officials. The Special Rapporteur also encourages the Government to address gaps in the assistance provided to victims of trafficking, especially in terms of providing them with effective remedies, and increasing the involvement of civil society organizations in the provision of assistance to victims. She also calls on the Government to improve the justice delivery system and strengthen its cooperation with source countries to address root causes of trafficking and create more opportunities for safe migration."

North Korea’s Forced Labor Enterprise: A State-Sponsored Marketplace in Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 16:59:41 +0000

Testimony of John Sifton, Asia Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch on North Korea's State-Sponsored human trafficking business. It is a highly complex phenomenon and the issue of North Koreans being subjected to forced labor outside of their country is a timely topic of concern as the government forces its citizens to work in abusive environments outside the country and takes most of the the compensation produced from this labor.

Promotion of the Rights of Trafficked Persons in Bulgaria: A Humans Rights Based Approach

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:00:41 +0000

Animus Association has analyzed how the rights of trafficked persons are respected and promoted in Bulgaria. Despite increasing awareness that trafficking and the exploitation of human beings through forced labour or in slavery-like conditions constitute severe human rights violations, states tend to focus on the prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators, while the protection of the rights of trafficked persons lags behind. Often victims are purely seen as an instrument for the prosecution with little regard for the far-reaching impact testifying against their exploiters may have on their current and future wellbeing and long-term safety.

This report has been written as part of the 3-year project “Promotion of the Rights of Trafficked Persons in Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia with Emphasis on Legal Support – A Human Rights-Based Approach”. It provides a legal analysis of the position of trafficked persons in criminal and other relevant proceedings and their treatment by the judicial system, in particular their access to legal aid and the protection of their rights as victims and witnesses, including access to compensation. It contains an analysis of the legal provisions pertaining to the position of victim/witness of trafficking and their implementation in practice, based on the experiences of the partner NGOs and information from interviews with victims. Attention is also paid to the national definition of trafficking and its implementation, in particular whether it offers equal protection without discrimination to all possible victims, including sex workers and victims of trafficking and exploitation for other purposes than prostitution.

Report for the Study on Typology and Policy Responses to Child Begging in the EU

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:01:14 +0000

This report examines the reasons behind differences in child begging incidence throughout Europe, in relation to legislation, policy and responses,as well as the characteristics and causes of child begging across Europe. This comparative report brings together the results of research carried out in thirteen EU Member States (Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the UK) and in Kosovo and Albania, forming part of the overall Study on the typology and policy responses to child begging in the European Union, which comprises an EU level, a national level and a local level, with desk research and interviews for each of these levels, in order to provide a comprehensive picture of the child begging phenomenon.

Thailand: Mass Graves of Rohingya Found in Trafficking Camp

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:02:08 +0000

Trafficking of persons in Thailand has long been out of control. With the discovery of more than 30 bodies in a human trafficking camp should prompt Thai authorities to authorize an independent, United Nations-assisted investigation, commit to publish its findings, and bring those responsible to justice, including any government officials involved, Human Rights Watch said today. The UN and others, including the United States, that have called for an end to trafficking in Thailand should urgently press the government to end official complicity and willful blindness in rampant trafficking in the country.

The Right to Compensation for Victims of Human Trafficking in Bulgaria

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:03:14 +0000

The current study examines what remedies for claiming compensation are available in Bulgaria. The study will investigate and analyse the process of claiming compensation for victims of human trafficking, thereby identifying the obstacles which need to be overcome in order to claim compensation. Firstly, the phenomenon of human trafficking in Bulgaria will be analysed. The root causes of trafficking will be described briefly. Secondly, the international legal framework will be outlined and in particular the legally binding documents, ratified by the Bulgarian government. Next, the study will present the available mechanisms and procedures for claiming compensation and the main focus will be on the Crime Victim Assistance and Compensation Act. In this part the obstacles which survivors of trafficking encounter when filing a claim and receiving compensation will be examined. For the purpose of the study, some interviews have been conducted with experts in the field of human trafficking. Their opinions and recommendations will be shared. The country study will conclude with recommendations on how the identified obstacles could be overcome and will include recommendations for amendment of the current legislation.

Human Rights and Health Disparities for Migrant Workers in the UAE

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:04:14 +0000

ABSTRACT FROM PUBLICATION (HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS): "Systematic violations of migrant workers' human rights and striking health disparities among these populations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are the norm in member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Migrant laborers comprise about 90 percent of the UAE workforce and include approximately 500,000 construction workers and 450,000 domestic workers. Like many other GCC members countries, the UAE witnessed an unprecedented construction boom during the early 2000s, attracting large numbers of Western expatriates and increasing demand for cheap migrant labor. Elite Emiratis' and Western expatriates' dependence on household staff further promoted labor migration. This paper offers a summary of existing literature on migrant workers and human rights in the UAE, focusing on their impact on related health ramifications and disparities, with specific attention to construction workers, domestic workers, and trafficked women and children. Construction workers and domestic laborers are victims of debt bondage and face severe wage exploitation, and experience serious health and safety problems resulting from inhumane work and living conditions. High rates of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse impact the health of domestic workers. Through a review of available literature, including official reports, scientific papers, and media reports, the paper discusses the responsibility of employers, governments, and the global community in mitigating these problems and reveals the paucity of systematic data on the health of migrant workers in the Gulf."

Guidance on representing trafficked persons in compensation claims: A practical tool for lawyers, counselling centres and service providers

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:04:32 +0000

Non-governmental organisations, legal counsellors, lawyers or others who wish to support trafficked persons in claiming compensation often find themselves in situations where knowledge and expertise is insufficient in order for them to properly support their clients. This is not surprising, given the fact that awareness regarding the issue of compensation for trafficked persons has only recently manifested into the international anti-trafficking debate and the number of cases where compensation has been successfully claimed in Europe remains limited. This Guidance on representing trafficked persons in compensation claims provides lawyers, counselling centres and other service providers information on the rights and needs of trafficked persons, the ways of claiming compensation for both material and non material damages, a detailed overview of the international legislation and includes a simple 5-Step Model for claiming compensation for trafficked persons.

Laws to Combat Sex Trafficking: An Overview of International, National, Provincial, and Municipal Laws and their Enforcement

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:05:11 +0000

This report examines current legislation, regulations and law enforcement issues relating to human trafficking for sexual exploitation at four levels: the international, national, state/provincial, and municipal. The report is part of on-going research for the Task Force on the Trafficking of Women and Girls in Canada, convened by the Canadian Women’s Foundation (CWF).1 A previous research report to the Task Force discusses the incidence of sex trafficking in Canada as well as specific issues of trafficking for sexual exploitation in Canada and the impacts on women and girls in particular.2 The overall purpose of the research is to analyze Canada’s legal framework for addressing sex trafficking, place Canada’s current legislative responses to sex trafficking at federal, provincial and municipal levels in the context of international obligations and recent developments in other countries, and to examine possible responses and innovative practices for the law and law enforcement. The report is intended to aid the Task Force in formulating its programming and policy responses to the significant problem of sexual exploitation of women and girls in Canada.

"They didn’t help me; They shamed me"

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:09:04 +0000

This report presents outcomes and key discussion from research conducted among ‘street-involved’ (street-living and/or street-working) boys in Manila, Philippines. The research provides a baseline of information and an initial analysis of the key needs, vulnerabilities, and potential resiliencies of street involved boys in Manila. Conducted in July and August 2015, the research aims to initiate a more nuanced and informed discussion on a male vulnerability in the Philippines for social service providers, policy makers, child-protection advocates, and social researchers.

Ripe for Abuse: Palestinian Child Labor in Israeli Agricultural Settlements in the West Bank

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:12:17 +0000

ABSTRACT BY AUTHOR: "Hundreds of Palestinian children work for low wages on Israeli settlement farms in the occupied West Bank, where they grow, harvest and pack agricultural produce, much of it for export. Based on interviews with 38 children and 12 adults who work on settlement farms in the Jordan Valley area, Ripe for Abuse documents dangerous working conditions to which children employed on Israeli settlement farms are subjected, in violation of international standards. Children described working in high temperatures, carrying heavy loads, and spraying or being exposed to pesticides. Some children said they had to pay themselves for medical treatment for work-related injuries or illness. Many said they dropped out of school before completing the 10 years of basic education that are compulsory under Palestinian as well as Israeli laws. Discriminatory Israeli policies have allocated 86 percent of the land in the Jordan Valley to settlements. The Jordan Valley covers about 30 percent of the West Bank. In addition, Israel has restricted Palestinian access to farmland and water in the area, contributing to high Palestinian poverty rates. Human Rights Watch calls on Israel, which does not meaningfully enforce labor rights for Palestinian children working on Israeli settlement farms, to end unlawful settlement policies and in the meantime to prohibit settlers from committing human rights abuses against Palestinian children. Other countries and businesses should uphold their own responsibilities not to benefit from or contribute to these abuses by ending business relationships with settlements, including imports of agricultural produce grown on the settlements."

A Guide for Mothers, Grandmothers, and Others for Helping a Girl Caught in Prostitution or Sex Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:12:39 +0000

Every year tens of thousands of young people, especially young girls, become trapped into prostitution. Mothers, grandmothers, and others close to the young women, are usually the first to suspect the girl is in trouble. They're also the most likely to care deeply, and the most willing to fight long and hard to help the young woman. The purpose of this guide is to provide you with tips, information, and resources to help you fight as effectively as possible to help a girl involved in prostitution. Helping your child is not going to be easy. As you're probably well aware, there are still very powerful prejudices and forces working against any young person in prostitution. There are the pimps and johns who treat her as merchandise, and control her with degradation, threats, and violence. There are police agencies that often treat her as a criminal. And there is much of our society that still believes it's the girls who are the root cause of the prostitution problem.

2015 Uganda Child Labor Report

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:12:59 +0000

This report/fact sheet provides statistics and information depicting the current state of child labor in Uganda. It reports statistics on working children and education in the country, and compiles Ugandan laws, policies, institutions and other efforts established to curb the problem.

An Assessment of Sex Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:13:25 +0000

This study was commissioned by the Canadian Women’s Foundation to support the work of the Task Force on Trafficking of Women and Girls in Canada. The Task Force is an ad hoc committee established by the Canadian Women’s Foundation’s Board of Directors. The Task Force is comprised of 23 experts on human trafficking and sexual exploitation and was convened to analyze the human trafficking situation in Canada. At the end of its eighteen- month mandate, the Task Force is expected to make recommendations to the Canadian Women’s Foundation Board of Directors on a national anti-trafficking strategy for the Foundation. Like the Task Force itself, this report focuses exclusively on sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of girls and women in Canada, while recognizing that labour trafficking, organ trafficking, and trafficking for forced marriage are all important topics requiring greater investigation. The report answers diverse inquiries posed by the Canadian Women’s Foundation following their preliminary consultations with human trafficking stakeholders from 2011 to 2012. The purpose of the report is to provide a baseline from which the Task Force can work. The report gathers information on the prevalence of human trafficking in Canada in 2013, examines the profile of victims and the techniques of traffickers, and explores newer areas in the human trafficking discussion – such as the demand to purchase sex in Canada, the role of the internet in sex trafficking, and the social and economic costs of sex trafficking. More detailed reports in other topic areas, such as relevant laws, law enforcement and service provision will follow this report over the course of the year. The objectives of the study are to understand the current incidence of sex trafficking in Canada, provide information on who is being trafficked and how, and investigate specific areas of concern with respect to the crimes were previously identified in cross-Canada consultations conducted by the Canadian Women’s Foundation. These specific areas include: the demand to purchase people for sex, the relevance and use of the internet in sex trafficking, and the economic and social costs of sex trafficking.

Booklet for municipal officials on reception and reintegration of repatriated persons

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:14:09 +0000

The purpose of this booklet is to provide municipal officials in Kosovo with an understanding of their roles and responsibilities with regard to the implementation of government policies and strategies aimed at reintegrating repatriated persons into society. It aims to give an overview of the institutional mechanisms necessary for the reintegration process and to guide municipal officials in their day-to-day work in assisting repatriated persons with reintegration in their places of origin.

This booklet is intended for municipal officials working in both the executive and legislative branches of the municipality to assist them with information and guidance in meeting the reintegration challenges ahead.

"I Already Bought You": Abuse and Exploitation of Female Migrant Domestic Workers in the United Arab Emirates

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:16:56 +0000

ABSTRACT ACCORDING TO REPORT: "At least 146,000 female migrant domestic workers—perhaps many more—are employed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Female domestic workers from the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Ethiopia, and elsewhere face severe abuse and exploitation by employers and labor recruitment agencies. “I Already Bought You”: Abuse and Exploitation of Female Migrant Domestic Workers in the United Arab Emirates documents how the UAE’s visa sponsorship system (known as kafala) ties migrant workers to employers and how the exclusion of domestic workers from labor law protections leaves migrant domestic workers at risk of abuse. The report exposes barriers preventing abused domestic workers from obtaining remedy, including lack of shelters, penalties for “absconding” workers, and justice system failings. Based on interviews with 99 female domestic workers, recruitment agents, employers, and others in the UAE, the report documents abuses that domestic workers face—passport confiscation, non-payment of wages, lack of rest periods and time off, confinement to households, excessive work and working hours, food deprivation, and psychological, physical, and sexual abuse. In some cases the abuses amounted to forced labor or trafficking. The UAE has an increasingly influential role in the international labor arena. In 2014, it joined the governing body of the International Labour Organization. At home, however, it maintains the exploitative kafala system, has failed to adopt a bill pending since 2012 on domestic workers’ rights, and has yet to ratify key international treaties on migrants’ and domestic workers’ rights. Human Rights Watch calls for the reform of the kafala system and the introduction of labor law protections and other measures to fully protect domestic workers’ rights."

Traite Transnationale de Personnes: État des Lieux et Analyse des Réponse au Maroc

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:17:27 +0000

Selon le Résumé Exécutif du Rapport: "La traite transnationale des personnes semble être un phénomène limité et récent au Maroc. Les autorités ont ainsi mis en œuvre une dynamique concrète visant à prévenir et à lutter contre la traite. En témoignent encore la récente décision du Conseil des Ministres1 d’adhérer au Protocole visant à prévenir, punir et réprimer la traite des personnes, en particulier les femmes et les enfants (Protocole de Palerme) et l’évolution de la stratégie nationale de « lutte contre le trafic de migrants » vers une approche intégrée et transversale qui prend davantage en compte les populations vulnérables et leur protection. La présente étude répond à la volonté d’améliorer les connaissances de ce phénomène pour permettre de mieux le cerner ainsi que ses diverses manifestations pour renforcer les réponses qui y sont apportées. L’étude résulte d’une approche qualitative. Elle propose une analyse de la situation et ne prétend pas quantifier le phénomène de la traite transnationale au Maroc. Il s’agit d’une étude exploratoire appelant la mise en place de systèmes de collectes et d’analyse de données et d’études complémentaires sur les cas identifiés. Cette étude s’interesse à l’analyse des cas de traite transnationale et non de traite interne au Maroc. En fonction des informations collectées, le nombre de victimes de traite transnationale au Maroc semble peu important. Les situations de traite identifiées impliquent principalement l’exploitation des femmes Marocaines à l’étranger, principalement dans les pays arabes, et les femmes nigérianes migrantes irrégulières en transit au Maroc. Par ailleurs, des groupes vulnérables ont été identifiés comme étant à risque d’être victimes de traite. Il s’agit des mineurs Marocains non accompagnés migrant de manière irrégulière en Europe. Puis, d’enfants subsahariens nés en transit, sans état civil, présents sur le territoire marocain. Enfin, du groupe des migrantes subsahariennes en transit au Maroc à risque de traite du fait de leur situation extrêmement vulnérable et précaire favorisant les situations d’exploitation et les risques de récupération par les réseaux de traite. Le Gouvernement du Maroc, ainsi que la société civile et les organisations internationales, prenant en compte l’évolution de la situation, ont initié des actions de sensibilisation des acteurs, des discussions sur le renforcement du cadre juridique actuel par des mesures additives et des stratégies de protection des victimes, en particulier des victimes les plus vulnérables. Dans le cadre de la stratégie nationale de lutte contre le trafic des êtres humains mise en œuvre par le Maroc, les autorités ont pour objectif de renforcer les efforts dans le sens de l’adoption d’une politique spécifique de prévention et de lutte contre la traite des personnes au Maroc et renforcer la protection spécifique des victimes de traite. Les principales recommandations suivantes ont pour objectif de renforcer les initiatives déjà en cours ou prévues et peuvent aider l’ensemble des acteurs, le Gouvernement du Maroc, mais également la société civile et les organisations internationales, à renforcer leurs actions de manière à prévenir, punir la traite des personnes et protéger les victimes."

Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking of Aboriginal Women and Girls

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:19:36 +0000

This review examines relevant research, legislation and regulations in Canada and internationally, as well as related reports to examine, review, analyze, and subsequently report on, relevant research in the area of sexual exploitation and human trafficking of Aboriginal women and girls in Canada. The results of the research were compiled and analyzed and include relevant qualitative and quantitative statistics from the literature. In addition to the literature review, this report includes findings drawn from interviews held with pertinent stakeholders such as legal experts, law enforcement officers, crown attorneys, policy makers and policy analysts, experiential survivors, representatives of community-based women’s organizations supporting Aboriginal women and girls generally, as well as those that support sexually exploited or trafficked Aboriginal women and girls. The avenues of inquiry for this study resulted in an exploration of the root causes and impacts of trafficking and sexual exploitation on Aboriginal women and girls in general; identified the service gaps and priority areas to be addressed; examined the linkages between the experiences with the sexual exploitation of Aboriginal women and girls; and explored local, regional, and national endeavours (legal, justice, and policing-based) aimed at fighting and preventing sexual exploitation and trafficking.

Prostitution in Vancouver: Violence and the Colonization of First Nations Women

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:19:59 +0000

We interviewed 100 women prostituting in Vancouver, Canada. We found an extremely high prevalence of lifetime violence and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Fifty-two percent of our interviewees were women from Canada’s First Nations, a significant overrepresentation in prostitution compared with their representation in Vancouver generally(1.7-7%). Eighty-two percent reported a history of childhood sexual abuse, by an average of four perpetrators. Seventy-two percent reported childhood physical abuse, 90% had been physically assaulted in prostitution, 78% had been raped in prostitution. Seventy-two percent met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD. Ninety-five percent said that they wanted to leave prostitution. Eighty-six percent reported current or past homelessness with housing as one of their most urgent needs. Eighty-two percent expressed a need for treatment for drug or alcohol addictions. Findings are discussed in terms of the legacy of colonialism, the intrinsically traumatizing nature of prostitution and prostitution’s violations of basic human rights.

Using the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930 to Combat Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:20:20 +0000

A recent amendment to Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (“Section 307”) has made it another weapon in the arsenals of Liberty Asia and other human rights organizations working across the world to eradicate human trafficking.

Identifying best practices and collaboration opportunities within a nonprofit supporting trafficked and prostituted women

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:21:14 +0000

Human trafficking and prostitution for commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) happens every day, in every country. Women and female children are the predominate targets of this type of exploitation. This research looked at CSE women and how the Organization for Prostitution Survivors (OPS), a Seattle nonprofit, approaches their work with victims. The action research study question was: What creates successful collaboration and best practices sharing within a Seattle social services nonprofit organization serving the domestically prostituted and trafficked survivor community? Data were collected through an online research survey, consisting of 11 questions in total. Survey demographics included nine OPS board of directors and staff participants. The completed findings were shared with OPS in a feedback session during the spring of 2014, indicating a need for more robust organizational development practices and strategy beyond OPS’s current framework, including standardization of communication and self-care practices, financial development, fundraising, and clearly defined roles.

The Snake from Fujian Province to Morecambe Bay: An Analysis of the Problem of Human Trafficking in Sweated Labour

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:24:18 +0000

On a cold and rainy afternoon, 5 February 2004, 35 Chinese women and men picking cockles on the sands of Hestbank in Morecambe Bay were cut off from the shore by the rising tide. When the police and rescue team finally arrived it was already too late. Only ten people survived the tragedy. Twenty-one people were found dead, but the police believed that two more people drowned that night. Their bodies have never been found. Twenty of the victims were from the Fujian province. In the aftermath of the tragedy, public attention was focused on a number of aspects of the situation of the Chinese cockle pickers that went way beyond the actual situation in which they lost their lives: on their working conditions, their living conditions, and on the debt bond these Chinese had incurred as a result of the journey and illegal entry into the UK. Connections were being made to human trafficking and forced labour, and there was talk about modern forms of slavery, people smugglers (snakeheads), and organized crime. But what was really the case of the Chinese cockle pickers? Were they victims of human trafficking, ‘tricked’ by ruthless snakeheads and organized criminal gangs who wanted to exploit them? Or were they clients of people smugglers paying their way out of poverty, willing to endure hardship for prospect of a better life in the West?

Human Trafficking Into and Within the United States: A Review of the Literature

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:24:00 +0000

This comprehensive review of current literature on human trafficking into and within the United States focuses on surveying what the social science or other literature has found about the issues of identifying and effectively serving trafficking victims. A more specific focus concerns the phenomenon of domestic trafficking (trafficking involving U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, often within the U.S.), the impact on domestic youth, and the availability and/or effectiveness of services for these victims.

Anti Trafficking Review: Issue 5

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:23:20 +0000

A special issue of the monthly Anti Trafficking Review Journal focused on forced labor

Sex Trafficking, Law Enforcement, and Perpetrator Accountability

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:22:43 +0000

In theory, everyone – except for criminals involved in their exploitation - agrees that children must not be in the sex industry and further, that those who prey on them must be prosecuted and punished. Virtually every country in the world has adopted national laws prohibiting the commercial sexual exploitation of children. International law is clear on this point, as well. Yet, when governments – and NGOs working with them – take action to extract children from commercial sex venues, common ground on protecting children from abuse can quickly erode with concerns about the efficacy of police intervention, the possibility of collateral harm to consenting adult sex workers or a decrease in access to HIV-prevention and related health services. The author argues that healing this divide must come through the reform of local police – and that, without the participation of law enforcement, there can be no long-term protection for children vulnerable to trafficking and related exploitation. In this article, human rights practitioner Holly Burkhalter argues that healing this divide must be accomplished through the reform of local police – and that human rights advocates, local governments and others seeking to combat trafficking cannot achieve long-term, sustainable protection for children without the involvement of law enforcement.

Uganda v Umutoni

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:24:46 +0000

Description of the case of Umutoni Annet vs the republic of Uganda, in the High Court of Uganda at Kampala. The accused was prosecuted for the deception and abduction of two underage girls from Rwanda to Uganda for exploitative purposes. This case holds particular significance as it marked the first time that the "Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act No.7 of 2009"was utilized.

肢體交通：台灣人口販運問題分析與防治策略

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:25:16 +0000

人口販運不僅是人權議題，更是跨國犯罪問題，為有效打擊人口販運之犯罪，聯合國於2000年通過打擊有組織犯罪公約，關於預防、禁止和懲治人口販運，特別是婦女和兒童之任擇議定書。而早在聯合國通過議定書之前，美國也於2000年通過TVPA（Trafficking Victim Protection Act 保護人口販運之被害人法案）法案，歐盟則於2002年通過關於打擊人口販運的議架構決定，並於2005年通過反人口販運公約。由上可知，人口販運已成為全球共同面對的問題。近二、三年開始，台灣政府對才開始重視人口販運問題，並採取行動。本文將嘗試說明現今台灣面對的人口販運現況，以及政府與民間所做的努力，並試著分析當前所面臨的挑戰與未來努力的方向。

"They Deceived Us at Every Step" Abuse of Cambodian Domestic Workers Migrating to Malaysia

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:09:50 +0000

A broker said that the company is looking for women to work in Malaysia. When I asked if there is anyone who will help my daughter if she is in trouble, the broker said that if something happens to the girl, if she dies for example, the company would pay the compensation….He said, “You can rest all your life with that money.” — Chey Nhean, father of Chey Champel, a 21-year-old domestic worker who died in the Phnom Penh training center of VC Manpower, Cambodia, April 2011

"Tell My Mother I Miss Her:" The Disappearance, Forced Conversions and Forced Marriages of Coptic Christian Women in Egypt

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:11:36 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "Coptic women in Egypt are disappearing from their homes, their schools, and their places of work. They go missing while returning from church, picking up their children from school, or traveling to the sick bed of an aging parent. They are often held as captives, subjected to physical and psychological abuse in the form of rapes, beatings, domestic labor without pay, forced marriage and forced conversion to Islam. Their lives, and the lives of their families, are severely damaged."

"They Bear All The Pain" Hazardous Child Labor in Afghanistan

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:10:20 +0000

This report documents how child workers work dangerous jobs in Afghanistan’s carpet industry; as bonded labor in brick kilns; and as metal workers. They perform tasks that could result in illness, injury, or even death due to hazardous working conditions and poor enforcement of safety and health standards. Many children who work under those conditions combine the burdens of a job with school, or forego education altogether. Working compels many children in Afghanistan to leave school prematurely. Only half of children involved in child labor attend school.

沒有買賣，沒有殺戮

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:59:21 +0000

曾經有媒體報導有人為了籌錢買iPad不惜賣掉自己的身體器官，這種做法委實讓人吃驚。美國Medical Transcription網站公布了一份美國黑市的人體器官交易價格圖，從上面的數據可以看出，交易價格最高前三種器官依次是腎臟、肝臟以及心臟。全國每年有150萬名需要器官移植患者的等待，但只有1萬多人能進行，供需不平衡，產生巨大的缺口，又因中國、印度及巴基斯坦、孟加拉等國的人民極度貧困和缺乏健康常識，催生了一個本不該有的行業——人體器官買賣，讓活體器官買賣的地下市場依然活躍。畫面呈現活體器官如擺放在超市中販售的生鮮食品般廉價，販售的日期是12/10世界人權日，藉以諷刺中國、巴基斯坦、孟加拉等國家活體器官買賣的過於平凡，許多人往往在失去寶貴器官後，才感到生存困難。

An Assessment of the Implementation of the Legal and Policy Framework for the Reintegration of Repatriated Persons in Kosovo

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:06:28 +0000

This report reviews the progress made by Kosovo institutions in the development and implementation of the legal and policy framework for the reintegration of repatriated persons. A previous report by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) “Reassessing Progress in the Development and Implementation of the Legal and Policy Framework for the Reintegration of Repatriated Persons” published in January 2014 identified a significant progress, and also highlighted a number of shortcomings. The present report covers the period between January 2014 and December 2015. Two major factors influenced the reintegration process during this reporting period. The legal and policy framework governing the reintegration of repatriated persons was entirely revamped in late 2013, and the number of persons repatriated to Kosovo rose sharply since the second half of 2013, putting a greater strain on the institutions responsible for reintegration.

認識人口販運

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:59:30 +0000

什麼是人口販運？. 人口販運，是指：「指意圖使人從事性交易、勞動與報酬顯不相當之工作或摘取他人器官，而以脅迫、恐嚇、拘禁、監控、詐術、不當債務約束、扣留重要文件 ….. 等方法對他人進行剝削，並從中獲取暴利。」. 人口販運嚴重侵犯人權. 由於人口販運嚴重侵犯人權，違反國際法「公民與政治權利國際公約」及「經濟社會文化權利國際公約」 ( 兩公約 ) 對於人權的保障，所以國際社會對此問題予以高度重視。. 人口販運的嚴重性.

Challenges Encountered by the National Rapporteurs on Trafficking in Persons in Uganda

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 17:59:59 +0000

A report detailing the function, successes and challenges of the National Rapporteurs in Uganda - the office responsible for the coordination, monitoring, overseeing, and implementation of the 2009 Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act.

Questioning the Discursive Construction of Trafficking and Forced Labor In The United Arab Emirates

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:02:37 +0000

ABSTRACT ACCORDING TO PUBLICATION: "This paper investigates interactions between issues of labor, gender, sexuality, migration, and statehood through the lens of Dubai's unskilled foreign migrant workers. Using ethnographic research methods, including participant observation and in-depth interviews, this paper explores the conflation of discourses on trafficking, migration, and sex work through migrants' narratives. The study is organized around three central questions: 1) What are the social, economic, and political circumstances and structures that make Dubai a major migration and trafficking destination? 2) How do policies about global migration and trafficking, written and brought to fruition in Washington, DC, contrast with lived experiences of migration and forced labor in different countries with different social and political topographies? 3) How do cultural norms about gender, sexuality, morality, and migration influence the implementation of anti-trafficking policy and legal enforcement in Dubai? This study aims to question and deepen our understandings of labor, migration, and socioeconomic development in a rapidly changing, urbanizing environment while contributing to differing discourses on migration, trafficking, and prostitution in the Gulf countries."

Killed for Organs: China's Secret State Transplant Business

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:06:49 +0000

It's being called "abhorrent" and a "crime against humanity." Allegations of forced organ harvesting in China started to surface in 2006. Since then, mounting evidence suggests these allegations are true—and even worse than originally suspected. Prisoners of conscience—especially Falun Gong—are being killed for their organs. Starting in 1999, the number of transplant centers in China increased by 300% in just 8 years, even though China has no effective national organ donation system. 1999 was the year the Chinese regime began persecuting adherents of the Falun Gong spiritual practice, sending hundreds of thousands to labor camps. Many of them were never seen again. Transplant medicine was developed to save lives. But in China, innocent people are being killed for their organs—so they can be sold for profit. Increasingly, doctors, congressmen, international politicians, human rights lawyers, journalists, and people around the world are raising awareness about forced organ harvesting.

Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking: National Referral Mechanism Statistics - End of Year Summary 2016

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:03:12 +0000

This report by the UK's National Crime Agency presents a summary of the number of potential victims of modern slavery referred in to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) in 2016. It lists a breakdown of figures for the various kinds of exploitation reported to the NRM, the UK country of referral, adult and minor exploitation, and nationality of referral cases.

A Critical Analysis of Human Trafficking in South Africa: Remedies and Recommendations

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:07:12 +0000

This research paper takes a critical look at the state of human trafficking and legislation concerning it in South Africa. The article points out that, although South Africa has put in place an anti-human trafficking act, this has still not taken full effect, leaving many victims of the crime without a proper legal remedy.

La trata de mujeres: Sus conexiones y desconexiones con la migración y los derechos humanos

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:07:52 +0000

El presente documento trata el tema del tráfico de mujeres, un fenómeno que hunde sus raíces en la historia y que estuvo ligado desde sus orígenes a las guerras, la esclavitud y la objetivación sexual de las mujeres. Durante la época colonial, las mujeres, particularmente las africanas e indígenas, eran motivo de tráfico con un triple propósito: reducirlas a mano de obra gratuita, a reproductoras de nuevos esclavos, es decir, de más mano de obra gratuita, y servir de objeto sexual. Este último propósito estaba siempre presente sin que importara que el objetivo principal fuera cualquiera de los otros dos y podía darse dentro del mercado matrimonial, como concubina o simplemente como mujer a libre disposición del patrón. La autora sostiene que las formas actuales de tráfico no son muy diferentes y se refieren al mercado matrimonial, de entretenimiento sexual a oficiales y soldados, a la mano de obra barata, a la venta de servicios a través de Internet, y por supuesto, a las actividades turísticas y al comercio sexual, cuyos fines de explotación son el negocio mayoritario. This document discusses the issues of trafficking in women, a phenomenon that is rooted in history, with its beginnings tied to wars, slavery, and the sexual objectification of women. During the colonial period, women, particularly African and indigenous women, were trafficked for three purposes: to reduce them to free labor, to reproduce new slaves, that is to say, another means of free labor, and to serve as a sexual object. The author suggests that current forms of trafficking are not much different and he refers to the marriage market, the sexual entertainment of officials and soldiers, the sale of cheap labor, the sale of services through the Internet, and of course, tourist activities and commercial sex, whose exploitative ends are the majority of the business.

Heading Back to Harm: A study on trafficked and unaccompanied children going missing from care in the UK

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:08:18 +0000

This research attempts to quantify the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and children who may be trafficked in the UK care system, as well as the number who go missing from care. Heading back to harm reveals that, from September 2014 to September 2015, 28% of trafficked children (167 children) in care and 13% of unaccompanied children (593 children) in care went missing at least once. Of these, 207 missing trafficked or unaccompanied children had not been found. This research has identified a worrying lack of consistency in the way in which local authorities identify and record risk of trafficking and exploitation. Topics covered include the links between child trafficking and unaccompanied children going missing and recommendations for how professionals should respond.

CLASS ACTS? Examining modern slavery legislation across the UK

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:08:51 +0000

In 2015 the Modern Slavery Act, the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland), and the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act entered into force in the UK. These Acts have introduced new offense of human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery, as well as a raft of provisions aimed at preventing modern slavery and protecting its victims. The purpose of this research was to review and compare the key provisions in these three Acts, to assess the extent to which they contribute to the UK’s implementation of the 2005 Council of Europe Trafficking Convention and EU Trafficking Directive, and the extent of their implementation to date. The report considers whether the Acts have better equipped the UK to tackle modern slavery. The research was undertaken through a combination of desk research, parliamentary questions and interviews with key stakeholders.

Colombia: semillero para la trata de personas

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:20:14 +0000

La trata de personas es una violación a los derechos humanos que requiere una especial atención por parte del Estado. Colombia ha mostrado voluntad para combatir eficazmente el delito al suscribir tratados internacionales, promulgar y sancionar leyes nacionales; sin embargo, estas medidas son insuficientes. Sólo con unas reformas socioeconómicas justas puede garantizar a la mayoría de la población un desarrollo sostenible que disminuya su vulnerabilidad. Otra tarea de vital importancia para la erradicación del delito de trata de personas en el contexto colombiano, es ajustar el sistema de justicia. En la mayoría de los casos los tratantes no son descubiertos, lo que dificulta el sometimiento de éstos a la ley. Entonces, los hacedores de política, organizaciones públicas y privadas del ámbito nacional tendrán que asumir nuevas actividades frente a los desafíos que presenta el combate de la trata de personas para el Estado colombiano en correspondencia con una estrategia común que privilegie los derechos humanos. Human trafficking is a human rights violation that requires special attention in part of the state. Colombia has shown a willingness to effectively combat crime by signing international treaties, passing and sanctioning international laws; however, these means are not enough. Only with fair socioeconomic reforms can the majority of the population be guaranteed sustainable development, which reduces their vulnerability. Other work of vital importance for the eradication of the crime of human trafficking in Columbia is reforming the justice system. In the majority of cases the traffickers are not discovered, which makes it difficult to comply to the law. So, lawmakers, public and private organizations at the national level have to try new tactics to combat human trafficking in Colombia in accordance with a common strategy that promotes human rights.

Human Trafficking Awareness in South Africa - video

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:18:44 +0000

This video aims to spread awareness and educate the public on human trafficking worldwide, and more specifically in South Africa. It provides facts and statistics, as well as official phone numbers and resources to be used in the case of information regarding human trafficking in South Africa.

Neo-Cannibalism and ISIS: Organs and Tissue Trafficking During Times of Political Conflict and War

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:18:17 +0000

ABSTRACT ACCORDING TO THE AUTHOR: "This paper based on ethnographic and archival anthropological research suggests that among the many layers of human trafficking for the purpose of organ removal within the vast field of human trafficking for fresh organs, attention should be directed to the impact of war and political conflict in providing a chaotic context that facilitates the ability to capture tissues and organs from the bodies of the enemy, the infidel, and the political refugee. Although the theft and plunder of enemy bodies, living and dead, during times of war, has a long history, what is new is the reported procurement of fresh organs from political prisoners and war and from refugees. This essay is one of several in which I am exploring the perverse uses of the bodies of the enemy to supply organs for transplant in field hospitals and rented transplant theaters in the Middle East. The allegations of organs trafficking by ISIS is the primary case discussed here."

Ways to Come, Ways to Leave: Gender, Mobility, and Il/legality among Ethiopian Domestic Workers in Yemen

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:17:49 +0000

ABSTRACT ACCORDING TO THE PUBLICATION: "Based on anthropological fieldwork in Yemen, this article examines the relationship between gender, mobility, and il/legality in the lives of Ethiopian domestic workers. Studies about migrant domestic workers in the Middle East often focus on abuse and exploitation, making a plea for the regulation of women’s legal status. Yet legal migration does not automatically mean that women gain more rights and become more mobile; regulation may also entail more control. The relationship between method of entry and legal status is not fixed, and the boundaries between legality and illegality are often blurred, with women moving in and out of il/legality and legal organizations following illegal practices, and vice versa. Gendered state policies and practices also affect women’s space for maneuvering, and attempts at regulation may further restrict rather than increase their mobility." Note: While this publication is not provided for free, if you are a student researcher or professor you may be able to access this source for free from your institution.

Constructing the ideal victim in the United States of America’s annual trafficking in persons reports

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:16:44 +0000

Human trafficking as a global phenomenon continues to elude accurate quantitative measure, and remains a controversial policy domain significantly influenced by anecdotal evidence. Drawing on the policy analysis framework of Bacchi (1999, Policy and Society, 26(3), 5–20, 2007) the problem representation of trafficking through narratives can be considered a direct antecedent of contemporary anti-human trafficking policy. This article explores the construction of human trafficking within the Trafficking in Persons Reports, published annually by the United States of America’s Department of State. An examination of the victim and offender narratives contained within the reports published between 2001 and 2012 demonstrates that human trafficking is predominantly represented as a crime committed by ideal offenders against idealized victims, consistent with Christie’s (1986) landmark criteria of ideal victimization. This representation of an ideal prototype has the potential to inform policy that diverts focus from the causative role of global socioeconomic injustice towards criminal justice policies targeting individual offenders.

A Quantitative Analysis of Commercial Sex Advertisements During Super Bowl XLVIII

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:14:18 +0000

The Super Bowl is commonly known as the single largest human trafficking incident in the United States where an inordinate number of children may be trafficked in or around the host area to engage in commercial sex (Jee, 2011; Jervis, 2011). To examine this

claim, our research team mined publicly available data from a major website known to host commercial sex advertisements for three months before and two months after Super Bowl XLVIII, held in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Rethinking Human Trafficking in India: Nature, Extent and Identification of Survivors

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:13:11 +0000

The scale and extent of trafficking in people remain little explored in the Indian context. Trafficking in human beings, especially in women and children, has become a matter of serious concern in India. Bonded and sex labour comprise the vast majority of human trafficking in India, though child soldiering, forced begging and organ harvesting have also been identified. The accessibility of the trafficker to the prospective victim is an important factor in trafficking. The method adopted is usually influenced by the proximity or otherwise of the trafficker to the victim. Human trafficking poses enormous challenges to governance and law enforcement, and, at times, these challenges seem to be overwhelming. Even if it is something that is unlikely to be eliminated, however, more effective steps can be taken to contain or even reduce the scope of the problem by a concerted effort to raise the priority of combating human trafficking and by both exerting pressure on and enhancing capacity in a country such as India, which still lacks legal instruments and serious anti-trafficking activities.

Hidden in the Home: Abuse of Domestic Workers with Special Visas in the United States

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:12:24 +0000

In the past decade alone, tens of thousands of individuals, mostly women, arrived in the United States with special temporary visas to work as live-in migrant domestic workers. They work for foreign diplomats, officials of international organizations, foreign students and businesspeople, or U.S. citizens residing abroad but temporarily in the United States...In the worst cases, the domestic workers are victims of trafficking—deceived about the conditions of their employment, brought to the United States, and held in servitude or performing forced labor. They work up to nineteen hours per day; are allowed to leave their employers' premises rarely and virtually never alone; are paid far less than the minimum wage, sometimes $100 or less per month; are ordered not to speak with individuals outside their employers' families; and are psychologically, physically and/or sexually abused. In these cases, workers’ isolation is so extreme and the culture of fear created by their employers through explicit threats and/or psychological domination is so great that the workers believe they will suffer serious harm if they leave their jobs and have no choice but to remain in and continue laboring in abusive conditions...There is no simple solution that will remedy the structural flaws of the U.S. special visa programs for domestic workers. If the U.S. government and the international entities whose employees employ migrant domestic workers with special visas follow the four key recommendations listed below, however, as well as the general and specific recommendations set forth at this report’s conclusion, they will be taking important steps toward protecting these workers’ human rights.

Trafficking, Sexual Exploitation, and Prostitution of Women and Girls in Iraq

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:12:07 +0000

This report, published in 2010 by the Norwegian Church Aid in conjunction with several Iraqi organizations dedicated to women and girls, highlights the ways in which women and girls are trafficked in the area, with a focus on sexual exploitation. The report uses regional conferences, individual interviews, and NGO consultations in order to gather information on sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in Iraq. Special attention is given to the status of women and girls in Iraq before and after the war began in 2003. The report ultimately produces recommendations that include legislative, policy, security, and preventative measures for women. While this report is 7 years old, it provides a detailed background on the human trafficking in Iraq during conflict.

Anti-Trafficking Legislation in Sub-Saharan Africa: Analyzing the Role of Coercion and Parental Responsibility

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:21:14 +0000

This paper explores the content of anti-trafficking legislation in Sub Saharan African countries as they pertain to the issues of coercion and parental responsibility. It examines the different forms and contents of these laws, and proposes preliminary typology of the current wave of anti-trafficking legislation. It discusses the United States' role in fostering international consensus for legislative remedy concerning human trafficking among countries in this region.

Time to Deliver: Considering pregnancy and parenthood in the UK’s response to human trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:20:52 +0000

The data collated for this research suggests that between 25-50% of trafficking victims in the UK are pregnant or have children, either accompanying them in the UK or residing in their home country. The purpose of this research was to assess whether the particular vulnerabilities and special needs of this sizable group are being acknowledged and met by the UK, and in doing so, whether the UK is meeting its obligations to protect the rights of all victims. The report was compiled through a review of legislation and policy, as well as interviews with frontline professionals who work directly with victims of trafficking and their families.

The Celebritization of Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:22:49 +0000

Human trafficking, and especially sex trafficking, is not only susceptible to alluring and sensational narratives, it also plays into the celebrity-as-rescuer ideal that receives considerable attention from the media, the public, and policy-makers. While some celebrities develop enough expertise to speak with authority on the topic, many others are neither knowledgeable nor accurate in their efforts to champion antitrafficking causes. Prominent policy-makers allow celebrity activ- ists to influence their opinions and even consult with them for advice regarding public policies. Emblematic of larger, fundamental problems with the dominant discourse, funding allocations, and legislation in cur- rent antitrafficking initiatives in the United States and elsewhere, celebrity activism is not significantly advanc- ing the eradication of human trafficking and may even be doing harm by diverting attention from aspects of the problem and solution that sorely require attention.

Child Trafficking in Nigeria - Unicef Fact Sheet

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:21 +0000

A fact sheet describing the extent of human trafficking in Nigeria, its causes, the level of national response, and the support offered by Unicef.

The story of India's slave brides

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:21 +0000

It is well known that boys are traditionally favored in Indian culture. Abortions of female fetuses have led to a gender imbalance across the country. In Mewat district in the northern state of Haryana the situation is particularly acute: there are 879 women for every 1,000 men. The national average is 927 women for 1,000 men. As many men cannot find women to marry, bride trafficking has become prevalent. Girls are bought from their families in other states when they are still young and married to local men. They are often badly treated both within the home and in the wider community where they are seen as outsiders.

La trata de personas en Puerto Rico: Un Reto a la Invisibilidad

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:21 +0000

Este documento explora el crimen de la trata de humana en el contexto de Puerto Rico, un destino de turismo sexual y un lugar de tránsito tanto para las mujeres con el propósito de explotación sexual. La investigación se propone cuatro objetivos principales: primero, entender el problema de tráfico y trata en términos generales para la región caribeña; segundo, examinar el panorama en Puerto Rico en función con la problemática; tercero, identificar agencias y organizaciones interesadas en desarrollar medidas e iniciativas anti-trata; y cuarto, recomendar políticas públicas encaminadas a llevar a cabo intervenciones apropiadas.

This document explores the crime of human trafficking in context of Puerto Rico, a destination for sexual tourism and a transit place for sexually exploited women. The research puts forth four objectives: first, to understand the human trafficking problem and trade in the Caribbean; second, to study its scope in Puerto Rico; third, to identify agencies and organizations interested in developing anti-trafficking means and incentives; and fourth, to recommend ways public policies can begin appropriate intervention.

Struggling to Survive: Slavery and Exploitation of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:21 +0000

This report, published by The Freedom Fund, explores the issues of human trafficking and slavery in Lebanon regarding Syrian refugees. Covering a wide range of topics from child marriage to sexual exploitation, the report highlights how conflict in Syria has subsequently exposed refugees to trafficking and slavery. It makes recommendations to the Lebanese government and international governments, organizations, and donors regarding anti-trafficking legislation. The report also discusses factors leading to the trafficking and slavery of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Ultimately, this report is helpful for anyone looking to learn more about the way Syrian refugees are taken advantage of as a result of the Syrian conflict, and is helpful for those looking at solutions to the problem.

FAQs on Child Trafficking in the UK

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:21 +0000

As one of the UK’s leading children’s rights anti-trafficking charities, ECPAT UK receives a number of common questions in our interactions with professionals, young people, government, NGOs and the media. This booklet provides answers to the top ten most frequently asked questions about child trafficking in the UK.

Vulnerability to exploitation and trafficking of Bulgarian children and adolescents in Greece. A case study of street based survival strategies in Thessaloniki

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:21 +0000

The immediate objective of this research is to give an indicative as well as detailed picture of the extent and specific dimensions of the phenomenon of mass begging in Greece, particularly of children and families from Bulgaria. This group has increased rapidly in recent years, particularly in Northern Greece, with Thessaloniki, where the research was mostly carried out, as a main destination. The data gathering exercise lasted a month and through social work on the street and interviews with relevant services, providing thereby relevant information.

Exploitative Labour Relations and Legal Consciousness of Irregular Migrant Workers in the Netherlands

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:21 +0000

The study looks into the problem of migrants as potential victims of trafficking in the Netherlands. It presents a theoretical framework on international and national law, jurisprudence and literature on migration and trafficking themes. Moreover, it offers an insight on the migrants prospective regarding labour rights through primary interviews with irregular migrants previously working in the Netherlands and migrants held as aliens in detention centres.

Promoting Synergies between Child Protection and Social Protection in Nigeria

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:20 +0000

This report is informed by a social protection conceptual framework which aims to identify policy and programming gaps, and offer recommendations on how Nigeria can implement its national development and social protection strategies in order to better protect its children. The report focuses on linkages between child protection and social protection services with regards to three different child protection deficits, one of which is child trafficking.

Community-Implemented Trauma Therapy for Former Child Soldiers in Northern Uganda

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:20 +0000

Study using a randomized controlled trial in order to assess the efficacy of community-based intervention in targeting PTSD in formerly abducted individuals - in this case, mostly child soldiers.

La Traite des Femmes et des Enfants au Maroc

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:20 +0000

Ce rapport, publié par ONU Femmes, la Confédération Suisse, et le gouvernement du Maroc, discute la définition de la traite au Maroc, les manifestions de la traite au Maroc, et les mécanismes de réponse. En cherchant la thématique d'étude, la rapport étudie le cadre législatif nationale et internationale, elle fait des entretiens semi-structurés, et elle focalise sur la société civile du Maroc. La rapport examine quelques formes de la traite, qui inclut l'exploitation sexuelle, l'exploitation au travail, la traite des enfants, et le mariage forcé. Cette ressource est parfaite pour les personnes qui cherchent un rapport complet de la traite au Maroc.

Human Trafficking in Nigeria: Briefing paper for the Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:20 +0000

Overview of the issue of human trafficking in Nigeria, including the main forms of human trafficking in Nigeria, the Nigerian setting, the Nigerian legislative, policy, and institutional framework, the countering of Boko Haram, reform priorities, and recommendations.

Hard Data: Data Collection Mechanisms on Human Trafficking in the Baltic Sea Region

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:20 +0000

This study compares the data collection mechanisms in the 11 Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) Member States and provides an overview of the categories of information on human trafficking cases that is currently collected, by whom it is collected, analysed and published as well as its public availability. The conclusions observe that there is a lack of comparable and comprehensive data - resulting in large uncertainties about the scope of the problem. It also highlights the missing link between operational actors collecting data and administrative or policy actors processing data and therefore suggests a minimum set of data indicators which would help bridge this gap. The study underlines the need to develop comparable data collection mechanisms and serves as a tool for organisations to use to enhance their own systems.

Boko Haram Leader: "We will sell the girls on the market" (video)

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:20 +0000

A video message from the leader of the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, in which he claims responsibility for the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in north-east Nigeria last month (video from May 2014). He threatens to 'sell them on the market', emphasizes Boko Haram's opposition to western education, and declares war on Christians.

Handbook on Anti-Trafficking Data Collection in South-Eastern Europe: Developing Regional Criteria

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:20 +0000

In 2004 and 2005 within the framework of the EU CARDS Programme for the Enhancement of Anti-trafficking Responses in South Eastern Europe, SEE countries supported by ICMPD joined forces to tackle the problem of traf cking in human beings by elaborating regional standards and guidelines for the development and implementation of comprehensive National Anti-traf cking Responses. 2006 through 2008 the concrete recommen- dations made by the participating institutions were implemented in the Programme for the Enhancement of Anti-trafficking Responses in South Eastern Europe: Data Collection and Information Management. The results of which were bifurcated locally owned databases, divided into trafficker and victim-centred repositories.

The handbook contains a list of indicators utilised in two databases: one on victims of trafficking and one on traffickers and criminal justice, which have been updated according to the recommendations from the institutions participating in the second phase of the programme. According to the principle of national ownership, the indicators have been developed in close cooperation with partners from the governments of the ten countries/ territories, as well as in consultation with international experts and representatives of international and non-governmental organizations.

Beyond Chibok: Over 1.3 million children uprooted by Boko Haram violence

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:20 +0000

An informational fact sheet provided by Unicef gives details on the over 1.3 million children who have gone missing in the Lake Chad region due to the Islamist Militant Group, Boko Haram.

Policing prostitution in an era of human trafficking enforcement

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:20 +0000

Prostitution and commercialized vice have been variously prioritized as urban crime problems across U.S. history. In response, lawmakers have historically been guided by a prohibititionst view where people selling, buying or facilitating the sale of sex are considered to be immoral and criminal. In recent years, public concern about the trafficking of persons for sex has reframed prostitution and the expectations of government response. The U.S. federal government and all fifty states have passed legislation that is guided by an abolitionist view of prostitution where people who are forced or coerced to sell sex are redefined as victims. State, county and municipal police officers are now receiving training on how to identify human trafficking cases and investigators are being trained to investigate and prepare cases for prosecution. Despite these efforts under the new legal regime, confusion exists about how sex trafficking differs from prostitution and correspondingly necessitates different types of law enforcement responses. Adding to this complication is the fact that in many major cities the responsibility for identifying and eradicating human trafficking has fallen to the same group of investigators who are responsible for enforcing vice and prostitution laws. As a result, prostitution enforcement is expected to change as police increasingly focus on identifying sex trafficking victims. Using data on police arrests for prostitution from 1980 to 2012, we examine the impact of federal and state anti-trafficking legislation on the local enforcement of prostitution. Our findings inform debate about legal reform as a response to urban crime problems and illustrate the complexities of policy implementation and interpretation.

Labor and Sex Trafficking Among Homeless Youth

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:20 +0000

Between February 2014 and June 2016, researchers from Loyola University New Orleans’s Modern Slavery Research Project (MSRP) were invited by Covenant House International and ten of their individual sites in the United States and Canada to serve as external experts to study the prevalence and nature of human trafficking among homeless youth aged 17 to 25. MSRP researchers interviewed 641 homeless and runaway youth who access services through Covenant House’s network of shelters, transitional living and apartment programs, and drop-in centers. Youth were invited to participate, on a voluntary basis, in a point-in- time study about work experience. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using the Human Trafficking Interview and Assessment Measure (HTIAM-14) to assess whether youth had been trafficked for sex or labor in their lifetimes

Sociologies of India's missing children

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:22 +0000

The sociologies of India's missing children merit spatial and contextual examination. The sociological space into which a child goes missing is highly under-researched in India. Building on overarching narratives emerging from secondary sources and existing literature on Indian children's vulnerability and precarity, the article aims to evaluate the landscape of missing children. The analyses suggest that a number of interconnected sociologies contribute to the phenomenon of missing children – these children are mainly from the poorer backgrounds, who are kidnapped, trafficked, or lured largely for social, commercial, and sexual exploitation. This research was conducted to gain a deeper understanding into the problem of missing children in order to address the gaps that require intervention.

Fast-Tracked Unfairness: Detention and Denial of Women Asylum Seekers in the UK

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:21 +0000

Detained Fast Track (DFT) is an accelerated procedure for assessing asylum intended for claims by men or women that, according to the UK Border Agency, can be decided “quickly.” It is inherently unsuitable for complex cases—and the cases of both men and women can be complex. Indeed, more men than women are referred into the procedure. However, this report focuses on the use of DFT to process claims by women because claims that involve gender-related issues can be particularly complex, especially when they involve persecution by private individuals and the state’s failure to provide adequate protection, and assessing them fairly can involve practical challenges.

Many women who claim asylum in the UK base the claim on violence and persecution by non-state actors like family members or their husband, which raises immediately the complex issue of lack of state protection. Organizations working with asylum-seeking women report claims because of trafficking for sexual or labor exploitation, forced marriage, forced sterilization, domestic violence, female genital mutilation, threat of “honor” killings and rape. Some estimate that more than half of women applying for asylum are victims of sexual violence.

Targeting Vulnerabilities: The Impact of the Syrian War and Refugee Situation on Trafficking in Persons, a Study of Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:25:21 +0000

FROM THE "ABOUT STUDY" SECTION OF THIS PUBLICATION: "This Study assesses the effects of the Syrian war and refugee crisis on trafficking in persons (TIP) in Syria and the surrounding region. The five countries under study - Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq (with a focus on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq – KR-I) - were selected on the basis of the magnitude of refugee and internal displacement. While around 6.6 million people are internally displaced in Syria as of the time of writing (October 2015), to the north of Syria, Turkey hosts around 1.9 million registered Syrian refugees, mostly in the southeastern and southern Turkish provinces. At Syria’s western border, the second most important hosting country in absolute numbers, Lebanon, is currently hosting over 1.1 million registered Syrians. Syria borders Jordan to the south, which is currently hosting around 630,000 people who have ed from Syria. Finally, Syria shares its eastern border with Iraq, where the majority of Syrians in the country reside in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I),2 an autonomous region in the federal state, host to a total of around 250,000 Syrian refugees. Nevertheless, these numbers do not include people who have ed from Syria to the neighbouring countries, but are not registered as active with the UNHCR - nor, in the case of Turkey, with the national authorities. In addition, the situation is highly dynamic, with Syrian refugees newly arriving in host countries, moving outside the region, entering a situation of internal displacement within Syria and, in some cases, returning to Syria for various reasons. Throughout the text, the five countries under study are referred to by order of the size of the displaced Syrian population: Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq. Iraqi Kurdistan is an autonomous region comprising the four governorates of Duhok, Erbil (Hewler), Sulaymaniyah and the newly established (early 2014) governorate of Halabja. The human trafficking phenomenon itself is the thematic focus of this research, which aims to understand the forms of trafficking in persons that are taking place and whom they affect, as well as who the perpetrators are, rather than examining anti-trafficking policies or initiatives. The forms of trafficking in the countries under study are the subject of investigation, as well as situations of vulnerability to trafficking, although reference is also made, where relevant, to trafficking from or through these countries. Relevant anti-trafficking legislation, institutions, policies and activities in the countries under study are brie y examined below, and throughout the rest of the Study are referred to only as and when relevant to understanding the trafficking phenomenon. This is driven by the conviction that the most important step in responding to the trafficking and exploitation of girls, boys, women and men is to first understand it. The chronological scope of the Study facilitates a comparison of the situation at the beginning of 2011, referred to throughout as the baseline date, with the situation throughout 2011-2015 inclusive, in order to assess the effects of the conflict. To better understand the situation prior to the outbreak of the war, the Study covers the decade 2001-2010, which is referred to as the baseline period. As set out below in the section on Methodology, the analysis of the baseline period principally draws on secondary research and data, while primary sources were also consulted for the period since the outbreak of the war. Research commenced in late 2014, with all of the eld research taking place in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq during 2015."

Sex Trafficking, Law Enforcement and Perpetrator Accountability

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:33:04 +0000

In theory, everyone – except for criminals involved in their exploitation - agrees that children must not be in the sex industry and further, that those who prey on them must be prosecuted and punished. Virtually every country in the world has adopted national laws prohibiting the commercial sexual exploitation of children. International law is clear on this point, as well. Yet, when governments – and NGOs working with them – take action to extract children from commercial sex venues, common ground on protecting children from abuse can quickly erode with concerns about the efficacy of police intervention, the possibility of collateral harm to consenting adult sex workers or a decrease in access to HIV-prevention and related health services. The author argues that healing this divide must come through the reform of local police – and that, without the participation of law enforcement, there can be no long-term protection for children vulnerable to trafficking and related exploitation. In this article, the author argues that healing this divide must be accomplished through the reform of local police – and that human rights advocates, local governments and others seeking to combat trafficking cannot achieve long-term, sustainable protection for children without the involvement of law enforcement.

"I Wanted to Lie Down and Die:" Trafficking and Torture of Eritreans in Sudan and Egypt

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:33:04 +0000

ABSTRACT ACCORDING TO REPORT: "Since 2010, traffickers in eastern Sudan have kidnapped at least hundreds of Eritrean refugees fleeing widespread human rights abuses and destitution in their country. They sell them to Egyptian traffickers who rape, burn, and mutilate them in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, often holding a mobile phone to their victims so their relatives abroad can hear their screams and pay at least hundreds of dollars in ransom. Based on interviews with 37 survivors of trafficking and torture in Sinai, “I Wanted to Lie Down and Die” documents the abuses and how in some cases, Sudanese and Egyptian security forces collude in these crimes by handing victims over to traffickers in police stations, turning a blind eye at checkpoints, and returning escaped victims to traffickers. When Egyptian border police intercept released trafficking victims, they routinely deny them medical assistance, protection, and access to the UN refugee agency. Instead they charge survivors with immigration offenses and detain them for months in inhumane and degrading conditions in Sinai’s police stations. Very limited prosecution of the traffickers and a failure to prosecute colluding security official’s means both Sudan and Egypt are in breach of their obligations under national and international anti-trafficking laws, international human rights law, and the United Nations Convention Against Torture. To end these horrific abuses, Human Rights Watch calls on both governments to identify and prosecute traffickers and Sudanese and Egyptian officials colluding with them. It also calls on Egypt to protect, not prosecute, released trafficking victims."

"Workers in the Shadows" Abuse and Exploitation of Child Domestic Workers in Indonesia

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:33:04 +0000

I started work when I was 11 years old…. I worked as a babysitter for my first employer. The male employer shouted at me a little too often…. The employer wouldn't let me leave the house.... I made the baby porridge, gave him milk, carried the baby if he cried, changed the baby, put him to sleep, and played with the baby. When the baby slept I did the ironing…. I woke up at 5 a.m. every day, and worked until 7 p.m. - Ayu, 13 years old, Bandung Every day my employer was angry and she would kick me and pinch me. Almost every day. When I mopped the floor, I did not use a mop for mopping, just my hands and a rag, and then my employer kicked me to go deeper under the bed. She would pinch me on my shoulders. - Ratu, 15 years old, Yogyakarta

India's Slave Brides

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:33:04 +0000

In India, the preference for boys has created a gender imbalance. 101 East investigates how every year, tens of thousands of girls and women in India are trafficked into slave marriages.

The Human Trafficking of Domestic Workers in the United States: Finding From the Beyond Survival Campaign

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:33:03 +0000

When Beyond Survival’s last report was released in 2015, we shared Karmo’s story. A group of trafficking survivors took the stage at the 2014 National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) Congress, attended by hundreds of domestic workers, to announce that they had just rescued Karmo from being trafficked and she was greeted by the warm embrace of NDWA members. Though that was just two years ago, today we find ourselves in a very different political climate. Since Donald Trump assumed the presidency of the United States on January 20, 2017, we have witnessed daily news reports of immigrant communities and communities of color being criminalized and targeted by his agents. Mothers have been deported within hours of being torn from their children, survivors of domestic violence have faced arrest in courts where they go to access safety and justice, and community leaders have chosen to take sanctuary in churches rather than fall victim to the harsh consequences of an inhumane deportation regime. In the current climate, we anticipate that the labor rights protecting survivors will only deteriorate. Employers seeking to prey upon the most vulnerable among us will only be emboldened, leading to even more dangerous conditions for domestic workers and other workers in low-wage sectors. As police are increasingly embroiled in immigration enforcement, fewer community members will seek help and safety from law enforcement. Never before has it been more important to learn from the experiences of workers who have survived labor exploitation and human trafficking. Only through the leadership and creativity of domestic workers will others experiencing abuse, exploitation, and trafficking be encouraged to break the silence and come forward. Through organizing, survivors have shined a light on the dark labor conditions they face and convinced policy makers, time and again, to adopt their solutions. Today, seven states across the country have passed Domestic Worker Bills of Rights that increase legal protections for domestic workers under state law. As for Karmo, her leadership in Beyond Survival has continued to grow -- speaking out, advocating with policy makers, and building strategies to prevent human trafficking. Her story is further profiled in the pages of this report. She, and others like her, are the ones who illuminate the path forward toward justice and recognition for the work that makes all other work possible.

Egypt/ Sudan: Refugees and Asylum Seekers Face Brutal Treatment, Kidnapping for Ransom, and Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:33:03 +0000

ABSTRACT ACCORDING TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: "Amnesty International is greatly concerned for the safety and security of refugees and asylum-seekers held captive in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, after being kidnapped in and around the Shagarab refugee camps in eastern Sudan. In Sinai they are subjected to brutal violence and inhuman treatment during attempts to extract ransom payments from their families. This briefing does not cover all aspects of this highly complex situation, but lays out some of the central human rights concerns."

Slaving Away: Migrant Labor Exploitation and Human Trafficking in the Gulf

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:33:03 +0000

This report, produced jointly by Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain and several American University students, provides a general overview of human trafficking in Persian Gulf countries. The report focuses on labor exploitation and human trafficking in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar and highlights issues such as the kafala system, working conditions, sex trafficking, and efforts made to combat human trafficking by respective governments. The paper also provides recommendations to Gulf authorities, migrant worker source countries, the international community, and the United States government. Ultimately, this report is a good start for anyone looking to research labor exploitation and trafficking in Persian Gulf countries, especially regarding the kafala system.

Loi Organique N° 2016-61 du 3 Août 2016, Relative à la Prévention et la Lutte Contre la Traite des Personnes

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:33:03 +0000

La loi Tunisienne récemment publiée pour prévenir la traite des personnes. La loi interdit toutes formes de la traite des personnes, et elle focalise sur la protection des femmes et des enfants. Quelques formes discutées dans la loi incluent l'esclavage, le travail forcé et l'exploitation sexuelle. De plus, elle vise à aider les victimes du crime, et il existe quelques articles qui focalisent sur les sanctions contre les trafiquants.

Country Profiles in Sub-Saharan Africa Regarding Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:33:03 +0000

This is a compilation of information on each country in Sub-Saharan Africa, assembled by the UNODC, which lists each country's existing legislation concerning human trafficking (if any), any relevant court cases and investigations, as well as statistics concerning the issue.

Child Labor Dynamics and Implications for Sustainable Development in Nigeria

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:32:10 +0000

This paper argues that Nigeria will continue to be unsuccessful in its quest for sustainable development because of its present lack of investment in the future of children trapped in child labor activities.

Trafficking of Persons for the Removal of Organs and the Admission of Guilt of a South African Hospital

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:31:20 +0000

In November 2010, Netcare Kwa-Zulu (Pty) Limited pleaded guilty to 102 counts related to charges stemming from having allowed its ‘employees and facilities to be used to conduct . . . illegal kidney transplant operations,’ within a scheme whereby Israeli citizens in need of kidney transplants would be brought to South Africa for transplants performed at St Augustine’s Hospital. This report describes the case and its significance.

Agir Contre la Traite des Personnes et le Trafic de Migrants

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:31:03 +0000

SELON L'OIM: "Ce manuel de formation de base a été élaboré dans le cadre de formations qui ont été délivrées en 2007 au Maroc à des représentants d’institutions gouvernementales et d’ONG Marocaines dans le cadre d’un projet financé par le Département d’Etat des Etats Unis d’Amérique « Population, Refugees and Migration ». Il a été révisé et publié en 2010. L’objectif du manuel est de renforcer la compréhension et les capacités d’action des autorités concernées et de la société civile sur des aspects importants de la traite et du trafic des personnes. Ce manuel est basé sur l’expérience de l’OIM en termes de renforcement des capacités dans le domaine de la migration consolidée par un savoir faire sur la lutte contre la traite des personnes. En privilégiant une prise de conscience et en améliorant les capacités de réponses, autant institutionnelles que non-gouvernementales, ce manuel vise à donner une vision des possibles actions à mettre en oeuvre pour lutter contre le phénomène de la traite et du trafic des êtres humains. Il s’inscrit dans le cadre de la stratégie nationale du Gouvernement marocain dans les domaines de la protection des populations vulnérables, du développement socio-économique et de la réduction de l’exclusion sociale et notamment de l’Initiative Nationale pour le Développement Humain (INDH)."

Kidneys for cash and egg safaris — can we allow ‘transplant tourism’ to flourish in South Africa?

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:29:28 +0000

This commentary speaks to concerns over the growing concerns with regards to South Africa's emergence as a 'transplant tourism' destination, which has proven to give way to organ trafficking.

Making Workers Pay: Recruitment of the Migrant Labor Force in the Gulf Construction Industry

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:33:03 +0000

EXCERPT FROM REPORT CONCLUSION: "Many South Asian workers are making a rational economic choice to seek greater economic opportunity through employment in the Gulf-based construction industry. But their recruitment is exploitative because of the high recruitment fees they are compelled to pay. Workers pay, in contravention of the law, for their own recruitment, for additional costs, and for markups to those costs. Many workers from India and Bangladesh pay thousands of dollars in excess of the real cost of recruitment to make the journey into employment in the Gulf region. Excess costs borne by workers arise from a variety of factors, including a high degree of informality and a lack of transparency inherent in the current business model for recruitment. The failure of construction rms to account and pay for the recruitment of low-wage workers as part of routine project costs, due in part to pressure from clients who demand cheaper bid offers, is another major contributing factor to workers’ extreme indebtedness and vulnerability to abuse. Moreover, a culture of permissiveness around visa selling by representatives of Gulf-based construction rms is the initial source of signi cant fee in action. Many recruiters also bear signi cant responsibility for taking advantage of low-skilled workers by in ating fees at almost every step of the recruitment process. Recruiters often turn a blind eye to additional fees collected from workers by their subagents, which are another source of in ation to the costs workers ultimately bear. Tragically, it also is the lowest paid workers who sometimes subsidize higher-skilled workers in the erratic recruitment marketplace. Governments in the Gulf and South Asia also are failing low-wage migrant workers. Many countries around the world require employer sponsorship of migrant workers, but few restrict workers’ economic and physical movement as strictly as in the GCC. While encouraging, recent reforms to the kafala system in countries like Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait are not suf cient, especially in the absence of meaningful enforcement. In India and Bangladesh, governments are not in compliance with international standards for migration in allowing workers to be charged fees. This is particularly egregious in Bangladesh, where the high legal limit on fees contributes to the extremely high fees Bangladesh workers must pay to migrate. In both South Asia and the Gulf, governments are not doing nearly enough to enforce violations of existing laws intended to protect workers, and there are few examples of prosecutions that would discourage the kind of exploitation that is all too common in the current model."

Prostitution-Related Crimes and Child Trafficking in Poland: Report from a Case File Study

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:27:36 +0000

The goal of the study was to reveal the course and characteristics of the phenomenon of exploiting children in prostitution. To achieve this goal, the researchers conducted a sociological analysis of events meeting the statutory criteria of prostitution-related crimes or the crime of human trafficking where the victims were underage, focusing both on the victim and on the perpetrator, as well as a legal analysis of the actions performed by law enforcement and criminal justice authorities.

Human Trafficking Baltic Sea Region Round-up - 2016

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:27:17 +0000

The Round-up report provides an easily accessible macro-regional snapshot, which outlines the directions of counter-trafficking work in the Baltic Sea Region. The report covers the period of time from 2013 until 2016 and contains chapters on each Member State. The country profiles give a brief overview of the current situation in the area of trafficking in human beings, national legal and institutional framework and recent changes in the legislation. Each country profile also contains a summary highlighting the national coordination mechanism, main stakeholders and their mandates, as well as best practices and statistical data for 2013–2015. The report also summarizes the initiatives of the Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings, and includes a separate piece on the current trends in human trafficking, as well as a collection of views expressed by different national and international trafficking experts on the future challenges and topical issues.

More ‘Trafficking’, Less ‘Trafficked’ Trafficking for Exploitation Outside the Sex Sector in Europe

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:26:12 +0000

This working paper explores the scope of what is often referred to as ‘trafficking for labour exploitation’, with a focus on Europe. It specifically looks at issues of identification and the assistance scenario for persons trafficked into sectors outside the sex-industry. We discuss the benefits and challenges of the legal avenues available to them and to service providers, and analyse how existing case law can be used to advance the rights of trafficked persons. Throughout, the analysis makes extensive use of on-the-ground experiences and voices of trafficked persons and service providers. By doing so, it fills a gap in existing research on the topic.

The Typology of Modern Slavery: Defining Sex and Labor Trafficking in the United States

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:33:04 +0000

An overview of the varying forms of sex and labor trafficking in the United States compiled from data from 2007-2016, with an eye towards prevention, and disruption of trafficking networks.

Searching for Best Practices to Counter Human Trafficking in Africa: A Focus on Women and Children

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:33:04 +0000

This report contributes to the ongoing discussions on the concept of Best Practices (BP) as applied in the campaign against human trafficking, with particular emphasis on women and children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Cambodia Human Trafficking Facts and Statistics

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:33:04 +0000

Cambodia is situated in South-East Asia and is home to 15.14 million people. It is estimated that 26% of the adult population is illiterate and 18.6% of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25/day. The lives of children in Cambodia are also challenging with 36.1% of children working as child labour and 31.4% of children receive inadequate care. Cambodia is a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking.

Separated children and child trafficking in Northern Ireland

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:22 +0000

Separated children belong to different groups, for example, asylum seekers, victims of human trafficking, and minors illegally entering the EU. They may have been sent to the UK by their parents to escape deprivation and extreme poverty; or to seek safety from persecution, gender-based discrimination and natural disasters. Many have been separated from their families as a result of genocide or armed conflict and some may have been trafficked for sexual, labour or other exploitation (Separated Children in Europe Programme (SCEP) and Save the Children, 2007). Several UK-wide police operations have led to a number of arrests for human trafficking in recent years. Research suggests women and children are being trafficked into Northern Ireland (NI) (Martynowicz et al, 2009; Geraghty et al, 2010) and there is evidence that human traffickers are using Belfast International Airport as a port of entry to the UK (DHSSPS/PSNI, 2011). Some media reports state NI has been identified as a key gateway for criminal gangs involved in people trafficking to the Republic of Ireland. Concerns about increased numbers of separated children and child trafficking in NI have also been expressed by various agencies working with asylum seekers and children.

Streanga v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2007 FC 792 (CanLII)

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:22 +0000

The court documents for a sex trafficking case tried in Ontario in 2007.

Trafficking in Persons Report July 2015

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:22 +0000

Trafficking in persons is an insult to human dignity and an assault on freedom. Whether we are talking about the sale of women and children by terrorists in the Middle East, the sex trafficking of girls lured from their homes in Central Europe, the exploitation of farm workers in North America, or the enslavement of fishermen in Southeast Asia, the victims of this crime each have a name. And they each have been robbed of their most basic human rights.

This year’s Report places a special emphasis on human trafficking in the global marketplace. It highlights the hidden risks that workers may encounter when seeking employment and the steps that governments and businesses can take to prevent trafficking, including a demand for transparency in global supply chains.

Trafficking in Persons Report 2014

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:22 +0000

The Trafficking in Persons Report put together by the United States Department of State in 2014.

How do Fortune 100 Corporations Address Potential Links to Human Rights Violations in a Globally Integrated Economy?

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:36:10 +0000

This report presents findings from the first ever analysis of Fortune 100 companies’ publicly available policies on three key human rights issues associated with the global economy: forced labor, human trafficking, and trade in conflict minerals. Our project team reviewed company websites and conducted internet searches to gather and review policies as a key indicator of how major corporations address their potential links to these practices, particularly in relation to global supply chains. We found that more than half of all Fortune 100 companies (54 percent) have publicly available policies addressing human trafficking and that nearly two-thirds (66 percent) have publicly available policies on forced labor.

Human Trafficking in Asia: Increasing Individual and State Accountability through Expanded Victims' Rights

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:22 +0000

The article discusses issues pertaining to the persistence of human trafficking in Asia. Accordingly, the victims of human trafficking suffer violations and denials of essential rights on account of both traffickers and governments, neither of whom are held accountable for their actions. States and various international organizations are said to have initiated the outlining of specific actions to combat the crime that can gauge a state's success or failure in addressing the problem.

Estimating the Size and Structure of the Underground Commercial Sex Economy in Eight Major US Cities

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:22 +0000

In 2010, the National Institute of Justice funded the Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center to measure the size and structure of the underground commercial sex economy in eight major US cities. The goals of this study were to: (1) derive a more rigorous estimate of the underground commercial sex economy (UCSE) in eight major US cities and (2) provide an understanding of the structure of this underground economy. To date, no reliable data exist to provide national or state policymakers with a verifiable and detailed understanding of underground commercial sex trade networks or the ways in which these networks interact with one another on the local, state, or interstate level. In addition, there is no information regarding the relationship between the UCSE and the local commercial sex trade or commercial sex activity conducted over the Internet. This study aimed to close the gap in our understanding about the nature and extent of these activities.

The study employed a multi-method approach, using both qualitative and quantitative data, and data were collected in the following eight cities: San Diego, Seattle, Dallas, Denver, Washington, DC, Kansas City, Atlanta, and Miami. Existing datasets documenting the market changes for illegal drugs and weapons were analyzed to measure changes in these markets and estimate the overall size of these markets. This was done by measuring changes in a series of “proxy” variables, which we assumed to be proportional to underlying activity. Thus, official national datasets1 that measured some sort of drug and gun activities over a period of time were collected to measure these changes. Qualitative data was collected through interviews with 119 stakeholders and 142 convicted offenders, including local and federal law enforcement officers, prosecutors, pimps/sex traffickers, sex workers, and child pornographers. Stakeholders and offenders were interviewed about the structure of the UCSE, the profits generated through the UCSE, networking within the UCSE, and changes in the UCSE over time.

Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking of Minors in the United States

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:22 +0000

Every day in the United States, children and adolescents are victims of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Despite the serious and long-term consequences for victims as well as their families, communities, and society, efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to these crimes are largely under supported, inefficient, uncoordinated, and unevaluated. The IOM and National Research Council studied these crimes as they affect U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States under age 18. The IOM/NRC report offers recommendations concerning strategies for responding to commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors in the United States, new legislative approaches, and a research agenda. The report concludes that efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors in the United States require better collaborative approaches. These efforts need to confront demand and the individuals who commit and benefit from these crimes. The recommendations in the report have the potential to advance and strengthen the nation’s emerging efforts to prevent, identify, and respond to commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors.

Harboring the illicit: borderlands and human trafficking in South East Asia

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:22 +0000

The unique environment of borderlands in mainland and insular South East Asia has facilitated the growth of human trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation. Organized crime groups have seized upon opportunities offered in these geographic locales to develop this illicit industry. This article examines the dynamics of human trafficking in three diverse border areas in the region: the Cambodian-Thai border; Indonesia-Singapore-Malaysia border; and the Thai-Burmese border. An examination of the unique social and power dynamics of the borderlands and a comparative history of these areas will illustrate how organized crime groups have flourished and engaged in human trafficking to support local border sex industries. This trade preys upon the vulnerable and impoverished living on the fringes of border communities. Weak State institutions, entrenched patronage networks, and distance from central control have made these borderlands ideal for criminals to establish themselves and their illicit activities. These same conditions have made it easy for regional tourists to engage in illicit sex in neighboring countries with little chance of recrimination.

Myanmar: Bride trafficking to China unveiled

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:22 +0000

Most cross-border human trafficking in Myanmar involves women tricked into travelling to China to get work, only to find a groom waiting for them on the other side.

Thazin* was trafficked to China from Yangon and forced into marriage in 2008. Now 29 and back in Yangon, she told IRIN that one day she drank a cup of coffee spiked by an acquaintance, woke up in China and was soon married against her will.

Violence, Vulnerability and Migration: Trapped at the Gates of Europe

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:22 +0000

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ACCORDING TO PUBLICATION: "Over the last ten years, as the European Union (EU) has tightened its border controls and increasingly externalised its migration policies, Morocco has changed from being just a transit country for migrants en route to Europe to being both a transit and destination country by default. MSF’s experience demonstrates that the longer sub-Saharan migrants stay in Morocco the more vulnerable they become. This pre- existing vulnerability, related to factors such as age and gender, as well as traumas experienced during the migration process, accumulates as they are trapped in Morocco and subjected to policies and practices that neglect, exclude and discriminate against them. MSF’s data demonstrates that the precarious living conditions that the majority of sub-Saharan migrants in Morocco are forced to live in and the wide-spread institutional and criminal violence that they are exposed to continue to be the main factors influencing medical and psychological needs. MSF teams have repeatedly highlighted and denounced this situation, yet violence remains a daily reality for the majority of sub-Saharan migrants in Morocco. In fact, as this report demonstrates, the period since December 2011 has seen a sharp increase in abuse, degrading treatment and violence against sub-Saharan migrants by Moroccan and Spanish security forces. This report also reveals the widespread violence carried out by criminal gangs, including bandits and human smuggling and human trafficking networks. It provides a glimpse into the shocking levels of sexual violence that migrants are exposed to throughout the migration process and demands better assistance and protection for those affected. These unacceptable levels of violence should not overshadow the achievements that have been made in recognition and respect for sub-Saharan migrants’ right to health over the last ten years. Progress has been made, however considerable challenges remain, particularly with regard to non-emergency, secondary care, care for people with mental health problems and protection and assistance for survivors of sexual violence. Further investment and reform of the healthcare system is needed, however the impact of the progress made to date and any future reforms will be limited unless concrete action is taken to address the discrepancy between European and Moroccan policies which view migration through a security prism and criminalise, marginalise and discriminate against sub-Saharan migrants in Morocco and those which protect and uphold their fundamental human rights. This report highlights the medical and psychological consequences of this approach and the cumulative vulnerability of the significant numbers of sub-Saharan migrants who are trapped in Morocco. In doing so it calls, once again, on the Moroccan authorities to respect their international and national commitments to human rights, develop and implement protection mechanisms and ensure that sub- Saharan migrants are treated in a humane and dignified manner, no matter what their legal status."

Preying on disaster: How human trafficking has spiked in quake-shattered Nepal

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:22 +0000

The year following two earthquakes that devastated Nepal saw a spike in desperate people falling into the clutches of human traffickers. Two years later, with the country’s infrastructure and economy still in ruins, NGOs say human trafficking is still on the rise.

Overview of Trafficking and Prostitution Laws in the Middle East and Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:21 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "The Thomson Reuters Foundation has partnered with Equality Now, Latham & Watkins LLP (Latham & Watkins) and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to produce a landscape analysis of human trafficking and prostitution laws in certain countries in Africa and the Middle East. This analysis is intended to assist Equality Now in strategically targeting countries to advocate for legal reform towards the elimination of sex trafficking. This Overview does not contain the full findings of the research, but rather, is intended to provide a high-level overview of the relevant trafficking and prostitution laws in those countries. This project was undertaken on a pro bono basis by Latham & Watkins and RBS through TrustLaw, a global pro bono marketplace supported created by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. This project is one of a series of TrustLaw projects programmes that provides a legal framework that can be used to improve laws and policies that affect women. The Thomson Reuters Foundation is immensely grateful to Latham & Watkins and RBS and to their lawyers from around the world for donating their time and expertise to this project. The jurisdictions examined for this project were Egypt, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (the MENA countries) and Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal (the ECOWAS countries).

Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking in Persons in Federal and Corporate Supply Chains

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:21 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "To assist United States Government agencies and the federal contracting community to prepare for implementation of the EO and new FAR rules, the United States Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (DOS/J/TIP) asked Verité to investigate and map out the risk of trafficking in global supply chains generally, and in federal supply chains in particular. As part of this initiative, Verité has collected comprehensive data about global industries with a significant history or current evidence of human trafficking or trafficking-related activity, and has analyzed the overlap between global supply chains deemed to be at risk for human trafficking and patterns of United States federal procurement. The results of Verité’s research are presented below. Detailed sector and country- specific findings will also be fed into an interactive, web-based resource for use by companies, acquisitions officers, contractors, NGOs, and consumers as they evaluate the risk of human trafficking in their supply chains. This report is not intended to provide specific guidance on EO compliance, but it does provide the framework and resources necessary to understand the risk of human trafficking in global supply chains, and can help readers begin to assess the risk of human trafficking in particular federal supply chains. There is no way for any consumer or employer to anticipate all instances of human trafficking, but supply chain risk analysis can narrow down where to look to identify and mitigate the risks associated with the problem as much as possible."

Enabling Access to Justice: A CSO Perspective on the Challenges of Realizing the Rights of South Asian Migrants in the Middle East

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:21 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "In 2015-2016, the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women’s (GAATW) International Secretariat undertook a project called the ‘South Asia – Middle East Access to Justice Project’ (SAME A2J Project) as part of a larger initiative, ‘Addressing Labour Trafficking of South Asian Migrant Workers in the Middle East.’ The objective of the SAME A2J Project was to identify cases in which migrant workers who had travelled to the Middle East as temporary labour migrants were trafficked, and to identify the barriers those workers faced accessing justice. The rationale for the project was a perception within GAATW that migrant workers from South Asia who were coerced, defrauded or deceived into situations of severe exploitation were rarely treated as trafficked persons and rarely received an adequate remedy. A total of thirteen partner organizations from seven countries (Bangladesh, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Nepal and Sri Lanka) participated in the project. All offer support to migrant workers and their families. They attended workshops to discuss the dynamics of trafficking in the context of labour migration, to share case examples, and to discuss barriers to justice. They continued to provide ongoing input and reflections on access to justice through email correspondence and in-person meetings with GAATW-IS staff. This report aims to capture one area of learning that emerged from the project: the barriers that project partners experience or observe when supporting migrant workers to access justice. Although specific barriers to justice may differ between countries, and even regions within countries, project partners identified many in common."

Study on Post-Trafficking Experiences in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy and Portugal

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:21 +0000

The aim of this study is to provide a detailed empirical understanding of how the current transnational referral framework including identification; first assistance and protection; longer-term assistance and social inclusion; criminal and civil proceedings; and return and social inclusion is understood, perceived and experienced on the one hand by trafficked persons and on the other hand by anti-trafficking actors in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy and Portugal.

Plan d'Action National contre la Traite des Êtres Humains 2017-2020

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:21 +0000

SELON L'INTRODUCTION: "La traite d'êtres humains est un phénomène observé également en Suisse. Chaque année, les corps de police cantonaux et les ONG identifient des dizaines de victimes. Chaque année, de nombreuses nouvelles procédures pénales sont ouvertes. Cette horrible exploitation prend différentes formes: trompées par leurs bourreaux, des personnes fragiles, menacées de contrainte ou de violence à l'égard de leurs proches restés au pays, sont poussées vers la prostitution ou le travail forcé. Les flux de réfugiés et les mouvements migratoires récents ont rendu la situation encore plus problématique, car de nombreux réfugiés ou migrants ne peuvent pas se payer les frais de passage vers l'Europe. Ils s'endettent auprès des organisations de passeurs, d'envergure internationale, et doivent rembourser ces dettes une fois arrivés en cédant à l'exploitation de leur corps dans les milieux de la prostitution ou à l'exploitation de leur force de travail. Cette situation demande aux autorités chargées d'identifier les victimes d'être encore plus attentives. Il est souvent difficile de reconnaître les situations d'exploitation, y compris lorsqu'elles résultent des flux de réfugiés et des mouvements migratoires récents. La Suisse s'est engagée résolument dans la lutte contre la traite d'êtres humains. Elle a mis en place en 2003 un Service de coordination contre la traite d'êtres humains et le trafic de migrants (SCOTT) au sein de l'Office fédéral de la police (fedpol), se conformant de la sorte aux normes internationales. Son engagement répond aussi aux exigences de l'Agenda 2030 pour le développement durable, qui vise expressément à mettre fin à toutes les formes de traite d'êtres humains1. Le SCOTT réunit tous les services fédéraux et cantonaux compétents, de même que des organisations de la société civile (voir l'annexe 2 pour la composi- tion et les fonctions du SCOTT). Ces partenaires développent ensemble des stratégies na- tionales et adoptent et mettent en œuvre des mesures contre la traite d'êtres humains. La lutte contre ce phénomène figure parmi les priorités stratégiques en matière pénale définies par le DFJP pour les années 2016 à 2019. La conférence mondiale d'Interpol sur la traite d'êtres humains organisée en octobre 2016 au Tessin sous la houlette de fedpol et la participation de fedpol au groupe d'analyse d'Europol sur la traite d'êtres humains, qui lui permet d'apporter un soutien substantiel aux enquêtes des cantons, sont des expressions concrètes de l'importance que la Suisse accorde à ce combat."

In Brief: Bride trafficking to China could rise

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:22 +0000

Report from Phnom Penh indicated that bride trafficking to China from Southeast Asian countries looks set to grow, says the UN, with the first reported cases from Cambodia in 2012.

The Phenomenon of "Baby Factories" in Nigeria as a New Trend in Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:22 +0000

Nigerian traffickers are now exploiting their victims for "baby harvesting": kidnapping pregnant women or not pregnant women to be impregnated, and keeping the babies to be sold for international or domestic adoption, rituals, slave labor, or sexual exploitation. This paper starts a conversation about this phenomenon in order to raise awareness on the issue. It reviews case-studies around the issue, and describes current legal framework surrounding it. It explains the root causes of "baby harvesting," measures currently taken against it, and makes recommendations for the future.

Into the Unknown: Exploitation of Nepalese Migrant Domestic Workers in Lebanon

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:38:22 +0000

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FROM PUBLICATION: "Hundreds of thousands of migrants are currently working in the Middle East in situations that can amount to forced labour and slavery. This is a direct consequence of the systems currently in place in these countries, as well as policies and practices in their home countries, including in South Asia and further afield. Research by Anti-Slavery International, KAFA - (Enough) Violence & Exploitation in Lebanon- and GEFONT - the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions - has identified that domestic workers from Nepal seeking legal and decent work in Lebanon are one such group who are suffering from this type of exploitation. Domestic work includes a range of tasks carried out in private homes including cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, taking care of children or the elderly, running errands and sometimes looking after an employer’s small business. Domestic workers can live in their employer’s home or independently from them, but working within the home is the single most important determinant in defining a domestic worker. Migrant domestic workers are workers who have migrated to other cities or villages, either internationally or within their own countries’ borders to find employment. Thousands of women and girls migrate every day to find work as domestic workers and provide for their families. In Lebanon alone, there is currently an estimated 200,000 migrant domestic workers. The abuse and exploitation they suffer is well documented. Until 2012, Lebanon was the top country of destination for female migrant workers. The plight of Nepalese migrant domestic workers is rooted in a continuum of vulnerabilities starting from their recruitment in their rural villages and lasting until they start work in a home in the Lebanese capital city and beyond. At every stage of the migration process and employment, they risk being abused and exploited. Many are trafficked for forced labour, with some employers forbidding them from leaving the house, confiscating their passports and using violence or threats of violence to control and force them to work, often without pay. Others fall into bonded labour as a result of the transportation and recruitment costs, as well as the commission fees charged by the agent and/or broker and incurred in taking up a job abroad. They are put in this situation as a result of inadequate policies, discrimination, lack of preparedness, isolation, and an absence of coordinated efforts to protect them. Each one of these factors can lead to serious labour and human rights violations; when combined, as they are for migrant domestic workers including for Nepalese in Lebanon, they create the conditions within which abuse and exploitation can flourish. In 2012, Anti-Slavery International launched a project looking at the situation of migrant domestic workers from Nepal, prior to and after they migrate to Lebanon. The work is implemented in partnership with KAFA in Lebanon and GEFONT in Nepal. The activities build on research undertaken in these two countries as well as India examining the legislation, policy and practice of the migration cycle in origin and destination countries, with particular reference to its impact on female migrant domestic workers. The research concluded that the combination of gender discrimination in policies, lack of relevant and accessible training pre-departure, lack of protection or little or no regulation of recruitment agencies, as well as discriminatory policies in the countries of destination, mostly through the kafala - or sponsorship system - all result in a failure to protect female migrant domestic workers. The research also showed that the vulnerabilities to abuse and exploitation suffered by migrant domestic workers are inter-related and inter- dependent; for example, even if women received appropriate pre-departure training, they would remain vulnerable to exploitation if the ban currently preventing women under 30 from migrating to Lebanon remained. Therefore, it will be only be possible to improve their situation by addressing, concurrently, the continuum of vulnerabilities to which they are subjected prior to, during and after migrating and by making them agents of change for themselves and others in similar situations. In Nepal, a model has been developed to bring relevant and adequate pre-departure information to potential female migrants in the two districts of Jhapa and Morang in a format they can easily rely on. The information is relayed by members of the community called Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHV) who have been trained on issues of safe migration, especially for women migrating for domestic work. As members of the community, these FCHV will have a better knowledge of the situation of women in these areas and will be more likely to gain their trust. Providing adequate pre-departure information to prospective migrant domestic workers is a crucial step in making migration safer for women. If they are informed of the legal steps to migration, of the realities and potential dangers linked to working abroad as a domestic workers, women are more likely to make informed decisions about their migratory plans. In Lebanon, the project also supports the development of the Nepali community of migrant domestic workers, who came together under the NARI group. The objective is to scale up and replicate this model across communities, based on lessons learnt from the Nepalese experience. As illustrated in the report, in addition to building stronger and better prepared communities of domestic workers, these interventions are also crucial to informing and strengthening the partnership’s campaign for policy and practice reforms. The project’s approach to integrating pre- departure training with post-destination community building also potentially offers a highly replicable model which could be of value to many source countries, regardless of whether they have bans in place such as in Nepal. The report presents in more details the interventions developed by the partnership, the lessons learnt to date from implementing them, as well as the impact to date. It also makes a number of recommendations for policy changes in both countries, based on the experience of migrant domestic workers and the research conducted."

Strategic Threat Assessment: Child Trafficking in the UK 2010

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This document is an assessment of the current intelligence picture of child trafficking into, within and through the UK. It aims to build on the findings of CEOP’s 2007 Scoping Report and the 2009 Strategic Threat Assessment. The 2009 STA focused on the period 1 March 2007 to 29 February 2008. This assessment brings our knowledge up to date by focusing on data collected during the period 1 March 2009 to 28 February 2010. This report aims to inform the reader of the latest trends, themes and patterns in child trafficking. It will examine the profiles of child victims and trafficking networks, discuss the methodologies employed and identify the enablers of trafficking.

Stop labour exploitation - a closer look. Analysis of the agency employment of the Vietnamese in the Czech Republic

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:40:06 +0000

The research was based and drew on the project called Vietnamese Workers in Czech Factories (2008) in which La Strada CR covered the living and labour conditions of the Vietnamese employed within the system of the Czech job agencies. During the research in 2008 some forms of exploitation of the Vietnamese and labour migration specifics of these community members were recorded, which had not been described before. At the same time, the Czech labour market started to change substantially due to the global economic crisis in the second half of the year 2008. The decrease in the number of jobs and suspension of work permit renewals resulted in massive dismissals of foreigners who had been temporarily allocated to firms by job agencies. The research in 2009 aimed at complementing the information in some areas of the respective issue suggested earlier and recording the reaction of the target group to the changed situation during the crisis. Looked into were particularly hypotheses concerning labour recruitment and export from Vietnam, role of the Czech embassy in the process of labour migration from Vietnam to the CR, interconnectedness of the agencies in the home and target countries (Vietnam and CR), strategies of finding work and maintaining a legal residence status on the territory of the CR as well as labour conditions, roles of job agencies and exploitation mechanisms of the Vietnamese during the crisis. The research is based on semi-structured interviews with workers as well as with other persons interested in the respective issue. Being to a certain extent subjective, their experience is complemented by information drawn from relevant specialized studies.

The issue of child trafficking in Poland – views and experiences of professionals

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:42:22 +0000

The present report is a summary of views and experiences described by representatives of various occupations who – in their professional capacity – are likely to encounter children – victims of trafficking or children from risk groups (e.g. separated minors). Questioned individuals represent divergent occupations and work for different institutions – as a result we were able to obtain input from professionals operating in a variety of sectors, and thus our analysis of child trafficking situation is comprehensive and multidimensional.

Beyond Borders: Human Trafficking from Nigeria to the UK

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:41:48 +0000

Report examining the trafficking of persons from Nigeria to the UK. It describes ways in which the UK can address human trafficking using an end-to-end approach that takes account factors driving trafficking in source/transit/destination countries (in this case, Nigeria). It uses quantitative and qualitative data in order to identify areas for action.

Migration and Health in South Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:42:22 +0000

Report reviewing the current state of affairs concerning migration in South Africa and its links to health. There is a section in this report entitled "Human Trafficking and Health" which raises concern over health consequences for victims of human trafficking.

How do social determinants affect human trafficking in Southeast Asia, and what can we do about it? A systematic review

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:42:22 +0000

An extensive literature review of articles from 2001-2011 on the topic of social determinants mitigating or facilitating trafficking of women and children in Southeast Asia and the recommendations for combating trafficking via these social determinants. Key social determinants that facilitate trafficking include poverty, female gender, lack of policy and policy enforcement, age, migration, displacement and conflict, ethnicity, culture, ignorance of trafficking methods and class status. Protective determinants that mitigate trafficking include formal education, citizenship, maternal education, higher class status and birth order. Recommendations relating to these determinants are identified and discussed in detail, particularly the facilitation of education and empowerment, along with creation and enforcement of effective policies, which could lessen the vulnerability of women and children to modern-day slavery.

A Human Rights Report on Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:42:22 +0000

India is a major country of origin, transit, and destination for trafficking in persons. According to a 2003 United Nations report, India is one of the top nine destination countries for sex trafficking in the world. Because of India's geographical proximity to South Asia and relatively open borders, major trafficking routes have been established between Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka and different parts of India.

International Cooperation and Coordination: The European Challenge to Combating and Preventing Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:42:22 +0000

Some twelve years after the unveiling of the UN Anti-Trafficking Protocol in 2000, most European countries have sound anti-trafficking legislation. Worldwide, while many countries amend their leg- islation and policies, they follow practice developed, applied and tested in Western Europe. Some of these practices consider national and international coordination and cooperation for an effective anti- trafficking policy. However, notwithstanding the progress European countries have made, within Eu- rope, governments have not been able to coordinate and develop a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach to render criminal networks of human trafficking inoperative. Why? The authors suggest that different definitions of human trafficking and variations in criminal law, the existing national security and state sovereignty framework, as well as lack of training and proactive investigation combine to facilitate corruption and limit successful prosecutions, convictions and international co- operation.

Sex Trafficking and LGBTQ Youth

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:42:22 +0000

Nearly 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ, in comparison to 7% of the general population. These youth may face homelessness for different reasons: family rejection, prior abuse or neglect, bullying in school, or social discrimination and marginalization.

Youth without safe shelter and social supports are at higher risk of trafficking and exploitation. Traffickers exploit their needs and vulnerabilities to compel them into sex or labor trafficking. LGBTQ youth may be trafficked by intimate partners, family members, friends, or strangers.

The coercion and control that traffickers hold over their victims, in combination with the stigma of commercial sex, may prevent youth from disclosing their situation. LGBTQ youth may fear the repercussions of reporting their situation, particularly if they worry others will mistreat or not believe them because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. LGBTQ youth service providers may be in a unique position to recognize indicators of sex trafficking among the youth they serve and connect them with much needed services.

Sex Trafficking and LGBTQ Youth, made possible by the generous support of the Palette Fund, provides an introduction to sex trafficking for LGBTQ youth providers and others who are new to the issue of human trafficking. This resource provides indicators of sex trafficking, recommendations on how LGBTQ organizations serving youth can get involved in anti-trafficking efforts, and information on how to get assistance for LGBTQ youth survivors of sex trafficking.

Impact of Economic Globalization on the Human Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-region Countries

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:42:22 +0000

The study examines the impact of economic globalization on human trafficking in Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) countries. The paper tests a cross-section of six countries, including Cambodia, the Yunnan Province of China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, finding that economic globalization increases trafficking inflow into the GMS. However, only foreign direct investment (FDI) affects the degree of trafficking of persons, while the effect of trade is insignificant. Exchange rate, migration, population and democracy also induce higher rates of trafficking, whereas Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and other factors, such as education, vocational training and micro-finance through village development funds decrease this issue in the region. Gross National Income per capita (GNI per capita) and rule of law were found to not have any significant effect on human trafficking.

More Than Drinks for Sale: Sex Trafficking in U.S. Cantinas and Bars

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:42:22 +0000

Across the United States, thousands of Latina women are prisoners of the sex trafficking industry in bars and cantinas. These women are victims of an underground sex economy, run by traffickers who go largely untouched. From December 2007 to March 2016, the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline and BeFree Textline identified 1,300 potential victims from Latin America in cantina-related cases in 20 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Deceived and enticed with false promises of good jobs or a better life, victims are lured to the U.S. by some of the most violent trafficking networks operating in the country and are forced to engage in commercial sex. Polaris's new report More than Drinks for Sale: Exposing Sex Trafficking in Cantinas and Bars in the U.S. details how these commercial-front brothels continue to operate largely unchecked by posing as traditional bars or nightclubs—and highlights the need to eradicate this crime and support its survivors.

Combating the Trafficking of Women in Eastern Europe

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:42:22 +0000

This paper will examine the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation in Eastern Europe—specifically, the twenty countries located between Germany and Russia, the latter included. After a brief overview of the nature of the problem of sex trafficking in the region, the article will focus on current efforts to combat it from a human rights-centered approach.

Fighting Human Trafficking Across the U.S.-Mexico Border

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:40:24 +0000

Every day, powerful criminal networks and individual traffickers on both sides of the border recruit people for labor or sexual exploitation. To stop traffickers and support survivors, it is critical that civil society, governments, and law enforcement also collaborate internationally. That’s why Polaris has partnered with Consejo Ciudadano to support Mexico’s first national human trafficking hotline. Between Consejo’s Línea Nacional Contra la Trata de Personas and the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC), operated by Polaris, survivors on either side of the border can seek and receive help.

The statistics in this document are based on calls related to Mexico that both organizations received from September 30, 2015 to August 31, 2016.

Civil society response to human trafficking in South Asia

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:42:22 +0000

The writer identifies key challenges and needs for addressing human trafficking in South Asia.

Staying Safe: Tips for LGBTQ Youth for How to Protect Yourself and Your Community from Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:40:39 +0000

While traffickers target many vulnerable populations, there are some particular circumstances or risk factors that human traffickers may try to exploit for their own profit, such as homelessness, or past histories of abuse or discrimination. Unfortunately, youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ) are especially likely to face difficulties like these, which makes them especially susceptible to traffickers. Staying Safe: Tips for LGBTQ Youth for How to Protect Yourself and Your Community from Human Trafficking, made possible through the generous support of the Palette Fund, speaks directly to LGBTQ youth about this issue. While acknowledging and commending the tremendous amount of strength and resiliency LGBTQ youth show when facing hardships, Staying Safe also highlights important risk factors that they should be aware of, and teaches youth how to recognize and respond to signs of human trafficking within their own communities. It is not enough to rely on law enforcement, service providers, or concerned citizens to intervene in potential trafficking situations. We have to continue to expand the safety net so that LGBTQ youth and other vulnerable communities are equipped with the tools to protect themselves and their fellow community members from trafficking and exploitation.

Building the Global Safety Net for Victims of Human Trafficking: A Toolkit for Hotlines

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:42:22 +0000

Polaris has learned the values of hotlines through operating the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline since 2007. Hotlines allow communities to reach and protect more victims, to learn where and how human trafficking is happening, and to collect valuable data to guide interventions and prevention efforts.

Building the Global Safety Net for Victims of Human Trafficking: A Toolkit for Hotlines is a resource to increase the positive impact of hotlines across the globe. The Toolkit is a companion to in-country technical assistance our Global Hotlines and Data Analysis teams provide and can also be used an independent guide.

Establishing and sustaining a strong human trafficking hotline entails a process of strategic decision-making. It also requires the ability to adapt to changing internal and external factors. This Toolkit breaks down the process of establishing an effective hotline and outlines key considerations in seven core areas of work: foundations in human trafficking; operations; staffing; partnerships; responding to calls; data management; and, outreach and awareness. In addition to sharing overarching concepts that provide a framework, the Toolkit contains practical tips, templates, and resources that hotlines can apply immediately.

Reaching Out for Help: A Guide for LGBTQ Youth on How to Receive Support and Services from the National Human Trafficking Hotline

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:42:22 +0000

Calling a national hotline can be a daunting task. This can be especially true for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ) individuals who have experienced discrimination and ignorance in other facets of their lives, including from people who are supposed to be there to help them, such as family members, child welfare professionals, or service providers. Reaching Out for Help: A Guide for LGBTQ Youth on How to Receive Support and Services from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, made possible through the generous support of the Palette Fund, aims to show LGBTQ youth that if they call the Hotline or send a text to BeFree, they will be met with highly trained Hotline Advocates who will not judge them and will do their best to connect them to LGBTQ-sensitive support and services. Reaching Out is a visual and audio presentation that guides LGBTQ youth through the process of contacting the National Human Trafficking Hotline and Polaris’s BeFree Textline and reinforces that these spaces are safe, inclusive, and identify-affirming. There are a lot of reasons why a person will or will not reach out for help when they are in trouble. The decision to seek assistance is completely up to the individual. Some people aren’t ready to leave their situation or receive services, and that’s okay. If you are ready, the Hotline is here and ready to listen.

SCREAM: A special module on child labour and armed conflict

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:42:22 +0000

This SCREAM Module was developed to contribute to the prevention of the worst forms of child labour in armed conflict and post-armed conflict situations (hereinafter referred to as conflict and post-conflict situations). There is a specific focus on children associated with armed forces or groups. It also aims to promote community acceptance of children released from armed forces and groups or other worst forms of child labour. The activities are primarily designed to take young people through a journey of understanding in the lives of children associated with armed forces and groups. Participants will explore who these children are, why they join, what their role in the armed force or group is, how they are released as well as the long and sometimes difficult process of resuming life in the community and making a transition to civilian life. These activities can however easily be adapted to explore in a similar way other worst forms of child labour that are prevalent in conflict or post-conflict settings, such as sexual exploitation or forced labour.

Anti-trafficking challenges in Nepal

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:42:22 +0000

Up to 7000 Nepalese girls are trafficked to India every year, primarily for prostitution, and that 200,000 Nepalese women, mostly aged between ten and twenty, work in Indian brothels. Reflecting the long relationship between Nepal and India, and designed to facilitate trade and transit between the two countries, the open border agreement enables traffickers to easily transport victims from Nepal to India. In order to combat trafficking, agencies working to combat trafficking in Nepal need to develop a more coherent and collaborative strategy.

Watch over me: A system of guardianship for child victims of trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:56:40 +0000

Child victims of trafficking are among some of the most vulnerable children in the UK. In addition to having suffered physical, sexual and/or psychological abuse at the hands of their traffickers, child victims of trafficking find themselves alone in the UK, without parents or legal guardians. The level and quality of support provided to them varies widely and is often woefully inadequate. ECPAT UK believes that a system of guardianship would fill these important gaps and provide child victims of trafficking with the care and support they need to successfully negotiate the welfare, legal and immigration system, access all the services to which they are entitled and find long-term solutions to their situations. Two European countries, Scotland and the Netherlands, have introduced guardianship systems.

Human Resources Development for the Care of the Sexually Abused and Sexually Exploited

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:56:40 +0000

This paper is a resource mapping of training materials for caregivers in the psychosocial rehabilitation and reintegration of survivors of trafficking and sexual abuse, and is directed at the human resources development of care facilities in South Asia.

Proposal for a Revised National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for Adults

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:56:40 +0000

A National Referral Mechanism (NRM) should be a framework within which state actors ful l their obligations to protect and promote the human rights of all traf cked persons, including British nationals, working in collaboration and partnership with civil society. The NRM currently in operation in the UK is not such a framework. As shown in this report and evidenced in previous ATMG research, the system is at best awed, at worst discriminatory. As a result, it is systematically failing to protect victims’ rights. The ATMG has proposed two models for the operation of the NRM for adults; one with a centralized governmental body that will act as the ‘Competent Authority’, and the other which will operate at the regional level through ‘Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs’ (MASH), or equivalent multi-agency bodies, in line with the model proposed for children. The ATMG believes that both are viable, and each may offer certain bene ts over the other. These differences have been considered and presented at the end of this document (p. 23-24).

Baseline Study on Trafficking in Persons in Tunisia: Assessing the Scope and Manifestations

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:56:40 +0000

This report, authored by he International Organization on Migration along with the Tunisian government, is an important study on national and transnational human trafficking in Tunisia. Topics include forced labor, sexual exploitation, and domestic servitude. This study also highlights the victimization of children in Tunisia, as well as the exploitation of Libyan migrants after the Libyan crisis of 2011. It is important to note that this study was produced before the creation of Tunisian anti-human trafficking legislation in 2016, and to keep that in mind while reading this report.

Intertwined: A Study of Employers of Migrant Domestic Workers in Lebanon

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:56:40 +0000

INTRODUCTION FROM PUBLICATION: "Families in Lebanon have a long history of hiring domestic help to undertake the culturally gendered responsibilities of cleaning, cooking, and caring for children and the elderly. Over time, the profile of the domestic worker in Lebanon has changed. Whereas in the past, families engaged women and girls from lower socio-economic strata within the region, they are increasingly reliant on a transnational workforce of migrant domestic workers (MDWs), primarily from Asia and Africa. The common thread tying these workers together is their vulnerability to exploitation in the employment relationship. The vulnerability stems from a variety of factors including precarious working conditions, low social status, long-standing gender inequalities and cultural devaluations of care-based work. At present, there are over 250,000 MDWs working in private households in Lebanon. As labour migration to the region has exploded, an industry of private labour recruiters has emerged to match migrant workers with employers in Lebanon and facilitate the workers’ movement across borders. While using the services of a private recruitment agency is not mandatory in Lebanon, most families choose this option because of the complexity of the immigration procedures and the added assurances of having a mediator and guarantor in case of problems. Overall, the legal and policy framework covering the basic human and labour rights of MDWs in Lebanon is not in line with ILO Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189) and other relevant standards including those linked to Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.1 While the government has formed a national steering committee on domestic work and discussed various draft policies covering MDWs, none has passed into law. In the meantime, domestic workers remain excluded from most laws and policies covering national workers, including the right to Freedom of Association. In this legal penumbra, MDWs and employers rely heavily on the legally binding contract of Employment (“the contract”) that sets out their rights and obligations. The contract has 18 provisions outlining rights such as full salary payments each month with receipts, and restrictions on the maximum number of work hours per day. It does not address fundamental issues such as passport retention and freedom of movement. Employers also use a collection of customary practices known as kafala to govern their treatment and employment of MDWs. While kafala is not a law per se, its popular use means it has gathered the strength of a de facto law. Kafala is engrained in state policies in most Arab countries; the word kafala in Arabic means sponsorship, but it also connotes protection. In this system, a migrant worker’s residency and work permit is tied to a specific employer. Kafala inhibits MDWs from seeking legal recourse through national labour laws and therefore seriously compromises their ability to leave exploitative or abusive working conditions. As such, kafala has received ample attention in the media and by international and local organizations that fight for the protection of the rights of migrant workers. Indeed, the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) regularly reports on cases of abuse against MDWs, including those with tragic outcomes. One report covered the suicide of an MDW from Bangladesh, who has not been allowed to leave the employer’s home since the beginning of her employment a year and two months prior to the suicide incident. The employer ignored the victim’s requests to return to Bangladesh. LBC’s analysis of this particular suicide drew a tight connection between kafala and the predicament MDWs encounter when they cannot extricate themselves from exploitative employment relationships. Though kafala is the structure that governs the hiring of migrant workers, employers and recruitment agencies contribute to de ning this structure with their own practices. Especially where financial interests are at stake, employers and private recruitment agencies may collude to maintain a power structure with MDWs at the bottom. A recent ILO study entitled “For a Fee: The business of recruiting Bangladeshi women for domestic work in Jordan and Lebanon” examines the business model of private recruitment agencies and the in uence of national laws, policies and regulations on how private employment agencies conduct their business. The findings of that study have been triangulated with the present study to provide a stronger analysis in relevant areas. Despite numerous studies and writings on MDWs in Lebanon, little attention has been given to the role of employers in the employment relationship. While there are studies that examine the subject of employer practices and perceptions in Lebanon through a critical lens, one commissioned by KAFA in 2010 and another conducted by Insan Association in 2014,5-6 both are based on relatively small and convenient samples. To fill this gap, the International Labour Organization (ILO) collaborated with the American University of Beirut to conduct a mixed- methods study of employers of migrant domestic workers. KAFA (enough) Violence & Exploitation and Anti-Slavery International provided valuable support throughout the study. Specifically, the study examines the recruitment, working and living conditions of migrant domestic workers through the lens of a triadic relationship between the system (kafala and the written law), employers (agents) and recruitment agencies. There are four parts to the report. The first part provides an overview of employers’ socio-economic composition and other relevant demographics along with a cursory overview of their domestic workers. It goes on to elaborate on employers’ household needs and their corresponding preferences for domestic workers on key topics such as the form of employment (full-time, part-time) and domestic worker nationality and attributes. Part two examines employer views on the transnational recruitment of domestic workers, including selection of labour recruiters and the payment of recruitment fees. Part three provides an overview and analysis on knowledge and practice of employers vis-a-vis MDW rights; this includes payment of wages, provision of rest days, working time, freedom to leave the home unaccompanied, and retention of identity documents. Part four outlines a series of conclusions and recommendations. The recommendations are aimed first and foremost at the Government of Lebanon to uphold the basic human and labour rights of all workers, but also at employers, who as key agents of change, can take action to promote decent work for domestic workers in principle and practice. The researchers used a two-phase approach to generate findings for the report: first, to inform the design of a survey questionnaire, researchers carried out in-depth interviews with 29 employers of live-in MDWs; second, a quantitative survey, based on a representative sample of 1,200 Lebanese employers of live-in MDWs was carried out in Greater Beirut, Jounie and Jbeil, and Saida. Appendix A includes a detailed description of the study methodology; other methodology documents are attached in appendices B and C."

Challenges in Investigating and Prosecuting Trafficking In Persons’ Cases in Nigeria

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:56:39 +0000

This paper describes the challenges faced in Nigeria with regards to the investigation and prosecution of trafficking in persons cases. It concludes that with more effective legislation on human trafficking and effective law enforcement agencies in place, Nigeria would be able to overcome its challenges in this respect.

West African Voodoo: A Technique for Control by Human Traffickers

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:56:39 +0000

This paper examines the way in which Voodoo is often used as a coercive tool to human traffic West African victims. As they fully believe in the powers of Voodoo, their fear of speaking out against their trafficker is compounded by their fear of breaking the Voodoo oath their trafficker has forced them to take.

Fearing the Dark: The Use of Witchcraft to Control Human Trafficking Victims and Sustain Vulnerability

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:56:39 +0000

This paper describes the way in which traffickers take advantage of their victims' religious beliefs in order to coerce them, with respect to both the Latin American and African continents. It touches, also, on preventative measures that must be taken in order to end this practice.

【2014 普立茲國際報導獎】亞洲人口販賣網絡：緬甸、泰國、印度、馬來西亞都是共犯

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:51:45 +0000

作者描述住在緬甸並信仰伊斯蘭教的羅興亞人遭遇的獨特迫害以及被人口販賣過程。

印度人口販運現況

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:55:12 +0000

首先，強迫勞動（forced labor）構成印度人口販運最主要的問題（trafficking problem），其中以童工（child labor）與女性遭受性販賣（sex trafficking）兩項最為嚴重。強迫勞動的主要根源之一是所謂的奴工（Bonded Labor），指因積欠債務或繼承上一代債務而遭受奴役的男性、女性和兒童，被迫勞動於如環境欠佳的磚窯廠、碾米廠、刺繡工廠等行業中，據估計，全印度目前從事性工作以維持家庭生計的女性約 200 萬人；加上近年有關奴工與性交易的人口走私事件有增無減，每年都有數千印度人自願非法進入中東、歐洲和美國，從事家庭傭人及低技術勞工的工作，已使印度成為人口販運中，強迫勞動和性販運的來源地、目的地以及中轉地。

共建沒有人口販賣的世界

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:44:56 +0000

人口販賣涉及跨國販運人口販運現已成為僅次於毒品的全球第二大非法貿易，估計所涉收入高達320億美元。在總多人口販賣活動中，逾六成涉及跨國販運。在施達夥伴所服侍的地區中，除了印度和尼泊爾相連地段，中國、緬甸、老撾和泰國接壤的金三角地區，亦是其中一個人口販賣活動的熱點。過去七年，施達在中國雲南與緬甸接壤的地區，積極推動地方教會實踐整全使命，服侍區內的邊緣家庭。受助者中，除了有受毒品及愛滋病影響的家庭，還有跨境新娘和勞工，以及涉及中緬邊境的人口販賣活動。

【勵馨倡議】20年，兒少性剝削與色情杜絕了嗎？

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:45:22 +0000

「兒童及少年性交易防制條例」通過20年了，但兒少性剝削與色情真的杜絕了嗎？ 20年來，兒少性剝削的樣態不斷轉型，對象從原住民少女變成城市女孩；從被押賣到匱乏下選擇的非被賣；人口販子和皮條客也轉化為數位網路的援助交際和小型人際圈的拐騙；集體賣淫的娼寮館也隱身到大樓公寓內的小房間；這樣的轉型，台灣很難驕傲的說台灣沒有兒少性剝削。從1987、1988年投入雛妓救援並因而成立的勵馨基金會、婦女救援基金會、展翅基金會，以及後來加入的門諾會花蓮善牧中心，特別舉行「兒少性剝削防制條例20周年回顧記者會及論壇」，並邀請到當年曾參與相關救援及立法運動的人士，一同回顧台灣發展兒少保護工作的歷程及未來展望。

CNN on Fair Food Program: “How America’s ‘ground-zero’ for modern slavery was cleaned up by workers’ group…”

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:52:20 +0000

This week, the award-winning team at the CNN Freedom Project — a new series designed to “amplify the voices of the victims of modern-day slavery, highlight success stories and help unravel the tangle of criminal enterprises trading in human life” — turned its spotlight on the CIW and the Fair Food Program, and the result is nothing short of stunning. With a remarkable economy and clarity of presentation, the three-part video report manages to capture both the unique interplay of the Fair Food Program’s multiple monitoring and enforcement mechanisms and the transformative impact of the Program on workers’ lives every day in the fields. Together, the three short videos depict the dramatic genesis of dignity and respect in a place where unimaginable abuse had been the norm for generations.

The Freedom Project team spoke with partners at every level of the Fair Food Program. Traveling from the tomato fields of Florida to the produce aisles of Whole Foods, the report documents workers’ stories of the unprecedented changes in Florida’s tomato industry, the CIW’s unique worker-to-worker education process, the Fair Food Standards Council’s in-depth auditing and enforcement efforts, the participating growers’ investments in creating a safe and respectful work environment, and the participating buyers’ critically important commitment to back the Program’s human rights-based code of conduct with real market consequences for growers who violate the code.

網路兒少性剝削犯罪偵查執法人員訓練課程

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:50:49 +0000

兒少性剝削是對兒少人權的侵犯，是對兒少施以壓迫或暴力、或利用兒少的弱勢處境等，對兒少進行性的剝削。而面對兒少性剝削的網路化，兒少色情日益嚴重，加之以網路誘拐、性勒索崛起，網路成為犯罪者利用的新工具。今年六月本會舉辦第八屆執法人員網路兒少性剝削偵查訓練課程，此次為第四次與國際失踨及被剝削兒童中心(ICMEC)合作進行訓練課程規劃，ICMEC 自 2003 年底在國際刑警組織 INTERPOL 及微軟、臉書的支持下，啟動國際執法訓練課程，針對全球執法人員、檢察官及專業人員，聚焦在如何對網路兒少性剝削案件進行偵查。目前 ICMEC 與國際刑警組織訓練課程已在 115 國共訓練了 9,000 位執法人員。今年台灣的訓練課程規劃分為檢察官課程(一天)及警察進階課程(二天)二部份，與國外講師溝通後需採小班制進行，限制參與人數，總計 10 名檢察官及 22 名警官參加，透過實務檢調偵查經驗分享，讓台灣的執法人員了解國際間的新趨勢，強化有效偵查網路犯罪手法，期待能積極的防制台灣網路兒少性剝削問題，並與國際合作以打擊網路兒少性剝削。

CNN on FFP, Part II: “Have you ever wondered how your tomatoes get to the grocery store?”

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:52:35 +0000

In Part II, CNN takes a closer look at the Campaign for Fair Food, and in particular the Wendy’s Boycott.

CNN on FFP, Part III: “When we get calls from outside the Fair Food Program, it is heartbreaking"

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:52:52 +0000

Today we bring you the third and final installment of the extraordinary CNN report on the Fair Food Program, “How America’s ‘ground-zero’ for modern slavery was cleaned up by workers’ group.” This third video focuses on the history of the CIW’s anti-slavery efforts, and on the development and expansion of the Fair Food Program as the principal means for eliminating forced labor on participating farms. It is the perfect complement to the first two installments, which focused on the CIW’s Campaign for Fair Food and the daily, concrete changes in workers’ lives on the ground on Fair Food Program farms, respectively.

The third video also ends with a look to the future of the Fair Food Program, which the CNN report calls “the most comprehensive social responsibility program in U.S. agriculture.” Judge Laura Safer Espinoza, the Executive Director of the Fair Food Standards Council which monitors and enforces the FFP code of conduct, addresses the remarkable labor reforms that have taken place under the FFP’s protections, but laments the fact that the FFP’s complaint line continues to receive calls from workers reporting harrowing human rights violations on the vast number of farms that remain outside of the Program.

防制人口販運動畫「拍狼末日」30秒（國、臺、客、英語配音版，越南文、印尼文、泰文字幕版）

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:47:39 +0000

「人口販運」係為跨國境且嚴重危害基本人權之犯罪，因此為宣導人口販運防制觀念，進而強化對被害人的安置與保護。移民署特以觀看影片方式導入民眾反人口販運觀念，期藉此讓更多人注意到反人口販運議題，擴大宣導，喚起民眾對人權的重視與關切，以加強宣導「人口販運」議題。

List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:56:39 +0000

This sixth edition of the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor, mandated by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2005 (TVPRA List), shows we still have a long way to go toward reaching that goal. It tallies 136 goods produced by forced labor or child labor in violation of international standards, or both, in 74 countries across the world. However, it also illustrates that the combination of strong international labor standards and improved data collection and reporting put us all in a position to combat forced labor and child labor more effectively

Community Based Model for Fighting Slavery

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:56:40 +0000

INTRODUCTION FROM PUBLICATION: "The anti-slavery movement very much needs evidence-based models that yield significant, sustained declines in the prevalence of slavery. Free the Slaves has developed a community-based model for fighting slavery that it has deployed, with adaptation, in six countries. The model focuses on identifying and supporting at-risk communities so they acquire the intellectual, organizational, legal, political and physical assets that reduce vulnerability to slavery and liberate those in slavery. The key elements of the model are contextual research, strengthening the capacity of local agencies and organizations, which, in turn, act to increase community resistance and resilience. Community resistance to slavery is fostered through protective behaviors, community anti-slavery committees, increased household security, services to slavery survivors and increased policy and legal protection. The strengthening of community resistance and resilience reduces new cases of slavery, liberates those in slavery and yields sustained declines in the prevalence of slavery. The model has been carefully designed to permit rigorous testing and the accumulation of evidence and lessons learned. Results to date are promising. Free the Slaves will continue to test the model over the 2014-2016 period to develop longitudinal data. We urge the development and testing of other models that can be subjected to rigorous scrutiny."

Human Trafficking Training Program

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:59:58 +0000

As part of the DHS Blue Campaign to combat human trafficking, DHS developed this web-based human trafficking training course that teaches law enforcement officers how to recognize human trafficking encountered during routine duties, how to protect victims, and how to initiate human trafficking investigations. This training is law enforcement sensitive and available on the FLETC Electronic Learning Portal for law enforcement officials with an account with the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS), a secure intranet that facilitates law enforcement communications and information sharing nationwide.

Labor Trafficking in the U.S.: A Closer Look at Temporary Work Visas

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:59:58 +0000

Since December 2007, Polaris has identified nearly 30,000 human trafficking and labor exploitation cases in the United States through operating the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline and BeFree Textline. In approximately 18% of these cases, at least one victim of the situation had a temporary visa. Labor Trafficking in the U.S.: A Closer Look at Temporary Work Visas, provides crucial insight into the experiences of these temporary workers in the U.S., the visas most frequently associated with trafficking and exploitation, and the barriers victims face in accessing help. Temporary visa holders often pay large recruitment and travel fees for the opportunity to work in the United States -- and the debts they incur leave them particularly vulnerable to being victimized. Traffickers can control and manipulate these individuals who have few options, lack familiarity with U.S. laws and rights, and face significant language and cultural barriers. The visa rules also frequently restrict their ability to change employers. But there are solutions, including: prohibiting recruitment fees, requiring accurate contracts, modifying data reporting requirements, registration of foreign labor recruiters, and more.

Extraterritorial Jurisdiction, Criminal Law and Transnational Crime: Insight from the Application of Australia’s Child Sex Tourism Offences

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:59:58 +0000

Scholars have noted an increased reliance on extraterritorial criminal jurisdiction as a response to transnational criminal activity, the rise in treaty law, and the resultant moral obligations. Meanwhile, existing international legal commentary notes that there are difficulties attached to using extraterritorial offences as the primary tool to deter and combat Child Sex Tourism (‘CST’). While extraterritorial offences are recognised as one (albeit important) part of a spectrum of legal and socio-political sanctions against CST, serious obstacles remain to their effective implementation. Various scholars and commentators have identified the challenges involved in bringing charges related to extraterritorial CST offenses within the jurisdiction of the offender’s citizenship. This article aims to contribute to the existing body of research on the application of Australian CST laws and the wider international debate concerning the utility of extraterritorial CST offences, and will address certain related controversies regarding the extraterritorial application of criminal laws, including those regarding sexual offences committed by UN Peacekeeping personnel.

Knocking at Your Door: Labor Trafficking on Sales Crews

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:59:58 +0000

Labor trafficking has been left unchecked in the traveling sales crews industry for decades. Abusive managers use psychological manipulation, violence, sexual harassment or assault, and abandonment in unfamiliar cities to pressure victims into working harder and to intimidate those who wish to leave their situation. Traffickers avoid detection by frequently moving their operating locations and even changing the names of their businesses. Attempts to address exploitation over the years have failed, and sales crews are the second most reported labor trafficking industry on the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline and BeFree Textline.

'Sex Slaves' and Shrewd Business Women: The Role of Victim Consent in Trafficking in Persons in Australia

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:59:58 +0000

Using the available case law, this article examines the role of consent in the prosecution and sentencing of trafficking in persons in Australia and develops recommendations to overcome common stereotypes and protect the rights of trafficked persons. The primary focus of this article is on cases involving trafficking of adult women for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, ie prostitution. Trafficking for other exploitative purposes, such as domestic servitude, forced labour and trafficking in children, are not well documented in Australia and there are few reported cases on these points.

Counting Shadows – Measuring trafficking in Persons in Australia

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:59:58 +0000

The true extent and nature of trafficking in persons in Australia remains a mystery despite wild speculations about the scale of this problem. This article aims to dispel some of the confusion surrounding trafficking in persons by examining the claims made about the prevalence of this offence and displacing many of the myths about the number of victims in Australia. This involves an analysis of the Australian Government’s approach to data collection and a critical examination of the data provided by non-official sources, especially non-governmental organisations and advocacy groups. The article also investigates the ‘dark figure’ of trafficking in persons in Australia and concludes by developing recommendations to measure trafficking in persons in Australia more accurately and by offering directions for further research in this field.

Human Trafficking of Young Women and Girls for Sexual Exploitation in South Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:59:58 +0000

This paper aims to illustrate the plight of victims of human trafficking for involuntary prostitution. A theoretical frame‐work to elucidate the vulnerability of young women and girls to human trafficking is provided, particularly within the socio-economic and socio-cultural context within which human trafficking in South Africa occurs. South African responses to human trafficking are identified, taking into account the fact that the relevant legislation has not yet been passed into law, because certain social and legal politics are preventing the rapid processing of this law. A strategy or policy that could effectively reduce the human trafficking of young women and girls for sexual exploitation in South Africa is proposed.

Lifestyles and Routine Activities of South African Teenagers at Risk of Being Trafficked for Involuntary Prostitution

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:59:58 +0000

This paper investigates lifestyles and routine activities of teenagers at risk of being trafficked for involuntary prostitution in South Africa.

Epi-Criminological Response to Human Trafficking of Young Women and Girls for Involuntary Prostitution in South Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:58:34 +0000

This is a scholarly analysis of the epidemiological criminology measures applied by South Africa to combat human trafficking of women and girls for involuntary prostitution. It comprises a description of the range of services provided by South African and international organizations and institutions responding to human trafficking of women and girls for involuntary prostitution.

National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and Slavery 2015–19

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:59:58 +0000

This National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and Slavery 2015–19 details the work being undertaken by the Australian Government to combat these crimes. It sets the strategic aims of Australia’s whole-of-community response to human trafficking and slavery over the coming five years, and includes measures to quantify the impact and effectiveness of our collective efforts.

Towards a sharp prosecution sword to combat human trafficking: comparing the new South African counter- trafficking law with international prosecution standards

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:58:20 +0000

This article seeks to assess whether South Africa's anti-human trafficking legislation lawfully complies with give key international standards on the prosecution of human trafficking. Although the study reveals some minor short-comings, it generally finds that the new law fundamentally complies with the main international standards.

"For That Hour He is Mr Hunk Himself" Men's Narratives of Buying Sex

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:59:58 +0000

This project endeavors to gain insight into the demand side of the sex work industry in South Africa. The project was based on in-depth interviews conducted with 14 male clients of female sex workers. The study explores the meaning that men

make of paying for sex and how being a client both influenced and was influenced by their broader social identities as men, husbands and fathers.

The politics of human trafficking in South Africa: A case study of the Kwazulu-Natal intersectoral task team and South African counter-trafficking governance

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:58:12 +0000

This study analyzes the actors involved in preventing and combating human trafficking and counter-trafficking governance in South Africa and the impact that politics (in the form of discourses and agendas) has on human trafficking approaches and responses.

Human Trafficking in Ukraine – Situation Analysis, JUNE 2016

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:59:35 +0000

This report provides statistics from January to June 2016 on the issue of human trafficking in Ukraine. It includes trends in trafficking, exploitation, victim profile, and the Ukrainian government's response.

The prevention and combating of trafficking in persons Act 7 of 2013: A critical Analysis of its potential impact on child trafficking prosecutions in South Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:58:03 +0000

This research aims to evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of the legal framework concerning human trafficking in South Africa.

The Changing Dynamics of Cross-Border Human Smuggling and Trafficking in the Mediterranean

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:59:57 +0000

EXCERPT ACCORDING TO INTRODUCTION: "The spread of conflict in a wide range of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in the Middle East and neighbouring countries, is producing an increase of mixed migration flows, which in turn affects the stability of the overall Mediterranean region. Often defined as one of the major causes of the growing trend of irregular migration, smuggling of migrants is increasingly singled out by international institutions and states as one of the main problems and a key policy priority for the whole region. This paper adopts a transnational and macro-regional approach to reconstructing recent developments in migrant smuggling involving Mediterranean MENA countries, with particular regard to cross-Mediterranean smuggling circuits. It explores the main dynamics of routes through and into the area, mainly originating in the Middle East or in West and East African countries. The paper provides an insight into the transnational mechanisms and key trends of this activity, taking into account the broader geo-political scenario, and with a specific focus on the Central and Eastern Mediterranean routes, highlighting the prevalent confinement of the flows in the region and the increasingly blurring lines between smuggling and trafficking practices."

The profile less considered: The trafficking of men in South Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:57:53 +0000

This study describes patterns of engagement in transactional sexual relationships and sex with women in prostitution of South African men, and suggests interpretations that advance our understanding of the phenomenon.

Human Trafficking and the Hotel Industry

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:59:57 +0000

Hotels are one of many venues that traffickers use to exploit their victims. As a result, industry leaders are increasingly recognizing the unique role they can play in preventing and disrupting this crime. Since 2007, 1,434 cases of human trafficking in hotels and motels have been reported to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) and Polaris’s BeFree texting helpline. We know that pimps and traffickers use hotel and motel rooms when setting up so-called “dates” between victims of sex trafficking and those individuals purchasing sex. We also know labor trafficking is present in both the hotel industry’s work force and in the supply chain of its products. Traffickers are capitalizing on the lack of awareness around this issue within the hotel industry. All too often, they continue to exploit their victims unchecked because staff, managers, and executives do not know what to look for.

Child Trafficking and Child Welfare

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:57:44 +0000

Every year, children are compelled into labor and sex trafficking in the United States. Children may be trafficked by caregivers, intimate partners, or others who use violence, threats, debt bondage and other manipulative tactics to victimize children. Child welfare professionals play a critical role in preventing this crime and serving victims of it. In 2014, 1,607 cases of human trafficking involving minors were reported to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) and Polaris’s BeFree Textline. Of these, 121 referenced the child welfare system. The data reflects only survivors who elected to disclose this information and is not the result of a systematic survey.

Human trafficking legislation in South Africa: Consent, coercion and consequences

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 18:59:58 +0000

This paper looks at critical concepts found in the new South African counter-trafficking legislation. It examines the issue of consent, and its pivotal role in defining both adult and child trafficking. The concept of coercion is addressed, and whether such a term should be interpreted broadly to include psychological coercion. The potential consequences trafficking has for the victim and the role that such longitudinal damage should play in determining a just and informed sentence will be examined

Breaking Barriers: Improving Services for LGBTQ Human Trafficking Victims

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:44 +0000

Youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ) may be disproportionately affected by human trafficking. They face higher rates of discrimination and homelessness, making them especially vulnerable to traffickers. When LGBTQ trafficking victims seek services or go through the criminal justice system they are often penalized for their sexual orientation or gender identity. Even when community members and service providers do want to help, they frequently lack the training needed to recognize trafficking or how to effectively and compassionately assist LGBTQ youth. If the basic needs of LGBTQ youth continue to go unmet, these young people face a greater risk of returning to their trafficking situations. Details as small as the type of deodorant or recreation options offered to an individual can make the difference in recovery.

Sex Trafficking in the U.S.: A Closer Look at U.S. Citizen Victims

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:44 +0000

Sex Trafficking in the U.S.: A Closer Look at U.S. Citizen Victims provides crucial insight into the realities of sex trafficking in the U.S. based largely on experiences reported by U.S. citizen survivors. The issue brief highlights key aspects of the U.S. sex trafficking industry, including how U.S. citizen victims are recruited and controlled, the relationships between victims and traffickers, common venues where sex trafficking occurs, and survivors’ level of access to opportunities for assistance. The brief, based on information reported to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) hotline and Polaris’s BeFree Textline in 2014, illustrates the variety of situations that victims face in rural, suburban, and urban communities across the country. The information contained in the brief is based on data collected from 1,611 sex trafficking cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) hotline and the BeFree Textline in 2014 involving U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, as well as a deeper analysis of 292 survivor accounts who directly contacted the NHTRC or BeFree. This information was supplemented with data from 141 U.S. citizen sex trafficking survivors who received direct services from Polaris between 2011 and 2014. By amplifying the voices of these survivors, we are taking steps to better understand the variety of ways traffickers operate and the comprehensive services victims require to rebuild their lives.

Trafficking: A Perspective from Asia

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:44 +0000

Focuses on the trafficking of human beings as a business in Asia. Factors influencing trafficking; Difference between trafficking and other forms of legal labor migration; Emergence of coordinated official responses to criminality and criminal organizations; Demands for labor at various skill levels; Link between trafficking and international crime. Author concludes that the elimination of trafficking in Asia is unlikely to be realistically achieved through legislation and declarations of intent but by improvements in the socioeconomic status of the population.

Homelessness, Survival Sex, and Human Trafficking: As Experienced by the Youth of Covenant House New York

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:44 +0000

At Covenant House New York (CHNY), we have seen firsthand the difficulty in identifying victims. As New York City’s largest provider of services for homeless youth ages 16-21, we provide comprehensive care including shelter, food, clothing, counseling, medical and legal assistance, case management, job training and education services to over 3,000 youth each year. And since we opened our doors in 1972, we have always known that traffickers and other exploiters seek out vulnerable youth to recruit and victimize. Yet young people do not arrive at the doors of our shelter stating “Help, I have been trafficked.” Instead they say, “Help, I need food and a place to sleep.” Although we were certain that there were large numbers of trafficking survivors among our clients, we were having difficulty identifying them due to the reluctance of young people to disclose their experience. For this reason, we sought out the assistance of the Applied Developmental Psychology Department at Fordham University to help us develop and scientifically validate a screening tool to better identify trafficking victims among our youth. In addition to developing the tool, we hoped to learn more about the type and amount of trafficking our youth have experienced to better inform both our practice and our advocacy. Using the tool we developed, we surveyed a random sample of 174 youth between 18 and 23 years old.

Using a Survivor Leadership Model to Address Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:44 +0000

This resource guide was developed to provide the Family and Youth Services Bureau Runaway and Homeless Youth grantees with information on developing a survivor-leadership model within their organizations for survivors of human trafficking. It is intended to serve as a supporting resource for the accompanying webinar titled, “Using a Survivor Leadership Model to Address Human Trafficking.” The resource sheet provides information on what a survivor-leadership model looks like, including essential components. Also included are additional resources on the topic, such as sample internal policy documents.

Understanding the complexities of responding to child sex trafficking in Thailand and Cambodia

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:44 +0000

The market in trafficked children bought and sold for sexual exploitation is one of the most inhumane transnational crimes that appear to have been facilitated by globalization and its many effects, such as growing disparity in wealth between North and South. Child sex trafficking (CST) in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) is an extremely complex problem, deeply rooted in historical injustice, gender inequality and poverty. In addition to the complexities of the child trafficking issue, the organizations that seek to combat CST are themselves not always a united force and display their own internal and inter-agency complexities. The purpose of this paper is to examine some of the key complexities of responding to CST in Thailand and Cambodia.

Images and Evidence: Human Trafficking, Auditing, and the Production of Illicit Markets in Southeast Asia and Beyond

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:44 +0000

Since 2002 Batam has become an exemplary site in the production of a geographical imaginary of human trafficking, as migrants and tourists have come to converge in the island’s extensive sex industry. In this context, films about trafficking have been made that converge in terms of both forms and content. Most notably, each features testimonials of victims and interviews with NGO workers who describe the problem. However, the individuals and organizations that make the films vary significantly. But it is not immediately obvious why film has acquired such an important position in contemporary counter trafficking campaigns. The often-expressed need and demand for testimonials of trafficking victims are certainly one way of understanding this process

Combating Human Trafficking in Asia Requires U.S. Leadership

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:44 +0000

Despite increased U.S. foreign policy attention over the past decade, human trafficking remains widespread and deeply entrenched in many Asian countries. The precise number of people being trafficked is difficult to estimate, but new studies suggest nearly 36 million victims worldwide. Of those 36 million, nearly two-thirds are from Asia. Total profits from worldwide forced labor and sex trafficking could be as high as $150 billion annually. The U.S. has a national security interest and vital role to play in shaping effective anti–human trafficking policy in Asia. The U.S. should model positive anti-trafficking policies within its own borders and capitalize on its partnerships in Asia to reduce and eventually end human trafficking. Engaging more closely with Asian countries on human trafficking problems would strengthen U.S. economic and humanitarian involvement in the region and bolster democratic governance by promoting individual liberty and human rights.

Illegal Adoption: Is it Human Trafficking?

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:44 +0000

Illegal adoption is especially prevalent in China, as a result of the government’s one child policy and a cultural preference for male children. Of course China is not the only country where illegal adoption occurs. The 1993 Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption establishes common standards and regulations for international adoption, while recognizing that these adoptions can lead to child trafficking. Chinese officials, the media, and many others consider the abduction of children for illegal adoption to be human trafficking, but debate still surrounds the issue. Although the US does not consider trafficking of children for adoption purposes, several countries do and have included illegal adoptions in their anti-trafficking legislation.

Transaction Costs: Prosecuting child trafficking for illegal adoption in Russia

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:44 +0000

As primary implementers of laws on human trafficking, law enforcement helps construct how these laws are understood and applied. This article examines how this process has unfolded in Russia by looking at the phenomenon of and debates surrounding child trafficking for illegal adoption. It argues that pre-existing experience with trafficking laws and cultural narratives surrounding adoption have led law enforcement to focus on uncovering evidence of monetary transactions rather than exploitation when prosecuting trafficking cases. This construction of the meaning of trafficking comes with important trade-offs. While the emphasis on transactions helps law enforcement to be successful at prosecuting cases involving selling children for illegal adoption, a focus on transactions rather than exploitation results in a de facto prosecution policy that ignores the many forms of exploitation that occur in other trafficking cases.

Where is the Funding for Anti-Trafficking Work? A look at donor funds, policies and practices in Europe

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:44 +0000

This article looks at trends in funding for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) providing counter-human-trafficking programmes and services since the 1990s, particularly through the lens of a large NGO network based in Europe, La Strada International (LSI). The article looks at donors, their policies and criteria and, where possible, how this has impacted NGO work, particularly that of the La Strada network.

Giving us the ‘Biggest Bang for the Buck’ (or Not): Anti-trafficking government funding in Ukraine and the United Kingdom

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:44 +0000

The focus of this paper is on government anti-trafficking policies and funding allocations in two case-study countries, Ukraine and the United Kingdom (UK). The paper discusses specific ways, or ‘vectors’, in which human trafficking has been discursively constructed by national policies and the solutions that have been offered to counteract it. It relies on publicly available information and information obtained via Freedom of Information requests from public authorities in these countries to explore the extent to which anti-trafficking funding allocated by national governments supports or unsettles such representations. A broader definition of human trafficking has been encoded into anti-trafficking policies in Ukraine, implicating migratory pressures and violation of irregular migrants’ human rights as the root causes of trafficking. However, the ability of the government to act upon this definition is limited by the ongoing socio-economic and political crises in Ukraine. This is in comparison to the politicised construction of trafficking by the UK government as a threat from international organised crime and ‘illegal’ immigration. The paper concludes that governments in both countries put their anti-trafficking money where ‘their mouths are’: crime, immigration and victim care in the UK, and awareness raising, victim care and training of ‘frontline professionals’ in Ukraine.

Stopping the Traffick? The problem of evidence and legislating for the ‘Swedish model’ in Northern Ireland

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:44 +0000

This article examines mitigating evidence drawn from two sources: findings from a mixed methods study commissioned by the Department of Justice of Northern Ireland to support the reform process; and contributions to the consultation held within it. We argue that the sex purchase ban in Northern Ireland is essentially meant to send a moral message about the unacceptability of commercial sex rather than effectively reduce trafficking. With this conclusion, we aim to contribute to an open and honest debate about the moral foundations of anti-trafficking measures, the role of research evidence in the policy process, and the gap between stated intentions and likely effects of neo-abolitionist measures such as the sex purchase ban in both Northern Ireland and more generally.

Acting in Isolation: Safeguarding and anti-trafficking officers' evidence and intelligence practices at the border

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:44 +0000

Internationally, the border has been presented as a site of unique opportunity for the identification and protection of victims of human trafficking. In the UK, the establishment of specialist safeguarding and anti-trafficking (SAT) units within the border force has raised questions about the challenges for border force officers (BFOs) of balancing the enforcement of strict immigration rules with the protection of victims under anti-trafficking legislation. In this paper we draw on data collected from a study of anti-trafficking initiatives at Heathrow airport to consider a particular area of BFO frustration with SAT work: the collection and use of evidence and intelligence to support investigation and pursuit of potential SAT cases at the border. Our findings focus on the use of intelligence and data to inform initiatives and develop a comprehensive understanding of the trafficking problem; and the scope of BFO powers of evidence-collection on the frontline. The experience of BFOs points to a team often working in isolation as they attempt to traverse gaps in data collection and limits to their powers to gather evidence in pursuit of their duty to identify victims of trafficking at the UK border. We conclude by making proposals for how the border force and central government could improve evidence and intelligence practices in ways that translate into both more coherent anti-trafficking policy and better identification and support for victims.

Monitoring and Evaluation of Human Trafficking Partnerships in England and Wales

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:44 +0000

This article examines the nature of the evidence collected to monitor and evaluate the activities and outcomes of organisations involved in a number of human trafficking partnerships in England and Wales. Underpinning this analysis is the ‘4 Ps’ approach to tackling human trafficking: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Partnership. Based on interviews with a variety of actors working in different partner bodies, limitations of evidence in relation to both monitoring activities as well as evaluating outcomes emerged. These relate to inadequate data collection, lack of robust methods of data collection, untested assumptions, the complexity of gathering evidence which reflect human welfare oriented goals, and the sharing of evidence between partner organisations. A key finding is that current data and methods of data collection are inadequate for the purpose of measuring the effectiveness of anti-trafficking initiatives and partnerships. Another key finding is the way in which partnerships challenged received outcomes and expanded their focus beyond victims of trafficking or criminal justice goals. Finally, it explores whether criminal justice outcomes can be leveraged to foster deterrence, by interrogating what evidence might be needed.

A Lie More Disastrous than the Truth: Asylum and the identification of trafficked women in the UK

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:43 +0000

This article explores the impact that nationality can have on a person’s experience of being identified as a victim of trafficking in the UK. Responses to individuals and disparities in rates of recognition depending on nationality are cause for great concern. The rhetoric and the response to women who have experienced trafficking varies considerably depending upon the citizenship, residency and documentation status of the individual, particularly highlighting the differential treatment of trafficking cases of British women, European Union nationals, and third-country (non UK, non EU) nationals, the majority of whom are also asylum seekers. This differential treatment is played out in multiple ways, many of which result in women’s inability to realise procedural and substantive rights. The article examines the use of official “identification” mechanisms that place women into the administrative category of “victim”, and the central role of the asylum system in all areas of UK anti-trafficking responses.

The Road to Effective Remedies: Pragmatic reasons for treating cases of “sex trafficking” in the Australian sex industry as a form of “labour trafficking”

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:43 +0000

Internationally, it is widely recognised that labour law and associated protections are a critical part of any comprehensive response to trafficking in persons. In this article, we argue that while Australia has taken some important steps to incorporate labour protection systems into the anti-trafficking response, there is still more work to be done. In particular, the federal, and state and territory governments have yet to take up the opportunity to link anti-trafficking efforts with initiatives aimed at improving the working conditions of workers in the sex industry. We suggest this reflects a common—but unjustified—assumption that “labour trafficking” and “sex trafficking” are distinct and different species of harm. As a result of this distinction, workers in the Australian sex industry—an industry where slavery and trafficking crimes have been detected— are missing out on a suite of potentially effective prevention interventions, and access to civil remedies. We argue that there is a need to provide practical and financial support, so that the national industrial regulator, the Fair Work Ombudsman, can work directly with sex worker advocacy groups, to examine opportunities and barriers to accessing the labour law system, particularly for migrant sex workers.

Vulnerability to Forced Labour and Trafficking: The case of Romanian women in the agricultural sector in Sicily

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:43 +0000

This paper focuses on labour and sexual exploitation faced by Romanian female workers employed in the agricultural sector in Ragusa, Sicily, Italy. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in 2013 and 2014 with Romanian female farm workers in Ragusa, the paper identifies factors that contribute towards their vulnerability to exploitation. By paying specific attention to the experiences of women who are mothers with dependent children, we look at structural factors that increase their vulnerability and consider how this vulnerability ‘forces’ women into situations whereby they effectively accept and/or submit to abuse. We also highlight how European Union (EU) citizenship does not automatically protect migrants from such abuse. This is important because, as we argue, the mistreatment experienced by participants in this study can be regarded as cases of forced labour and trafficking, based on International Labour Organization (ILO) indicators1 and the definition of trafficking provided by the Directive 2011/36/EU. For a long time, these cases have mostly been neglected by incompetent authorities or addressed using only repressive and assistentialist approaches. Thus, this paper also investigates the limits and potentialities of the Italian legal framework on trafficking, and the ways local institutions and organisations confront the rights violations occurring in the agricultural sector. We contend that in order to effectively counter these phenomena, labour rights measures and anti-trafficking interventions have to be combined based on a comprehensive approach aimed not only at assisting victims, but also at tackling the structural factors that create their vulnerability.

‘Tied Visas’ and Inadequate Labour Protections: A formula for abuse and exploitation of migrant domestic workers in the United Kingdom

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:14:43 +0000

This article examines the link between restrictive immigration schemes, specifically ‘tied visas’ and the selective application of labour laws, with exploitation of workers. It focuses on the situation of migrant domestic workers, who accompany their employers to the United Kingdom (UK) and are exposed to both an excessively restrictive visa regime, introduced in April 2012, and limited labour protections. The immigration status of these workers is currently tied to a named employer, a restriction that traps workers into exploitative conditions, often amounting to forced labour, servitude or slavery. Additionally, current UK labour laws are either not enforced or not applicable to domestic workers. The article concludes that unless the current immigration regime is abolished and comprehensive labour law protections are extended to migrant domestic workers, exploitation will continue.

Forced child marriage practiced under the pretext of customary marriage in South Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:25:22 +0000

This article explores the concept of forced child marriage because current laws do not give enough protection to girl children who cannot give consent if their parents act on their behalf. Forced child marriage is discussed in terms of its nature, the extent to which it is practiced, its incidence, consequences and current measures in place for its prevention in the South African

context. It concludes that “ukuganisela” is a form of forced marriage that robs girls of their human rights,

including education. It further violates specifications of numerous South African legal instruments.

Trafficking in Human Beings in the European Union: Gender, Sexual Exploitation, and Digital Communication Technologies

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:22:57 +0000

In this article, the intersection of gender, trafficking for sexual exploitation, and use of digital communication technologies are analyzed based on data from the European Union (EU). Over the past two decades, an increase in trafficking in human beings in the EU has been accompanied by an increase in the development and availability of digital communication technologies. The first statistical analysis of trafficking in human beings (2008-2010) carried out by the European Commission found 23,632 victims of human trafficking in the reporting member states. Eighty percent of victims were women and girls; 20% were men and boys. The majority of the victims (62%) were trafficked for sexual exploitation. Digital communication technologies are widely used for trafficking for sexual exploitation, and more rarely for trafficking for forced labor. This article concludes that the combination of gender, trafficking for sexual exploitation, and use of digital communication technologies has created a nexus of victimization for women and girls. Based on this analysis and other sources of information, the European region is the world’s leading region for trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Online prostitution and trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:21:15 +0000

This report describes the use of Internet technologies to traffic women and children into prostitution. It summarizes the history of online trafficking and the use of the Internet for advertising prostitution locally, regionally, and internationally. It provides examples of sex buyers, pimps, and traffickers, as well as the use of online classified advertising sites. It discuss what is known about the involvement of organized crime in online trafficking, and summarizes several successful cases brought against online traffickers. It describes public campaigns and educational boycotts against online traffickers and the development of online alternatives to the sex trafficking industry.

Trafficking As a Human Rights Violat ion: Is South Africa’s Curriculum Stuck in a Traffick Jam?

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:25:22 +0000

The purpose of this report is to ascertain the extent to which human trafficking, child trafficking in particular, is addressed in South Africa's national curriculum. The document analysis used includes all of the compulsory subjects in Grades R to 12. By employing content analysis, the areas in the explicit curriculum where human trafficking is included could be identified. Based on the findings of this research, South Africa’s curriculum does not adequately explore the topic of human trafficking.

Human trafficking and the exploitation of women and children in a Southern and South African context

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:21:31 +0000

This paper seeks to extend the understanding of the different forms of exploitation which women and children are exposed to in the trafficking chain. The results of the research clearly indicate that South Africa is a source, transit and destination country for trafficked women and children. The study identifies a number of trafficking flows in the intercontinental trafficking of women and children to and from South Africa from the rest of the Continent of Africa, as well as domestic trafficking.

Contextualizing the practice of Ukuthwala within South Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:25:22 +0000

The article explores the cultural practice of ukuthwala and illustrates how it has digressed from a traditional practice to a merely criminal act. It draws a distinction between the pure customary practice of ukuthwala and its current distorted form and further examines how the practice results in the sexual exploitation and abuse of

children. Two case studies are presented and discussed, and the authors explore the link between human trafficking and ukuthwala.

Combatting forced labor and human trafficking in Africa: The role of endogenous and exogenous forces

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:21:53 +0000

It is widely believed that indigenous culture and tradition are at the root of the human trafficking and forced labor problem in Africa. Adherents to this viewpoint also claim that endogenous as opposed to exogenous forces impede efforts to eradicate the problem. This study tests the tenability of this claim.

A tangled web: Human trafficking, child protection, and the media

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:25:22 +0000

A report examining South Africa's media coverage of human trafficking before, during and after the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup. The report elaborates on the methods used to analyze the media and the findings, and provides insight into the issues themselves.

我國處理人口販運犯罪之研究─以臺灣各地方法院判決書為例

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:18:21 +0000

本文嘗試從人口販運的理論與基礎，探討人口販運定義、特性、原因、態樣及未來趨勢，進而以實際判決書為例，統計、分析，探討人口販運犯罪之類型、犯罪模式、犯罪手法、適用法條，判決刑度，依據個案分析，歸納犯罪手法，強化警察機關偵查技巧，提升法院起訴率，共同建構安全的防護網與人口販運防制之機制，有效解決人口販運問題。研究發現：一、法院判決刑度太輕，無法達到嚇阻作用。二、無罪判決以構成要件不符及無具體事證為主因。三、線報取得不易及證據蒐集相當困難。四、犯罪模式以有組織之集團性犯罪居多。五、犯罪手法利用被害人人生地不熟、語言不通等脆弱情境居多。六、犯罪途逕以合法掩護非法之方式，對外勞進行人口販運。七、人口販運犯罪不但具跨國性、跨區域性，更具國內性。研究建議：一、提高法院判決刑度、立即公布犯行達到嚇阻作用。二、加強檢警偵查技巧、情資蒐報及法律教育訓練。三、加強民眾及外籍人士相關法治觀念之宣導。四、強化監聽功能、由點、線、面澈底瓦解組織性之犯罪。五、落實外勞管控機制、有效掌握外籍人士在臺動態。六、重新檢討外勞引進政策，並建立外勞連帶保證人制度。

我國人口販運防制對策

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:16:48 +0000

聯合國《打擊跨國有組織犯罪公約》附錄二《關於預防、禁止和懲治販運人口特別是婦女和兒童行為的議定書》將人口販運定為犯罪，確保起訴並懲治販運者，向受害人提供保護和援助並同時保護其人權，以此打擊和防止人口販運。台灣在美國國務院每年公布之人口販運報告（Trafficking in Persons Report）的排名，由第一級、第二級、第二級觀察名單的連年退後，顯示我國在打擊人口販運所作之付出與努力，無法獲得認同，2007 年排名雖回復到第二級，但仍應持續加強各項防制人口販運作為，目標朝向第一級而努力。該報告評價某一個國家等級之判斷標準，主要是從 3 個面向加以切入，第一是起訴情形(prosecution)，第二是保護作為(protection)，第三是預防作為(prevention)，即所謂之防制人口販運 3P 對策。本文除就最新之 2007 年人口販運報告有關我國部分作一簡介與評析，也將我國「防制人口販運行動計畫」內容加以分析與檢討。由於人口販運係嚴重違反人權之犯罪類型，也屬我國當前所面臨之嚴峻挑戰。本文係就我國防制人口販運對策之現況進行分析，目的在提出適切之結論與建議，期能研擬出防制人口販運之修法建議方向，並提出在相關制度上精進之作法，作為政府相關部門在針對防制人口販運因應作為之施政參考，以及民間組織在協助保護人口販運被害人之參考，進而提升我國在人口販運報告之評等。

公平貿易如何協助終止人口販運

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:16:16 +0000

全球有超過2090萬人為強迫性勞工及人口販運的受害者，且其中有550萬人是孩童。本文作者Hannah Gould分享了有關人口販運的重要資訊、以及公平貿易如何作為對抗人口販運的重要工具。

When farmworkers and advocates see trafficking but law enforcement does not: challenges in identifying labor trafficking in North Carolina

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:22:13 +0000

This article reports on the perceptions and experiences with labor trafficking of farmworkers, stakeholders, and law enforcement representatives in North Carolina. We found a sizeable number of farmworkers who had experienced labor trafficking violations, albeit with a convenience sample; and community agencies reported stories of labor trafficking victimization. However, most of the state and local law enforcement agencies that we attempted to contact simply ignored our requests for information about labor trafficking or reported no evidence of such victimization. Notwithstanding the sample limitations, we found a general lack of awareness of agricultural labor trafficking problems among law enforcement officials in our surveyed jurisdictions. We question whether our current law enforcement system will ever be in a position to effectively enforce the anti-labor-trafficking law; and suggest an alternative specialized mechanism be established.

漁船奴工問題持續業者澄清設法改善

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:15:43 +0000

這個短片顯示狹小的空間內，幾名被囚禁的男子，都是遭遇到不人道對待的外籍漁船奴工。這裡是印尼偏僻漁村Benjina，被藏匿在離家幾千公里遠的小島，無法逃離。這些移工大多來自世界上最貧窮的國家之一緬甸，這些漁產，主要供應給美國的超市、餐廳甚至是寵物店。美聯社記者經過超過一年的調查報導，發現，雇用奴工與提供美國海產的供應商脫不了關係。經營這個小港口漁獲運輸的漁業公司Pusaka Benjina就座落在港口邊，在印尼登記註冊，擁有超過90艘的拖網漁船，印尼政府正在檢視相關資料，而公司本身拒絕回應相關問題，幾百名被困在Benjina的奴工，是各個大型公司和不同國家之間海產供應鏈中最不見天日的一部分。奴工的工作從白天到黑夜，離家千里又暗無天日的每天超時工作，他們表示非常想回家。

Human Trafficking and Smuggling on the Horn of Africa- Central Mediterranean Route

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:22:34 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "As Europe struggles to manage its largest migrant crisis in more than half a century, attention has focused largely upon the refugee flows from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, where years of war and instability are driving the exodus. But in 2015, an estimated 154,000 migrants entered Europe via the Central Mediterranean Route – an increase of nearly 400% over the previous year, and more than 1,000% over 2012 – most of them from the Horn of Africa. By far the largest contingent of migrants – nearly 39,000 in 2015 – is from the sub-region’s second smallest country: Eritrea. In contrast with the mass, largely uncontrolled movements of refugees from the Middle East, irregular migration from the Horn of Africa is dominated by highly integrated networks of transnational organised criminal groups. Coordinated by kingpins based chiefly in Libya and the Horn of Africa, these networks “recruit” their clients via schools, the Internet and word of mouth; they corrupt government officials to ensure seamless travel across borders; they collude with Libyan militias to secure safe passage across the desert to launching points on the southern shores of the Mediterranean; and they cast their human cargoes adrift at the limit of Libyan territorial waters in order to avoid interdiction and arrest by European security forces."

An analysis of human trafficking in Southern Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:25:22 +0000

This thesis analyses the extent of human trafficking in Southern Africa with specific emphasis on Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia, and aims to reconcile the fore-mentioned with the law.

Field Center Multi-city Study on Child Trafficking Among Homeless Youth

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:24:57 +0000

The Field Center recently completed a 3-city study as part of an initiative by Covenant House International to conduct the largest-ever study of the incidence of trafficking among homeless youth, encompassing approximately 1,000 youth across 13 cities. The Field Center interviewed close to 300 homeless youth in Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, DC to learn about the prevalence of child trafficking, and the history of child maltreatment, out of home placement, and resilience factors among those who were sex trafficked or engaged in the sex trade to survive. Of those interviewed, 17% were victims of sex trafficking and 14% engaged in “survival sex” to meet their basic needs.

澳門特別行政區第6/2008號法律打擊販賣人口犯罪

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:19:35 +0000

本法律訂定預防及遏止販賣人口犯罪的措施、確立受害人的權利，以及訂定保護和援助受害人的必要措施。

La Traite des Êtres Humains: Mieux Identifier et Accompagner les Victimes

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:23:35 +0000

Cette ressource explique les modes d'identification des victimes de la traite des êtres humains, et elle donne quelques façons d'aide pour les victimes. Elle explique la définition de la traite des êtres humains, les différentes formes de la traite, et le cadre légal international et en France. De plus, elle discute les exemples de la traite en France. Cette ressource est parfaite pour toutes les personnes qui essaient d'identifier la traite des êtres humains dans les carrières ou dans la vie quotidienne.

Study of sex trafficking in Namibia

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:23:14 +0000

This study investigates the existence, prevalence and causes of trafficking for sexual

exploitation in Namibia, as well as its impact and effects on both its victims and society as a

whole.

网络人口贩卖——社交网站和分类广告的作用

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:20:08 +0000

这份报告详细阐述了社交网站和网络分类广告在打击贩卖人口领域的作用，为如何利用科技创新来追踪和打击人口贩卖活动提出具体对策。

A baseline assessment of human trafficking in Namibia

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:28:53 +0000

In response to the lack of knowledge about the scope and magnitude of trafficking in Namibia, an assessment of Trafficking in Persons in Namibia was initiated by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare. The report collects available information on the scope of trafficking in persons in targeted areas of Namibia, reviews counter-trafficking initiatives by government and civil society, and outlines gaps and makes recommendations concerning future programming and research needs.

Starting Over: Children Return Home from Camel Racing

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:32:06 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "In May 2005, UNICEF and the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a groundbreaking agreement to return children formerly involved in camel racing to their countries of origin and reintegrate them into their communities. Government and non-governmental organization (NGO) delegates from Bangladesh, Mauritania, Pakistan and Sudan committed their support to helping the children who returned home to re-enter society. This historic initiative is the first programme in the Gulf region to publicly acknowledge the issues of child trafficking and exploitation, and take practical steps to protect children. By strengthening legislation and policies, the programme prevents the trafficking and exploitation of children for use in camel racing, and protects and assists young victims. Acknowledging that no state can end child trafficking alone, it engages international partners, including those countries from which children are trafficked."

Child Marriage in the Middle East and North Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:32:28 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "This paper will embark on a novel study of child marriage practices in MENA – compiling regional statistics, exploring underlying socioeconomic, cultural, and religious factors that perpetuate the practice, and making recommendations for future action in the region. Part I will explore the underlying causes and effects of child marriage. The international and regional legal responses to child marriage will be examined in Part II. This section will also highlight the regulatory gaps and barriers in a select sampling of countries to enforcement that allow child marriage to persevere. Part III will present country-specific profiles of child marriage throughout the Middle East and North Africa, examining available statistics, legal treatment of early marriage, and efforts, if any, to combat the practice. Recommendations for future action on the regional and international levels will be set forth in Part IV. Finally, descriptions of a sampling of initiatives that have been undertaken globally are provided in Part V."

Child trafficking, child prostitution and the potential dangers of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:27:35 +0000

This paper aims to examine child trafficking and child prostitution in relation to the potential dangers of the 2010 FIFA World Cup (FWC) in South Africa. The overview covers key concepts that are relevant for the purpose of this article. The article also discusses child trafficking vis-à-vis the strategies to combat it, and critically analyses strategies in the context of the 2010 FWC. Finally, based on the analysis, the paper takes a position with regard to the potential dangers of the 2010 FWC and offers suggestions for Namibia’s response to them.

Fact Sheet: Identification of Domestic Labor Trafficking Survivors

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:31:54 +0000

This resource guide was developed to provide the Family and Youth Services Bureau’s Runaway and Homeless Youth grantees with information regarding labor trafficking amongst youth populations. It is intended to serve as a supporting resource for “Identification of Domestic Labor Trafficking Survivors” webinar. This information sheet provides examples of industries where labor trafficking has been reported, indicators of labor trafficking, and resources for getting assistance.

Ficha técnica: Identificación de sobrevivientes del tráfico laboral

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:27:59 +0000

Esta guía de recursos fue desarrollada para proporcionar a los beneficiarios de Family and Youth Services Bureau Runaway and Homeless Youth información sobre el tráfico laboral entre la población juvenil.

Child Soldiers in Northern Uganda: An Analysis of the Challenges and Opportunities for Reintegration and Rehabilitation

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:28:28 +0000

This study is primarily concerned with the plight of child soldiers in northern Uganda and how their effective reintegration and rehabilitation could lead to successful peace-building. The study is premised on the hypothesis that ‘the promotion of the reintegration and rehabilitation of formal child soldiers by providing psychosocial support based on traditional and indigenous resources may contribute to conditions of peace and stability in northern Uganda.'

Understanding Cultural Competence and Developing Culturally Competent Services for Victim-Survivors of Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:31:34 +0000

To understand cultural competence, it helps to start with the definition of culture. In their seminal work Cultural Issues and Responses: Defining Cultural Competence in Child Welfare (1989), Cross et al write that culture involves the “integrated pat- tern of human behavior that includes thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values and institutions of a racial, ethnic, religious or social group.” Cultural competence, they write, involves having the capacity to function proficiently within the context of a particular culture. Competence is based on a set of harmonious actions, approaches, and policies that come together and enable the people working with the system of care to work effectively in cross-cultural situations. Culturally competent services, then, refers “to systems, agencies and practitioners who have the capacity to respond to the unique needs of populations whose cultures are different than that which might be called dominant or mainstream American.”

Outreach to and Engagement with Victim Survivors of Human Trafficking Resource Guide

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:32:28 +0000

In 2015 as part of the HTR3 project, this resource guide was developed to provide Family and Youth Services Bureau Runaway and Homeless Youth grantees information as they conduct outreach to and engage with victim-survivors of human trafficking. It is intended to serve as a supporting resource for the accompanying webinar titled: "HTR3: Outreach to and Engagement with Victim-Survivors of Human Trafficking.” The resource guid provides a brief discussion of “what outreach is,” safety tips for workers conducting outreach, engagement and relationship building, and safety planning with youth.

Understanding Former 'Girl Soldiers' - Central Themes in the Lives of Formerly Abducted Girls in post - Conflict Northern Uganda

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:27:11 +0000

This research argues that gender analysis is crucial to effective development as it relates to young soldiers. It also advocates a distinct analytical focus on girls who exit armed forces as young women (at times as a result of having children). The study is about formerly abducted girls in Acholi sub region, northern Uganda, and systematically looks at their socioeconomic reintegration process, experiences and progress over the years.The study identifies and analyses the central themes in their lives, including: physical and mental scars of abduction and life in captivity, stigmatization, marriage complexities, and economic hardships.

La Traite des Êtres Humains dans les Situations de Conflits et Post-Conflits

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:26:54 +0000

EXTRAIT DE LA PUBLICATION: "La question de la traite des êtres humains dans les situations de conflit et de post-conflit est un sujet peu étudié et rarement pris en compte par les acteurs en charge de l’accompagnement des personnes déplacées et/ou réfugiées. Que ce soient les organisations internationales, les Etats ou la société civile, l’accueil ou la « gestion » des personnes fuyant les conflits se traduit sur le terrain essentiellement par une aide humanitaire devant répondre aux besoins primaires de ces populations : boire, manger, se soigner, avoir un abri, etc. Les phénomènes d’exploitation ou la présence des groupes vulnérables : enfants, femmes seules, minorités persécutées,... sont encore trop peu pris en compte par les programmes d’aide d’urgence dans la phase de conflit et dans les programmes de reconstruction. En raison de la multiplication des conflits dans le monde : Moyen-Orient, Ukraine, etc., touchant essentiellement des civils et engendrant un nombre sans précédent de personnes déplacées ou réfugiées les questions de traite des êtres humains et d’exploitation semblent, d’après les Caritas engagées sur le terrain, de plus en plus prégnantes. Leur absence de prise en compte peut engendrer une structuration du phénomène à long terme dans les pays dits en reconstruction après avoir connu une période de conflit. Cette recherche/action doit contribuer à une meilleure connaissance, par l’ensemble des acteurs, des phénomènes de traite dans les situations de conflit et de post-conflit afin de proposer des modes d’intervention au plus proche des situations de terrain."

Human rights assessment on the reintegration of child soldiers in Uganda

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:31:05 +0000

This paper seeks to look at the reintegration process in Northern Uganda, from the time the

war ended (in 2006) until 2012, highlighting the best approach and practice of reintegrating formerly abducted children. It examines the legal guarantee to the right to reintegration, and offers a critical analysis of Uganda's efforts to do so. The paper ends by making recommendations for more effective reintegration.

Chapitre 1: Victimes de Mariages Précoces et Forcés

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:26:34 +0000

EXTRAIT DE LA PUBLICATION:

"Ce chapitre n’a pas vocation à aborder de manière exhaustive la question des mariages forcés en lien (ou non) avec la traite des êtres humains. Il se veut une première approche de la problématique, spéci quement concernant les mineurs, sur la base de quelques cas dont Myria a eu connaissance."

Law Combating Trafficking in Persons: Welcome Step that Requires Careful Implementation

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:32:28 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "In May 2010, Egypt enacted Law 64 of year 2010 on Combating Trafficking in Persons. This law provides a definition of 'crimes of trafficking in persons' and stipulates the penalties applicable. It also guarantees certain rights to victims of trafficking and imposes a duty of the state to ensure their full protection. At the time of writing (October 2010), the Implementing Statute of the law has not been issued. The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights welcomes the adoption of the law as an important step towards combating trafficking in persons. This commentary is intended to provide the state and interested stakeholders with a human rights reading to the law. The commentary includes recommendations to the government that will help ensure that the implementation of the law complies with Egypt's international obligations and fully respects human rights."

Child Soldiers: Rhetoric and Realities

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:30:30 +0000

The study examines how the understanding of child soldiers is constructed by leading Human Rights Organizations, particularly with respect to their exercise of agency, and seeks to critique these representations against alternative perspectives. The dissertation then explores both the potential ways in which the discourse could be seen to work in the interests of the organizations by appealing to various social structures and the extent to which it serves the best interest of the child.

A Violent Playground: The recruitment of child soldiers in Congo

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:32:28 +0000

This thesis looks into the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo and tries to understand both how and why child soldiers are recruited to fight in the combat.

"Libya is Full of Cruelty": Stories of Abduction, Sexual Violence, and Abuse from Migrants and Refugees

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:26:18 +0000

EXCERPT FROM SUMMARY: "Widespread abuses by armed groups, smugglers, traffickers and organized criminal groups in Libya as well as systematic exploitation, lawlessness and armed conflicts are pushing hundreds of thousands of migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees to risk their lives by attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Despite the continuing influx of refugees and migrants and the scale of abuses against foreign nationals in Libya, the European Union (EU) has failed for a long time to respond to a growing humanitarian crisis and provide the necessary resources to save lives at sea. In 2015 alone, over 1,700 persons died trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea. According to 70 new testimonies collected by Amnesty International in Sicily and in Tunisia between August 2014 and March 2015, foreign nationals travelling irregularly to and from Libya face abuses, including abductions for ransom, torture and other ill-treatment, and in some cases rape and other forms of sexual violence at all stages of the smuggling routes running from west and east Africa towards the Libyan coast. Most often they are handed over to criminal groups upon entry to Libya at the country’s southern borders or in major transit cities along the migration routes such as Ajdabya and Sabha. At times, the smugglers themselves hold the migrants and refugees in remote areas in the desert forcing them to call their families to pay a ransom."

People on the Move: Human Trafficking and Migration in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:32:28 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "The region that to English-speaking peoples is known as ‘the Middle East’ has throughout history been a region where people move – for work, along trade routes, through displacement or exchange. People movement, though, does not only comprise migration. For centuries, people have also moved as a result of being trafficked. Human traffickers, in fact, commonly use people’s desire to move for work or to improve their lives, to deceive or coerce them into labour exploitation of many different kinds. This report aims to map current trends in people movement to, from and through the three Mashreq countries of Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, and to throw light on the phenomenon of human trafficking affecting these countries as sending (origin), transit and receiving (destination) countries."

Fact Sheet - Children Associated with Armed Groups and Forces in Central Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:30:12 +0000

This fact sheet provides background information, statistics, reasons, consequences, and recommendations concerning child soldiers in Central Africa.

Human Rights Legislation in the Arab World: The Case of Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:29:55 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "This Essay is divided into three parts. Part I inquires into the definition of human trafficking articulated by various laws passed in the Arab World. Part II addresses how the ultimate goal of victim protection is handled under different Arab human trafficking laws. Part III analyzes the role of civil society in combating human trafficking and the status of this role in Arab anti-trafficking laws. The Essay will conclude with a call for the enhancement of civil society's role in promoting human rights, including the rights of trafficking victims. It will also argue that full implementation of human trafficking laws requires consideration of other related human rights legislation."

Enhancing Cooperation to Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings in the Mediterranean Region

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:32:28 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "The Seminar on Co-operation to Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings in the Mediterranean Region organized by the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, offered a unique opportunity for an in-depth dialogue on the complexities of human trafficking in the region. Hosted in Rome by the Italian Chamber of Deputies on 8 February 2013, the Seminar was attended by representatives of 22 OSCE participating States, six Mediterranean Partners and one Asian Partner for Co-operation, as well as civil society representatives from the OSCE region, North Africa, and the Middle East. This report presents the key issues and challenges drawn from the interventions and discussions of key players at the event. Indeed, the Seminar helped in identifying priority areas for possible enhanced co-operation between participating States and the Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation 'to address the multiple challenges of a strategy aimed at eradicating modern slavery' in the Mediterranean Region."

Protecting women and girls from human trafficking in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Toward justice for victims of gender-based violence

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:46:00 +0000

This report analyzes the current responses to gender-based violence in the conflict-ridden eastern DRC, and will show that incorporating efforts targeting gender-based violence as a form of human trafficking could lead to greater justice for victims by increasing prevention, prosecution, and protection as required by international human trafficking law.

The Congo Report

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:46:36 +0000

This report details the different forms of human trafficking currently present in Congo linked to its minerals trade. It examines current legislation from both a Congolese and international perspective. It ends by making a variety of recommendations.

Misyar Marriage as Human Trafficking in Saudi Arabia

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:58:17 +0000

ABSTRACT: "The severity and scope of human trafficking for sexual and labor exploitation has been grossly understudied until this past decade. Reliable information on how and why trafficking in persons occurs is scarce, especially for the Middle East. Saudi Arabia’s notorious policies of discrimination against women serve as the starting point. In Saudi Arabia, the monarchy has co-opted the traditional roles of women as an emblem of its own Islamic character, thereby making it a symbol of its national heritage. An entrenched institution of patriarchy uses gender construction as an instrument of state policy and state security. This intimate relationship between gender roles and national identity demonstrates that the exploitation of women through misyar marriage stems primarily from the cultural and political emphasis on preserving a unified Islamic nation. The purpose of this analysis is to investigate the practice of misyar or temporary marriages by wealthy Gulf men as a form of human trafficking."

Human Trafficking Resource: How to Responsibily Create Technological Interventions to Address the Domestic Sex Trafficking of Minors

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:57:44 +0000

Recently, many technologists – including academic computer scientists, entrepreneurs, and engineers in governmental and corporate organizations – have been investigating ways to use technology to address domestic sex trafficking and CSEC. As researchers invested in understanding and disrupting CSEC, the level of interest and passion for innovation excites us. We have written this document to help provide basic information for technologists who are imagining ways to help. Curbing commercial sexual exploitation of children and promoting the rights and safety of children should be a top priority for all members of society. Yet, all too often, myths and public misunderstandings – particularly about technology’s role in CSEC – and a lack of empirical data about the scope of the problem drive political and legal agendas, however well intentioned. These same myths and misunderstandings have the potential to inadvertently affect how technologists approach the problem. As researchers, we feel it’s important to take an evidence based and data-driven approach toward technological interventions so that they are effective, efficient, and limit the additional harm done to victims. With this goal in mind, we offer a series of key findings that should be a part of any serious discussion about using technology to address CSEC in a networked world.

Organized Crime’s Involvement in Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:56:42 +0000

Organized crime plays a significant role in human trafficking in countries worldwide. The criminal act not only involves trafficking an individual, but also the demand for exorbitant fees to transport a person and create fraudulent passport documents. Once an individual has arrived in a new country, the organized crime members remain in control and usually force the immigrant into prostitution or forms of slavery such as working in a sweatshop. Transnational human trafficking is believed to have become one of the least risky and most profitable enterprises for organized crime groups. Organized crime has easily adapted to the technology changes mandated for travel abroad and many different criminal groups all over the world work together and often share profits, which makes controlling human trafficking next to impossible for law enforcement.

Congo's Mining Slaves: Enslavement at South Kivu Mining Sites

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:47:08 +0000

This Free the Slaves field investigation was conducted to document the types, nature and scale of slavery at major mining sites in South Kivu province; to analyze the characteristics that cause Congolese workers to be vulnerable to enslavement; and to recommend solutions. The survey team findings are valuable information for a wide variety of actors working to improve the status of human rights in eastern DRC, including those focused on human trafficking, “conflict minerals,” child rights, gender-based violence and rural poverty.

Coordination, Collaboration, Capacity: Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services for Victims of Human Trafficking in the U.S.

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:59:18 +0000

The Plan was informed by the Federal Government’s ongoing engagement with nongovernment stakeholders, including a listening session held at the White House on December 10, 2012, and hosted by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). While this Plan focuses on providing and coordinating support for victims, it aligns with all other efforts of the Federal Government to eliminate human trafficking and prevent further victimization, particularly the Federal Government activities outlined in the Attorney General’s Annual Report to Congress and Assessment of U.S. Government Activities to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Federal agencies have a range of anti-human trafficking responsibilities that complement the victim services addressed in this Plan, and include criminal enforcement, labor enforcement, public awareness, education, international development and programs, immigration, intelligence, and diplomacy. The Plan identifies several “core values” (listed in the Plan Development section on pages 13–16) related to trafficking victim services and key areas for improving service delivery. Recognizing that government alone, cannot stop this insidious crime, the Plan is written to appeal to a wide set of actors in order to bring additional resources, expertise, and partnerships to end human trafficking and better support victims. For example, public awareness must be increased to engage more stakeholders and increase victim identification. There must also be an expansion of access to victim services. Finally, the quality of the services, not merely the quantity, must be addressed to ensure that victims are supported throughout their long-term journey as a survivor. The Plan lays out 4 goals, 10 objectives, and contains more than 130 associated action items for victim service improvements that can be achieved over the next 5 years. Actions to address victim identification are woven through each of the goals

Abusing Vulnerability: Catastrophes Escalate Human Trafficking Levels

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:44:16 +0000

On May 18, 2015, Social Justice Socials posted the following article by Luis Gay that highlights the correlation between when natural disasters take place traffickers abuse the situation and further exploit young girls bringing them into the world of human trafficking.

Human Trafficking, the Japanese Commercial Sex Industry, and the Yakuza: Recommendations for the Japanese Government

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:43:23 +0000

In Japan, human trafficking, especially sexual exploitation, continues to be an issue. Japan has implemented some of the policies required by UNTIP, but that Japanese officials lack the will to carry out these policy initiatives to combat human trafficking. This lack of will by government officials appears to be related to three key factors: 1)The demand for sex by Japanese citizens, 2) The prevalence of sex within the Japanese culture, and 3) The level to which the yakuza, gate-keepers to the commercial sex industry, are engrained in Japanese society. The yakuza worked with the Japanese government during World War II to provide Imperial soldiers with "comfort women." From there, the yakuza expanded into an organized crime group involved in sex tourism, human trafficking of women to Japan, pornographic enterprises, gambling businesses, and drug trafficking. The influence of the yakuza is heavy in Japan and is relatively accepted. Hence, to decrease human trafficking in Japan, the government should implement policies to decrease the demand for commercial sex and dismantle the yakuza.

Adaptar un modelo de cuidado informado del trauma

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 19:59:42 +0000

Esta guía de recursos fue desarrollada para proporcionar a los beneficiarios de Family and Youth Services Bureau Runaway and Homeless Youth información para adaptar un modelo de cuidado informado del trauma para cuando se trabaje con víctimas sobrevivientes del tráfico de personas. Pretende server como recurso de apoyo para el seminario web adjunto llamado: “Adoptar un modelo de cuidado informado del trauma”. La guía de recursos proporciona una definición básica de trauma y cuidado informado del trauma, los efectos del trauma, consejos para integrar un modelo de cuidado del trauma en programas RHY así como información para intervenciones y recursos específicos sobre el trauma.

In Their Shoes: Understanding Victims' Mindsets and Common Barriers to Victim Identification

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:00:18 +0000

The following document outlines a wide variety of both physical and psychological reasons why trafficked persons cannot or will not leave a trafficking situation. The list is inclusive of both sex and labor trafficking operations, as well as foreign-born and U.S. citizen victims. Items on this list are not meant to be interpreted as present in all trafficking cases, neither is this list intended to be exhaustive.

遏止兒童及青少年色情人口販賣

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:06:53 +0000

兒童及青少年色情人口販賣蔓延至香港九成受訪者未意識問題嚴重防止虐待兒童會主辦本地「遏止兒童及青少年色情人口販賣「遏止兒童及青少年色情人口販賣」運動促大眾正視問題

美國國務院報告：中國是人口販賣的大本營

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:07:52 +0000

美國國務院最新公布的《2013 年人口販賣問題報告》說，中國是一個被販賣人口的來源地、中轉地和目的地。報告把中國、俄羅斯和烏茲別克三國列為全球打擊人口走私最不得力的國家，和早已臭名昭著的伊朗、朝鮮、古巴以及辛巴威並駕齊驅。有報道說，美國可能因此會對中國和俄羅斯採取制裁行動。

防制人口販運推廣計畫（高中職教師手冊）

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:03:21 +0000

期望透過校園課程或活動之規劃、辦理與教育宣導，讓國中及高中職學生認識人口販運問題的意涵與概念、人口販運問題之現況與嚴重性、人口販運問題對個人與社會之傷害、防制人口販運相關法律與規定，瞭解人權與性別平等之觀念，擁有正確之價值觀，並激勵學生採取主動與積極態度及作為，根除我國如人口販運問題，以期藉此提升社會之善良風氣與防杜人口販運問題。

防制人口販運最後一張畫中文版

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:04:48 +0000

畫家利用一幅幅的畫作來講解各種人口販賣的現象片名為最後一張畫因為畫家不希望人口販賣繼續發生

飢荒、人口販賣、強制遣返及勞改脫北者公開苦難經歷

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:02:47 +0000

本人於南韓採訪到脫北後曾一度被中國逮捕、遣送關押於勞改營後又再度逃出的的脫北者李振泳。這是首次有脫北者直接面對台灣記者公開自己的經歷。李振泳道出了北韓的饑荒景象、人口販賣問題、在勞改營中目睹到人權迫害及來到南韓後所面臨的困境。

防制人口販運宣導廣告人肉市場篇

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:04:24 +0000

雖然台灣於2010年的「美國國務院人口販運報告」中，提昇為第一級，已完全符合消除人口販運的最低標準，但「人口販運」這個議題，對一般民眾來說，仍是十分陌生的，需要更多媒介讓大家來了解、關注人口販運議題。故本會也拍攝了一支以「人口販運」為主題的宣導廣告。「究竟事實還要多麼明顯，我們才不會繼續視而不見？」在廣告中，我們希望透過這樣的質問，讓「人口販運」議題，被更多人看見，一起來關懷、協助人口販運被害人。

香港性工作及人口販賣情況

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:02:24 +0000

此文章寫關於香港性工作的上升趨勢及人口販賣情況

打击贩运人口活动工具包

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:11:22 +0000

人口贩运活动发生在当今世界，这是一个令人震惊的现实。我们可以在打击人口贩运方面共同做更多的事情，这一事实应该成为向全球发出的战斗号角。但愿本《工具包》所提供的指导、介绍的做法和推荐的参考资料能够鼓励和帮助政策制定者、执法者、法官、检察官、向被害人提供服务者、以及民间社会各方成员在全球打击贩运人口的努力中各自发挥应有的作用。

Vulnerability up Close: An exploratory study into the vulnerability of children to human trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:33 +0000

This initial exploratory study concerns groups of children about whom there have recently been reports of human trafficking in the Netherlands, but who have received little attention in relation to it. Seven specific groups have been selected. It is not a random selection; the groups have been chosen because they have been mentioned in other exploratory studies, in cases before the courts and in media reports or in warnings that have reached the National Rapporteur from professionals in the field. In light of the exploratory nature of this study, it was decided to adopt a low threshold for the inclusion of particular groups, so further research was carried out even if the information about the relationship between these groups and human trafficking was sparse. The seven groups covered in this analysis are Syrian child brides; Roma children; Children living illegally in the Netherlands who have to work in households; Children working in production chains; Children with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa; Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children; Children who join (or wish to join) ISIS.

United Nations Security Council: 7585th Meeting

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:32 +0000

This documentation of a 2015 United Nations Security Council meeting on Trafficking in Persons in situations of conflict highlights topics such as the genocide and sexual exploitation of Yazidi women in Iraq by the Islamic State, as well as the presence of Boko Haram in Nigeria. Speakers at the meeting included Mr. Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; Mr. Nick Grono, Chief Executive Office of the Freedom Fund; and Ms. Nadia Murad Basee Taha, a victim of crimes against Yazidi women in Iraq and now a prominent human rights activist.

Your hotel room photos could help catch sex traffickers

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:17:57 +0000

A young girl poses provocatively in a dark hotel room. For a set fee, any willing customer can pay to have sex with her. For investigators attempting to track down sex traffickers and their victims, these online advertisements can contain critical clues. The smallest of details in a room could give away its location, but there are too many ads for law enforcement to scan each of them for clues. That's where TraffickCam comes in. It's a simple phone app that uses crowdsourced snapshots of hotel rooms to help law enforcement locate victims and prosecute sex traffickers.

Watch police raid human traffickers in India

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:33 +0000

CNN cameras were there when Indian police raided a human traffickers hideout and rescued three girls.

UK Hotels Policy Guide: How to Protect your Business Against Human Trafficking, Forced Labour, and Labour Exploitation

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:32 +0000

This guide has been designed to help businesses in the UK hotel sector to meet their responsibility to promote and protect human rights and to understand and address any associated risks.

Yemen Country Report: Children and Security

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:17:57 +0000

EXCERPT FROM BACKGROUND: "Children are among the most vulnerable in Yemen and have been disproportionally affected by the escalation of conflict since Houthi-led forces took over the capital Sana’a in September 2014. Since then, the situation has deteriorated and all six grave violations have been committed against children during armed conflict in Yemen: recruitment or use of children; killing or maiming of children; sexual violence against children; attacks against schools or hospitals; abduction of children; and denial of humanitarian access. In 2015, the impact of armed conflict on children worsened to a significant degree and continued in 2016. Heavy aerial bombardments and ground operations since the end of March 2015 have dramatically increased the number of child casualties in Yemen.3 The UN Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism verified 1,309 cases of child death as a result of the conflict between January 2015 and September 2016, in addition to 1,950 cases of child injury. In the first quarter of 2016, child deaths and injuries increased by 19 per cent compared to the last quarter of 2015. In 2015, the UN verified a six-fold increase in the number of children killed and maimed compared with 2014, totalling 1,953 child casualties. UNICEF estimated in 2015 that, on average, eight children were killed or maimed every day in Yemen as a direct result of the hostilities. The significant increase in child casualties was the result of coalition airstrikes, with the majority of child deaths and injuries (73 per cent) attributed to the coalition. Houthi-Saleh forces were responsible for 18 per cent of child deaths and 17 per cent of child injuries. Incidents of children and infants sustaining devastating burns from aerial bombing have also been reported. Notably, coalition airstrikes continued through 2016 and into 2017, resulting in large civilian casualties. In Yemen, nearly all parties to the conflict are reported to have engaged in widespread child recruitment. Children continue to be recruited and used by armed forces, pro-government popular committees and Al- Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Sexual violence against children has been verified but is underreported, with only one case verified by the UN against a child by a member of an armed group in 2015. More than two million people have been displaced, including children. An estimated 9.6 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance, 462,000 children are facing Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), and over two million children are out of school due to fighting and insecurity. Child rights violations have increased dramatically and children are facing significant psychological stress as a result. Humanitarian access has been restricted by all parties, with devastating impacts on children."

Yemen: Report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in Advance of Yemen’s Initial Periodic Report on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:17:57 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "Child Soldiers International submits this report for consideration by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (the Committee) in view of its examination in June 2013 of Yemen's initial report under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC). This report was compiled through desk-based research of available secondary sources and through communication with a national non-governmental organisation (NGO). On the basis of the information gathered, this report summarises Child Soldiers International's concerns about Yemen's implementation of some of its obligations under OPAC, including in relation to:

The unlawful recruitment of children in state armed forces and allied armed groups (tribal militias) and their participation in hostilities.
The unlawful recruitment of children in armed opposition groups and their use in hostilities.
The lack of criminalisation and accountability for the unlawful recruitment and use of children in hostilities."

Une Servitude Solitaire: le Travail des Enfants Domestiques au Maroc

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:32 +0000

EXTRAIT DE LA PUBLICATION: "Au Maroc, des milliers d’enfants – qui sont majoritairement des filles – travaillent comme domestiques dans des domiciles privés. Connues sous le nom de « petites bonnes », elles sont souvent recrutées dans des zones rurales pauvres afin d’aller travailler pour des familles en ville, préparant les repas, faisant la vaisselle, la lessive, lavant les sols et les tapis, faisant les courses et s’occupant des jeunes enfants. En dépit de la loi marocaine interdisant l’emploi d’enfants de moins de 15 ans, Human Rights Watch a constaté que des filles d’à peine huit ans travaillent pendant de longues heures pour un maigre salaire comme employées domestiques. Certaines travaillent jusqu’à 12 heures par jour, sept jours par semaine, pour à peine 11 dollars US par mois. Des filles ont expliqué à Human Rights Watch que leurs employeurs les battaient et les insultaient, les empêchaient d’aller à l’école, ou leur refusaient des repas suffisants. Isolées dans des domiciles privés et loin de leurs familles, nombre d’entre elles ne savent pas où s’adresser pour obtenir de l’aide. Selon les statistiques du gouvernement, le Maroc a réalisé des progrès importants ces dernières années en réduisant le taux global de travail des enfants et en augmentant le nombre des enfants scolarisés. Le taux de travail des enfants domestiques semble également avoir baissé. Toutefois, ces efforts ne suffisent pas à répondre aux caractéristiques spécifiques du travail des enfants domestiques. Les inspecteurs du travail n’ont pas autorité pour accéder aux domiciles privés afin d’identifier les enfants employés comme domestiques. Les poursuites pénales menées contre les employeurs responsables de maltraitance physique contre les enfants domestiques sont rares, et des amendes ne sont presque jamais infligées aux employeurs qui engagent comme domestiques des enfants n’ayant pas l’âge légal. Le rapport Une servitude solitaire recommande que le gouvernement marocain fasse appliquer strictement les lois interdisant le travail domestique des enfants de moins de 15 ans, qu’il renforce les campagnes de sensibilisation du public concernant le travail domestique des enfants, qu’il crée un système efficace pour identifier les enfants travailleurs domestiques qui sont employés illégalement ou victimes d’exactions, et qu’il mette fin à leur emploi."

Victims of Human Trafficking and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:32 +0000

A guide to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in the UK and how this applies to Victims of Human Trafficking.

2017 Ethical Fashion Guide

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:14:51 +0000

The Ethical Fashion Guide is a companion to the 2017 Ethical Fashion Report. Use it to help you make everyday, ethical purchasing decisions. Take it with you when you shop and buy your clothes from the companies doing more to protect their workers. Vote with your wallet and encourage more companies to end exploitation in their supply chains.

应对贩运人口的刑事司法对策需求评估工具包

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:13:04 +0000

本工具包的目的是为评估某国针对贩运人口采取的刑事司法对策提供全面指导。工具包包含许多内容，这些内容对于减少贩运人口罪至关重要。由于这种犯罪包含多个层面，工具包拓宽了传统的刑事司法对策范围，将适当起诉罪犯和充分援助贩运人口受害者的所有行为者和各项措施都纳入其中。

Young Invisible Enslaved - The child victims at the heart of trafficking and exploitation in Italy

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:17:57 +0000

This report discusses child trafficking in Italy. It starts by giving an overview of child trafficking and recent data and trends. It then focuses on child trafficking in Italy, describing the profile of child victims in Italy, the structure and methods of trafficking networks in the country, and relevant legislation. Recommendations are made to increase Italy's response to child trafficking.

2017 Whole of Syria Child Protection Needs Overview

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:16:11 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "The 2017 Whole of Syria Child Protection Needs Overview: A Compilation of Child Protection Data Collected for the 2017 Syria Humanitarian Needs Overview aims to provide analysis of child protection needs and risks at governorate level to support child protection actors in program development, resource mobilization and advocacy to respond to the protection needs of children in Syria. The 2017 Whole of Syria Child Protection Needs Overview is based on a series of assessments and data, as detailed in the overview of the methodology below. The child protection issues outlined in this report were prioritized for new data collection in 2016 on the grounds of major data gaps, feasibility to collect information and lessons learned from previous data collection exercises. Child Protection actors, working to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence against children, are encouraged to consider the breath and diversity of issues affecting children in Syria. Child Protection issues should always be viewed as interconnected and compounding, rarely do children experience child protection issues in isolation, e.g. an accompanied child may face increased risk of being engaged in hazardous labour, and in turn, that child is more likely to experience other forms of violence and psychosocial distress."

United States: Compliance with the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:32 +0000

This submission focuses on the provision by the United States of military assistance to governments recruiting or using children as soldiers despite restrictions on such assistance under the US Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008. The Child Soldiers Prevention Act prohibits several categories of US military assistance to governments that recruit or use child soldiers, or support militias or paramilitaries that use child soldiers, unless the president issues a waiver. According to the Stimson Center, a nongovernmental policy institute, since the law was enacted in 2010, the president has used his authority to grant waivers to affected countries in nearly 60 percent of all cases, and allowed 95 percent of the military assistance otherwise prohibited by the law—more than US$1.2 billion—to go through.

2014 Rapport Annuel

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:17:17 +0000

EXTRAIT DE LA PUBLICATION: "Fondée en 1997, ECPAT France est une ONG reconnue d’intérêt général membre du réseau interna onal ECPAT (End Child Pros tu on, Child Pornography and Tra cking of Children for Sexual Purposes) et dont la mission est de lutter contre toutes les formes d’exploitation sexuelle des enfants à des fins commerciales. Conformément à la mission d’ECPAT International et à la déclaration de Stockholm, ECPAT France entreprend des actions de plaidoyer auprès des décideurs politiques et acteurs économiques afin de faire respecter le droit des enfants à vivre à l’abri de toute forme d’exploitation sexuelle. ECPAT France mène également des actions de terrain contre l’exploitation sexuelle des enfants à des fins commerciales en France et à l’international où elle privilégie la collaboration avec les acteurs et partenaires nationaux."

Youth unemployment and human trafficking in the Gambia/Nigeria: The role of human security provisioning

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:17:58 +0000

This paper investigated the association between unemployment and human security provisioning using ordinary least square estimator of regression analysis. The outcomes of the study show that food security has an inverse relationship with youth unemployment in the Gambia while purchasing power parity has a significant effect on unemployment rate in Nigeria. In both countries, there is a high positive association between youth unemployment and human security provisioning. Moreover, the study found empirically that the key factor responsible for youth vulnerability is lack of subsistence occasioned by unemployment. Therefore, it has become more pertinent that the government of Nigeria and the Gambia develop a pragmatic approach in reducing youth unemployment as a strategy for reducing the incidence of human trafficking.

Victim, not Criminal: Trafficked Children and the Non-punishment Principle in the UK

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:32 +0000

The briefing assesses the early impact of new “non-punishment” measures in respect of children in the UK, and considers whether they are sufficient to protect trafficked children who find themselves caught up in the criminal justice system. Our research demonstrates that the new provisions have begun to make a difference for children where there has been a proactive approach to identifying children who may have been trafficked by police and prosecutors. Nevertheless, we found serious shortcomings in the implementation of the non-punishment principle in the UK.

外國法案介紹—人體器官移植條例

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:12:04 +0000

台灣立法院國會圖書館隨著醫學的發展，科技的進步，器官移植手術已趨於成熟，手術成功率亦不斷提升，但器官的移植，除了少部分（如皮膚、骨骼、血管等）可取自於本身自體移植外，大部分還需藉助他人器官之捐贈，也因此而牽涉到法律與道德面的爭議，為避免人體被商品化、窮人被剝削等理由，各國法令均禁止人體器官之買賣，只能以無償的捐贈方式為之，在法令限制及捐贈風氣未開之下，捐贈器官之數量往往供不應求，為了解決器官來源短缺所產生的問題，如何建立一套完善的法令，實乃迫切與必要。

2015 Protected Innocence Challenge

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:16:46 +0000

The Protected Innocence Challenge is based on the Protected Innocence Legislative Framework which was informed by research performed by Shared Hope International and compiled in “The National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking.” Domestic minor sex trafficking is the commercial sexual exploitation of American children under the age of 18 within U.S. borders for the purposes of prostitution, pornography, or sexual performance. Recognizing that most of the gaps in responding to domestic minor sex trafficking must be addressed at the state level, the Protected Innocence Legislative Framework sets out the basic policy principles required to create a safer environment for children. The steps necessary to create this safer environment include the following: preventing domestic minor sex trafficking through reducing demand, rescuing and restoring victims through improved training on identification, establishing protocols and facilities for victim placement, mandating appropriate services and shelter, and incorporating trauma-reducing mechanisms into the justice system. Broken systems of criminal justice and child welfare responses to victims must also be fixed to ensure that commercially sexually exploited children are treated as victims and receive access to justice.

2016 Resource Directory

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:16:27 +0000

The Victim Services Subcommittee of the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force (MHTTF) has compiled a resource directory to assist state agencies, providers, and members of the public in serving victims of trafficking. The following directory is a list of organizations and agencies that are actively involved in either victim services or public awareness activities to address human trafficking in Maryland. For more information on the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force please visit: www.mdhumantrafficking.org

Worker Exploitation in New Zealand: A Troubling Landscape

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:33 +0000

In recent years, there have been several media accounts of the exploitation of workers and in particular, the exploitation of migrant workers, in New Zealand. Workplace exploitation ranges from instances of wage abuse through to forced labour. In 2016, there was the first human trafficking conviction in New Zealand. Faroz Ali was convicted of 15 human trafficking charges in the Auckland High Court. This has been described as the ‘tip of the iceberg’. The purpose of this study is to investigate worker exploitation in New Zealand. This project comprised two stages. The first stage was a desk review of secondary sources to understand what we know (2005 to 2015) about worker exploitation in New Zealand. The second stage involved 105 semi-structured interviews with workers – predominantly temporary migrant workers - from a range of industries.

人權星期五暨「停止暴力對待女性」講座：泰國美索的婦女販賣

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:24:52 +0000

泰國是港人旅遊熱點，除了有熱辣辣的天氣及令人垂涎三尺的美食，還是一群尋求庇護人士和難民的棲身之所。去年暑假，羅潔玲老師偕同學生到位於泰國緬甸邊境的美索做義工，旅途上遇見來自緬甸的尋求庇護人士，細聽他們的身世故事。他們苦無身分，可隨時被拘留和遣返，因而屢遭警察和僱主等欺壓，未能享有人身自由、教育、合理勞工待遇及基本生活保障等權利。事隔一年，羅潔玲帶著滿腹疑問回到美索，發現當地販賣人口問題嚴重。

全新紀錄片披露販賣少女賣淫實況

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:24:52 +0000

亞洲販賣兒童充當性奴情況日趨嚴重，一部全新紀錄片希望喚起大眾對此的關注，唯有信仰能夠改變生命，使被救少女重獲身心靈的自由。

人口販運在台灣_被害人的心聲(Human Trafficking in Taiwan)

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:24:52 +0000

婦女救援基金會於去年製作完成-「被害人的心聲」。本片描述臺灣人口販運的現況。特別邀請到兩位被販運到臺灣的被害人站出來，講述自己的遭遇和故事，這是他們最真切的心聲，讓我們共同來關懷，這個現代奴隸制度-人口販運在台灣的現況

人口販運(中文字幕)

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:24:52 +0000

紀錄片以本會2006年在宜蘭靖廬保護室服務的中國籍未成年被害少女為影片的主軸，影片由社工員到中國大陸尋找已遣返的少女開始，紀錄少女們與社工員的互動，以及少女口述她們被販運來台的經歷。後半段則是透過相關專家學者的訪談，讓觀眾了解人口販運議題在國際間的重要性，和台灣初期推動人口販運行動綱領的狀況。 [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AucsfaTAY-M[/embed]

Wolves in sheep’s skin: A Rapid Assessment of Human Trafficking in Musina, Limpopo Province of South Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:33 +0000

Given the dearth of information on the incidence and prevalence of human trafficking in Musina, a city in the Limpopo province of South Africa, this IOM-initiated assessment seeks to overcome this gap. Over a 15-day period in August 2009, data was gathered for this qualitative study. Semi and unstructured interviews with state and non-state key informants and migrants themselves were conducted to gather information about the vulnerability/risk factors, the incidence and prevalence of human trafficking, and the policies and practices in place to combat it.

人口販運防制法

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:24:52 +0000

此筆資料列出中華民國目前之人口販運防制法的所有條款

内政部入出國及移民署辦理人口販運被害人安全送返原籍國（地）作業流程

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:24:52 +0000

此文件顯示辦理人口販運被害人安全送返原籍國(地)的作業流程

兒少性交易及人口販運防制

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:24:52 +0000

青少年, 兒童進入色情行業或從事援交的背景環境和相關法律條款

Working Children in the Republic of Yemen: The Results of the 2010 National Child Labour Survey

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:33 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "In 2010, the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) of the Republic of Yemen conducted the National Child Labour Survey (CLS) in collaboration with ILO/IPEC, the Social Development Fund and UNICEF. Implemented as a stand‐alone survey, the CLS covered 9,571 households containing 67,617 individuals, 23,535 of whom were children between the ages of 5‐17 years. The CLS was designed to provide indicators on three main aspects of children’s lives: economic activity, schooling and unpaid household services (UHS). This report documents the findings of the CLS, in particular, the prevalence and characteristics of child employment and child labour, school attendance rates, the proportion of children engaged in UHS, and the possible consequences of employment as measured by schooling outcomes."

Victims of Labour Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:33 +0000

This report focuses on labor exploitation in Hungary and Austria. It provides a brief summary of common practices of labor exploitation in each country, the legal framework in the country, and what are the vulnerabilities of potential victims. Recommendations for the future are also provided.

国际行动框架执行《打击人口贩运议定书》

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:24:52 +0000

《行动框架》是一个技术性辅助工具，旨在协助联合国会员国有效执行联合国《预防、禁止和惩治贩运人口特别是妇女和儿童行为议定书》（联合国《人口贩运议定书》）。《行动框架》由一个叙述部分和一套表格组成。叙述部分介绍在执行联合国《人口贩运议定书》方面面临的主要挑战，并提出可采取的一般措施，以便更有效地应对这些挑战。一套表格进一步详细叙述这些措施，其中分为五个支柱，均含有支持执行联合国《人口贩运议定书》的实际行动。

Women Migrant Domestic Workers in the Arab States: An Annotated Bibliography

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:33 +0000

INTRODUCTION: "Domestic workers make up the majority of registered women migrants in the Gulf Cooperation Council states: Lebanon, Jordan, and Yemen where they earn less than half of average wages, experience long and unpredictable working hours, and remain one of the least protected groups of workers under national labour legislations. The ILO recently launched a regional programme, Decent Work for Domestic Workers: Advocating Institutional Reform in the Middle East (Dec. 2012 – Nov. 2014), funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The programme aims to improve the governance and protection afforded to migrant domestic workers through a focus on research and policy reform. This annotated bibliography on women migrant domestic workers in the Arab States aims to inform ILO’s regional technical cooperation strategy on domestic work and further research for the formulation of labour migration policies in target countries. The breadth of disciplines represented in this annotated bibliography is broad and encompasses economic, public health, psychological, sociological, legal, human rights and feminist perspectives. Sources include both academic and professional association-based journals, as well as publications by intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). A limited number of newspaper articles are included to give a sense of the different types of reporting used and a range of publications."

Vulnerability of Nigerian Secondary School to Human Sex Trafficking in Nigeria

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:33 +0000

This paper is based on a cross-sectional survey conducted in two urban and two rural schools located in Delta and Edo states of Nigeria. The aim is to assess in-school students' knowledge and awareness of, and attitude toward sex trafficking as a way to understanding their personal vulnerability to trafficking.

What you need to know about human trafficking in East Asia and the Pacific

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:33 +0000

This article serves as a study of human trafficking in East Asia and the Pacific. Throughout the article, we examine the role of the different countries in East Asia with regard to human trafficking, the extent of human trafficking in each of these countries, the possible prominent players in the crime and the current legal measures taken in each country to confront the problem. The ultimate goal of the article is to provide the Anti-Money Laundering professional and reader with a geopolitical assessment of the problem, its magnitude and the existing preventive legal mechanisms.

Without Consent: Forced Marriage in Australia

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:33 +0000

This article explores Australia’s response to the emerging issue of forced marriage. In light of community and government responses to forced marriage, we review the challenges involved in defining forced marriage and the degree to which the practice overlaps with other forms of exploitative conduct such as servitude and slavery. While we welcome the reform of existing criminal laws to fully reflect Australia’s international obligations to prohibit ‘practices similar to slavery’, we caution against prioritising prosecutions over preventative and protective strategies. We argue that the creation of specific criminal offences of forced marriage should be accompanied by the introduction of new, family law-based civil remedies for people seeking to avoid or escape forced marriage, and targeted support services for people in, or facing, forced marriage. These measures should be accompanied by investment in community legal education and consultation in order to deepen the community’s understanding of forced marriage in Australia.

Virtual Global Taskforce

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:33 +0000

The Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT) seeks to build an effective, international partnership of law enforcement agencies, non government organisations and industry to help protect children from online child abuse and other forms of transnational child sexual exploitation.

Virtual Global Task Force Fact Sheet

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:33 +0000

The Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT) is an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private sector partners working together to combat online child sexual exploitation and other forms of transnational child sexual exploitation. The VGT seeks to build an effective, international alliance of law enforcement agencies, non-government organizations and industry to help protect children from online sexual exploitation and other forms of transnational child sexual exploitation.

Victims of human trafficking in Sri Lanka: Narratives of Women, children and youth

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:33 +0000

This study was conducted to ascertain the vulnerability of persons affected by human trafficking in Sri Lanka. It targeted the tourist populated coastal belt to identify the intensity of labour, commercial (sexual), and child trafficking, including victim sources, networks, and identification of perpetrators. An important element of the research findings was that the majority of individuals were ‗forced to migrate‘ into the hands of the traffickers due to issues related to poverty, disempowerment and social dislocation. These victims transited to their helpless status over a prolonged period of time undergoing a rash of distressing situations. For this reason, provision of protection to these circumstantial forced migrants comprise a dual approach of stronger measures for regulating the internal and external migration process while expanding livelihoods and economic opportunities, information, and choices for employment.

What is She Worth?: An Urgent Call for the Protection of the Rights of Nepali Migrant Domestic Workers in Lebanon

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:18:33 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "Anti-Slavery International and KAFA (enough) Violence & Exploitation urges the government of Lebanon to make a sustained commitment to the protection of all migrant domestic workers from violence and exploitation by raising the standards of current policies and legislation to be inline with international standards. Anti-Slavery International and KAFA also call for greater collaboration between countries of origin and destination to ensure a safe and transparent migration process for domestic workers."

Trafficking of persons: A South African legislative perspective

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:08 +0000

This publication serves to inform members of the public and civil society organisations interested and working in the field of women and children’s rights. It also serves as a guide to the current legislation and laws that can be utilised to protect individuals at risk of being trafficked and to prosecute perpetrators who engage in trafficking of both children and adults.

Trafficking Survivor Care Standards

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:08 +0000

These proposed standards aim to improve service provision by ensuring that adult survivors of trafficking consistently receive high quality care wherever they are in the UK. This booklet intends to provide a flexible framework with guiding principles and practical recommendations that support agencies can incorporate into their own existing policies and procedures. Its ultimate goal is to promote an integrated, holistic and empowering approach that places the real needs of survivors at the centre of the process of sustained recovery. The hope is that service providers will benefit from the consolidated experience of other agencies and, as a result of this, be more effective in their front-line work.

Travailleuses/ Travailleurs Domestiques: De l'Esclavage Moderne à l'Égalité des Droits

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:08 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'AVANT-PROPOS: "Depuis que le concept de Travail Décent a été adopté par l’Organisation Internationale du Travail (OIT) en 1999, SOLIDAR s’est employé à promouvoir le Travail Décent pour une Vie Décente pour tous (TDVD). Tous les travailleurs, indépendamment de leur origine ou de leur genre, ont le droit à un travail décent, à des salaires décents, à une durée normale des journées de travail (8 heures) et à l’égalité de traitement en matière de protection sociale, de négociation et de dialogue sociaux. L’objectif de ce rapport d’information est de sensibiliser sur les droits des travailleurs domestiques migrants et sur leur contribution significative au bien-être de nos sociétés. Le travail domestique est un travail comme les autres. Il doit être reconnu et valorisé en tant que travail régulier donnant droit au même traitement pour tous les travailleurs, indépendamment de leur statut de migrant ou de leur genre. C’est pourquoi SOLIDAR, en collaboration avec nos partenaires du Réseau Mondial, milite activement pour que les droits des travailleurs domestiques migrants soient respectés. Pour progresser sur cette question, il convient de s’assurer que la Convention de l’O.I.T. sur les travailleurs domestiques (votée à la Conférence Internationale du Travail de juin 2011) est activement ratifiée et mise en application. De nombreux travailleurs domestiques ont rejoint à cette occasion les syndicats nationaux et régionaux et se sont mobilisés dans la campagne mondiale pour l’adoption de cette Convention. Continuons à nous mobiliser pour la mise en œuvre de cette Convention !"

Trafficking in Persons Report 2017

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:25:55 +0000

Today we take another key step towards that goal. The 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report highlights the successes achieved and the remaining challenges before us on this important global issue. In particular, the introduction of this year’s Report focuses on the responsibility of governments to criminalize human trafficking and hold offenders accountable. To that end, this Report is intended to assist governments in identifying threats so law enforcement agencies around the world can respond effectively and gain insight into where human trafficking remains most severe. The Report will also equip local and sub-national law enforcement agencies to better assist in efforts to target and prosecute those who commit these terrible crimes.

Travail des enfants dans les exploitations de cacao en Cote D'ivoire pour une reconciliation entre normes locales et normes internationales autour du « bic », du balai et de la machette

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:08 +0000

Cet article plaide pour la nécessaire conciliation des normes internationales avec celles des communautés locales visées, autour des instruments intimement liés à la vie quotidienne que sont le crayon « bic » (pour l’école), le balai (pour les activités domestiques) et la machette (pour les activités champêtres). Après une discussion conceptuelle et théorique, nous présentons la méthodologie puis les résultats de notre recherche. La dernière partie est consacrée à la discussion sur « l’accompagnement compréhensif ».

Transparency in Supply Chains etc. A practical guide

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:08 +0000

Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires certain organisations to develop a slavery and human trafficking statement each year. The slavery and human trafficking statement should set out what steps organisations have taken to ensure modern slavery is not taking place in their business or supply chains. This document provides guidance on:

who is required to publish a statement
how to write a slavery and human trafficking statement
how to approve and publish the statement

Trafficking in Women, Forced Labour, and Domestic Work in the Context of the Middle East and Gulf Region

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:08 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "One of the major questions in drafting this paper was how to gain a better understanding of these problems and their context the Middle East region: What are the experiences of migrant domestic workers in the region? What are the dynamics and workings of the migration process? How does migration (if at all) contribute to trafficking? Are gender and the fact that the domestic work is predominantly done by women playing a role in exploitation in this particular region and if so, how? What is the role of labour law in making migrant domestic workers vulnerable, if any? What has been done, what can be done and who are the stakeholders? This paper is the result of a pilot research project looking into these issues in the Middle East and Gulf states. The main focus of this initiative was to assess what information was available on the topic and, in particular, what information was available on the situation in several selected sending, receiving and transit countries (Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Lebanon, Sudan and Yemen). "

Trafficking in Persons: An Analysis of Afghanistan

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:07 +0000

Afghanistan has been confronted with the issue of human trafficking since 2002. This report documents many forms of trafficking and the range of “trafficking-related” trends in Afghanistan. Though these incidents may not constitute “trafficking” as defined in the “Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,” they still raise serious human rights concerns and share many causes and possible counter measures with more traditional trafficking practices. This report also explores the legal, social, economic, and security environment to establish how trafficking has taken root and to point to early recommendations for addressing the problem.

Trafficking of Migrant Domestic Workers in Lebanon: a Legal Analysis

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:08 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "Human trafficking and its link to migrant domestic labor in Lebanon is a complex, sensitive, and challenging issue. It raises numerous questions and demands further exploration. Under international law human trafficking consists of the recruitment, transfer, or receipt of human beings by coercive or deceptive means for purposes of exploitation – including both sexual exploitation and labor exploitation. The present study seeks to address human trafficking for labor exploitation in particular. The primary objective is to identify and analyze the key factors that make migrant domestic workers vulnerable to human trafficking within the context of Lebanon. In doing so, this study aims to encourage further research and analysis."

Trafficking Women and Children for Sexual Exploitation: Handbook for Law Enforcement Agencies in India

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:08 +0000

This handbook is the outcome of experience and understanding of an officer, Mr. P.M.Nair, who is perhaps the best judge to know exactly what is required to evolve an understanding and sensitivity that can guide the Law Enforcement Agencies in India. While this is a book to consult when officers need to apply existing laws, it is as much an orientation that takes one through the processes involved in trafficking, available legalities, scope of existing laws and sensitized application of the same. The substantive content of this manual reflects the actual felt needs of the law enforcement agencies and clarifies concepts pertaining to this area. It seeks to work around debunking existing common parlance ideas and perceptions that invariably went against trafficked women and children, together with the processes of rehabilitation.

Trafficking of Nigerian Girls in Italy: The Data, the Stories, the Social Services

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:08 +0000

This study has a three-fold objective. First, it aims to attain a full picture of the quantitative and qualitative features of the trafficking of Nigerian girls for commercial sexual exploitation in Italy. Second, it seeks to understand how girls manage to free themselves from trafficking and how the main actors engaged in the fight against trafficking (police force, local authorities and territorial services) support them. Last, it aims to understand the internal dynamics of social services, from those engaged in the first contacts to those that deal with rehabilitationand social re-integration and employment, highlighting the difficulties that social service

providers themselves encounter when they take Nigerian girls under their care.

Trafficking in Persons in Latin America and the Caribbean

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:07 +0000

Trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation or forced labor, both within a country and across international borders, is a lucrative criminal activity that is of major concern to the United States and the international community. Trafficking in persons affects nearly every country and region in the world. While most trafficking victims still appear to originate from South and Southeast Asia or the former Soviet Union, human trafficking is a growing problem in Latin America and the Caribbean. Countries in Latin America serve as source, transit, and destination countries for trafficking victims. Latin America is also a primary source for the estimated14,500 to 17,500 people that are trafficked to the United States each year.

Trafficking of Women and Girls Within Central America

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:08 +0000

With tens of thousands of people migrating irregularly, it is not surprising that some of this migration leads to exploitation. As soon as migrants leave home soil with the intent of moving undetected, they enter into a shadowy world. They place their lives in the hands of strangers who flout the law, and many pay dearly for this decision. Women are particularly vulnerable: female irregular migrants comprise around 20% of the migrant pool.

Trafficking in Persons in Latin America and the Caribbean

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:07 +0000

Countries in Latin America serve as source, transit, and destination countries for trafficking in persons (TIP). Victims are exploited within their own countries and trafficked to other countries in the region. Latin America is also a primary source region for people trafficked to the United States, including by transnational organized crime groups. In FY2015, Mexico was the primary country of origin for foreign trafficking victims certified as eligible to receive U.S. assistance. Recent victims identified in the United States also have originated in Brazil and Central America. Smaller numbers of Latin Americans are trafficked to Europe and Asia. Latin America also serves as a transit region for Asian victims.

兩岸人口販運實務案例評析

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:24:52 +0000

為防制跨越海峽兩岸之人口販運犯罪，民國 98 年 1 月我國政府於法制面制定《人口販運防制法》，增設被害人保護、犯行預防及人口販運罪處罰之規定，以落實被害人人權保障及人口販運罪之偵緝。因《人口販運防制法》甫施行未久，實務尚乏判例參考，本文乃援引適用《刑法》處罰之人口販運案件實務見解，及探討該案適用《人口販運防制法》處罰之可能性。另針對被害人來源地之中國大陸，就來源地、犯罪手法等面向之變遷，剖析中國大陸境內之人口販運現況，及中國大陸《刑法》對於拐賣婦女兒童罪之刑事處罰、相關之刑事處罰規定之介紹，暨中國大陸政府部門所表示意見之說明。又兩岸業於 98 年 4 月簽署《海峽兩岸共同打擊犯罪及司法互助協議》，日後關於人口販運案件情資交換、協助偵辦、人員遣返、調查取證、罪贓移交及罪犯接返項目，設有合作模式與運作機制可資遵循，至於是否得有效遏止跨境犯罪，尚待實務運作。

偷渡到中国的朝鲜女性成为人口贩卖的受害者

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:24:52 +0000

韩国一个民间机构表示，很多偷渡到中国境内的朝鲜女性成为人口贩子的猎物被卖到中国各地。

Trafficking in Women in China

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:07 +0000

Based on existing data and prior research, this paper reviews studies of and investigations into the trafficking of women in China. First, the "industrial chain" of human trafficking is analyzed. Second, the analysis indicates that the "buyers market" exhibits a strong demand for trafficking in women. The scale of trafficking is escalating: originally the crime was mainly committed in a few provinces, but has now spread to nearly every province in China. Furthermore, human trafficking groups are now displaying the characteristics of collectivization and specialization. Although the Chinese government has launched a series of rescue actions, the effort has run into tremendous difficulties due to dilemmas encountered by buyers, local citizens, grass-roots organizations and the trafficked women themselves. To completely eradicate trafficking in women, the Chinese government has to make long-term efforts to crack down on the buyers market and to redress the sex imbalance.

Trafficking of Ethiopian women and girls to the Middle East

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:08 +0000

Available evidence suggests that the overwhelming majority of Ethiopian women and girls who migrate to the Middle East are victims of trafficking to work as housemaids. This thesis examines the main features and causes (both the push and pull factors) of the trafficking practice. It also discusses the extent of human rights violations that victims of trafficking encounter in the Middle East, the extent of anti-trafficking initiatives that have been made in Ethiopia and the significant challenges the country faces in the efforts to mitigate trafficking.

Trafficking, Prostitution, and Inequality

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:08 +0000

The author describes evidence supporting the Nordic model legislation on prostitution and discusses links between prostitution, pornography, and trafficking.

Trafficking in persons overseas for labor purposes: The case of Ethiopian domestic workers

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:07 +0000

The overall objective of this research is to produce a report of human trafficking for labour purposes from Ethipia to other countries, with particular emphasis on domestic workers trafficked to the Middle East. Thus, the study explores the situation, process, and impact of human trafficking for a better understanding of the profile of victims and traffickers; the push and pull factors; the expectations and perceptions of victims and families; the causes and consequences; the trafficking routes and processes; the techniques and trends in the operation of traffickers; and the nature of exploitation victims face. It also explores the policy and legal framework; the strength and gaps in existing responses to combat human traffiking; the collaboration and coordination efforts in the operation of key stakeholders; and the role of the community, the governmental and non-governmental organizations, and the international community to address the problem to finally come up with recommendable measures to effectively combat human trafficking for labour purposes.

Trends of Child Trafficking Situation in Nigeria an d A Way Forward

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:27:09 +0000

This paper explores in detail the problem of child trafficking in its various forms as it exists in Nigeria and proffers appropriate solutions.

Bhutan Penal Code

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:31:11 +0000

This document includes the articles under the Bhutan Penal Code that are relevant to anti-trafficking measures.

Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, 2064

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:31:11 +0000

Nepal anti-trafficking legislation.

Pakistan

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:31:11 +0000

Pakistan anti-trafficking legislation-Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking Ordinance, 2002

Human Trafficking in South Asia: Application of Anti-Trafficking Laws and The States’ Duty to Protect Human Rights of The Victims

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:31:11 +0000

This paper tries to understand the causes of alarming growth of human trafficking in South Asia. The study analyses the international conventions, regional conventions, and the domestic laws of the countries that deal with human trafficking. The study will discuss the duties of the concerned states under the international laws to protect the human rights of the victims of human trafficking especially the right to life and the right not be compelled to do any force labour

Implementation of the Eurojust Action Plan against THB 2012-2016

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:31:10 +0000

In terms of methodology, the Evaluation highlights challenges related to the reliability of the data made available. The report shows that beyond the mere exercise of evaluating the Eurojust Action Plan, reliable and complete data are key to designing and promoting a tailor made, informed and accurate policy response to trafficking in human beings. In this respect, Article 13 notification feeds the process of collecting and analyzing relevant information. Such information is essential to identifying potential links to other cases registered at Eurojust and more generally triggers Eurojust’s further support where and when appropriate.

Report on the progress made in the fight against trafficking in human beings (2016) as required under Article 20 of Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:31:10 +0000

This paper complements the first European Commission Report on the progress made in the fight against trafficking in human beings as required under article 20 of Directive 2011/36/EU. It aims to provide a factual overview of the main current trends, actions, and statistical data on trafficking in human beings in the EU, as reported by Member States, civil society and international organizations. The paper elaborates in detail on the measures reported by the Member States to address trafficking in human beings, and additionally takes into consideration actions implemented by the European Commission and other relevant stakeholders in the context of the EU Strategy towards the eradication of trafficking in human beings 2012-2016.

Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings: Victims' Rights

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:31:10 +0000

The main added value of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings is its focus on human rights and the protection of victims. The convention defines rafficking as a violation of human rights and an offence to the dignity and integrity of the human being. This means that the national authorities are held responsible if they do not take action to prevent human trafficking, protect victims and effectively investigate trafficking cases. This leaflet provides an overview of victim services advocated for in the convention.

Trafficking in Persons: Global Pattern

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:31:10 +0000

This report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is the first attempt to close the knowledge gap on human trafficking. Additionally, the report also includes recommendations, based on the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons. Since the protocol is about prevention, protection, and prosecution, recommendations concluded in the following three suggestions: reduce demand of cheap goods manufactured by bonded laborer, target criminals who prey on the vulnerability of people trying to escape from poverty, hunger, and unemployment, and lastly, increase protection to people especially women and children.

China's One-Child Policy Fuels Human Trafficking Across International Borders

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:31:10 +0000

Snakehead smugglers are notorious for illegally smuggling in thousands of Chinese immigrants and threatened to repay debts up to $60,000 USD. The author of this paper interviewed people throughout Chinatown in Manhattan, New York, and found that many interviewees share similar stories. Various neglected and abused children in China were coerced into coming to the United States due to several reasons: the one-child policy, economic pressure, and neglectful parenting.

Human Trafficking in Japan: A Case Study on the Technical Intern Training Program

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:31:10 +0000

This papers examines the role of culture and structure of society on its influence of the rise of human trafficking in Japan, specifically in relation to the "Technical Intern Training Program". This thesis essentially answers two questions: to what extent does the TITP amount to conditions human trafficking and forced labor? And how, to what extent, are Japanese socio-cultural trends and migration laws influencing the prevalence of human trafficking in Japan?

Exploring Human Trafficking in Four Selected Woredas of Jimma Zone, Ethiopia

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:30:28 +0000

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in four woredas of Jimma Zone, Ethiopia, between June and July 2013 to assess the main factors/causes, consequences, the process, and people’s awareness of human trafficking to fill knowledge gap on the area.

Trafficking in Persons: The Australian Government Response (1 July 2015 – 30 June 2016)

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:29:35 +0000

We are pleased to present this eighth report of the Interdepartmental Committee on Human Trafficking and Slavery. This report details the important work of Australian Government agencies and their partners during 2015–16 to address the scourge of human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices both within Australia and our region. Although identified instances of human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices, such as servitude, forced labour, debt bondage and forced marriage, remain relatively rare in Australia, any instance of crimes of this nature is unacceptable. These crimes reduce human beings to mere commodities to be traded or exploited for personal gain, either material or otherwise, and are amongst the most egregious of crimes contained in the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) (Criminal Code).

Trafficking in Persons; Analysis on Europe

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:31:10 +0000

This paper presents an overview of the situation in Europe and its evolution during the last nine years. This paper is based on information collected by UNODC in the framework of the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT), published in the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons in February 2009. Data on the trafficking situation in Europe was gathered from national authorities by UNODC and the UN-affiliated European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control (HEUNI). The researchers contacted the relevant national governments to collect available data in three subject areas: Legislative and administrative frameworks, Criminal justice data, and the profile of the offenders, and Numbers of victims identified and their profiles. The information presented pertains to the 2003-2008 period.

Situation Report: Trafficking in human beings in the EU

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:28:49 +0000

This Europol product is descriptive and oriented towards explaining the current crime situation providing an overview of all relevant factors (OCGs, criminal markets, and geographical dimension).

2014 Situation Report Austria

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:31:10 +0000

Trafficking in human beings has many faces. One large area is forced prostitution and/or sexual exploitation. Prostitution in general comprises all sexual acts with physical contact provided on a commercial basis and against payment. In Austria, engaging in prostitution is regulated by laws at the national and provincial level, and thus is legal if in compliance with the statutory framework conditions. The 2014 THB situation report focuses on sexual exploitation of human beings.

Trafficking in Human Beings

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:31:10 +0000

This is a working paper looking at statistical data at EU level as gathered and submitted by national authorities. In this respect, it is a unique undertaking in this field at EU level. The data have been collected from official sources, and provide information on registered victims, suspects, prosecutions and convictions, as recorded by the authorities. As such, this working paper differs from other reports which have looked at estimates of the prevalence of trafficking in human beings, for example. There may also be studies at national or regional level which provide greater detail about a specific subset of the phenomenon or which look at a narrower geographical area. This report should be considered alongside such studies to gain maximum benefit from the full evidence base available.

Responses to Demand in the Context of Trafficking in Human Beings: Regulatory measures from twelve national contexts

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:28:21 +0000

Addressing the demand that fosters trafficking in human beings is a requirement of the UN Anti-Trafficking Protocol. However, at the time the Protocol entered into force, signatory countries received no additional guidelines regarding what constitutes demand and what measures are to be implemented in order to reduce this demand. As a consequence, countries adopted various measures which can be regarded as addressing demand. This paper presents recurring types of such measures in twelve different national contexts. It begins by describing how demand is referred to and what kinds of measures are mostly employed to address it. The most common measures are then presented according to a typology distinguishing four types of mechanisms aimed at steering societal behavior – command and control, peer pressure, market-based and design. In the framework of anti- trafficking policies addressing the demand-side, these four types of mechanisms are implemented in combination.

Forced Marriage Unit Statistics 2015

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:27:23 +0000

This publication provides information on the number of cases reported to the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) via its public helpline and email inbox from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015. All calls and emails are registered on the FMU’s case logging tool to ensure accuracy and reliability of records. Main categories of data that are captured by the FMU case log includes: details of the caller/source of information; focus country; UK region; gender and age of person at risk; disability (physical, learning or both); and sexual orientation.

Forced marriage from a gender perspective

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:26:24 +0000

This study provides an overview of the practice of forced marriage in the EU from a gender equality and women’s rights perspective. It analyses the definitions of forced marriage and puts forward a definition from a gender perspective. It also provides an overview of the relevant international/EU legislation, policies and deliberations, as well as national policies, civil law and criminal law (in the 12 Member State that criminalise forced marriage). For those Member States that criminalise forced marriage, the study provides an assessment of the effectiveness and possible consequences of the implementation of the criminal legislation, including an analysis of data and case-law. The study includes a specific chapter focusing on forced marriage within Roma communities and five case-studies specifically focusing on Denmark, Germany, Spain, Slovakia and the UK. The study also puts forward recommendations for improving the response to forced marriage at EU and Member State level.

Thematic Report: Unrecognized Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children in Child, Early and Forced Marriage

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:46:59 +0000

When girls attain sexual maturity, their vulnerability to sexual violence rises, along with parental apprehension about their safety. Especially in traditional and poor communities where girls’ roles are often expected to be that of mothers and wives, puberty may coincide with school dropout and early marriage. Parents who marry their children before they reach legal age are typically motivated by predetermined social and sexual norms, low value attached to daughters, poverty or humanitarian crises. Confronted with social pressure and family hardship, they may seek in marriage a form of protection to shield their children from destitution, household food insecurity and, ultimately, sexual harassment. In the reality of the 700 million women alive today who were married before their 18th birthday, however, child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) may have been a route to systematic, albeit unrecognized, sexual abuse and exploitation. No longer children, not yet adults, child brides tend to be denied fulfillment of their fundamental rights and access to social services otherwise granted to unmarried children and married women. The marginal social roles assigned to married girls discontinue the privileges of childhood, while precluding access to powers granted to adult members of their communities.

Toxic oil: Child labor and mercury exposure in Tanzania's small-scale gold mines

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:46:59 +0000

This report examines child labor and exposure to mercury in small-scale gold mining in Tanzania, Africa’s fourth-largest gold producer. It documents the harmful effects of mining on children, including its impact on the enjoyment of their rights to health, education, and protection from violence and abuse.

Tracking the Child Sex Trade in Southeast Asia

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:45:15 +0000

New York Times reporter Nicholas Kristof's continues to investigate child sex slavery in Southeast Asia. Most sources agree that far more than 1 million underage children are "effectively enslaved."

Trafficking of Women and Children in Nigeria: A Critical Approach

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:43:21 +0000

This research attributes reasons to the institutionalized violation of human rights and severe political, social and economic crises due to decades of military regimes in Nigeria, and made girls and women more vulnerable to human trafficking.

Trafficking and enslavement of children in Uganda

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:43:40 +0000

This report defines human trafficking and its scope in Uganda. It details the way in which Ugandan victims are treated and transported, the activities they are made to complete, and the potential hazards they face. It summarizes existing legislation and ends by suggesting strategies to combat human trafficking.

Trafficking for Forced Labour and Labour Exploitation in Sweden: Examples from the Restaurant and the Berry Industries

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:46:59 +0000

Since the introduction of a new liberal labour immigration policy in 2008, several cases of abuse of migrant workers have tarnished the good international image of the Swedish Model of industrial relations. Using the examples of the restaurant and berry-picking industries, this report investigates practices of trafficking for forced labour and labour exploitation in Sweden. The report examines the migrants’ working conditions as well as exploitative practices occurring in the context of the workers’ recruitment, including the role of recruitment agencies, middlemen and employers. The data was collected through interviews, fieldwork, and media material and court judgments. Trafficking for forced labour is considered from a broad perspective, not only focusing on the legal definition of trafficking for forced labour but also on milder practices of labour exploitation that constitute the context in which trafficking can occur. The report identifies a number of challenges to the prevention of migrant labour exploitation and proposes recommendations to policymakers, employers and other societal actors. It argues that acknowledging the shortcomings of Sweden’s new liberal labour immigration policy does not imply that it should be entirely rejected but rather that there is scope for its improvement.

Trafficking for Forced Criminal Activities and Begging in Europe: Exploratory Study and Good Practice Examples

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:46:59 +0000

Despite the entry into force of the EU Directive there is a dearth of research and awareness about this type of exploitation with very few cases reported in of cial statistics and many victims misidenti ed as offenders. This report aims to go some way to address this and provide a baseline assessment of the issue, exploring the situation in the project partner countries (Ireland, the UK, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands) and provide an overview of the rest of Europe. The ndings show that the issue is more widespread than previously reported, with victims being exploited through a variety of criminal activities.

Trafficking in Human Beings in Ukraine

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:46:59 +0000

This publication provides an overview of Ukrainian legislation on trafficking in human beings (THB), as well as recent efforts by Ukraine to combat THB. There are apparent steps forward to combat human trafficking on the national level, with improved legislation focussing on THB and institutional frameworks. The paper concludes that despite some progress, the country still remains on the Tier 2 list of the 2014 US TIP report. It is thus clear that efforts made until today are still insufficient, and the positive trend needs to be amplified, with more resources allocated to fighting THB.

Tirez le Fil: Nécessaire Transparence de la Filière d'Approvisionnement dans l’Industrie de l’Habillement et de la Chaussure

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:46:59 +0000

EXTRAIT DE LA PUBLICATION: "Ce rapport fait le point sur les engagements des en- seignes et marques d’habillement en faveur d’une plus grande transparence de leur filière d’approvisionnement. Nous le publions quatre ans après la succession de catastrophes industrielles au Bangladesh et au Pakistan qui ont dévoilé au monde entier la réalité des conditions de travail dans l’industrie mondiale du vêtement, et l’absolue nécessité de rendre cette industrie transparente et respectueuse des droits humains. Pour atteindre cet objectif, une coalition composée de neuf organisations internationales a contacté 72 entreprises d’habillement en leur demandant de s’engager à mettre en œuvre des standards minimaux en termes de transparence sur leurs filières d’approvisionnement. Les entreprises qui ont refusé de s’engager ont été invitées à justifier leur choix. Ce rapport explique l’importance et l’urgence de rendre les filières d’approvisionnement transparentes et synthétise les réponses que nous avons reçues de la part des 72 entreprises contactées. Des informations complémentaires sur les entreprises contactées, sur les raisons de le faire, et sur la méthodologie employée par la coalition, sont décrites dans l’Annexe 1 publiée dans la version en anglais de ce rapport, disponible en ligne. Les informations publiées sur les filières d’approvisionnement varient fortement d’une entreprise à l’autre. Parmi les entreprises les plus transparentes, certaines publient des informations incohérentes. Cependant, la majorité des entreprises d’habillement refusent de publier des informations sur les sites de production de leurs fournisseurs ou fournissent des informations insuffisantes. Certaines entreprises tentent de justifier leur opacité par des raisons commerciales. Mais leurs arguments sont battus en brèche par les entreprises qui publient déjà des informations sur leur filière et démontrent que cette transparence leur procure des avantages qui dépassent de loin les risques envisagés. En réalité, les entreprises d’habillement doivent faire beaucoup plus que mettre en œuvre un minimum de transparence pour assumer leur responsabilité de respecter les droits humains dans leur filière d’approvisionnement. Néanmoins, ce minimum de transparence constitue la première étape cruciale pour y arriver."

Trafficking and Forced Prostitution of Palestinian Women and Girls

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:45:35 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "This report seeks to explore the issue of trafficking as well as prostitution of women and girls in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). Due to the absence of accurate information, studies and official reports openly dealing with the topic, this briefing paper intends by no means to present itself as a comprehensive study but, rather, as a first step towards the identification of the problem in the oPt. A great deal still remains to be done even in the area of basic research and documentation."

These are Our Neighbors: Protection and Restoration from Human Trafficking in North Carolina

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:46:59 +0000

This report is about addressing human trafficking on the systematic and individual level through the organization Justice Matters, a faith-based anti-trafficking organization in Durham, North Carolina.

Trafficking in Persons in Latin America and the Caribbean

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:42:11 +0000

This report describes the nature and scope of the problem of trafficking in persons in Latin America and the Caribbean. It then describes U.S. efforts to deal with trafficking in persons in the region and discusses recent country and regional anti-trafficking efforts. The report concludes by raising issues that may be helpful for Congress to consider as it continues to address human trafficking as part of its authorization, appropriations, and oversight activities.

Trafficking in human beings - Manual for Lawyers

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:46:39 +0000

This Manual represents the collected principles of work and modi operandi of the network of lawyers. It is primarily made for those attorneys who provide legal advice to, or represent, victims of human trafficking as injured parties in judicial proceedings. The focus of this Manual is on the protection of the rights of victims, the promotion of international standards in this area, legal options in the Republic of Serbia, and positive experiences and practices. The Manual will therefore also be useful to other professionals that may encounter human trafficking victims and victims of other types of violence in their work.

Time to Get Serious about Child Marriage in Latin America

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:42:59 +0000

When Honduras parliamentarians this week unanimously passed a bill making child marriage illegal, they took leadership on an issue that deserves urgent attention in Latin America. As momentum builds across the globe to end this abusive practice, Latin America is lagging.

Trafficking in persons in Canada, 2014

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:42:11 +0000

Trafficking in persons, also referred to as human trafficking, is a complex phenomenon that can occur domestically or across international borders, and can take many forms (see Text box 1). As defined by the Criminal Code of Canada, trafficking in persons occurs when someone recruits, transports, transfers, receives, holds, conceals or harbours a person, or exercises control, direction or influence over the movements of a person for the purpose of exploiting them or facilitating their exploitation (Criminal Code of Canada 2015). Human trafficking victims often suffer from emotional trauma, as well as economic, physical and sexual abuse (Public Safety Canada 2012; United Nations 2008). The scope of human trafficking is difficult to identify due to the hidden nature of the crime, victims’ reluctance to report crimes to the authorities, difficulties in identifying victims, and the high degree of underreporting (Public Safety Canada 2012). Statistics Canada collects police-reported information under the Criminal Code human trafficking offences, as well as the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act human trafficking offence which targets cross-border trafficking. In 2005, three specific offences were added to the Criminal Code as part of the government’s commitment to combat human trafficking. In 2010, and later 2012, the Criminal Code was amended to include a child trafficking offence and other human trafficking-related provisions (see Text box 2). These offences focus on the exploitation of the victim and can be applied to the various forms that this crime can take, including victims being brought into Canada from abroad, victims being transited through Canada to another country, and victims who originate from and are exploited within Canada (Ogrodnik 2010).

Trafficking in Human Beings in Ireland (2015)

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:46:17 +0000

During 2015, a total of 78 alleged victims of human trafficking were reported to An Garda Síochána. This equates to a 70% increase on the number identified in 2015 (46). As seen in all previous years the crime is predominately perpetrated against women. Female victims account for two thirds of the alleged victims reported in 2015. The female to male ratio of 2:1 remains the same as 2014. 2015 was the first year in which a transgender alleged victim of trafficking was reported to An Garda Síochána.

Trafficking for Forced Labour: How to Monitor the Recruitment of Migrant Workers

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:45:58 +0000

EXCERPT FROM MANUAL: "This training manual aims to raise awareness amongst labour inspectors, police, government officials, employers’ organizations, trade unions, and others, on the issues of trafficking, forced labour and job placement systems. More specifically, it focuses on the recruitment of migrant workers into highly exploitative working situations that could amount to forced labour. The manual aims both to inform and guide on action. It provides information on abusive recruitment practices and trafficking as well as the socio-economic factors that facilitate the incidence of trafficking. The main emphasis, however, is on policy measures, skills and techniques to be applied in curtailing these practices. It promotes hands-on learning and encourages constant sharing and interaction among participants who benefit from each other’s experience and ideas."

The Vulnerability of Ethiopian Rural Women and Girls: The Case of Domestic Workers in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:46:58 +0000

The purpose of this study is identifying the causes of the plights Ethiopian domestic workers are facing in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The study is conducted in light of phenomenological framework aiming to understand the

problem through the lived experiences of returnee victims. In-depth interviews with key informants are conducted in order to acquire a broader insight of the root causes and consequences of the problem. Findings of this research indicate that intersections of multiple identities; such as gender, class, race as well as religion, shape the standpoints of Ethiopian women as vulnerable.

Trafficking in Persons to Europe for Sexual Exploitation

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:42:12 +0000

Data on clandestine markets are limited. The information that does exist is often out-of-date and frequently conflicting. This report represents the best reading of the available data, but is only as strong as the information on which it is based. Quantitative estimates, in particular, are necessarily imprecise, offered only to give a sense of the relative order of magnitude of these problems.

With regard to human trafficking, a greater variety of nationalities of victims have been detected in Europe than in any other region. After a strong increase at the end of the Cold War, human trafficking to Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation appears to have stabilized, with women from a wide variety of countries displacing the Eastern European victims that formerly dominated this market.

Compendium of good practices on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 22:31:11 +0000

GRETA wishes through this compendium of good practices to illustrate the positive impact of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings on law, policy and practice across Europe, in the areas of the four pillars (‘4Ps’) of the Convention: prevention, protection of victims’ rights, prosecution, and partnerships. The examples chosen have generally been selected on the basis of GRETA having ‘welcomed’ specific measures in the country evaluation reports. Care has been taken to present as wide a selection of countries as possible as well as presenting a balance of practice from countries of origin and destination.

The victim of human trafficking as offender: A combination with grave consequences

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:48:30 +0000

For years, S., originally from India, was trafficked and exploited for labour in an Indian household in the Netherlands. At the same time, S. was convicted for the manslaughter of a baby that was also part of the household, which occurred during the human trafficking experience. The case raises important questions about the role of the non-punishment principle in cases where trafficking victims also become the perpetrator. What is more, in this exceptional case the question took central stage as to whether this principle can also be applied when the offense commit- ted falls in the homicide category. This article focuses on these questions and also aims to demonstrate the influence that convictions of trafficking victims can have on other decisions they are subject to.

The Principle of Non-Punishment of Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings: A Quest for Rationale and Practical Guidance

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:53:34 +0000

The principle of non-punishment of victims of human trafficking introduced in the recent anti-trafficking instruments has caused a lot of controversy. These strikingly cryptic provisions leave much space for various interpretations. In analysing the non-punishment principle, this article examines, first, legal instruments establishing the principle, the accompanying interpretative guides, and other material where it has been elaborated. This is followed by an examination of the UK case-law and the most recent Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA), which introduced a new statutory defence for victims of trafficking and slavery. This article offers a critical account of the problems and obstacles in applying this principle in practice as well as the lack of understanding of its normative and conceptual grounding. In particular, this article asks questions that need to be clarified in order to make this principle operational in each jurisdiction, which include: the type of criminal or other offences to which it applies; the necessary conditions for its application; and finally, its legal effects. In identifying and engaging with these questions, this article offers a comprehensive scholarly discussion of the role of human rights law in providing guidance for the implementation of the non-punishment principle. The article concludes that this principle represents an important instrument in victim protection, but that the role of human rights law, which is often claimed to be its rationale, is limited when it comes to providing specific guidance for its practical operation.

The Rise of Mobile and the Diffusion of Technology-Facilitated Trafficking

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:53:34 +0000

In 2012, the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy will conduct the first in-depth study of technology and data-driven approaches to combat labor trafficking. Technology is playing an increasingly significant role in understanding and addressing labor trafficking, forced labor, and exploitation. The global digital landscape is marked by the rapid diffusion of online technologies, mobile, social media, data analytics, mapping, and GPS – even in less developed nations. A critical challenge for the field is the lack of evidence-based research on the relationship between technology and labor trafficking. Building an empirical base is essential for responsible decision-making and risk assessments, particularly in designing interventions for vulnerable populations.

The Trafficking-Technology Nexus

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:49:38 +0000

Within some public policy and scholarly accounts, human trafficking is increasingly understood as a technological problem that invites collaborative anti-trafficking solutions. A growing cohort of state, non-governmental, and corporate actors in the United States have come together around the shared contention that technology functions as both a facilitator and disrupting force of trafficking, specifically sex trafficking. Despite increased attention to the trafficking-technology nexus, scant research to date has critically unpacked these shifts nor mapped how technology reconfigures anti-trafficking collaborations. In this article, we propose that widespread anxieties and overzealous optimism about technology’s role in facilitating and disrupting trafficking have simultaneously promoted a tri-part anti-trafficking response, one animated by a law and order agenda, operationalized through augmented internet, mobile, and networked surveillance, and maintained through the integration of technology experts and advocates into organized anti-trafficking efforts. We suggest that an examination of technology has purchase for students of gender, sexuality, and neoliberal governmentality in its creation of new methods of surveillance, exclusion, and expertise.

The sex trafficking of Vietnamese women to China is going to grow

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:52:45 +0000

It is a common phenomenon for Vietnamese women to be trafficked to China as brides or sex workers or other nearby countries such as Malaysia and Cambodia. Regional civil society responses are starting to rise to combat the problem.

The role of African traditional religion and "juju" in human trafficing: implications for anti-traffiking

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:53:34 +0000

This article examines the role that African Traditional Religion (ATR) plays in giving ammunition to human trafficking, a role that serves as an emerging perspective in the understanding and critical engagement with this subject area.

The treatment needs of victims/survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA) from ethnic minority communities: A literature review and suggestions for practice

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:53:34 +0000

One significant finding from an exhaustive literature review on child sexual abuse (CSA) and ethnic minority communities is that victims appear to be at higher risk for suicidality. This may be due to the many barriers to professional help-seeking in this group, most commonly associated with protecting the family's name. This makes their treatment needs particularly critical, after the barriers have finally been crossed. Of all their treatment needs, cultural competency is identified as essential. It asks for non-racist attitudes and practice, self-reflection and awareness, a ‘multicultural framework’ which recognises differences in power between mainstream and minority groups and respects the right to cultural differences, the provision of an interpreter trained in matters to do with sexual assault, choice about having an ethnically matched or non-matched service provider (and thus employment of workers from diverse backgrounds), the routine provision of training in cultural competency by management in service organisations, and mandatory data collection on variables related to ethnicity. A ‘multicultural framework’ is seen to be the most important of these elements, else it could lead to the vilification of collectivist and patriarchal cultures (which ethnic minority communities tend to be), threatening cultural safety. This adds trauma to the victim who has already suffered an abuse of power, and further alienates clients in critical need of clinical intervention.

The Use of Child Soldiers in African Armed Conflicts: A Comparative Study of Angola and Mozambique.

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:48:52 +0000

The aim of this research is to investigate or explore why child soldiers have been used in some conflicts in Africa but relative absence in others. In this research I will consider the factors that led to the use of child soldiers in the Angolan civil war (1975-1994) and the Mozambican civil war (1976-1992).

The reintegration experiences of ex-child soldiers in Liberia

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:53:34 +0000

The primary purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding about the reintegration experiences and meaning of reintegration as perceived by ex-child soldiers located in or near Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia.

The Nature and Causes of Bride Abduction Cases in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:53:21 +0000

The paper reports on an investigation carried out to ascertain the nature and causes of bride abduction cases in KwaZulu–Natal in South Africa. The study revealed that bride abduction (contemporary and negative ukuthwala) is an abuse of the custom of ukuthwala (traditional bridal abduction) which is perceived by many people to have disappeared during social transformation.

Trafficking in Human Beings for Labour Exploitation and Irregular Labour Migration in the Russian Federation: Forms, Trends and Countermeasures

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:46:59 +0000

The aim of this research is to identify trends and patterns in human traf cking for labour exploitation as well as related irregular labour migration in the Russian Federation under the current socio-economic conditions and to formulate recommendations to combat these adverse phenomena. In this research trafficking for labour exploitation is considered from a broad perspective, not only focusing on the legal definition of trafficking for forced labour but also on less legally severe cases of labour exploitation that constitute and facilitate the context in which a trafficking situation can occur.

The Sum of a Human's Parts: Global Organ Trafficking in the Twenty-First Century

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:53:34 +0000

The article reports on the global organ trafficking in the Twenty-First Century. According to the ancient Indians, the gift of life is so precious that even the Gods cannot give it back, and the modern scientists and surgeons have found a means to make human organs be made available to the desperate ill patients. But criminals have made the altruistic means into a global criminal enterprise which have violated human rights and caused sufferings to women, men and children. The issue on organ transplantation is entangled with paradoxes and contradictions due to cultural, religious and personal purposes.

The trafficking of children in the Asia-Pacific

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:53:34 +0000

According to UNICEF, the child's individual circumstances, such as experiences of violence or abuse, lack of educational attainment, life skills, lack of citizenship and/ or personal documentation and a desire for adventure can all act to increase vulnerability through loss of self-worth, feelings of hopelessness, few work opportunities due to dropping out or being unable to attend school for various reasons, inability to make sound decisions related to self-protection, barriers to employment or education and the perception that other countries and larger cities offer an improved life (UNICEF 2009).\n Such experiences during the formative years can have 'long-lasting and potentially irreparable' effects on a child (UNICEF 2009: 19). [...] improving legislative and policy frameworks, institutionalizing training for law enforcement and social welfare staff, establishing specialist units, addressing underlying vulnerabilities (including harmful cultural practices), ensuring accreditation and regulation of key sectors and promoting knowledge regarding safe migration pathways will all assist in increasing resilience among children, provide greater protection from a range of abuses and ultimately, strengthen responses to trafficking.

The Role of International Organizations in Fighting Child Trafficking in West and Central Africa

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:53:34 +0000

This study uses document analysis to examine approaches adopted by three international organizations – United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Anti-Slavery International in fighting child trafficking in three African countries, Gabon, Ghana, and Nigeria. This study investigates what these organizations do, what techniques they employ, and the degree of cooperation between these organizations and the governments of the three study countries. The thesis concludes with weaknesses and lessons learned from UNODC, IOM, and Anti-Slavery International, as well as recommendations to strengthen the fight against trafficking.

Trafficking and exploitation strategy

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:46:59 +0000

The Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act was unanimously passed by the Scottish Parliament in 2015. This Act introduced a single offence for all kinds of trafficking for the first time, consolidating and strengthening existing law. It raised the maximum penalty for trafficking to life imprisonment and gave police and prosecutors a new set of tools to prevent and detect trafficking and to bring those responsible to justice. In addition to the legislative measures themselves, the Act requires the Scottish Ministers to develop, for the rst time, a Scottish trafficking and exploitation strategy. This Strategy sets out the Scottish Government’s approach and commitment to tackling human trafficking by supporting and protecting victims, disrupting the activities of perpetrators and addressing the conditions which foster trafficking, both in Scotland and elsewhere.

Toronto Human Trafficking Staff Report

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:46:59 +0000

This report responds to the Executive Committee request for information pertaining to the problem of human trafficking in Toronto, including recommendations to strengthen protection of vulnerable women and children, improve services available to victims of human trafficking and to reduce human trafficking. It also responds to the request to report on the formulation of a policy that would prohibit City advertising in publications that allow advertising that could contribute to human trafficking.

The Twin Challenges of Child Labour and Youth Employment in the Arab States

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:49:19 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "This Report examines the related issues of child labour and youth marginalization in the Arab States. It focuses in particular on the non-rich countries and territories covered by the ILO Regional Office for Arab States (i.e., Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen and the Occupied Palestinian Territory). All are conflict or conflict-affected societies where concerns relating to the well-being of children and youth are acute and where better information to inform policy is needed. All are also societies that have been affected directly and indirectly by the popular movements known collectively as the Arab uprisings, and by the calls for social justice and decent work that are at the roots of these movements. The situation of children and youth in Syria since the outbreak of the war is beyond the scope of the current Report. Clearly, however, the massive disruptions and dislocations associated with the on-going political violence in the country have had a devastating impact on the country’s children and youth, and measures to mitigate this impact are urgently needed."

The Rerouted Trafficking in Eritrean Refugees

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:53:34 +0000

This Special Report article provides a firsthand look at the trafficking, torture and ransom of Eritrean refugees in the Sinai, the efforts by Sinai Bedouin to stop it, some new and sinister developments in the highly profitable criminal operation, and what must be done to end it.

The Swedish Sex Purchase Act: Claimed Success and Documented Effects

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:53:34 +0000

The authors of this report have researched different aspects of the Swedish prostitution policy over several years. One of them has also conducted field work among people who sell sex in Sweden. This particular report is based on research conducted in the context of a larger project conducted through the University of Leiden, the Netherlands. It is written with an international audience in mind, the reason being that there appears to be a large demand for knowledge regarding the actual effects of the "Swedish model" – knowledge that is based on Swedish research but not filtered through the official discourse.

Trafficking in human organs

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:46:59 +0000

The commercial trade in human organs, including trafficking in persons for organ removal has developed into a global problem. This report describes the current situation regarding international organ trafficking, committed often by transnational criminal networks. It zooms in on the role of traffickers, international brokers, health professionals, and the recipients and suppliers. To combat and prevent organ commercialism and trafficking, a legal framework for the criminalisation of trafficking offences, and tailor-made law enforcement instruments have been developed by a number of international organisations. A number of recent trafficking cases in which European citizens were involved, have been analysed in detail to highlight the different forms of organ trafficking and to demonstrate how investigation and prosecution can result in an effective justice response to these crimes. The efforts of the EU and other European organisations, such as the Council of Europe or the OSCE, to develop binding legal instruments and formulate policy actions to step up law enforcement and legal cooperation in the combat against trafficking in organs, are described. The report concludes with observations and recommendations for the EU to prepare next steps in successfully fighting and preventing trafficking in organs and organ commercialism.

The effect of child labor in Africa on consumers of the cell-phone industry

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:23 +0000

This study assesses the ethical impact on consumers of the cell phone industry of child labor used to mine colton. Survey results analyzing the issue are used to show that consumers identify child labor as socially unjust and consumers are willing to pay more for phones that can be certified as child labor-free.

The Governance of Human Trafficking in Egypt: The Legal, Policy, and Institutional Frameworks

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:23 +0000

ABSTRACT: "Human trafficking is the third largest and fastest growing organized crime in the world after drug trafficking and illicit arms dealing. According to the International Labor Organization, there is an estimated 2.4 million trafficked individuals at any given moment in time. As many as 1.2 million of the 2.4 million are minors. Out of the 2.4 million trafficked individuals, UNODC points out that 230,000 are in the Middle East and North Africa region. Egypt is a country of origin, transit, and destination for trafficking. Yet, the literature available regarding Egypt’s response to the growing phenomenon of human trafficking is minimal. As a result, this study explores Egypt’s governance of trafficking in persons in order to reflect on the effectiveness of its response to the crime. This dissertation provides a comprehensive analysis of the legal, policy, and implementation frameworks of human trafficking in Egypt. It is divided into eight chapters. The first chapter serves as an introduction and provides background information on trafficking in persons. Chapter II outlines the methodology for this thesis. Chapter III discusses the flows, magnitude, and directions of trafficking in Egypt. Chapter IV explores the theoretical framework that dominates the study of human trafficking. It points out its limitations and argues that it influenced the development of the legal system of trafficking. The following chapter analyzes the emergence of the current legal framework of trafficking on an international level and showcases how the theoretical framework has influenced it. Its analysis is important to understand how its limitations has been translated down to the national level in the case of Egypt. Chapter VI explains Egypt’s policy on human trafficking in terms of actors, drivers, and strategies. It also provides a comprehensive critique of the policy development process and its design. Chapter VII analyses the implementation mechanisms of anti-trafficking policies in Egypt . Lastly, Chapter VI provides the general conclusions of the study."

The financial analyst who was sex trafficked

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:23 +0000

Testimony and survival story of Shandra Woworuntu, an Indonesian woman who was sex trafficked into the United States.

The Island of Happiness: Exploitation of Migrant Workers on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:24 +0000

EXCERPT FROM SUMMARY: "Saadiyat Island, in the Arabian Gulf, lies 500 meters off the coast of Abu Dhabi, the oil-rich capital of the United Arab Emirates. Today, the triangular, 27 square kilometer island consists primarily of sand and mangrove swamp. Within a decade, if a $22 to 27 billion development plan goes according to schedule, the island will host six cultural institutions, including outposts of the Guggenheim and Louvre museums; a museum dedicated to Abu Dhabi’s heritage and the UAE’s first president, Sheikh Zayed; a Maritime Museum; a performing arts center; and a campus of New York University. It will also include two golf courses, expensive private residences, a marina, and 29 hotels. The first of these institutions scheduled to begin construction is the Louvre, which will break ground in May 2009, with the Guggenheim and the Sheikh Zayed museum to follow. The government of Abu Dhabi established the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) to develop Jazeera al-Saadiyat – “the Island of Happiness” – into an exclusive international tourist attraction. But many of the migrant workers currently building Saadiyat Island have little happiness in their lives or work: they continue to face the same types of exploitation and abuse Human Rights Watch documented in the UAE in our 2006 report, Building Towers, Cheating Workers. The UAE government has addressed a number of issues affecting the lives of migrant workers, including attempts to improve housing conditions and access to health care. And TDIC also has sought to ensure that its contractors address some of these issues as well, by contractually requiring employers to affirm that they do not engage in or support the use of forced labor, require employees to surrender passports, or withhold wages from employees. Despite these affirmations, abuses continue, as the reforms have failed to address the fundamental sources of worker exploitation – employee-paid recruiting fees; visas controlled by employers; very low wages often far below what was promised workers in their home countries; and restrictions on organizing and no real access to legal remedies. As a result, the abuse of workers remains commonplace."

The Island of Happiness Revisited: A Progress Report on Institutional Commitments to Address Abuses of Migrant Workers on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:24 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "The United Arab Emirates is converting Saadiyat Island into an international tourist destination, and will house a campus of New York University and museums, including branches of the Guggenheim and the Louvre. In 2009, Human Rights Watch documented the exploitation of South Asian migrant workers on the island and the lack of legal and institutional protections for workers, urging the developers and institutions to pledge to address the abuses. Three years later, this progress report notes that while these entities have made important efforts to address employer abuses, protection gaps remain."

The Forgotten Cohort: An Exploration of Themes and Patterns Among Male Survivors of Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:23 +0000

The Butterfly Longitudinal Research Project has followed 128 survivors of trafficking through their experiences in aftercare, community reintegration, and beyond to help develop a better understanding of the recovery and reintegration of survivors in the Cambodian context. Despite the wealth of data and analysis previously generated, this report focuses on the gaps in previous research and examines the male cohort holistically, taking into account their statement and narratives. The report includes a lot of qualitative narratives in hopes of supplementing a stronger context for the understanding of anti-trafficking professionals.

The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in East and Southeast Asia

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:22 +0000

Among the various abuses and violations that children suffer, it is indisputable that the commercial sexual exploitation of girls and boys remains a serious global problem with grave implications for the East and South-East Asia Region. Further, globalization and unregulated economic growth have resulted in growing economic disparities that have a negative impact on the wellbeing of many children in East and South-East Asia. This report highlights the manifestations of CSEC and its driving forces in East and Southeast Asia as well as gives recommendation for change and moving forward.

The Children of Islamic State

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:56:24 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "Based on our findings, the report proposes a thorough assessment process for children who return or escape from Islamic State. This procedure evaluates the extent of radicalization of the child, their degree of agency in joining Islamic State, the trauma and abuse they have suffered, and the immediate and long-term needs for ensuring effective Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration, and Rehabilitation DDR(R). The recommendations detail a multi-structural support network for monitoring a child’s progress."

The Human Conveyor Belt: Trends in Human Trafficking and Smuggling in Post-Revolution Libya

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:23 +0000

This publication, produced by the Global Initiative against Transnational Crime, explores illicit human smuggling practices in post-Qaddafi Libya that can ultimately lead to exploitation and human trafficking. It mainly discusses the culture of human smuggling that has emerged in recent years. "The Human Conveyor Belt" also focuses on human rights abuses present on the migrant route through Libya such as bonded labor, indentured servitude, slavery, and kidnapping. Ultimately, the publication provides recommendations to local communities and state actors in order to end harmful smuggling and human trafficking practices in Libya.

The Fight Against Human Trafficking: Opinion of the National Council for Human Rights on Bill No. 27.14

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:23 +0000

This resource discusses the opinion and recommendations of the Moroccan National Council for Human Rights in regards to Bill No.27.14. This memorandum focuses on several articles of the anti-human trafficking bill, with special attention paid to precedents set by international law.

The United States as Global Sheriff: Using Unilateral Sanctions to Combat Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:53:35 +0000

An overview of research on the benefits of using international sanctions to prevent human trafficking globally.

The Dark Side of Migration: Spotlight on Qatar's Construction Sector Ahead of the World Cup

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:22 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "Amnesty International’s research exposes how labour exploitation in Qatar is due, in large part, to serious flaws in the country’s legal and policy framework for labour migration, rather than a simple narrative of Qatari nationals exploiting foreigners. Indeed a number of migrant workers who had experienced terrible abuses gave examples of Qatari nationals who had helped them in times of crisis. While Amnesty International has documented cases where abuse involved Qatari nationals, several migrant workers described how other foreign nationals were the main actors involved in their abuse. Some of the construction companies. Amnesty International has found to be engaged in exploitative practices are local branches of multinational businesses. Labour exploitation in Qatar is rooted in the processes by which people are recruited and employed, which facilitate and enable employers - of whatever nationality - to subject workers to exploitative practices."

The Dark Side of Chocolate

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:56:43 +0000

The Dark Side of Chocolate is a 2010 documentary film about the exploitation and slave-trading of African children to harvest chocolate still occurring nearly ten years after the cocoa industry pledged to end it.

The Development of Sex Trafficking in Central America

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:23 +0000

Human trafficking in Central America has taken center stage since the late 1990s. This increase in public attention has been driven by U.S. initiatives, such as the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), as well as the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, commonly known as the Trafficking Protocol. The United States has the reputation of being the leader in the fight against trafficking in Central America, using the TVPA and the Trafficking Protocol as primary mechanisms for anti-trafficking efforts. Despite these efforts, trafficking remains rampant in Central America. Although trafficking in the region also occurs for purposes of forced labor and illegal adoptions, this essay focuses on the problem of sex trafficking. U.S. Trafficking in Persons Reports show that eighty percent of all trafficked persons are female, up to fifty percent are minors, and the majority are trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation (Chuang, 2006). These women and children are drawn into the region’s illegal migration flow as a result of economic necessity. Women are increasingly assuming sole financial responsibility for their families, and consequently, children are more and more responsible for their own well-being. The lack of employment options at home contributes to their vulnerability to trafficking. Offering false promises of lucrative employment and opportunity, deceptive traffickers ultimately manipulate their victims into a life of sexual exploitation.

The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Latin America

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:22 +0000

Over the past decade, evidence has emerged worldwide suggesting that the sexual exploitation of children is becoming more pervasive and increasingly complex. Unprecedented developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) along with the erosion of social norms and sexual mores met with global trends that transcend national contours like poverty and the major growth in travel and tourism, all put an increasing number of children at risk of becoming victims to the various manifestations of sexual exploitation.

The health needs and healthcare experiences of young people trafficked into the UK

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:23 +0000

Report on a UK study that aimed into the healthcare needs of trafficked young people. 29 young people aged between 16-21 years were interviewed alongside a range of professionals working with them. Many of the group had experienced sexual violence even if they had been trafficked for domestic servitude; physical violence was common, as were high levels of psychological distress and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Concludes that healthcare professionals need to recognise and respond to the complex mental health needs of trafficked young people.

The human trafficking cycle: Sinai and beyond

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:23 +0000

Human trafficking in the Sinai started in 2009 and involves the abduction, extortion, sale, torture and killing of men, women and children. This book follows from the publication "Human Trafficking in the Sinai: Refugees between Life and Death" (2012). It describes how refugees are abducted and brought to the Sinai and identifies the modus operandi of the trafficking. It also looks at what happens after the hostages are released and where they go. This book introduces the term "trafficking cycle" to describe how refugees become trapped in a vicious cycle of detention, exploitation and abuse, or take risks that may lead to tragedies. It also portrays how Sinai survivors remain owners of their own history and keepers of their own dignity. The book is based on interviews with hostages and survivors of the trafficking in the Sinai and others.

The unabated female feticide is leading to bride crisis and bride trade in India

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:53:35 +0000

Thousands of marriageable girls from rural parts of different Indian states including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh have been either brought or “bought” for the purpose of marriage in Haryana. Those women experience forms of physical, mental, moral, and emotional torture. There are instances where these “purchased brides” have been forced to work as maids, exploited, or even denied their basic rights.

The Struggle of Women Migrant Domestic Workers in Lebanon

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:53:34 +0000

This short newsletter is a great resource for migrant domestic workers in Lebanon looking to learn more about or join NARI, a group of Nepalese migrant domestic workers focused on ensuring fair treatment of migrant domestic workers currently residing in Lebanon. This newsletter contains information in both English and Nepali about resources and aid available to migrant domestic workers in Lebanon and Nepal.

The situations of traffficking women from Ethiopia to Sudan: the case of Metema Route

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:53:34 +0000

This study is primarily aimed at exploring the experiences of women who are victims of trafficking from Ethiopia to Sudan, particularly through the Metema trafficking route. It demonstrates the way in which victims are trapped by the web of traffickers, their means of transportation, the manner of treatment throughout the trafficking process, and the forms of exploitation they face at their arrival. AN endeavor is made to highlight the human rights violations confronted by the victims of trafficking at each stage of the trafficking process.

Tackling child abuse material: Summary Report of the First Report on Child Pornography

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:33 +0000

In her First Report on Child Pornography the independent Dutch National Rapporteur concludes that child abuse images, as a phenomenon, cannot be regarded separately from sexual violence against children. To separate the two in terms of policy would therefore be artificial. The findings in the report show that such a separation lessens the effect of interventions. Protection of children cannot solely be provided by a repressive approach. Protection also means: prevention of offenses, identification and registration of offenders and victims, provision of assistance to victims and after-care for offenders. This requires cooperation and partnership between government institutions, non-governmental organisations and private parties.

Technology and Labor Trafficking Project Framing Document

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:33 +0000

As part of the Technology and Labor Trafficking project’s first phase of research, a preliminary framing document was published in June 2014. This framing document provides an initial scan of the technology and labor trafficking landscape based on initial literature reviews, expert interviews, and stakeholder discussions. The purpose is to explore the key issues, provide the context for the current research approach, and discuss the trajectory of the project and next steps. This is an evolving document – open to reader comment and criticism – and will be further revised and incorporated into the final report.

Technology and Labor Trafficking in a Networked Society

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:33 +0000

Throughout the world, the rapid diffusion of technologies, such as social media, mobile devices, and the internet, is impacting social, economic, and political life at an unprecedented scale. we live in a “network society” where technology and the flow of information are crucial forces of global social change. the network perspective helps us examine labor trafficking in a new way – not only as an economic, regulatory, or legal problem but as an issue driven by the technologies connecting networks of actors.

The Canadian indigenous community fighting sex trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:34 +0000

Their community is Norway House Cree Nation, a small indigenous reserve located in northern Manitoba, Canada, home to about 6,000 people. Folster and Fredette serve on the Chief's Council.

Together, they are determined to prevent children in their community from falling prey to sex traffickers who have been targeting their kids for years.

Thailand-Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Thailand-Myanmar Border Areas Trafficking in Children into the Worst Forms of Child Labour: A Rapid Assessment

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:04:45 +0000

The assessment gives background information based on literature regarding child labor in Thailand, looking at decreasing numbers of ethnic Thai child workers, minors from Lao PDR working in Thailand, minors from Myanmar working in Thailand, sectors of child labor and foreign and ethnic minority child workers. A significant review of the assessment’s methodology is given. Findings for pre-departure are detailed on origins of trafficking (financial motivation, lack of job opportunities and education, parent’s role, oppressed communities and personal/community problems), risk groups (hill tribes from Thailand, refugees and displaced persons, stateless persons, Laotians and minors from Myanmar) and transportation into Thailand (information, organizers of transportation, means of transport, entry into Thailand, Special Border Zones and immigration policies). Findings are then given on recruitment into the worst forms of child labor (immediate/delayed entry, profit made from recruitment, awareness and deception, networking and danger of trafficking, ethnic minorities and gender), conditions of child labor (factories, the sex industry, geographical border areas, slavery, prostitution and pornography, physical and psychological abuse, various forms of poor working conditions, payment and minors’ perspectives) and prospects after trafficking into the worst forms of child labor.

The challenge of child labor to the achievement of MDG2: Case study of South-East Nigeria

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:34 +0000

This work undertakes to study the depth and breadth of the phenomenon of child labor, assess the progress so far made in the achievement of MDG 2 to see how the former has affected the later and make recommendations based on its findings as to the way forward. There is conscious effort to narrow the discussions down to the particular context of South-East Nigeria.

The Big Dilemma of Small Soldiers: Recruiting Children to the War in Syria

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:34 +0000

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "Despite calls from host countries and the United Nations for better monitoring, existing knowledge on children’s participation in armed groups and armed forces in Syria remains scattered. This report considers child recruitment to the war in Syria from the refugee populations in Jordan based on interviews with international and Jordanian officials, as well as Jordanian citizens and Syrian refugees. The report highlights some of the dilemmas and political, economic and social sensitivities facing those seeking to help Syrian children refugees. The report echoes the call for more systematic monitoring as the basis for providing services that enhance protection, engagement and policing."

Tackling exploitation and forced labour in the UK hotel sector

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:33 +0000

This research by the University of Liverpool highlights the ways in which workers are more vulnerable to exploitation in certain economic sectors that are characterized by poor working conditions and a lower level of protection in terms of employment rights.

The Case Against Qatar

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:34 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "Qatar is a government which takes no responsibility for workers. $140 billion of infrastructure is forecast to get Qatar ready to host the 2022 World Cup. Qatar’s own estimates are that 500,000 extra workers will be needed in the run up to the World Cup. Frequent contacts with Qatar authorities since late 2011 have shown no political will or progress towards Qatar implementing labour-related commitments of the Qatar National Vision 2030 to reform kafala and ratify a further fourteen ILO conventions. FIFA has said it expects international norms of behaviour from all hosts and expects that the FIFA World Cup can trigger positive social change in Qatar, including improving the labour rights and conditions of migrant workers. On 21 November 2013, FIFA called on 'economic and political leaders to join the football community in contributing to ensure that the International Labour Organization’s core labour standards are introduced quickly, consistently and on a sustained basis in Qatar.'”

The challenges of child adoption and the emergence of baby factories in South Eastern Nigeria

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:01:17 +0000

This paper is an exploratory research on the challenges of child adoption and the emergence of baby factories in South Eastern, Nigeria. The paper posits that it is the socio-cultural pressure on married couples to have children as well as the complications in the adoption process and the perceived stigma associated with adoption that gave rise to the emergence of baby factories in South Eastern Nirgeria.

TD and AD (Trafficked women)(CG) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:33 +0000

This is a case report written in two parts. The first considers the availability or otherwise of a safe internal flight for women who have been trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. This involves an assessment of the re-integration services offered by the Albanian State, NGO and civil society organizations to such an individual. The second part is specific to the appellants who are two women from Albania who have been trafficked for sexual exploitation. They have both been found to be at risk of persecution in their home areas. It is accepted by the Secretary of State that they are unable to re-join their families or look to them for support if returned. The dispute for them that arises is whether it would be unduly harsh for them to relocate in Albania and whether they would be vulnerable to re-exploitation taking account of our general conclusions and matters specific to the appellants.

The Challenges and Prospects of Eliminating Child Labour in Ghana’s Cocoa Sector: The Case of Asunafo South District .

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:34 +0000

This study seeks to ascertain the perspectives of cocoa farmers in the Asunafo South District on the child labour concept, its causes and effects. It also seeks to explore the policy options for addressing this menace.

The Anti-Human Trafficking Act, Sierra Leone

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:34 +0000

An act signed into law in Sierra Leone in 2005 with the purpose of suppressing the trafficking in persons and to provide for other related matters.

The Children of ISIS: the Indoctrination of Minors in ISIS-held Territory

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:34 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRO: "This publication provides insight into the place and role of children in the totalitarian ISIS ideology, the way in which minors are used, the structure of education, the possible roles of minors in the organisation and how minors are used for combat and propaganda purposes. Lastly, the potential risks associated with the return and reintegration of minors in the Netherlands are described."

Tariff Act of 1930

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:33 +0000

The Tariff Act of 1930 prohibits importing goods made with forced or indentured labor

The Impact of Externalization of Migration Controls on the Rights of Asylum Seekers and Other Migrants

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:24 +0000

This paper seeks to develop a working definition of the externalization of migration controls and how such externalization of the border implicates the human rights of migrants, and asylum-seekers in particular. Although the majority of those migrants seeking legal protections stay in countries neighboring their own, hundreds of thousands continue their journeys in search of protection and stability in the European Union, the United States, and Australia. In response to the significant increase in asylum seekers arriving at their borders, all three entities have significantly increased deterrence measures with the hopes of keeping new arrivals from entering. This paper will thus highlight a number of the most troubling externalization strategies used by these States. Finally, because rights-threatening externalization law, policies and practices implicate the international legal responsibility of the destination States pursuing them, the paper will conclude by presenting recommendations that could strengthen protection of human rights in the context of seeking to manage migration.

Thailand's human trafficking trade

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:03:34 +0000

Jonathan Head has spent six months investigating the trafficking of humans in Thailand. The plight of thousands of migrants stranded on boats in the Andaman Sea has drawn global attention to a sinister trade in people, which has thrived in south east Asia. The decision by Thailand this month to finally move against people smugglers left hundreds of migrants drifting on boats out at sea. For years, though, Thailand has been accused of ignoring the trade centered inside its borders. Those affected are mostly Rohingya migrants from Myanmar, and increasingly, impoverished Bangladeshis, all seeking jobs in Malaysia. The main route has been through Thailand - where ruthless traffickers hold them until their families pay for their release.

The Human Tragedy of Illegal Immigration: Greater Efforts Needed to Combat Smuggling and Violence

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:24 +0000

Over the past 10 years, traversing the U.S.–Mexico border illegally has become increasingly dangerous for would-be immigrants. Illegal immigrants face kidnapping, murder, and rape at the hands of violent drug cartels and ever more ruthless human smugglers. Crossing treacherous desert areas exposes the travelers to heat exhaustion and dehydration. Hundreds of people die every year trying to cross the border into the U.S. However, illegal immigration is dangerous not only to the illegal immigrants themselves it is costly to societies and nations as a whole. In order to fight illegal immigration and reduce the toll on human lives, the United States must take a comprehensive approach of increasing border security and improving legal immigration procedures and public diplomacy, as well as fostering reforms and greater efforts to crackdown on human smuggling in Latin America. The Heritage Foundation lays out a plan for such an approach.

The involvement of unaccompanied minors from Eritrea in Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 23:57:24 +0000

This report looks at how trafficking organizations operate in Eritrea and Northern Africa and the role of Eritrean minors in these organizations and their vulnerability to trafficking. What is the background to the large number of unaccompanied children identified among the Eritrean refugees, and why are they so susceptible to human trafficking? How do Eritrean minor end up becoming part of the human trafficking network? And as part of these networks, what tasks do they perform

and how are they able to escape from these roles? These are the questions examined in this report.

Targeting the Sex Buyer - the Swedish Example

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:33 +0000

This report discusses the Swedish law of criminalizing the purchase of sex and targeting the buyers. The author discusses the rational behind the Swedish law, its application in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries, and discusses the profile of victims of trafficking and their need of services.

Studying the Impact of Social Media and the Internet on Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:52 +0000

As awareness of human trafficking increases, we are learning more about how social media and the internet impact human trafficking. Runaway and Home- less Youth programs must recognize that the internet and social media func- tion as tools with the potential to facilitate human trafficking. They can also be utilized to interrupt it.

Stop Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism (Youth Friendly Summary)

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:21 +0000

A youth friendly version based on the findings of the ECPAT International-initiated Global Study on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism (SECTT). This publication has been created for youth to learn the concept, help grasp these changes, and learn about ways to help.

Study on case-law relating to trafficking in human beings for labour exploitation

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:52 +0000

Aim of this study was to identify case law relating to trafficking of human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation in EU Member States and analyse Member States practice with respect to prosecution of this crime.

The case-law analysis also provides an indication of how national legislation transposing Directive 2011/36/EU is applied, without prejudice to the Commission's work on monitoring the transposition of the Directive.

While the official reference period for the study is 2009-2013, some cases from 2014 and January 2015 are also considered. Key observations highlight the diversity of practice among the Member States, and stress the challenges in prosecution, among others on securing evidence, lack of sufficient protection measures. Additionally, the study touches upon the availability and use of resources (training to staff, size of staff, equipment, data collection), as well as the role of labour inspectors.

Study on high-risk groups for trafficking in human beings

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:52 +0000

The study found that two crucial individual factors - a history of abuse and a vulnerable emotional state - could often be traced back to a dysfunctional family situation, underpinned by material deprivation. Trends identified included that ever younger children are becoming victims of trafficking, growing numbers of girls from Nigeria being the victims of sexual exploitation, an increase in the number of unaccompanied asylum‑seeking children who are at risk of being trafficked, a growing number of cases of children with cognitive and developmental disabilities being victims of trafficking, and a growing share of boys for both sexual and labour exploitation.

Furthermore, the study notes that child victims of sexual exploitation can end up being exploited as adults in the prostitution sector. Additionally, the study calls for more focus on addressing demand that fuels child trafficking in all its forms. Finally the study concludes with recommendations for authorities at national and European level.

Summary Report on Investigation of Causes and Factors of Trafficking in Women and Children

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:52 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission based on Article 58 of the Constitution has the duty and mandate to monitor the human rights situation in Afghanistan. Also based on Article 21 of the Law on the Structure, duties and mandate of the AIHRC, it is one of the fundamental duties of the AIHRC to monitor the situation of and people’s access to their fundamental human rights and freedoms. Therefore, the AIHRC released a research report in which the causes and factors of trafficking in women and children in Afghanistan is studied. In recent years, the trafficking in women and children has already acquired a global dimension. Almost all the countries in the world are involved with this horrible crime. Today, millions of people worldwide continue becoming victims of trafficking in person in various ways. Trafficking has become a lucrative business generating about 42.5 billion dollars profit annually for the professional traffickers in persons.1 Based on the estimates by the International Labor Organization (ILO) despite the improvements made in the area of fighting with the crime of human slavery, more than 12 million people are trafficked each year worldwide for variety of purposes such as forced labor, abuses and sexual assaults."

Summary Report on Investigation of Causes and Factors of Trafficking in Women and Children

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:52 +0000

Stop the Traffik - Chocolate & Human Trafficking Fact Sheet

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:51 +0000

This fact sheet, produced by the NGO "Stop the Traffik," provides statistics and facts about human trafficking and its current role in the West African cocoa industry.

Stopping the Traffick: A Christian Response to Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:52 +0000

A collection of essays about sex trafficking and exploitation from the Christian perspective, focusing on how Christians and churches should respond to these issues, as well as what sex trafficking means for Christian ethics surrounding sex.

Survey Research on Child Labor in West African Cocoa Growing Areas

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:52 +0000

The objective of this report is to assess the prevalence of, and measures changes in, estimates of working children, children in child labor, and children in hazardous work in the West African cocoa sector between the 2008/09 and the 2013/14 cocoa harvest seasons.

Sub-Saharan African regional Global Slavery Index report and data

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:52 +0000

This report produced by the Global Slavery Index provides extensive information and statistics regarding human trafficking in the Sub-Saharan African region.

The Challenges of Transnational Human Trafficking in West Africa

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:34 +0000

This paper seeks to provide an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon of human trafficking, its causes and consequences while trying to draw out suggestions and recommendations which could contribute to better strengthen the West African regional security framework. Essentially, the paper concludes that governence in West Africa needs to be transformed into an effective cooperative framework where enhancing the dignity of human beings and their rights becomes a priority.

The Case for an Australian Modern Slavery Act

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:34 +0000

Australia needs a Modern Slavery Act. This overview sets out the case for these new laws, addressing key questions: “what” is modern slavery, “who” is affected, “how” are you connected to modern slavery, “where” are the gaps in our legal framework and “why” it matters. It highlights the top 3 areas for reform: the appointment of an Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner, disclosure obligations for large businesses and supply chains, and the creation of a reporting repository.

The challenges of fighting sex trafficking in the legalized prostitution market of the Netherlands

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:05:34 +0000

In 2000, the Dutch authorities lifted the ban on brothels in the Netherlands. The essence of their approach was to regulate prostitution. People of legal age could now voluntarily sell and purchase sexual services. Brothels which complied with certain licensing conditions were legalized. This paper critically assesses the logic of a position that argues that human trafficking is reduced when actors in the legalized prostitution sector are made responsible for what happens on their premises (using licensing conditions). This idea is confronted with empirical evidence about the Netherlands in general and the city of Amsterdam in particular. Furthermore, the paper addresses two questions. What are consequences of the regularization of prostitution for the criminal investigation and prosecution of sex trafficking? How do criminal justice agencies collaborate with regulatory authorities in the regulated and non-regulated sectors of the prostitution market? The main conclusion is that the screening of brothel owners and the monitoring of the compliance of licensing conditions do not create levels of transparency that enable sex trafficking to be exposed. The prostitution business retains many characteristics of an illegitimate market and the legalization and regulation of the prostitution sector has not driven out organized crime. On the contrary, fighting sex trafficking using the criminal justice system may even be harder in the legalized prostitution sector.

Surviving the Streets of New York: Experiences of LGBTQ Youth, YMSM, and YWSW Engaged in Survival Sex

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:52 +0000

Based on interviews with 283 youth in New York City, this is the first study to focus on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) youth; young men who have sex with men (YMSM); and young women who have sex with women (YWSW) who get involved in the commercial sex market in order to meet basic survival needs, such as food or shelter. The report documents these youth’s experiences and characteristics to gain a better understanding of why they engage in survival sex, describes how the support networks and systems in their lives have both helped them and let them down, and makes recommendations for better meeting the needs of this vulnerable population.

Stop traffick! Tackling demand for sexual services of trafficked women and girls

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:51 +0000

This report analyses and assesses efficient approaches to discourage demand for the services provided by victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation, based on a greater understanding of experiences, attitudes and motivations of the people who purchase sex. We wanted to gather sufficient knowledge to inform interventions linked with the decision to purchase sex and, in particular, to purchase sex from a vulnerable individual who could be a victim of human trafficking. The research will inform strategies to reduce demand for the services of trafficked women and girls in the five participating countries (Cyprus, Finland, Ireland, Bulgaria and Lithuania).

Stop the Exploitation of Migrant Domestic Workers: Newsletter Issue No. 2

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:51 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "KAFA (enough) Violence & Exploitation initiated the project: “Stop the Exploitation of Migrant Domestic Workers” in 2010. The project aims to address the vulnerabilities and abuse that migrant domestic workers (MDWs) face in Lebanon, through various dimensions. The project includes activities such as: advocacy and awareness raising, research on the perspectives of employers of foreign domestic workers, newsletters, and provision of social, legal and psychological support to domestic workers who are victims of sexual or physical abuse. This project is supported by the Danish Refugee Council and the Danish Center for Information on Gender, Equality and Ethnicity - KVINFO."

Stop à l'Exploitation des Travailleuses Domestiques Migrantes

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:51 +0000

EXTRAIT DE LA PUBLICATION: "KAFA (Assez) Violence & Exploitation a démarré en 2010 un nouveau projet, « Stop à l’Exploitation des Travailleuses Domestiques Migrantes». Le projet cible les vulnérabilités et les abus subis par les travailleuses domestiques migrantes au Liban, sous différentes formes. Le projet développe des activités comme : plaidoyer et aide à la prise de conscience ; recherche sur les attitudes et les perceptions des employeurs à l’égard les travailleuses domestiques migrantes ; rédaction d’une newsletter ; soutien social, juridique et psychologique auprès des travailleuses migrantes victimes d’abus physique ou sexuel. Ce projet est financé par le Conseil Danois pour les Réfugiés (DRC) et KVINFO – le Centre Danois pour l’Information sur Genre, Egalité et Ethnicité."

Sweden's prohibition of purchase of sex: The law's reasons, impact, and potential

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:52 +0000

In 1999, Sweden passed a law criminalizing the purchase of sex and decriminalizing the prostituted person. The law was part of an omnibus bill against violence against women, recognizing prostitution as related to such violence. This article analyzes the reasons for the Swedish law and documents the law's impact, concluding that the law has significantly reduced the occurrence of prostitution in Sweden compared to neighboring countries. In addition, it addresses some important remaining obstacles to the law's effective implemen- tation and responds to various common critiques of (and misinformation about) the law and its effects. Finally, this article argues that, in order to realize the law's full potential to support escape from prostitution, the civil rights of prostituted persons under current law should be strengthened to enable them to claim damages directly from the tricks/johns for the harm to which they have contributed.

Study on the assessment of the extent of different types of Trafficking in Human Beings in EU countries

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:52 +0000

This project elaborated appropriate background information and assessed the extent of different forms of trafficking in human beings in 17 EU Member States (Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and United Kingdom).

Study on the gender dimension of trafficking in human beings

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:52 +0000

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 there- of’, 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 identifies and draws on EU law and policy competence in gender equality in its identification of the gender dimensions of trafficking. The gender dimensions are clustered into five issues: gender specificity and equal treatment; gender expertise, gender balance in decision-making and gender mainstreaming; the relationship between prostitution and trafficking; gendered policy fields and strategic priorities; gendered systems and the theory of prevention.

"I am alive, but dead inside": Sinai Torture Survivors Speak

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:11:53 +0000

This resource documents the testimonies of survivors of "Sinai Torture," in which Eritrean and Sudanese victims speak of their experiences as captives of smugglers and traffickers who sought to obtain ransom for them through torture, abuse, sexual assault, and rape. Physicians for Human Rights, an Israeli human rights organizations, interviewed these people who are now asylum seekers in Israel.

"Maybe We Live and Maybe We Die:" Recruitment and Use of Children by Armed Groups in Syria

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:11:53 +0000

EXCERPT FROM SUMMARY: "Since Syria’s armed conflict began in late 2011, there have been numerous serious violations of international law. Syrian government armed forces have been primarily responsible for these violations. But armed groups fighting the government have also committed many serious abuses—including recruiting and using children under 18 in combat and in direct support roles. Human Rights Watch first documented this practice in November 2012, finding that boys as young as 14 assisted in support roles for the “Free Syrian Army,” an umbrella term for multiple armed groups fighting against Syrian government troops. Since then, the number of armed groups in Syria has proliferated to include extremist Islamist groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) that, local residents and former child fighters say, have systematically sought to recruit children. This report documents the experiences of 25 children who are current or former members of opposition armed groups. It does not, for logistical and security reasons, cover all groups that reportedly use children in Syria, in particular children who reported supporting, or participating with, government troops or pro-government militias, although several credible sources indicate that children have done so."

Syria and Iraq Country Report: Children & Security

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:53 +0000

EXCERPT FROM BACKGROUND: "Children have been acutely affected by the violence of the conflicts in Syria and Iraq. Children are victim of widespread and systematic violations by government forces and armed groups such as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The resulting humanitarian crisis is staggering, with an estimated 14.3 million children in need of humanitarian assistance in the two countries."

Small Hands, Heavy Burden: How the Syria Conflict is Driving more Children into the Workforce

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:08:49 +0000

EXCERPT FROM SUMMARY: "The purpose of this report is to shed light on the plight of working children and influence a bold discussion on strategies to address the phenomenon. Drawing on assessments and studies undertaken in countries affected by the Syria crisis, it examines the implications for children, and proposes a set of recommendations for stakeholders to consider that could reduce the impact of child labour among Syrian children, and help them reclaim their childhood."

"It's easier if we stop them moving" A critical analysis of anti-child trafficking discourse, policy and practice - the case of Southern Benin

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:11:53 +0000

This thesis offers a critical assessment of anti-child trafficking discourse, policy and practice, using a case study of the situation in Southern Benin. It seeks to transcend the reductiveness of the dominant paradigm around child trafficking, including dominant representations of it and prevailing policy approaches to dealing with it, and to complicate the simplistic nature of much of the academic literature that explains the existence and persistence of this dominant paradigm.

"Because We Struggle to Survive:" Child Labour among Refugees of the Syrian Conflict

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:11:53 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "Terre des Hommes found substantial evidence that Syrian children are facing a high danger of being drawn into child labour and the worst forms of child labour in Syria itself, in neighbouring countries and whilst in transit through Europe. A significant proportion of children fleeing Syria – whether accompanied, unaccompanied or separated – is presumed to be victims of child labour, including the worst forms of child labour."

"I Don't Want my Pain to be for Nothing": Sex Trafficking survivors on their Recovery and Reintegration Process

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:11:53 +0000

The current discourse on sex trafficking is plagued by a lack of consensus among scholars, a clear lack of societal understanding, and no clear valid treatment of the survivors of this crime. The limited existing research on sex trafficking survivors attempts to fit them into specific programs and services. This thesis differs from existing studies by using in-depth interviews with six sex trafficking survivors about the challenges they have experienced since exiting trafficking, to discover what was successful in their ongoing pursuit of reintegrating into society and creating a life with a high level of agency. These qualitative data resulted in several themes, including difficulties acquiring any resources from governmental bodies, battling continued societal stigma, and no clear direction for going forward. The findings not only identify the tangible resources available to the survivors, but also attempts to understand the struggles the survivors faced as they learned what helped and what did not help in their recovery processes.

Sierra Leone’s Former Child Soldiers: A Follow-Up Study of Psychosocial Adjustment and Community Reintegration

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:08:49 +0000

This study seeks to examine the social reintegration and psychosocial adjustment of former child soldiers from Sierra Leone over time.

Sierra Leone's Child Soldiers: War Exposures and Mental Health Problems by Gender

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:08:49 +0000

The aims of this analysis were threefold: (1) to compare the war experiences of male and female children, including witnessing of violence, direct involvement in war activities and

combat, and experience of rape; (2) to examine the differences between psychosocial

outcomes of male and female child soldiers post conflict; (3) to examine the moderating

effects of gender on the relationship between war experiences and psychosocial adjustment.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on Investigating Crimes of Trafficking for Commercial Sexual Exploitation

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:08:49 +0000

This report outlines the objective and purpose of the Standard Operating Procedures in combatting crimes of sexual exploitation. The report starts out by giving an overview of the human trafficking statistics and facts in India.

Sexual Trafficking in the United States: A Domestic Problem with Transnational Dimensions

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:08:48 +0000

The trafficking of young women and children for prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation is one of the most significant human rights abuses in contemporary society. In keeping with the social work profession's commitment to social justice, this article examines the issue of sexual trafficking in the United States. The transnational scope of the problem is discussed along with the means that traffickers use to recruit, transport, and initiate victims from around the world into the sex industry in the United States. Some legislative responses to the problem are discussed, and a number of suggestions are offered to help social workers advocate on behalf of some of the most vulnerable and oppressed people in the global community.

Sexual Trafficking in the United States: A Domestic Problem with Transnational Dimensions

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:08:48 +0000

Social Protection and Children in West and Central Africa - Case Study Senegal

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:08:49 +0000

This study examines existing mechanisms and explores alternatives that might help systematise approaches to reduce vulnerabilities, in particular those affecting children, who are an explicit target group in the PRSP and the National Social Protection Strategy 2005–2015 (NSPS).

Syrian Refugee Child Labour in Jordan and the Risk of Exploitation

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:07:53 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "The key objective of this assessment was to examine the general characteristics of Syrian refugee child labour in Jordan, drawing particular attention to the exploitative characteristics often identified as a key part of the phenomenon. This paper examines existing studies and reports on child labour to identify the incidence of long hours, low wages, hazardous and abusive working environments, and contrasts the laws that prohibit such conditions for juveniles and adults. It notes that a single fine of 500JD is levied on nearly 50% of offending employers investigated, and recommends that fines should mount as the list of legal violations against the child piles up. Stricter measures like these could act as a suitable deterrent to hiring child labour in the first place and at the very least may improve the working conditions of those currently working. This paper also recommends further investment into the Child Labour Unit of the Ministry of Labour so that more inspectors are available to detect abuses. The paper also identifies the factors that drive the practice of child labour, the consequences of child labour for the child and for the labour market and the response to the child labour phenomenon offered by government and the NGO community."

Statistics on Human Trafficking in North Korea

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:10:05 +0000

Human Trafficking in North Korea has become a serious business now. It is still growing its size. Vickie Karma, a professional human trafficking researcher, gathered information for years and came up with this statistic. She gathered information from many people who are under covered in sex industries and factories that use. However, this statistics is not 100% accurate due to vague and uncertain source of information. But it was closest that she could get to. Also, there are approximately 2 million people who got trafficked from North Korea to China living in China.

Smuggling and trafficking from the East and Horn of Africa

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:08:49 +0000

In the East and Horn of Africa, people are on the move for various reasons, including the search for asylum and protection. Risks of human trafficking, abduction and abuse are widely reported along the routes taken by refugees and migrants alike. This Progress Report follows UNHCR’s Strategy and Regional Plan of Action on Smuggling and Trafficking from the East and Horn of Africa developed in 2012.

Social workers' knowledge and confidence when working with cases of child sexual abuse: what are the issues and challenges?

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:08:49 +0000

Findings from interviews with social workers, managers and safeguarding board chairs in six English local authorities. Finds that social workers were more confident working with sexual abuse in the family than with online abuse, grooming, trafficking or sexual exploitation. Highlights issues around: training; peer and managerial support; supervision; experience of managing cases; and direct work with children. Suggests the social work profession needs to be empowered to promote the overall well-being of the child during abuse investigations. Makes recommendations for The College of Social Work, educators, employers and LSCBs.

Still at risk: a review of support for trafficked children

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:08:49 +0000

Review of multi-agency support provided to children trafficked to the UK. Based on interviews with 17 trafficked young people and 18 professionals who work with them, an online survey completed by 52 local authorities and a review of the literature. Looks at the experiences of children who have been trafficked and were being cared for by a local authority and examines examples of good practice and areas for improvement. Findings indicate that a culture of suspicion and doubt amongst professionals leads to missed opportunities to protect trafficked children.

Sinai trafficking: Origin and definition of a new form of human trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:08:49 +0000

Based on empirical research by the authors and the analysis of data gathered in more than 200 recorded interviews with Sinai hostages and survivors on the practices, this article provides a definition of Sinai Trafficking. It argues that the term Sinai Trafficking can be used to differentiate a particular new set of criminal practices that have first been reported in the Sinai Peninsula. The article further examines how the new phenomenon of Sinai Trafficking can be framed into the legal human trafficking definition. The interconnectedness of Sinai Trafficking with slavery, torture, ransom collection, extortion, sexual violence and other severe crimes is presented to substantiate the use of the trafficking framework. The plight of Sinai survivors in Israel and Egypt is explained to illustrate the cyclical process of the trafficking practices especially endured by Eritreans, introduced as the Human Trafficking Cycle. The article concludes by setting out areas for further research.

Socio-economic impacts of human trafficking in Ethiopia: The case of Bati Town, Oromo administration zone, Amhara regional state

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:08:49 +0000

This study was aimed at analyzing the socio-economic impacts of human trafficking in Bati-town Oromo Administrative Zone, Amhara regional state. It had the specific objectives of identifying the major causes of human trafficking and the major facilitating factors, as well as of examining the transit and the major destination areas.

A New Frontier: Human Trafficking and ISIS's Recruitment of Women from the West

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:12:45 +0000

This resource is interesting in that it frames the recruitment of Western women by ISIS as human trafficking in some instances. The short report goes over how young women (often under the age of 18) are recruited by ISIS online, and upon arrival in ISIS territories, can be sexually exploited or forced into marriage. The author applies the definition of human trafficking to the exploitation and possible slavery that takes place when women leave their home countries to become a part of the terrorist organization. The author also provides recommendations to the international community and states on prevention of this form of human trafficking.

A Study on Early Marriage in Jordan 2014

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:12:45 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "This report presents the findings of a quantitative and qualitative examination of the phenomenon of early marriage in Jordan. The period covered by the statistical analysis is 2005- 2012, and also includes findings from a limited range of data available in relation to 2013 and the first quarter of 2014. Annual reports of the Department of the Chief Justice (Qadi Al Qudah) provide an overview for the years 2005-2011, while more comprehensive data available from 2011, 2012 and 2013 allowed the construction of a more complete snapshot of early marriage practices among Jordanians, as well as Palestinians and Syrians currently living in Jordan. Interviews (surveys and semi-structured interviews) and focus group discussions were conducted in June, July and October of 2013 in five governorates to elicit the views of: mothers, fathers, women who had married early, NGO and government service providers, judges, sheikhs and imams as well as community leaders. Although the statistical analysis – particularly in relation to the disaggregated data – is limited to a relatively short time frame, this study provides invaluable insight into attitudes to child marriage and establishes a crucial baseline against which efforts to eliminate the practice can be measured at a later date. It is important to note that the shari‘a court data upon which much of this analysis is based reflects only those marriages contracted under Islamic law, and that unregistered marriages and marriages of people of other religions are therefore not represented in these statistics."

Abus et Expulsions: Les Mauvais Traitements Infligés aux Migrants d'Afrique Subsaharienne au Maroc

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:12:45 +0000

EXTRAIT DE LA PUBLICATION: "De nombreux migrants s’installent dans des camps autour des villes proches des frontières entre le Maroc et d’une part l’Algérie, et d’autre part l’enclave espagnole de Melilla, située sur la côte nord de l’Afrique. Les migrants manquent des produits de première nécessité et vivent dehors, dormant dans des tentes improvisées et exposés au froid et à la pluie. Les migrants souffrant de handicap rencontrent davantage de difficultés pour accéder à la nourriture, à l’eau et aux toilettes. De nombreux migrants, ayant constitué de maigres réserves pour pouvoir échapper à la pauvreté, à la persécution ou au désespoir, se retrouvent finalement dans une situation de vulnérabilité au lieu de trouver la sécurité à leur arrivée au Maroc. Human Rights Watch a documenté des cas où des membres de la police marocaine ont frappé ces migrants, les ont privés de leurs quelques possessions, ont brûlé leurs abris et les ont expulsés du pays sans procédure régulière. Le gouvernement marocain maintient que la police ne faisait qu’appliquer la politique d’immigration nationale et a nié que la police ait perpétré des violences envers des migrants. Cependant, les déclarations des migrants, corroborées par d’autres sources, tendent à indiquer l’existence de nombreux cas d’abus commis à l’encontre d’Africains subsahariens au Maroc. Le présent rapport se concentre sur le traitement des migrants d’Afrique subsaharienne actuellement présents dans la région du nord-est du Maroc, entre la frontière algérienne et l’enclave espagnole de Melilla. Human Rights Watch s’est entretenu avec 67 migrants subsahariens vivant dans des camps non officiels dans cette région, autour des villes d’Oujda et Nador en décembre 2012, ainsi qu’avec deux autres migrants subsahariens à Melilla."

A comparison of child trafficking causes between China and Uganda

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:19:19 +0000

Although a number of intervention strategies are in place to combat child trafficking and to improve on the protection of children, these interventions have not been widely adopted by countries, making child trafficking a growing concern. The causes of the phenomenon in China and Uganda are discussed in this review paper, along with an exploration of possible common causes of the phenomenon out of a complex background, for a successful global campaign against the problem.

6th General Report on GRETA's Activities

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:19:19 +0000

Covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2016, the report looks back on the activities carried out by the panel of experts under the mandate provided by the Council of Europe Convention of Action against Tra cking in Human Beings (“the Convention”). GRETA’s intensive work-rate during the past year is partly due to the fact that, since the refugee protection crisis on the European continent, acts of trafficking in human beings have been an ever-present if not resurgent phenomenon, but it is also explained by the growing number of States that have signed up to the Convention. Their number reached 46 in 2016, following ratifications by Liechtenstein and Turkey, and there are more ratifications to come in the future.

A Modern Response to Modern Slavery

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:12:45 +0000

This report has found that a huge amount of modern slavery in Europe is driven by Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) who profit from the exploitation of vulnerable people. These highly sophisticated illegal businesses show a detailed understanding of how to avoid detection and prosecution by Europe’s law enforcement agencies. The kind of modern slavery that is driven by OCGs involves men, women and children being moved across international and national borders through various means of transportation and deception. Criminals will exploit victims in the most profitable of ways and by the easiest of means. This report looks at how policy makers and law enforcement across the European Union could develop a more modern response to modern slavery.

"We are also Human Beings:" Survivors of Torture Camps in Sinai

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:12:45 +0000

INTRODUCTION: "Asylum seekers who are victims of human trafficking and torture – women, men and even children who suffered some of the most dreadful torments, ones that words cannot fully describe, and who were victims of some of the most severe crimes that can be made towards human beings – now live in Israel. These victims carry terrible physical and mental scars, and need specialized support and care. The purpose of this report is to draw a picture of the state of these victims, as characterized by ASSAF’s professional team, and the support they receive from our organization. While victims who were recognized by the state of Israel as victims of human trafficking and slavery receive a range of rehabilitative services, support and protection from the state, torture victims who were not recognized as victims of human trafficking and slavery remain without appropriate care. Many of these victims have received, in recent years, help from ASSAF, a non-profit organization providing psycho-social support to asylum seekers in Israel since 2007. ASSAF’s team has developed several tools, responding to the variety of needs of torture victims, focusing on individual psycho-social care and the development of support systems. The nature of the particular needs of this community, as identified by ASSAF, and the various programs we developed to respond to those needs, are the subject of this report."

À l'Aube d'une Nouvelle Ère de Coopération au Développement

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:12:45 +0000

EXTRAIT DE LA PUBLICATION: "Avec l’adoption du Programme de développement durable pour 2030, le travail décent est devenu un objectif universel qui sous-tend beaucoup d’autres Objectifs de développement durable. Récemment, nous avons vu grandir – dans le sillage de la crise économique et financière mondiale – un sentiment d’urgence parmi les responsables politiques: il est impératif de fournir des emplois de qualité et une protection sociale et de garantir le respect des droits au travail en vue de parvenir à une croissance économique durable et partagée et d’éradiquer la pauvreté. Des questions comme l’emploi des jeunes hommes et femmes, la protection des travailleurs migrants, la création d’entreprises durables, l’économie informelle, la diversité et l’inclusion, la sécurité et la santé au travail – peuvent dorénavant être considérées comme des priorités pour tous les acteurs du développement. Dans le même temps, le contexte mondial de la coopération pour le développement a profondément changé. Avec l’adoption du Programme d’action d’Addis Abeba et le Programme de développement durable pour 2030, de nouvelles modalités de financement de la coopération pour le développement et des partenariats voient le jour. Forte de cela, la Stratégie de l’OIT en matière de coopération pour le développement (2015-2017) – qui est plus ciblée, mise sur l’efficacité et met à jour son approche du développement des capacités, des partenariats et de la mobilisation des ressources – a été élaborée en consultation avec les membres du Conseil d’administration de l’OIT, qui représentent les gouvernements, les travailleurs et les employeurs."

A policy brief child online protection in Ghana

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:19:19 +0000

This policy brief offers a contextual analysis of the current Child Online Protection (COP) environment in Ghana and gives important recommendations on how to ensure that children can utilise the opportunities the Internet offers without the potential adverse effects.

'Am Only Saying It Now': Experiences of Women Seeking Asylum in Ireland

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:11:54 +0000

AkiDwA’s research centers on the voices of African women seeking asylum in Irish refugee centres; exposes their experiences of living in direct provision; and gives suggestions for action and change.

A Look at the Linkages: How does Gender, Migration, Labour and Trafficking Intersect in Women’s Lives?: A Qualitative Research based on migration and labour experiences of women from Ursoaia village, Republic of Moldova

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:19:19 +0000

Women in the community of Ursoaia, Moldova researched by La Strada Moldova used the Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) methodology to share for the first time about their migratory experiences as well as to reflect on its effects on their family life.

A Survivor’s Story

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:19:19 +0000

My name is Holly Austin Smith, and I am a survivor of Human Trafficking. When I was fourteen years old, I ran away from home with a man I had met at a shopping mall in Ocean County, New Jersey. After exchanging numbers, this man called at night while my unknowing parents watched television in the living room.

"Only God Can Stop the Smugglers:" Understanding Human Smuggling Networks in Libya

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:13:35 +0000

ABSTRACT: "This report examines human smuggling networks in Libya. The smuggling of human beings is an established fact of today’s political economy in Libya and it is firmly embedded in local subsistence economies. As such there is a dizzying array of actors involved in the business of which some claim to act on behalf of the state. The human smuggling business not only brings them money, it also offers the opportunity to acquire legitimacy and political and territorial power. An understanding of the incentives and objectives of these actors to engage in the human smuggling business not only shows why it is so difficult to root out human smuggling in Libya, but it is also essential in formulating realistic and humane policies to address human smuggling in and through Libya." Note: While smuggling and human trafficking are not the same, it is important to understand that smuggling sometimes leads to different forms of human trafficking, such as labor trafficking, debt bondage, or sexual exploitation.

A Closer Look at Forced and Early Marriage in African Immigrant Communities in New York City

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:12:45 +0000

The purpose of this report is to inform emerging policies and practices on early and forced marriage by highlighting the lived experiences of African immigrant and refugee girls and young women in New York City. Sauti Yetu supports policies and practices that are informed by the diversity of experiences in which early and forced marriage occurs across a variety of immigrant communities that protect the health, well-being, and futures of immigrant young women.

"Au-delà des mots": Un Programme d’Action pour Mettre Fin à l’Utilisation d’Enfants Soldats par les Forces Gouvernementales

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:11:53 +0000

Extrait du résumé: "Dans son rapport, Au-delà des mots: Un programme d’action pour mettre fin à l’utilisation d’enfants soldats par les forces gouvernementales, Enfants Soldats International s’intéresse plus particulièrement aux forces gouvernementales et pro- gouvernementales. Celles-ci incluent les forces officielles d’un État (armées nationales, forces de défense civile, forces de police et tout autre corps armé officiel faisant partie de l’appareil sécuritaire de l’État). Elles incluent également certains groupes armés non-étatiques mais pro- gouvernementaux décrits comme « groupes armés affiliés » ; ceux-ci ne font pas formellement partie des forces gouvernementales mais ils les soutiennent ou bénéficient de leur soutien. (Bien que ces derniers ne constituent pas l’intégralité des groupes armés non-étatiques qui recrutent et utilisent des enfants, les gouvernements ont des responsabilités spécifiques concernant leurs activités). Alors même que de nombreux pays interdisent (ou affirment qu’ils interdisent) aux personnes de moins de 18 ans de s’enrôler et/ou de prendre part aux hostilités, l’étude montre que trop souvent ces engagements ne se traduisent pas par une protection efficace des enfants. Le fait est que lorsqu’un pays est impliqué dans un conflit armé, que ce soit directement ou indirectement par le biais de groupes armés agissant par procuration, ses forces armées tendent malgré tout à recourir à l’utilisation d’enfants soldats."

A report on how future socio-economic, political and criminal trends might impact human trafficking in Europe

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:12:45 +0000

The report aims at determining what future socio-economic, political and criminal industry trends might impact human trafficking in Europe. The hypotheses, developed in the final section of the report, are linked to potential social, political and economic changes, which decision-makers could use to introduce policies and measures to prepare for and possibly pre-empt their effects on the trafficking industry.

7 Reasons Why Child Marriage Persists in the Dominican Republic

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:19:19 +0000

Child marriage is a big problem in the Dominican Republic, according to new research by Plan International. With 37% of girls married before the age of 18, and 12.5% before the age of 15, the country has the second highest rate of child marriage in Latin America. Coinciding with a campaign to increase the legal age of marriage to 18 for boys and girls in the Dominican Republican, the report highlights several drivers of child marriage in the country.

2014 Protected Innocence Challenge

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:19:20 +0000

The Protected Innocence Challenge is based on the Protected Innocence Legislative Framework which was informed by research performed by Shared Hope International and compiled in “The National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking.” Domestic minor sex trafficking is the exploitation of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents under the age of 18 in the United States for purposes of prostitution, pornography, or sexual performance. Recognizing that most of the gaps in responding to domestic minor sex trafficking must be addressed at the state level, the Protected Innocence Legislative Framework sets out the basic policy principles required to create a safer environment for children. The steps necessary to create this safer environment include the following: preventing domestic minor sex trafficking through reducing demand, rescuing and restoring victims through improved training on identification, establishing protocols and facilities for victim placement, mandating appropriate services and shelter, and incorporating trauma-reducing mechanisms into the justice system. Broken systems of criminal justice and child welfare responses to victims must also be fixed to ensure that commercially sexually exploited children are treated as victims and provided with remedies through the law.

“The Trafficking of Women in China” Is gender a defining vulnerability factor?

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:17:05 +0000

This thesis critically analyzes the aspect of women’s vulnerability factors in human trafficking in China. The analysis is based on a previous research overview that brings up the most important aspects and relates to the discussion on women’s vulnerability to the two trafficking forms, bride and sex trafficking. The theoretical framework consists of two interconnected feminist theories; feminist political economy and gendered relational approach.The thesis concludes that gender is a vulnerability factor, from patriarchal historical and cultural teaching there is a prevailing unequal gender power relation, where women in many areas of the Chinese society are being discriminated. Although gender is a determining factor, with rising poverty and the impact of policies by the Chinese State along with socioeconomic issues it has also shown to increase female victims in trafficking. There is a great need to further understand women’s vulnerability factors and address these to sincerely combat trafficking in China.

“The Lingha Boys of Siem Reap” A Baseline Study of Sexually-Exploited Young Men in Siem Reap, Cambodia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:15:37 +0000

Young women working as masseurs (with additional sexual services) is very common and visible in Cambodia but there are increasingly more masseur places available for both local and foreign men which also provide sexual services. Most of the research being conducted with entertainment workers has a focus on HIV but this research provides a broader understanding of their other needs and vulnerabilities. In this session as well as presenting the research findings we will consider what can be done to reach out to this hidden community to reduce their vulnerability to exploitation.

Adopting a Trauma Informed Care Model

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:23:09 +0000

This resource guide was developed to provide Family and Youth Services Bureau Runaway and Homeless Youth grantees information on adopting a trauma informed care model when working with victim-survivors of human trafficking. It is intended to serve as a support resource for the accompanying webinar titled, "Adopting a Trauma Informed Care Model.” The guide provides basic definitions of trauma and trauma informed care, the effects of trauma, tips for integrating a trauma informed care model in RHY programs, as well as information on trauma-specific interventions and resources.

An Assessment of the Relationship between Human Trafficking and Poverty in Nigeria

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:22:27 +0000

This paper evaluates the relationship between human trafficking and poverty in Nigeria. Although previous research easily identifies the vital role of economics in human trafficking, it has failed to probe the complex relationship between poverty, discrimination, and other socio-cultural factors such as minority status.

Addressing forced marriage in the EU: legal provisions and promising practices

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:20:08 +0000

Forced marriage is marriage without consent. It is a form of domestic violence. It violates the right to freely decide whether, when and whom to marry. Most of the victims are women but it can be imposed on men, too. Children and those with learning disabilities are particularly vulnerable. With this paper the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) encourages European Union institutions to look at the issue of forced marriage in a comprehensive manner. It suggests that the EU should consider acceding to the 2011 Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention), given that the convention envisages this possibility.

Abuse of a victim of prostitution: Evaluation of the effectiveness of the sex purchase ban

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:20:08 +0000

The purchasing of sex from a victim of human trafficking or procuring has been prohibited in Finland since 2006. Also the purchasing and the offering for sale and selling of sex in a public place prohibited. The report explores the effectiveness of these laws in Finland, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. Investigating and proving ‘abuse of a victim of prostitution’ has turned out to be challenging. The report concludes with future recommendations.

After Your Honor is Gone…”: Exploration of Developmental Trajectories and Life Experiences of Women Working in Mumbai’s Red-Light Brothel Districts

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:25:46 +0000

This investigation was intended, first, to examine the early life and childhood experiences of adult women working in the red-light districts of Mumbai, India. A corollary to this goal was determination of processes that led to entry into the commercial sex industry (CSI). Second, we sought better understanding of women’s adult relationships with family of origin and key players of the brothel-based sex industry (e.g., peers, clients, brothel-keepers). Finally, we explored exiting options. In other words, to what extent is it possible to leave India’s brothel-based sex industry if one wanted to do so? Guided by the life-course theory of development, in-depth interviews were conducted with 30 women working in two red-light districts of Mumbai, India. Most women described childhoods of extreme poverty, had been trafficked into the CSI, and reported minimal social support as adults. Exiting was challenged by multi-faceted cultural and structural constraints. Implications for continued research are provided.

An investigation into Nestle's efforts to establish credibiolity in its global cocoa supply chain

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:20:52 +0000

This case study seeks to analyze the effectiveness of Nestle Inc. USA’s (Nestle) efforts to establish credibility in its Corporate Social Responsibility policies in the cocoa industry, in order to advise HRW on how to best respond. This paper will argue that although Nestle has made improvements in its efforts to eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor from its global cocoa supply chain, Nestle’s efforts are not credible because it is insufficiently transparent in the steps that it has taken to remedy this problem. Specifically, this paper will evaluate transparency in terms of the quantity, quality, accessibility, availability, and traceability of information to the public, information from third-parties, and Nestle’s willingness to incur penalties if the information it provides is inaccurate. Further, this paper will focus on Nestle’s efforts to eliminate the WFCL in its Côte d’Ivoire cocoa farms where approximately 40 percent of the world’s cocoa is produced.

Aggression in Sexually Abused Trafficked Girls and Efficacy of Intervention

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:23:08 +0000

The broad objective of this study was to understand the incidence and severity of aggression among sexually abused girls who were trafficked and who were then further used for commercial sexual exploitation (referred to subsequently as sexually abused trafficked girls). In addition, the impact of counseling for minimizing aggression in these girls was investigated. A group of 120 sexually abused trafficked Indian girls and a group of 120 non sexually abused Indian girls, aged 13 to 18, participated in the study. The sexually abused trafficked girls were purposively selected from four shelters located in and around Kolkata, India. The non sexually abused girls were selected randomly from four schools situated near the shelters, and these girls were matched by age with the sexually abused trafficked girls. Data were collected using a Background Information Schedule and a standardized psychological test, that is, The Aggression Scale. Results revealed that 16.7% of the girls were first sexually abused between 6 and 9 years of age, 37.5% between 10 and 13 years of age, and 45.8% between 14 and 17 years of age. Findings further revealed that 4.2% of the sexually abused trafficked girls demonstrated saturated aggression, and 26.7% were highly aggressive, that is, extremely frustrated and rebellious. Across age groups, the sexually abused trafficked girls suffered from more aggression (p < .05), compared with the non victimized girls. Psychological interventions, such as individual and group counseling, were found to have a positive impact on the sexually abused trafficked girls. These findings should motivate counselors to deal with sexually abused children. It is also hoped that authorities in welfare homes will understand the importance of counseling for sexually abused trafficked children, and will appoint more counselors for this purpose.

An evidence assessment of the routes of human trafficking into the UK

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:22:06 +0000

This report presents the findings from an evidence assessment conducted in 2008 designed to address three questions:

By what routes and methods of entry do victims of human trafficking reach the UK?
Are these routes the same for adults and child victims?
What are the economic dimensions (in terms of costs and benefits) of human trafficking into the UK?

An examination of methods to reintegrate former child soldiers in Liberia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:21:31 +0000

This paper examinesthe various methods employed in providing support for former child soldiers in the Liberian conflict (ended in 2003) by the relevant stake-holders. It was found that educational support, skills acquisition and family reunification are the main methods of reintegrating former child soldiers in Liberia.

Access to Redress Mechanisms in Spain

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:20:08 +0000

The purpose of this memo is to investigate the ways to access redress (restitution, compensation) within the Spanish system. This research outlines the steps that can be taken in relation to a trafficking case pursuant to COMP.ACT in order to seek compensation via criminal as well as civil law.

Access to Compensation for Victims of Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:20:08 +0000

Access to compensation can play an important role in the recovery of survivors of human trafficking. Compensation awards can help victims move on with their lives and reduce their risk of further exploitation. This paper considers the ability of victims of human trafficking and other forms of modern slavery to access compensation, one year on from the enactment of the Modern Slavery Act. The findings of this research indicate that little has changed for victims seeking justice who are still facing significant legal and practical barriers to obtaining compensation for the abuses committed against them.

Access to Justice for Victims of Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:20:08 +0000

Access to justice for trafficked persons is fundamental to a rights-based response to human trafficking or ‘modern day slavery’. The ability of victims to access legal remedies promotes their rehabilitation, prevents re-trafficking and contributes to the punishment of traffickers. Yet around the world weak laws and a lack of political commitment to victims’ rights means that justice is rarely a reality for victims. This paper sets out five steps the UK can take to improve access to justice for trafficked persons.

Access to Justice of Migrant Domestic Workers in Lebanon

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:20:08 +0000

EXCERPT FROM RÉSUMÉ: "This study analyzes the legal framework of immigration and employment in the sector of domestic work and traces the development of case law of criminal courts and Labour Arbitration Councils since 2000 in cases involving migrant domestic workers (MDWs) victims of labour exploitation. It also identifies the obstacles preventing these victims from having access to justice in Lebanon, and makes recommendations to advance their protection and their ability to seek and obtain compensation through formal or informal judicial institutions."

An Absence of Choice: The sexual exploitation of North Korean women in China

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:24:42 +0000

The sexual exploitation of North Korean women in China is a complex issue. It encompasses a wide range of situations and levels of complicity on the part of the woman. In cases of trafficking, women can be forced into marriage or the sex industry. The methods by which traffickers recruit women are deception, coercion and abduction. Although many women try to escape from their exploitative situation, others do not. Testimonies from trafficked women indicate that many remain because they feel helpless and powerless to change their situation.

Achieving a Durable Solution for Trafficked Children

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:20:08 +0000

Although positive legislative changes have been made to tackle trafficking in terms of protection and prosecution, especially through the Modern Slavery Act 2015 in England and Wales and comparable legislation in Northern Ireland and Scotland, there is still no formal policy or procedure in place to make lasting arrangements for trafficked children that are in their best interests. This results in a significant gap in the protection provided to them. A durable solution is the long-term sustainable arrangements that we make for unaccompanied asylum seeking children, including those who have been trafficked. It means plans are in place, support is available, and children are helped throughout their childhood with a view to their future. It gives children stability, security, and a chance to heal and develop. A durable solution can also play a role in preventing re-trafficking.

Access to Safety: Health Outcomes, Substance Use and Abuse, and Service Provision for LGBTQ Youth, YMSM, and YWSW Who Engage in Survival Sex

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:20:08 +0000

This report focuses on LGBTQ youth who become involved in the commercial sex market to meet basic survival needs, describing their physical, mental, and sexual health issues, their substance use, and their experiences with service providers. It finds that most youth protect themselves from harm in several ways, including using protection against sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy and visiting service providers for health and nonhealth services. However, most of the youth reported needs that were unmet by service providers, including employment assistance and short- and long-term housing, and youth who reached ages 18 or 21 had even greater challenges accessing services.

An Analysis of Federally Prosecuted Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) Cases since the Passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:23:08 +0000

This study examined the prosecution of the commercial sexual exploitation of children and youth (CSEC) in the United States. The research took the form of a national analysis of federal prosecutions since the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) in 2000, answering the following research questions: (1) Is the United States enforcing existing federal laws related to CSEC? (2) What are the key features of successfully prosecuted CSEC cases? (3) Have the U.S. courts increased penalties associated with sexual crimes against children? (4) What are the effects of CSEC legislation on service providers who work with victims? This assessment provides policy makers with a means of assessing the effects of legislation aimed at combating CSEC.

18 myths on prostitution

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:19:20 +0000

This booklet addresses common misconceptions about prostitution and sex trafficking. The European Women’s Lobby has initiated, together with Mouvement du Nid France and Fondation Scelles, the Brussel's Call - 'together for a Europe free from prostitution.' More than 200 NGOs, from all over Europe and beyond, have signed it. The Brussels’ Call states the following key principles: Prostitution is a form of violence, Prostitution is a form of exploitation of inequalities, Prostitution is a violation of human dignity, Prostitution is a violation of human rights.

Against prostitution and human trafficking for sexual purposes

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:23:09 +0000

It is the responsibility of central government and the municipalities to supply the necessary help and protection to those at risk. Closer cooperation between public authorities is essential if prostitution and trafficking for sexual purposes are to be effectively combated. International cooperation will also be needed in the fight against human trafficking. The activities of NGOs are an invaluable aid in this connection, and NGOs also have an important part to play in educating public opinion. This booklet addresses how the Government Action Plan is being implemented and how it will raise Sweden’s level of ambition in the fight against prostitution and human trafficking for sexual purposes.

An Exploratory Study of Psychoanalytic and Social Factors in the Abuse of Migrant Domestic Workers by Female Employers in Lebanon

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:21:11 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "One of the main purposes of this report is to address one part of the complex relationship that exists between the female employer and female migrant domestic worker in Lebanon.With increasing publicity regarding the ‘slave-like’ conditions of their employment as well as the structural legal arrangements, it is widely accepted that serious reform of the conditions under which migrant women work in Lebanon is required."

Barriers against child sex tourism: Summary report

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:34:02 +0000

Children have the right to protection against sexual violence. The Dutch Government must therefore endeavour to prevent Dutch nationals from committing sexual offences against children in other countries, as well as in the Netherlands. That is the key message of the Dutch Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings and Sexual Violence against Children in her report Barriers against child sex tourism. In order to improve the fight against child sex tourism Rapporteur Corinne Dettmeijer provides six recommendations, focusing on the prevention of child sex tourism and the detection and prosecution of Dutch citizens committing sexual offences against minors abroad.

Anti-trafficking interventions in Nigeria and the principal-agent aid model

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:27:19 +0000

This article discusses funding for anti-trafficking efforts in Nigeria to date and its impact. Ultimately, it shows that certain areas are ‘favored’ for funding above others, e.g. prevention, prosecution and voluntary return of migrants, as opposed to promoting safe migration or effective victim re-integration, though the latter is the purported aim of the Protection Policy. The article also speaks to how the anti-trafficking ‘players’ have been obliged through aid dependency to focus on certain aspects of intervention and ignore others. Funding is provided in a ‘principal-agent’ relationship by donors to the government of Nigeria and other anti-trafficking organizations.

Anti-human trafficking legislation in Tanzania and 6 countries around the world

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:27:19 +0000

This study evaluates Tanzania's Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and its implementation, before describing similar acts from 6 different countries in 3 continents: Ghana, Uganda, Argentina, United States, Bulgaria, and France. It ends by making recommendations.

Analysis of Child Labour and School attendance in Nigeria: The present and future implications

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:27:19 +0000

This paper investigates the motivating factors into child labour in Nigeria and examines Nigerian government efforts at reduction and improvement of child labour and school attendant rates. The result shows that child labour is predominantly found in the informal sector of Nigeria with family characteristics as a very important determining factor of children’s educational attainment and labour in Nigeria.

Babies Trafficking Networks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:27:19 +0000

This document is the Social Network Analysis of criminal structures involved in the market of child trafficking across various African countries. The document consists of six parts: the introduction, a description of the methodology applied for modeling the criminal structures, an explanation of the child trafficking market and the main actors involved, a description of the sources and cases that were modeled and analyzed, a description of the criminal network’s characteristics, and finally, conclusions.

An overview of human trafficking, especially child trafficking, in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:28:00 +0000

This document acts as a summary from the 2015 Trafficking in Persons Report of trafficking in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea. Sierra Leone and Liberia were ranked in tier 2 while Guinea was placed on the tier 2 watch list, due to an increase in trafficking cases and lack of commitment to anti-trafficking efforts.

Bangladeshi Girls Sold as Wives in North India

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:33:13 +0000

This article is based on the stories of 112 Bangladeshi girls and women taken mostly to Uttar Pradesh, India, and sold as wives. In a practice that peaked between 1982 and 1993, parents allowed their daughters to leave home, as they could neither pay for their dowries nor keep them unmarried. Go-betweens sold the idea of a country having a surplus of girls to another perceiving a shortage of them, while demographic data show ‘missing’ females on both sides. Many girls never paid a return visit to their natal homes and lost contact with their families. Others returned after many years to reveal that they had been sold. The readings of this practice by different actors—including NGO activists, anthropologists, wife-givers and wife-takers—are discussed. Can marriage be built upon a trafficking event? Can marriage exonerate the evil of trafficking? The situation is clearly more complicated when girls were married to men of a religion different to their own. In such cases, exacerbating the sense of alienation and wrongful appropriation, the mismatch made return highly problematic. The article also draws an analogy with the situation of the slave-wives (bandi bou) in 19th- and 20th-century Bengal.

ASEAN and Trafficking in Persons: Using Data as a Tool to Combat Trafficking in Persons

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:29:29 +0000

This report reflects the work of four national research teams, based in Phnom Penh, Jakarta, Manila and Bangkok, and two central research staff , based at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. It analyzes information obtained through reviews of the existing literature, interviews with government officials, and examination of government documents, such as intake forms and annual reports. The report starts by taking the issue of “data on trafficking” back to basic principles. What is “data on trafficking”? Why do we need it? How and where do we get it? Drawing on the literature from trafficking, crime prevention, statistics, and information management, this chapter identifies and discusses several best practice principles that should assist governments wanting to improve their data on trafficking in persons. and the final chapter discusses lessons learned from the country studies, including common challenges facing each of the four countries. These challenges suggest practical solutions and recommendations that are potentially relevant to all ASEAN member countries wanting to improve their data on trafficking.

Avis du Conseil National des Droits de l’Homme sur le Projet de Loi n° 27.14 relatif à la lutte contre la traite des personnes

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:27:19 +0000

Résumé: Cette ressource discute les recommandations du Conseil National des droits de l'homme au Maroc en parlant de la loi marocaine contre la traite des personnes. Le Conseil donne son avis sur beaucoup d'articles de la loi, et suit les bonnes pratiques étant donné que les précédents internationaux.

ASEAN Handbook on International Legal Cooperation in Trafficking in Persons Cases

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:31:12 +0000

The handbook aims to help improve cooperation between criminal justice officials who are involved in cross-border trafficking investigations. It was prepared by technical experts involved in the Asia Regional Trafficking in Persons Project (ARTIP), through the Australian Government Overseas Aid Program (AusAID), and funded by the Australian Government and the European Union, through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Addressing Social Norms to eliminate Child Begging in Senegal Promoting Social Norms around the importance on family-based care

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:25:46 +0000

Child begging is increasingly a worrying phenomenon in Senegal. Abuse and exploitation of begging talibe

children (quranic pupils) is causing concern among child protection practitioners, human rights activists, health professionals, and raise suspicions of organized child trafficking. This paper analysing child begging using Senegal's social norms framework. It describes the challenges currently faced and makes recommendations.

ASTRA Biannual Report 2012-2013

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:27:19 +0000

This is a biannual review of the Serbian NGO ASTRA. ASTRA is dedicated to fighting trafficking in human beings. The organisation has been working since 2000 and has been the first to point to the problem of human trafficking in Serbia. As the leader in the field of suppressing human trafficking in our country, since its foundation ASTRA has approached this problem comprehensively, i.e. has dealt with different types of human trafficking and exploitation and worked with different categories of victims – women and children, as well as men. The organisation has simultaneously operated in the fields of provision of direct support to victims, prevention, education, raising of public awareness, research and reporting, public advocacy on both strategic and operative levels and supporting the development of a functional and efficient system for the suppression of human trafficking, which would fully respect human rights of the victims.

Arrêtons l'Exploitation Sexuelle des Enfants Lors des Voyages et du Tourisme

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:27:19 +0000

Ce guide est une ressource pour les enfants et les jeunes au sujet de l'exploitation sexuelle des enfants lors des voyages et du tourisme. La publication fournit les conseils pour les enfants sur un sujet très effrayant. Cette publication est utile pour les services qui travaille avec les enfants.

Antitrafficking Policies in Asia and the Russian Far East: A Comparative Perspective

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:28:46 +0000

Russia is currently the largest source country for trafficked women. Increases in unemployment after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the devaluation of the ruble, and a rise in organized crime have created a climate conducive to trafficking, especially in the impoverished Russian Far East (RFE). Many women are lured into trafficking rings by promises of legitimate work abroad, uninformed of the day-to-day activities that their job will entail. This article examines the trafficking situation in the RFE and its Asian neighbors. It focuses specifically on the role of women's organizations in anti-trafficking efforts in China, Japan, South Korea, and Russia. Analysis reveals that grassroots women's organizations are the lynchpin in Korea's successful anti-trafficking policy. These organizations most effectively address the social and economic factors that make women vulnerable to traffickers. Funding women's organizations and encouraging civil society development must be a part of anti-trafficking policy in the Russian Far East.

Anti-child Trafficking Legislation in Asia: A Six-country Review (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand & Indonesia)

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:28:26 +0000

This paper compares the policies and legal frameworks of the listed countries and highlights inadequacies of the legal frameworks in six countries of South and SouthEast Asia and the discrepancies between the national laws and international instruments. This paper was based on comprehensive review of the relevant laws in those countries and subsequent national consultations. International Labour Organization then organized a regional consultation with government officials and representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations to review the relevant contexts in their respective countries.

Attorney General’s Annual Report to Congress and Assessment of U.S. Government Activities to Combat Trafficking in Persons

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:27:19 +0000

This report, the 11th submitted to Congress since 2004, documents the U.S. government’s comprehensive campaign to combat human trafficking during Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, including efforts to carry out the 3Ps strategy to (1) protect victims by providing benefits and services; (2) investigate and prosecute human trafficking crimes; and (3) prevent further trafficking-related crimes.3 The report describes U.S. governmental activities responding to recommendations made in the last annual report and recommendations made by agencies for further improvements during FY 2014.

Attitudes and Social Characteristics of Men Who Buy Sex in Scotland

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:31:35 +0000

We investigated attitudes, behaviors, and demographics of 110 men who bought sex in Scotland. Those men who most frequently used women in prostitution were most likely to have committed sexually aggressive acts against nonprostituting women. High-frequency users of women in prostitution used pornography more frequently than men who used women in prostitution less frequently. We found strong associations of these men’s acceptance of rape myths with their hostile masculine identification and their acceptance of prostitution myths. Acceptance of rape myths was associated with the men’s belief that prostitution prevents rape of nonprostituting women. The men’s perceptions of prostituted women’s experiences of prostitution tended to differ from the actual perceptions of prostituted women in other studies. Deterrents to prostitution include public exposure or jail time if the men were convinced that laws would be enforced. The ambivalence and guilt of men who buy sex may serve as points of entry for prostitution prevention programs.

Assessment of trafficking in women and children in and from Ethiopia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:27:19 +0000

The major objective of this study, conducted by the International Organization for Migration, is to contribute to the prevention of trafficking in women and children in and from Ethiopia by providing reliable information on the extent and character of the problem in the country as well as on factors affecting efforts to combat the problem.

Bangkok, Thailand

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:32:00 +0000

Located in the heart of Southeast Asia, Thailand is a source, transit and destination country for traffickers seeking higher profits by using slave labor. The document also includes IJM's framework to combat labor trafficking in Bangkok

Australia and the anti-trafficking regime in Southeast Asia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:27:19 +0000

This working paper reviews recent trends in trafficking in persons in Southeast Asia and the current status of the anti-trafficking regime in the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The author examines the role of Australian governments in helping establish and develop the anti-trafficking legislation and national referral mechanisms in all ten ASEAN countries and argues more can be done for victim protection.

Building a World Cup: Protecting Migrant Workers in Qatar Ahead of FIFA 2022

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:42:18 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "In December 2010, the small Gulf state of Qatar won its bid to host the 2022 World Cup—a first for an Arab country. Over the next decade the country will undertake massive new construction to support the quadrennial world championship soccer games: its winning bid included commitments to build nine state-of-the-art stadiums equipped with cooling technology to beat temperatures that reach an average high of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) during the summer months, a new airport complete with a sail-shaped terminal, public transport infrastructure, $20 billion worth of new roads, a bridge to neighboring Bahrain (the longest in the world), 54 team camps, and sleek new hotels for spectators. As of mid- 2012, a limited number of World Cup-related projects were under construction and new tenders began to be issued for contracts tied to construction of venues for the 2022 games. Underpinning this push is a vast army of migrant workers, who comprise a staggering 94 percent of Qatar’s workforce—1.2 million of its1.7 million residents—the highest percentage of migrants to citizens in the world. Qatar’s World Cup selection means that worker recruitment will reach new heights: media have reported that over a million additional workers may be needed to carry out World Cup-related construction. Yet the deeply problematic working conditions of migrant workers throughout the country mean that realizing Qatar’s World Cup vision may depend on their abuse and exploitation unless adequate measures are taken to address the human rights problems widespread in the construction industry in Qatar. This report documents pervasive employer exploitation and abuse of workers in Qatar’s construction industry, made possible by an inadequate legal and regulatory framework that grants employers extensive control over workers and prohibits migrant workers from exercising their rights to free association and collective bargaining. It also addresses the government’s failure to enforce those laws that at least on paper are designed to protect worker rights. It examines why violations of workers’ rights go largely undetected, and looks at the barriers that workers face in reporting complaints or seeking redress."

Cambodian village has disturbing reputation for child sex slavery

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:39:02 +0000

Svay Pak has a disturbing reputation. The village outside Cambodia's capital of Phnom Penh is known as a place where little girls are openly sold to foreign predators looking for sex. One of the girls who was sold into the sex trade told CNN that before she could read she was working in a brothel.

Baseline service report: Child trafficking in Soroti, Katakwi and Kampala districts Uganda

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:42:19 +0000

This report summarizes the awareness, incidence, victims, elements, contributing factors, legislation implementation and service providers of victims of human trafficking.

Between decent work and forced labour: examining the continuum of exploitation

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:42:19 +0000

This paper examines how forced labour is currently framed within national legislations; introduces a continuum of exploitation and interventions, ranging from decent work to extreme exploitation and covering both labour law and criminal law; uses case studies to demonstrate how the concept of a continuum can be applied in practice in the UK.

Brides For Sale: Vietnam Women Trafficked to China

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:41:35 +0000

A Vietnamese woman tells the harrowing story of how her brother sold her to a Chinese man across the border.

Burma

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:42:18 +0000

Myanmar (Burma) remain on Trafficking in Persons's Tier 3 list due to the abuses against Muslim Rohingya. Muslim minorities in Burma, in particular the 1.2 million ethnic Rohingya, continue to face rampant and systemic human rights violations. There were serious abuses by government security forces against Rohingya villagers, including summary killings, rape and other sexual violence, torture and ill-treatment.

Barbara Amaya’s Story

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:34:02 +0000

When I ran away, I was a walking target for traffickers and predators who look for damaged children: I had been abused, I was depressed and was in desperate need of help. It didn’t take long for traffickers to find me.

Benign accommodation? Ukuthwala, ‘forced marriage’ and the South African Children’s Act

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:37:56 +0000

In this article, the authors evaluate the implications of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 for ukuthwala. Ukuthwala is a practice whereby, as a preliminary procedure to a customary marriage, a young man forcibly takes a girl to his home. In recent times, the practice has taken on other dimensions, including very young girls being married to older men and charges of abduction being laid. Questions arise relating to the impact of constitutional principles upon this customary law and practice. It is suggested that, instead of adopting an a priori prohibitionist stance towards customs that seem to violate human rights norms, benign accommodation that promotes the positive aspects of culture should be sought. This approach leads to a conclusion that South African law should recognize those forms of ukuthwala where the requirement of the consent of the ‘bride’ is met.

Burkina Faso Law No. 029 - 2008/AN on the Fight against Trafficking in Persons and Similar Practices

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:42:18 +0000

Law enacted in Burkina Faso in 2008 to combat human trafficking and other practices.

Behind Closed Doors: Child and Early Marriage as Slavery

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:42:19 +0000

The issue of child, early and forced marriage and its impact on health and education has been brought to the forefront of the international development agenda in recent years, largely due to the efforts of organisations such as Girls not Brides and UNICEF. Although both boys and girls fall victim to child, early and forced marriage, it should be noted that the vast majority of victims are female and the sexual and reproductive health issues arising from child and early marriage have an overwhelmingly disproportionate impact on girls. A 2003 comparison by Girls not Brides between the number of young women and young men aged 15-19 who were married revealed a ratio of 72 to 1 in Mali, 8 to 1 in the United States and 6 to 1 in El Salvador.2

Beyond Compliance: Effective Reporting Under the Modern Slavery Act - A Civil Society Guide for Commercial Organizations on the Transparency in Supply Chains Clause

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:42:19 +0000

Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act, ‘Transparency in Supply Chains’ (TISC) requires every organisation carrying on a business in the UK with a total annual turnover of £36m or more to produce a slavery and human trafficking statement for each financial year of the organization. Organizations are required to publish this statement on their website and must include a link to the statement in a prominent place on the website’s homepage. The guidance is intended to share initial thinking around how the provisions on transparency in supply chains in the Modern Slavery Act 2015 can be used to drive positive change and help prevent slavery and forced labour from occurring.

Barriers to Compensation for Child Victims of Sexual Exploitation

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:42:19 +0000

This report examines some of the reasons why very few children seek and obtain compensation or monetary relief (i.e. money from a State-managed victim compensation fund, or from a perpetrator through a court of law) for injuries and trauma incurred from being sexually exploited. These obstacles include: the lack of information made available to child victims about their rights; the lack of support throughout the compensation-seeking process; conditions imposed by government-managed victim compensation funds; challenges facing victims in the court environment; and difficulties in enforcing court-ordered compensation against an offender. The report also highlights some of the cultural, behavioural and practical issues which influence or affect how legal processes function.

Barriers to Access to Justice for Child Victims of Sexual Exploitation: Legal Framework and Insights from Professionals in the Criminal Justice System in Moldova

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:42:19 +0000

In order to gain a better understanding of the experience of sexually exploited children in the criminal justice system, ECPAT International conducted this study as way to identify the special challenges child victims of sexual exploitation face when seeking access to justice and remedies. Within the context of Moldova, the study highlighted both the successes and improvements to be made in order to ensure not only access to the criminal justice system, but more specifically, to a child-friendly justice system; one that balances the rights of child victims and witnesses with those of the accused offenders and takes into account the child’s individual needs and views.

Boys don't cry: improving identification and disclosure of sexual exploitation among boys and young men trafficked to the UK

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:42:18 +0000

Outlines key messages and issues around improving identification and disclosure of sexual exploitation among boys and young men trafficked to the UK. Covers officially-recorded data on child trafficking and sexual exploitation; UK policy, legislation and guidance; research evidence on the scale and nature of sexual exploitation amongst trafficked boys; experiences of trafficked boys and young men; barriers to disclosure; and key principles for effective practice in supporting trafficked young men who may have been sexually exploited. Makes recommendations for practitioners and policy makers.

Being LGBT in Asia: Cambodia Country Report

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:37:33 +0000

This report provides an overview of LGBT rights in Cambodia as related broadly to laws and policies, social and cultural attitudes, and religion; and more specifically to family affairs, education and schooling, work and employment, community and society, health including HIV, media including information communication technology (ICT) and the organizational capacity of LGBT organizations.

British Children Can BeTrafﬁcked Too: Towards an Inclusive Deﬁnitionof Internal Child Sex Trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:42:18 +0000

Debates the definition of child sex trafficking within Britain, exploring the contents and validity of common arguments against accepting Britons as valid victims. Looks at academic studies, government and third-sector reports, parliamentary debate and legal statute. Also features arguments raised by practitioners and policy-makers. Proposes an inclusive and more clearly delineated definition of internal child sex trafficking, arguing that this would facilitate more effective, transparent and consistent multi-agency interventions and data collection.

Building Bargaining Power: How Domestic Workers in Lebanon Made a Courageous Step to Form a Union

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:42:18 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "In January 2015, 200 women and men from Ethiopia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and beyond founded a Union for domestic workers in Lebanon. The Founding Congress was both a moving and historical occasion: this was the birth of the first Union for domestic workers in the Arab region, paving the way for similar initiatives in other countries in the Middle East."

Brides, Bruises and the Border: The Trafficking of North Korean Women into China

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:41:15 +0000

Increasing poverty in North Korea is forcing many North Korean women to seek better lives in China. They become victims of cross-border trafficking through a number of means, including being sold by their families and acquaintances or illegally migrating into China. Women are often promised better jobs or a good life as a wife in China, but their situations rapidly deteriorate when they fail to find jobs or suffer abuse by their new husbands. Some women are kidnapped and forced to work in the highly exploitive sex industry. If a woman is able to extricate herself from the trade and return to North Korea, she is often treated as a criminal instead of a victim, in many cases being imprisoned and forced to do hard labor. If she finally returns to her village, she is treated as a social pariah, creating heightened vulnerability to re-trafficking. Both the Chinese and North Korean governments deny a problem exists, and, despite international pressure, are taking no corrective action.

Beneath the master narrative: human trafficking, myths of sexual slavery and ethnographic realities

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:42:19 +0000

This paper explores the disconnections between anti-trafficking discourse and the local experience of responding to human trafficking as indicated in ethnographic data from Bosnia and Kazakhstan. Using the concept of “uptake,” I examine how anti-trafficking discourse operates as a master narrative, drawing on techniques of emotion and logic, as well as a specific type of victim story. I also consider how, despite an emerging counter discourse that questions the data and challenges current policy, human trafficking discourse continues to be retold in media and reproduced in popular culture, often in ways that actually diverge from the current version of the grand narrative. In contrast to these uncritical representations, ethnographic data from Bosnia suggest that the master narrative is selective in how it represents the history of the problem and that it does not “take up” important details about the context that fosters sexual exploitation, despite Bosnia’s compliance with US policy. Conversely, Kazakhstan suffers a liminal status regardless of local efforts to prevent the problem from happening within its borders as well as evidence that the crime is not widespread. While perhaps not mythical, I suggest that the master narrative contains the stuff of legend as it occupies the critical spaces of policy, activism and development, leaving open the question of how to address the nuances and needs of responding to victims of gender violence.

Cambodia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:39:28 +0000

Labor trafficking in Southeast Asia and reports of slavery in supply chains are making international headlines. This document includes IJM's progress in combatting child sex trafficking in Cambodia and their framework to combat forced labor.

Characteristics of trafficked adults and children with severe mental illness: a historical cohort study

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:50:08 +0000

Evidence regarding the mental health needs of trafficked people is limited; however, prevalence of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder is high among trafficked people who are in contact with shelter services. We aimed to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of trafficked people with severe mental illness.

Child Sex Trafficking in Southeast Asia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:50:08 +0000

Child prostitution is ardently denounced, but still endemically entrenched in Southeastern Asia. Children as young as four are sold to brothels in Cambodia, often coming from poor families that are in desperate need of money. The families are told that their children will be employed and will be able to mail money back from their wages, but they often do not know that their child will be beaten, ill treated, drugged, raped, and prostituted. This website will focus on Svay Pak, a tiny village outside of the famous Cambodian red-light city Phnom Penh. Since the 1990s, international sex tourists have been frequenting the one dirt street that runs through the entire town. It is notorious for offering the youngest prostitutes in Cambodia, many under the age of 10.

Canada's stolen daughters: Sex traffickers target indigenous Canadians

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:50:09 +0000

Canada's indigenous population is very small -- just 4% of the population -- yet more than 50% of all sex trafficking victims in Canada are indigenous. The reasons are complicated and varied but are ultimately rooted in a legacy of poverty, racism and abuse.

Canada's stolen daughters

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:50:09 +0000

Many of Canada's indigenous people live in remote, isolated communities -- and that makes them prime targets for sex traffickers

Child labour in Nigeia and its economic implications - a case study of Calabar municipality.

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:43:15 +0000

This study is aimed at investigating the existence of child labour, its causes, constraints and economic implications and how to eradicate it with particular interest in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, Nigeria.

Child labor in the fishing industry in Uganda

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:50:08 +0000

Through this report, ICF Macro aimed to collect data on the characteristics, nature and incidence of child work, as well as instances of forced child labor in the fishing sector in Uganda.

Case of M. and Others v Italy and Bulgaria

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:50:08 +0000

This is an opinion report on a case seen by the European Court of Human Rights, where a family was trafficked from Bulgaria to Italy. The opinion sides with the applicants' claims they were mistreated by both Bulgarian and Italian law enforcement and that their case was not given a thorough investigation. In fact, law enforcement began investigating the applicants as potential criminals instead of victims.

Child labor in the West African cocoa sector

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:50:08 +0000

The aim of the report is three-fold: firstly, to understand the status quo of child labour in specific high-risk sectors or geographic areas (India, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana); secondly, to identify how child labour practices vary across sectors and between international and domestic companies; and, thirdly, to ascertain how other wider social issues either impact on, or are impacted by child labour.

Child Labor Supply in Palestine: Trends and Perspectives

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:50:08 +0000

ABSTRACT: "The family decision model suggests that families don’t send their kids to work unless they are faced with reduction in income due to decrease in economic activities. However, this study reveals that an increase in national output and income, measured by GDP and GNI per capita in Palestine does not result in a decline in the supply of child labor. Economic shocks in Palestine as a result of Israeli policies have significant positive effects on child labor supply. The study indicates that while child labor increased in the years where overall national income declined, supply of child labor persisted during year when income and employment increased. Child labor supply in Palestine could be concluded to be a “complement” factor for adults’ employment."

Child Marriage in Ghana's Fishing Industry

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:43:15 +0000

there is a lack of verifiable information–quantitative or qualitative–about the extent and nature of child marriage amongst trafficked children in communities along Lake Volta (destination communities) and in the fishing communities in Central Region of Ghana (source communities). This study hopes to harvest the experiences of rescued children from communities along the Volta Lake, who have returned to the Central Region.

Child Marriage in Latin America and the Caribbean

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:43:15 +0000

Nearly 1 in 4 girls across Latin America are married off before the age of 18 [1]. Due to a lack of data in many countries, however, the scope of child marriage is not fully known. Current estimates vary widely between and within countries and among rural and indigenous groups. The highest prevalence rates can be observed in the Dominican Republic (37%), Brazil (36%), Mexico (23%) and in Central American countries, such as Nicaragua (41%), Honduras (34%) and Guatemala (30%)

Child Labour Trafficking in the Lake Volta Fishery of Ghana: A Case Study of Ogetse in the Krachi West District of the Volta Region

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:43:15 +0000

This thesis sought to find out the major causes of Child labour trafficking in the Lake Volta fishery of Ghana, as well as to investigate tasks performed by these victims, the recruitment processes involved in this human trade and the condition under which these children work. It further seeks to investigate the measures and interventions put in place to curb this unabated problem.

Child Tourism Prostitution in the Context of Development, in the Coastal Towns of Kenya.

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:43:15 +0000

This article examines the links between tourism and child prostitution in Kenya. Efforts of the police and local NGOs to prevent child prostitution are discussed, as are events that lead elderly women prostitutes to turn girls at a tender age into prostitution to earn a living and the role of (retired) old tourists. The attempts to control the problem are largely fruitless owing to corruption. Although tourism is one of the most important industries in Kenya, concern about social impact of tourism is raised, since in this context the developments of both economic activities are related.

Child sex tourism – prevalence of and risk factors for its use in a German community sample

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:43:15 +0000

The present study assesses the prevalence and different risk factors for Child Sex Tourism in a large community sample. A first step was made to gain insight into the characteristics of these men. As stated in the Convention of the Rights of the Child, countries are supposed to create appropriate prevention strategies against the “exploitative use of children in prostitution or other unlawful sexual practices” (Art.34). The World Health Organization (WHO) has augmented its prevention activities against child maltreatment by assisting with the implementation of such strategies and providing guidelines. Nonetheless, the organization points out that epidemiological studies concerning the prevalence of child maltreatment are required to emphasize the topic’s seriousness. This study was conducted with compliance to this goal. There is evience that CST users form a particular and maybe high- risk group among child sexual abusers that could be reached by suitable prevention strategies.

Child Domestic Labor in Egypt

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:47:51 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "There is broad consensus that child labor remains widespread in Egypt. Several organizations, for example the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Development Programme, and the U.S. Agency for International Development, have chronicled the phenomenon in recent years. The situation with regard to children working in domestic service in Egypt has received rather less attention, probably in part because it reportedly accounted for a very small segment of child labor as a whole. Although insightful, the few studies initiated specifically to look at child labor in domestic service in Egypt have been limited in scope. Geographical coverage was limited, and the research was limited to girls. There was therefore a strong case for looking afresh at the domestic child labor phenomenon, building on the findings of earlier work, and broadening coverage. Accordingly, a study that aimed to gather data on child labor in the domestic service sector in Egypt was designed. The research seeks to address the pathways into and the risk factors associated with child domestic work, the types of work performed, the working and living conditions, the supply chain, the market demands, and the prevalence of the phenomenon of child domestic labor in Egypt. The study used a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, including in-depth interviews (IDIs) with formal experts and other key informants merged in the analysis, as well as data from a quantitative survey of children in domestic work."

Causes and Consequences of Human Trafficking in Ethiopia: The case of Women in the Middle East

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:43:16 +0000

This study attempts to assess the causes and consequences of human trafficking in Ethiopia, using women in the Middle East as a case study. Applying feminist qualitative research this study finds that in addition to poverty and unemployment several interrelated factors cause trafficking.

Beyond Prostitution: Sexual Commerce as Precarity and Possibility in Mumbai, India

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:42:19 +0000

Within activist circles, global feminist discourse, and academic conversations surrounding gender and agency, sex work has often been framed as an exceptional space of disempowerment, trafficking, and exploitation. Svati P. Shah’s beautifully engaged ethnography, Street Corner Secrets: Sex, Work, and Migration in the City of Mumbai, challenges this narrative by attending to the material landscape of rural labor migration to Mumbai. In doing so, the text provides a lens through which to ask questions about labor migration, material survival, and the criminalization of marginalized subjects.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:47:24 +0000

Overview of IJM's progress in Northern Thailand in regards of combatting sexual violence against children and increasing citizenship access for children of Hill Tribes.

Cebu, Philippines

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:46:50 +0000

Outlines IJM's progress of combatting cybersex trafficking in Cebu, Philippines since 2006.

Causes and consequences of human trafficking: a case study in Metema town

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:50:08 +0000

The research is conducted in Metema town, one of the prominent transit places in Ethiopia which is used to traffic a significant number of Ethiopian migrants to the Sudan. Understanding the root causes of trafficking, depicting the multifaceted challenges being faced by trafficked persons and writing an anthropological account of human trafficking in Ethiopia were the major objectives of the study.

China’s Rising Impact in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Use of Child Labour: Is there Room for Corporate Social Responsibility?

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:20 +0000

Drawing on the insights of a country case-study of Chinese mining companies in Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where evidence of child labour exploitation has been found, this thesis will start by providing a brief and broad overview of the Sino-African engagement to contextualize the motives of much of the critique, followed considerations on the importance of considering labour rights as human rights. This thesis also intends to shed some light on the issue of child labour itself, through an analysis of the international legal protection, instruments and concerns on the issue. The aim of this study is to examine whether or not there is a role for corporate social responsibility to play in Sino-African economic partnership.

Combating human trafficking in South Africa: Beyond legal arsenal

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:19 +0000

This study evaluates the effectiveness of current anti-trafficking legislation in combating the perennial scourge of human trafficking in the Republic of South Africa. Findings from this study suggest that for an effective or result-oriented approach, the South African government should focus on the enforcement of the law and in addressing the socio-economic, political and cultural factors which strengthen the growth of the illicit trade. The study further made recommendations based on the findings.

Capacity Building for Combating Trafficking for Labour Exploitation: Stepping Up the Fight against Trafficking for Labour Exploitation

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:50:09 +0000

Trafficking for labour exploitation has increasingly attracted the interest of policy makers, investigators and labour inspectors in Europe. Recognising this interest, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands funded the project Capacity Building for Combating Trafficking for Labour Exploitation. The project aimed at setting up a programme of training sessions on trafficking for labour exploitation and related matters, such as cross-border judicial cooperation, transnational police investigation, and European and international legal framework of combating labour exploitation. The purpose of this publication is to summarize the proceedings of the project by reiterating the most important lessons learned, as well as to provide a basis for potential replication of one or more of the trainings conducted in its framework.

Chocolate's bitter taste: Forced, child and trafficked labour in the cocoa industry

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:20 +0000

This fact sheet provides information on the story behind much of the cocoa we consume. Significant amounts are harvested in West Africa using some of the worst forms of child labour, child trafficking and other forms of labour exploitation.

Combating Child Trafficking in the Cocoa Industry and Other Vulnerable Sectors in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:19 +0000

This paper seeks to understand and define the socio-cultural context that allows child trafficking/child labour to take place, the major challenges to stop these forms of exploitation, and the actual modus operandi of recruiters and middlemen. It also aims to identify the most affected regions of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana where child trafficking and exploitation take place, and the regions/countries of origins of trafficked children. Finally, it analyses the policy framework and the legislation

adopted by Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana in tackling the issue of child trafficking in the cocoa and other sectors of production.

Children Living and Working on the Streets of Lebanon: Profile and Magnitude

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:20 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "In November 2013, Lebanon pledged to eliminate the worst forms of child labour by 2016, through the enactment of a national action plan. As part of efforts to support this plan, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Save the Children International (SCI) commissioned this study, upon the request of Lebanon’s Ministry of Labour (MOL). Accordingly, the study’s main purpose is to assess the magnitude and profile of children living and working on the streets–– also known as street-based children (SBC)2––as well as formulate evidence-based and actionable policy recommendations."

City of Gold, City of Slaves: Slavery and Indentured Servitude in Dubai

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:19 +0000

EXCERPT FROM ARTICLE: "In the past two decades, the city of Dubai has experienced exponential growth, made possible by vigorous foreign investment and its robust tourism industry. However, beneath the glossy visage of the city lies a foundation of pervasive human rights violations; primarily slavery. Slavery presents itself primarily in the construction industry, enabled by the exploitation of immigrant construction workers. Additionally, many of the wealthy elite manipulate immigration processes in order to keep immigrant women as their personal domestic servants, subjecting them to a life of indentured servitude and slavery. The sex trade is also prevalent in Dubai, as many women are trafficked from all over the world to the city to serve as prostitutes for businessmen clientele. Additionally, many women arrive willingly, signing contracts to become domestic workers or work in Dubai businesses, only to have employers confiscate their passports and force them to work as prostitutes. This is partially enabled by the abuse of the United Arab Emirate’s residence visa system. The forms of slavery detailed here are enabled not only by international criminal organizations and corrupt businesses, but by the corruption and/or ineffectual malaise of the local and state governments in the region, as well as foreign embassies. Widespread reforms should be instated to help those in slavery get out and to punish those responsible."

Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for Labour Exploitation in Austria

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:19 +0000

This report addresses human trafficking for labour exploitation in Austria and is divided into five parts: the legal framework, cooperation in the investigation and prosecution (national and international), victim protection and assistance, case studies, and recommendations for the country.

Child Trafficking into Forced Labor on Lake Volta, Ghana

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:20 +0000

The purpose of this baseline study is to document the scope and nature of child trafficking in Lake Volta’s fishing industry. Although past studies have demonstrated the presence of child work, child labor, and child trafficking within Lake Volta’s fishing industry—highlighting that many children live outside the legal safeguards Ghana has established to protect child welfare—and have also documented the hazards and hardships faced by these children. However, prior to this mixed-

methods baseline study, the extent of child trafficking into forced labor on Lake Volta could only be inferred.

Child trafficking in Guinea-Bissau: An explorative study

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:20 +0000

The aim of this study is to describe the occurrences of and to identify determinants for child trafficking within Guinea-Bissau and across the borders to neighbouring countries. A further aim is to analyse the scope of the problem in the different regions and ethnic groups in the country, and the consequences for the children involved. Proposals and strategic approaches for the prevention of child trafficking are also suggested, in particular regarding family reunification of repatriated children.

Combating forced labour and trafficking in Africa: Background paper

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:19 +0000

The main goal of this report is to assess the contemporary state of knowledge regarding forced labour, human trafficking and slavery in Africa, as well as to examine efforts to eradicate them. As such, the major methodological approach was qualitative, involving an intensive literature search, review, and synthesis of relevant documents concerning these issues and the policies related to them.

Children for sale: Child trafficking in Southeast Asia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:20 +0000

The paper provides an overview of child trafficking in Southeast Asia. It highlights human rights and international laws relevant to this egregious form of child abuse. It describes the experiences of the young victims and the consequences for their physical and emotional well‐being. It reviews the risk factors at the level of the community setting (poverty and economic inequality), the child and his/her family (gender, age, race/ethnicity, family functioning, education) and broader contextual variables at the macro level (gender inequality and discrimination, demand factors). Finally, it presents recommendations for legal and policy initiatives to cease the sale and exploitation of children.

Child Welfare and Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:20 +0000

The growing awareness of human trafficking in the United States and abroad requires government and human services agencies to rethink old policies and develop new ones for identifying and serving victims. Child welfare agencies are on the front lines of these changes: Children and youth involved with the child welfare system due to abuse or neglect and then placed in foster care or group homes—as well as youth who are involved with the justice system, are homeless, or have run away—are all at high risk of being trafficked. Often, the lack of stability in their living situation, physical distance from friends and family, and emotional vulnerability put them at risk for traffickers who are actively seeking children and teens to exploit.

Combating Child Trafficking in Southeast Asia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:19 +0000

Combating Trafficking in Human Beings - Manual for Teachers

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:19 +0000

The Manual consists of six chapters, each one addressing a specific aspect of human trafficking and provides general information for teachers, a proposal of a workshop, i.e. ways in which a certain topic could be dealt with within a school class, ideas for extra activities, ideas for organizing various anti-trafficking actions in school and accompanying materials. All the materials necessary for conducting the workshops and for holding a class in general are given in the section “Annexes” in a way which enables easy photocopying and multiplying.

Child Trafficking in the Nordic Countries: Rethinking strategies and national responses

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:20 +0000

The study was initiated with twin aims: improving understanding of child trafficking and responses in the region; and contributing to the international discourse on child trafficking by examining the linkages between anti-trafficking responses and child protection systems. Although the study was conceived with a primary focus on trafficking, its scope is much broader. It analyses how the general principles of the Convention of the Rights of the Child are applied in relation to those children vulnerable to trafficking and other forms of exploitation. The study confirms that the Nordic countries have indeed made significant − and continuously evolving − attempts to address the issue of child trafficking, including through setting up relevant institutions, developing action plans and allocating budgets. However, while this has meant that specialized expertise is available for specific groups of children, it has sometimes also led to fragmentation of services, leaving some children unprotected. The research also finds that many existing gaps may be bridged by consistent and strengthened implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. At the same time, the study highlights that there is a way to achieve a fuller realization of rights for children who are vulnerable.

Child Trafficking in Europe: A Broad Vision to Put Children First

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:20 +0000

Within and across borders in Europe, children are trafficked into a variety of exploitative situations, violating their human rights and threatening their survival and development. This report assesses the legal, policy and implementation frameworks in place to address child trafficking in the region. Covering more than 50 countries/entities, the report investigates the complexity of the trafficking phenomenon, and maps trafficking patterns and targeted legal and policy responses. Child trafficking is addressed in the framework of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with a focus on prevention, protection and empowerment.

Child trafficking Statistics: U.S. & International

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:20 +0000

Ark of Hope for Children has compiled the following U.S. and international statistics on human trafficking, child trafficking and sex trafficking. These trafficking stats were sought so we could research the needs of rescued child trafficking victims. These became our keys towards our plan for the Harbourage safe homes for child trafficking survivors. Statistics are updated bi-yearly and sources are at the end.

Combating Human Trafficking in Maryland Recommendations for a Statewide Approach

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:19 +0000

Maryland’s response to human trafficking has developed dramatically over the last three years. In 2012, the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS), Department of Human Resources (DHR), Maryland State Police (MSP), and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) implemented targeted human trafficking policies which included training, risk assessment tools, and data collection protocols. After the first year, these agencies assessed their individual responses to human trafficking and responded accordingly. The initial data flowing from the implemented policies reflected increased awareness and a consistent victim- centered approach. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) and Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) were added to the statewide strategic plan for combating human trafficking in 2013.

Combating trafficking in women for labor purposes and establishing state responsibility under international law: the plight of Ethiopian migrant domestic workers in Saudi Arabia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:19 +0000

The research explores the protections provided for migrant domestic workers who are highly undervalued and often exposed to trafficking, despite comprising an integral part of the labour force worldwide. Saudi Arabia is a focus destination country for the study. Despite its high demand for household help, the Saudi Arabia national labour law excludes domestic workers and follows a strict sponsorship system that gives immense power to the employer, allowing for possible abuse of power. The study of Ethiopia as a migrant sending country is also important due to the myriad number of children and women migrating to Saudi Arabia on a yearly basis, at the risk of exposure to trafficking.

Criminal Liability of Legal Persons for Human Trafficking Offences in International and European Law

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:10 +0000

The most recent international and European laws against human trafficking require states to impose sanctions against legal entities involved in this crime. They aim to respond to the increasing risks of companies resorting to and benefiting from trafficked manpower. However, in spite of these legal improvements, prosecuting a legal person under trafficking laws still is very difficult. This paper will analyse the different ways in which companies can be, directly or indirectly, involved in human trafficking. Subsequently, it will address the international and European legal response to these patterns of involvement. Finally, the main obstacles that hinder the prosecution and punishment of legal persons liable for trafficking offences will be explained, and several avenues for improvement will be pointed out. Overall, this paper aims to highlight that these difficulties need to be overcome in order to truly guarantee adequate accountability of legal persons that commit human trafficking.

Damages for possession of child pornography: legal possibilities and practical obstacles

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:09 +0000

Watching child pornography is not a victimless offence. The knowledge that child pornography in which they figure is circulating forever on the Internet can cause the victim great psychological harm. Therefore, it is just that perpetrators of this offence should be liable for the damage that possession of child pornography causes the victims. However, the nature of the offence raises a number of legal and practical issues which are discussed in this article.

Daesh's Gender-Based Crimes against Yazidi Women

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:09 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "Daesh continues to commit heinous crimes against women and girls, and, to date, has done so with impunity. Victims and witnesses who have fled Daesh control consistently describe being subjected to attacks that aim to terrorize and silence the population. But even in the context of Daesh’s blanket persecutions against ethnic minorities, Daesh has singled out the Yazidi religious and ethnic minority, and most notability Yazidi women and children, for particularly brutal treatment. Further, its state-building strategy requires subjugation of women and control over their reproductive capacity to guarantee future generations for the so-called Caliphate. These policies, strategies and practices lead to and provide a perceived justification for Daesh fighters’ carrying out the horrendous crimes against Yazidi women and girls detailed below."

Country Fact Sheet: Egypt

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:10 +0000

ABSTRACT: "Egypt’s National Strategy for Prevention of Early Marriage came about against the backdrop of proposals from conservative forces which may have reduced the age of marriage for girls to as low as nine years. The strategy, which prioritises early marriage as part of the national population and development agenda, aims to reduce the prevalence of early marriage by 50 percent within a five year time-frame. It is currently in the first stage of implementation."

Child trafficking for exploitation in forced criminal activities and forced begging

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 00:58:21 +0000

Children are one of the most vulnerable groups targeted for the trafficking in human beings (THB). Organised crime groups (OCGs) choose to traffic children as they can be easily recruited and quickly replaced. OCGs can also maintain child victims relatively cheaply and discreetly. The exploitation of children violates the human rights of children; to have a safe childhood in their family setting, to receive education, to have time to play and to be protected from exploitation. This Intelligence Notification focuses on the exploitation of children forced into committing criminal activities and forced begging. The victims of these types of exploitation are frequently falsely identified as suspects rather than victims of THB.

Countering Human Trafficking: The UK’s Efforts

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:10 +0000

The United Kingdom (UK) is a destination country for men, women, and children primarily from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe who are subjected to human trafficking for the purposes of sexual slavery and forced labour, including domestic servitude. Human trafficking is a subject of growing concern in the UK this has led to the UK Government taking positive action in terms of improving legislation and punishment for trafficking and slavery offences. In 2015, the UK Government passed new legislation in the form of the Modern Slavery Act to restructure the criminal offences linked to trafficking and to implement tougher sentencing powers and create a new post of Modern Slavery Commissioner to oversee changes in the UK trafficking response. The legislation also gives support to victims in terms of the provision of mechanisms for seizing traffickers’ assets and channelling some of that money towards victims for compensation payments and the creation of a new statutory defence for slavery or trafficking victims compelled to commit criminal offences. However, there is still a long way to go in terms of investment into dedicated police human trafficking training and investigation capacity as police forces in the UK are facing up to 45% budget cuts over an 8 year period up to 2018. It should also be said that there is also a training and awareness requirement for the legal profession including prosecuting and defence lawyers as well as the judiciary.

This 2015 paper by Bernie Gravett of Specialist Policing Consulting UK, analyses from a security sector perspective, the structure, politique and process of efforts to counter THB.

Data Protection Challenges in Anti-Trafficking Policies - A Practical Guide

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:09 +0000

datACT is a joint cooperation between the German NGO network against Trafficking in Human Beings, KOK and the European network La Strada International.

The publication offers an overview of the relevant European data protection provisions, a methodology to conduct privacy impact assessments for anti-trafficking NGO service providers, an analysis for the privacy rights claims for trafficked persons, and data protection standards for NGO service providers. Moreover, the study contains an elaboration of legal arguments that lead in 2013 to the failure of mandatory registration of sex workers in the Netherlands.

Combating Trafficking in Women for Labour Purposes and Establishing State Responsibility under International Law: The Plight of Ethiopian Migrant Domestic Workers in Saudi Arabia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:10 +0000

EXCERPT FROM SUMMARY: "The research explores the protections provided for migrant domestic workers who are highly undervalued and often exposed to trafficking, despite comprising an integral part of the labour force worldwide. Saudi Arabia is a focus destination country for the study, as it emerged from among the top destination countries absorbing 61 percent of recorded Ethiopian migrant domestic workers. Despite such high demand for household help, the Saudi Arabia national labour law excludes domestic workers and follows a strict sponsorship system that gives immense power to the employer and allows for possible abuse of power. The study of Ethiopia as a migrant sending country is also important due to the myriad number of children and women migrating to Saudi Arabia on a yearly basis, at the risk of the exposure to trafficking."

Compensation for Trafficked Persons in the Republic of Belarus

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:10 +0000

The book considers legal and practical aspects of compensation of damage caused by the crime to the victims of trafficking. Short overview of international legislation and legal mechanisms in this sphere is provided. Existing legal procedure and compensation practice of physical, property and moral damage of trafficked persons in the Republic of Belarus is covered. Views of professional community (lawyers, psychologists, social workers) on the pondering problem are studied. Recommendations to the specialists working in anti-trafficking domain are provided. Annexes contain excerpts from legislative acts, results of empiric researches, samples of procedural documents.

The book is aimed at specialists of investigation and law-enforcement bodies, barristers, judges, psychologists, reintegration specialists, scientific workers, students of law faculties, and victims of trafficking.

Compensation for Victims of Human Trafficking in the Netherlands

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:10 +0000

With this report we aim to increase awareness of the importance of compensation for victims of human trafficking. The assumption that human trafficking is sufficiently addressed by prosecuting perpetrators and imposing fines on employers for illegal employment does not do justice to the victim’s interests. We particularly aim to convince agencies and individuals who assist or represent victims of the importance of compensation. We hope that describing the possibilities for obtaining compensation and the hurdles to be overcome will lead to these possibilities being used more frequentely and with greater success.

Criminalité transfrontalière en Afrique de l’Ouest: Cadre et limites des stratégies régionales de lutte

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:10 +0000

Cette note d’analyse propose un inventaire succinct des moyens et stratégies mis en oeuvre par les États et institutions régionales pour lutter contre la criminalité transfrontalières dans l'Afrique de l'Ouest, ainsi que leurs écueils. En conclusion, l'étude esquisse des pistes de réponses non exclusivement répressives, axées sur la prévention par le biais d’initiatives d’insertion socioéconomique, qui pourraient être portées par les acteurs de proximité: communautés locales, organisations de la société civile, institutions locales, etc.

Cooperating out of Isolation: the Case of Migrant Domestic Workers in Kuwait, Lebanon, and Jordan

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:10 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "This paper is inspired by examples of domestic workers organizing themselves in different parts of the world through social and solidarity economy enterprises and organizations which have become more evident since the advent of the ILO Domestic Workers Convention 2011, (No.189). It analyses current legislative and policy frameworks, institutional structures and membership-based initiatives that could allow and promote domestic workers’ social and solidarity economy enterprises and organizations in three countries in the Middle East; Jordan, Kuwait and Lebanon. The paper is meant to generate reflection and discussion on opportunities and options contributing to the realization of decent work for domestic workers in line with the ILO Domestic Workers Convention 2011, (No.189). Information contained in this document has been validated at a roundtable discussion that took place in Amman 14-15 December 2014, during which participants from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon and Oman as well as global initiatives and international networks of domestic workers shared their experiences."

Contribution Program to Combat Child Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking (CPCCSEHT)

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:10 +0000

In 2009, Public Safety Canada established the Contribution Program to Combat Child Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking (CPCCSEHT). The CPCCSEHT provides funding towards eligible projects and/or initiatives that support public education and awareness, research, and targeted initiatives, such as the development and/or delivery of training and conferences to advance knowledge in the area of child sexual exploitation, particularly on the Internet and human trafficking. Eligible recipients for the CPCCSEHT include not-for-profit organizations, Aboriginal and non-status governments, organizations and communities, provincial, municipal and regional governments, Canadian universities and educational institutions, provincial, municipal and Aboriginal police services, and international not-for-profit organizations and/or non-governmental organizations.

Convention Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:10 +0000

Considering the need to adopt new instruments for the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, as the main priority for national and international action, including international cooperation and assistance, to complement the Convention and the Recommendation concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, 1973, which remain fundamental instruments on child labour, and Considering that the effective elimination of the worst forms of child labour requires immediate and comprehensive action, taking into account the importance of free basic education and the need to remove the children concerned from all such work and to provide for their rehabilitation and social integration while addressing the needs of their families, and Recalling the resolution concerning the elimination of child labour adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 83rd Session in 1996, and Recognizing that child labour is to a great extent caused by poverty and that the long-term solution lies in sustained economic growth leading to social progress, in particular poverty alleviation and universal education

Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46)

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:10 +0000

Six offences in the Criminal Code specifically address human trafficking:

Trafficking in Persons (section 279.01): which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years where the offence involved kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault or death, and a maximum penalty of 14 years and a mandatory minimum penalty of 4 years in all other cases;
Trafficking of a person under the age of eighteen years (section 279.011) which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum penalty of 6 years where the offence involved kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault or death, and a maximum penalty of 14 years and a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years in all other cases;
Receiving a Financial or Other Material Benefit for the purpose of committing or facilitating trafficking in persons -Adult Victim (subsection 279.02(1)): which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment;
Receiving a Financial or Other Material Benefit for the purpose of committing or facilitating trafficking in persons -Child Victim (subsection 279.02(2)): which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment and a mandatory minimum penalty of 2 years;
Withholding or Destroying a Person's Identity Documents (for example, a passport) for the purpose of committing or facilitating trafficking of that person - Adult Victim (subsection 279.03(1)): which carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment; and,
Withholding or Destroying a Person's Identity Documents (for example, a passport) for the purpose of committing or facilitating trafficking of that person - Child Victim (subsection 279.03(2)): which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a mandatory minimum penalty of 1 year.

Death in the Desert

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:09 +0000

CNN's Fred Pleitgen travels through Sinai revealing the appalling treatment African refugees receive at the hands of Bedouin tribes in this documentary.

Death In The Desert: A CNN Freedom Project Documentary

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:09 +0000

This documentary follows CNN correspondent Fred Pleitgen as he travels through Sinai, gaining insight into the secret this rugged and lawless expanse of desert hold. Fred Pleitgen uncovers horrific evidence that some of the refugees had their vital organs stolen while still alive and were then left to die in the desert…

Comprehensive Services for Survivors of Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:10 +0000

Many humans are trafficked across international borders for the purposes of labor or sexual exploitation. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) developed the Services for Trafficking Victims Discretionary Grant Program - Comprehensive Services Sites. The program provides direct services, such as legal and crisis counseling to assist victims once they are identified until they are certified to receive other federal benefits. Urban Institute researchers conducted face-to-face interviews with survivors and with key service providers in three evaluation sites. The in-depth interviews document victims service needs, their experiences using OVC-funded services, and barriers to services. They also provide a unique opportunity to listen directly to the voices of the victims.

Cross border North Korean women trafficking and victimization between North Korea and China: An ethnographic case study

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:09 +0000

This is a case study on the trafficking of North Korean women via the interviewing of women trafficking victims. The study has an explorative nature. Its primary goal is to address the issues of the cross-border trafficking of North Korean women. In doing so, this research will describe the current picture of cross-border North Korean women trafficking operation between North Korea and China. It will uncover the identity and characteristics of traffickers, the identity and characteristics of victims and contributing factors of their victimization, and the cross-border trafficking routes and procedural networks of trafficking operation. The findings of the current study shows that the problem of North Korean women trafficking is worth being paid attention by the international community and that appropriate counter-measures need to be implemented. Also, this study hopes to facilitate more empirical research on this topic.

Cybersex Trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:09 +0000

Cybersex trafficking is a type of sex trafficking that was unimaginable before the digital age. Suddenly, children are exposed to a global web of predators. The Philippines receives thousands of cybersex trafficking case referrals a month from the U.S. alone. This document gives a comprehensive overview of cybersex trafficking.

Dynamics of oppression and state failure: Cases of child labour in artisanal and small - scale mines - Democratic Republic of Congo

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:54 +0000

This thesis deals with child labor in artisanal and small scale mines in two case studies: Kalima and Kampene in the Province of Maniema, Democratic Republic of Congo. The paper investigates the working conditions of child miners, their self-perception, and the consequences of the lack of a functioning state for child miners

Escaping slavery in Hong Kong

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:54 +0000

CNN's Alexandra Field covers the harrowing story of one man's fight against human trafficking and the government that failed in its responsibility to protect him.

Estonian Migrant Workers as Targets of Trafficking for Forced Labour and Labour Exploitation

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:53 +0000

The objective of the present study is to analyze existing evidence on forced labour and labour exploitation more systematically, looking into the elements of labour exploitation, which are the coercive recruitment and employment practices in certain labour market sectors. The project seeks to answer the following questions:

What are the main sources of evidence when studying labour exploitation and trafficking for forced labour in Estonia?
What are the target sectors and countries for migration?
What are the main problems leading to labour exploitation in the recruitment process?
What kind of exploitative situations do Estonian nationals face abroad?
What are the main mechanisms of exploitative employment practices?
What are the main risk factors for labour exploitation?
How do current legislative and institutional means respond to labour exploitation situations and trafficking for forced labour to and from Estonia?

Diagnóstico sobre la Situación de la Trata de Personas en México

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:55 +0000

El presente Diagnóstico recopila y expone información disponible sobre la situación de la trata de personas en el país (México). Particularmente, se concentra información sobre los distintos elementos de la cadena de la trata de personas (víctimas, tratantes y clientes-explotadores) y se señalan factores que propician la incidencia de este delito. Asimismo, se recaba información sobre las diversas modalidades de captación y explotación registradas en el país, las zonas de incidencia, los países de origen de víctimas extranjeras, así como los países de destino de las víctimas mexicanas. Tras una somera exposición del marco jurídico nacional e internacional, se presente la respuesta del Estado mexicano referente a la persecución del delito. Finalmente, se elaboraron propuestas específicas de política pública respecto de la prevención del delito, el combate a la impunidad, la detección y atención a víctimas de trata de personas, así como el acceso a la justicia de esta población en especial situación de vulnerabilidad. The current Diagnostic complies and explains the available information on the human trafficking situation in Mexico. It particularly deals with information about the specific elements of the trafficking chain (victims, traffickers, and exploitative clients) and points out factors that propagate occurrence of the crime. At the same time, it collects information about the diverse modalities of capture and exploitation en the country, the zones of occurrence, the countries of origins of the foreign victims, as well as the the destination countries of Mexican victims. By way of a explanation of the national and international legal framework, it presents the Mexican government's solution to the crime. Finally, it explains the solutions of policies published specific to the prevention of the crime, the impunity fight, detection of victims, and also access to justice for populations in especially vulnerable circumstances.

Domestic Plight: How Jordanian Law, Officials, Employers, and Recruiters Fail Abused Migrant Domestic Workers

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:55 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "Despite significant legal reforms in recent years, the chances of a migrant domestic worker (MDW) having all her human rights respected and protected in Jordan are slim, if non-existent. Domestic Plight records systemic and systematic abuses, in some cases amounting to forced labor, experienced by some of the 70,000 Indonesian, Sri Lankan, and Filipina MDWs in Jordan. Abuses included beatings, forced confinement around the clock, passport confiscation, and forcing MDWs to work more than 16 hours a day, seven days a week, without full pay. MDWs who escaped or tried to complain about abuse found little shelter and agencies forcibly returned them to abusive employers. Jordanian officials provided little help, including prosecutors, who rarely applied Jordan’s anti-trafficking law to MDWs. The report traces abuse to a recruitment system in which employers and recruitment agencies disempower workers through deceit, debt, and blocking information about rights and means of redress; and a work environment that isolates the worker and engenders dependency on employers and recruitment agencies under laws that penalize escape. Jordanian law contains provisions, such as allowing confinement and imposing fines for residency violations, which contribute to abuse. The Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers, which the International Labour Organization adopted in June 2011 with Jordan’s support, could change that. Human Rights Watch calls on Jordan to promptly ratify and implement the convention by changing laws and practices that restrict MDWs freedom of movement, such as clauses sanctioning their confinement in the house, and blocking them from returning home unless they pay fines. Labor inspectors should investigate and fine employers who violate Jordan’s labor code and prosecutors should more forcefully pursue cases of forced labor for exploitation."

Enquête sur le travail des enfants dans les zones de cultures de cacao en Afrique de l'Ouest

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:54 +0000

L’objectif de ce rapport est d’évaluer la prévalence du travail des enfants, et de mesurer les changements dans les estimations du travail des enfants; les enfants dans le travail des enfants, et les enfants dans le travail dangereux des enfants dans le secteur du cacao en Afrique de l’Ouest durant la saison des récoltes de cacao entre 2008/2009 et 2013/2014.

Emerging good practice in combating the worst forms of child labour in West African cocoa-growing communities

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:54 +0000

This work gathers together the experiences and ideas from representatives of governments, organisations and agencies active at different stages along the cocoa supply chain as well as from men, women and children living in cocoa growing communities. This work provides an opportunity to review essential elements of the environment required to support the elimination of child labour in cocoa production and other sectors. It identifies some emerging good practices from existing interventions in the hope of contributing to their proliferation. It reflects on the roles and responsibilities of those concerned to encourage greater clarity, coordination and collaboration in the coming years.

Echoes from Syria: Human Organs Are Not For Sale Nor Are Humans To Be Sold For Their Organs!

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:54 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "As the conflict in Syria continues now after entering its fifth year, reports have been received from civil society actors about increased child abductions and human trafficking for organ removal. This phenomenon which affects the most vulnerable has thus attracted the attention of the Protection Sector and its partners."

Estimating Human Trafficking Into the United States: Development of a Methodology Final Phase Two Report

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:53 +0000

This project developed methods for estimating the number of females and males trafficked over the Southwest U.S. border from 8 Central and South American countries for sexual and labor exploitation, and improved and applied these methods to estimate the number of females trafficked for sexual exploitation to the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region from 15 Eastern European countries.

Ending Child Marriage: Progress and Prospects

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:54 +0000

Worldwide, more than 700 million women alive today were married before their 18th birthday. More than one in three (about 250 million) entered into union before age 15.

Enduring Child Labour on Ivory Coast's Cocoa Farms: Practicality of the ILO Standards and the Missed Opportunities

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:54 +0000

This thesis examines the enduring nature of child labour on Ivory Coast's cocoa farms. It focuses on the influences of traditions and customary practices underpinning the child labour practice. It shows the adverse role of Multinational Corporations operating in Ivory Coast's cooca industry. The thesis also shows that, despite Ivory Coast being a signatory to the ILO Convention on the Woest Forms of CHild Labour 1999 (No. 182), the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1999) as well as other regional and sub-regional legal instruments, the appropriate legal and policy response to child labour has yet to be provided. The thesis, therefore, offers the pedagogic approach as the shifting factor.

Dynamics of Trafficking in Nigerian Women and Globalization

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:54 +0000

Globalization appears to fuel the trafficking of Nigerian women. This paper seeks to examine the currency of trafficking in Nigerian women with respect to the meaning, extent and effects of Trafficking in Nigerian Women. The strategies for a solution will be suggested.

Demand Side of Human Trafficking in Asia: Empirical Findings

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:02:39 +0000

Thus far, most of the studies on human trafficking have focused on the push factor of trafficking. This report examines the demand of human trafficking including consumer demand, employer demand, and household demand. The countries examined are Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Nepal; the manifestation of trafficking included in this report are domestic labor, commercial sexual exploitation, fireworks production, organized begging, and child soldiers.

End Trafficking Suggested Films and Books

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:54 +0000

A collection of books and movies on human trafficking all around the world. https://www.unicefusa.org/sites/default/files/Suggested%20Resources_End%20Trafficking.pdf

Displacement, violence and vulnerability: Trafficking among internally displaced persons in Kenya

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:55 +0000

This study examines the link between internal displacement and human trafficking by specifically looking at factors that might increase the vulnerability of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to trafficking. The study concludes that depending on the combinations of these factors and meeting these conditions, the vulnerability of IDPs to trafficking can either increase or decrease. A number of recommendations are made towards the mitigation of vulnerability of IDPs to trafficking.

Engaging Community: Addressing Sex Trafficking in Edmonton (2015) Summary

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:54 +0000

In 2013, in response to growing concern over the issue of sex trafficking in Canadian communities, Status of Women Canada provided ACT Alberta with funding to develop a Community Action Plan to prevent and reduce sex trafficking of women and girls in Edmonton. This project was focused on developing a practical, cross-sectoral plan and was guided by Public Safety Canada’s Local Safety Audit Guide: To prevent trafficking in persons and related exploitation. A Core Team of eleven distinct community stakeholders was convened to help guide and support this collaborative plan.

District of Columbia Statistics

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:55 +0000

Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery that occurs in every state, including the District of Columbia. The NHTRC works closely with service providers, law enforcement, and other professionals in the District of Columbia to serve victims and survivors of trafficking, respond to human trafficking cases, and share information and resource

Consequences of Policing Prostitution An Analysis of Individuals Arrested and Prosecuted for Commercial Sex in New York City

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:01:10 +0000

The Legal Aid Society’s Exploitation Intervention Project (EIP) represents most individuals prosecuted for violating New York State prostitution laws. EIP also represents survivors of trafficking into prostitution and works to clear charges from their criminal records if they were a result of having been trafficked. Urban researchers gathered data from both groups of EIP clients to describe who is facing arrest in New York City for prostitution and who has faced arrest and prosecution for prostitution in the past. This study explores the background and needs of EIP clients, in addition to the challenges these clients face within the criminal legal system.

Ending Child Marriage in the Arab Region

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:54 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "This policy brief presents the latest data on child marriage in the Arab region, which includes members of the League of Arab States (stretching from Morocco to Oman). It explains how ending child marriage would help countries achieve their Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that aim to combat poverty and improve health and quality of life for all. The brief emphasizes the importance of taking a broad approach to end child marriage, including mandating more years of compulsory education, setting and enforcing the legal minimum age of marriage, raising community awareness about the harm caused by early marriage, and involving families to find ways to prevent child marriage."

Ethiopia Striving to Stamp out Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:53 +0000

This paper begins with a survivor story. It then provides a background on human trafficking in Ethiopia, including various statistics and information on the identity of the traffickers. It then discusses the consequences of human trafficking in the country, and ends by describing national efforts in place to combat human trafficking.

Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services to Victims of Human Trafficking in the United States: Commitments from the Family and Youth Services Bureau

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:06:42 +0000

In January 2013, President Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation that declared January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month to shed light on the exploitation of nearly 27 million women, men and children worldwide1; these victims are often overlooked, and those who routinely interact with victims and survivors may lack awareness or tools to properly identify and assist them. Therefore, many victims go without help. Building on the strong record of the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, the Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services for Victims of Human Trafficking in the United States (SAP) was developed in 2013 to support the ongoing battle against modern-day slavery to ensure that all victims of human trafficking in the United States have access to the tools and services they need to escape exploitation and rebuild their lives. The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) and all of its grantee partners are crucial to that effort.

Examining the Governance and Integrity of International Soccer

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:06:43 +0000

This is the written statement of Sunjeev Bery, Middle East and North Africa Advocacy Director for Amnesty International. Bery presented Amnesty International's findings on human rights and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar before the United States Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security on July 15, 2015.

Executive Summary-Taiwan

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:05:16 +0000

Since the United Nations recognized the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the legitimate government representing China, withdrawing Taiwan’s seat at the UN in 1971, this affects Taiwan’s diplomatic relations and, most importantly, renders it unable to ratify UN human rights treaties, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and its Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (OPSC). However, Taiwan is not spared from problems with child prostitution especially with online social networking sites suspected of operating prostitution rings. Due to its economic prosperity, Taiwan is also a destination country for adults trafficked for labour and sexual exploitation. Women and girls are known to be trafficked from China and Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia and Vietnam, through false marriages with Taiwanese men and fake employment offers. This report highlights the manifestation of of human trafficking in Taiwan and the policy and legal framework of addressing human and child trafficking in Taiwan.

Falling through the Cracks: the Children of Yemen

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:06:43 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "As the war inYemen completes two years, children continue to pay the heaviest price while families’ coping mechanisms are stretched to their limit. Nearly 10 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance. Children are being robbed of their childhood as they come under attack, their future hanging in the balance, unable to learn or fulfill their potential. Across Yemen, families are increasingly resorting to negative methods to survive. More children are recruited to fight at an ever younger age. In the past two years, the United Nations verified that at least 1,572 boys were recruited and used in the conflict, up from 850 last year. More than two thirds of girls are married off before they reach 18, compared to 50 per cent before the conflict escalated."

Executive Summary - Ghana

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:06:43 +0000

This report on the state of human trafficking in Ghana is split into the following categories: introduction, national plans of action, coordination and cooperation, prevention, protection, child and youth participation, and priority actions required.

Female Temporary Circular Migration and Rights Protection in the Strawberry Sector in Huelva, Spain

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:06:42 +0000

This specific research report seeks to contribute to the on-going analysis by Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) by looking at the issues of trade, security, global economics, migrant and trafficked women, and agency in the context of a programme of female temporary migration within the agriculture sector in Huelva, Spain; we aim to connect macroeconomics to a micro example of reality lived on the ground.

Executive Summary of the Third Austrian Report on Combating Human Trafficking 2012-2014

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:06:43 +0000

The Austrian Task Force on Combating Human Trafficking was created in 2004. Every three years, the Task Force prepares reports on the implementation of Austria’s measures against trafficking in human beings to the government and the parliament. In April 2015, the third Austrian Report on Combating Human Trafficking was adopted by the government.

Exploring the experiences of women married through abduction in the upper west region of Ghana

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:06:43 +0000

This study was conducted to explore the experiences of women married through abduction and the factors that sustain it in the Jirapa district, using a qualitative approach. It finds that the abuse of ancient traditions has resulted in young women being kidnapped and raped in Ghanaian society. The study recommends that chiefs, elders and opinion leaders of the communities experiencing bride

abduction must re-examine and redefine the culture surrounding marriage practice.

Exploitation in the name of education: Uneven progress in ending forced child begging in Senegal

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:06:43 +0000

This 2014 Human Rights Watch report describes the current situation in Senegal with regards to child beggars, two years after the Senegalese president proclaimed, "strong measures will be taken to end the exploitation of children, under the pretext that they are Quranic students. This tragedy demands that we intervene and identify every site like this one that exists. They will be closed and the children provided for.” It provides an assessment of the country's progress in this matter, and recommendations for the future.

Exploitative Sham Marriages and Trafficking in Human Beings in Lithuania

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:06:43 +0000

The goal of this research is to analyse a relatively new form of human trafficking, i.e. exploitative sham marriages, and reveal the relationship between this form of exploitation and the crime of trafficking in human beings. In aiming to fulfil this goal, policy and secondary data analysis (policies that are put into practice, research that has been conducted, and statistics that can be accessible) has been conducted which serves as a basis for disclosing and evaluating the situation of exploitative sham marriages in the general context of human trafficking.

Exploitative Sham Marriages and Human Trafficking in Ireland

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:06:43 +0000

In Ireland, the issue of sham marriage has been the subject of much political debate and legal controversy, as have the measures that have been introduced by the Irish authorities in their attempts to prevent and address perceived abuses of the domestic immigration system by individuals entering in marriages for the sole purpose of gaining residence entitlements in Ireland. The Immigrant Council of Ireland Independent Law Centre (ICI), an organisation that has been to the fore in identifying the issue of human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation in Ireland and seeking to ensure that the rights of victims are protected fully, undertook the research for this Ireland country report. This report discusses the research findings as well as the legal framework regarding sham marriages in Ireland.

Fair Recruitment Initiative

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:06:43 +0000

In today’s globalized economy, workers are increasingly looking for job opportunities beyond their home country in search of decent working conditions. In addition, millions of workers migrate internally. Public and private employment agencies, when appropriately regulated, play an important role in the efficient and equitable functioning of labour markets. However, concerns have been raised about the growing role of unscrupulous employment agencies, informal labour intermediaries and other operators acting outside the legal and regulatory framework that prey especially on low-skilled workers. Reported abuses involve one or more of the following: deception about the nature and conditions of work; retention of passports; deposits and illegal wage deductions; debt bondage linked to repayment of recruitment fees; threats if workers want to leave their employers, coupled with fears of subsequent expulsion from a country. A combination of these abuses can amount to human trafficking and forced labour. Despite the existence of international labour standards relating to recruitment, national laws and their enforcement often fall short of protecting the rights of workers, and migrant workers in particular.

Fact Sheet: Human Trafficking and the Exploitation of Young Peopla

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:06:43 +0000

Human trafficking has been defined in the UN (Palermo) Protocol as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons; by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion of abduction, of fraud, 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 (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).”[1] [1] Article 3. Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transitional Organized Crime. United Nations, (2000).

Etude sur la Violence Sexuelle à l'Encontre des Enfants au Maroc

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:06:43 +0000

EXTRAIT DU RÉSUMÉ: "La présente étude sur la violence sexuelle à l’encontre des enfants au Maroc, réalisée par l’association AMANE et l’UNICEF, avec la contribution d’ECPAT France et de l’Agence Française de Développement, a pour objectifs de dresser un état des lieux des tendances évolutives de la violence sexuelle à l’encontre des enfants au Maroc, de comprendre ses manifestations, ses causes ainsi que la réponse nationale à tous les niveaux d’intervention (politique, juridique, programmatique, etc.,) a n de mobiliser les détenteurs d’obligations et de mieux orienter les actions futures."

Étude Mondiale sur l'Exploitation Sexuelle des Enfants dans le Cadre du Voyage et du Tourisme: Moyen-Orient et Afrique du Nord

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:04:36 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'AVANT-PROPOS: "Ce rapport donne une image actualisée de l’environnement marqué par la persistance de l’exploitation sexuelle des enfants dans le cadre du voyage et du tourisme dans la région MENA et propose un ensemble de recommandations visant à améliorer les réponses apportées par le secteur gouvernemental, non-gouvernemental et par le secteur privé en vue de prévenir et de combattre ce crime. En tant que tel, le rapport a pour vocation de contribuer à la réalisation des objectifs de développement durable en ce qui concerne le droit des enfants à vivre à l’abri de toute exploitation sexuelle. Après de nombreuses années passées à travailler sur la question, je ne soulignerai jamais assez combien il est important d’unir nos efforts et de tirer pro t de la coopération multisectorielle pour lutter contre ce CRIME. Le présent rapport est une invitation ouverte à toutes les intervenants clés, et notamment, les gouvernements, les ONG, le secteur privé, l’ONU, les communautés et les enfants eux-mêmes, à travailler en plus étroite collaboration en faveur de la lutte contre l’exploitation sexuelle des enfants dans le cadre du voyage et du tourisme car c’est ensemble que nous pourrons protéger ef cacement tous les enfants contre ce crime."

Étude Mondiale sur l'Exploitation Sexuelle des Enfants dans le Cadre du Voyage et du Tourisme: Résume Analytique et Recommandations

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:04:36 +0000

EXTRAIT DE LA PUBLICATION: "L’Étude Mondiale sur l’ESEVT a pour but d’apporter un éclairage nécessaire sur cette violation flagrante des droits des enfants, et marque également le 20e anniversaire du 1er Congrès mondial sur l’exploitation sexuelle des enfants et des adolescents. Guidée par un Groupe de travail de hautement qualifié, et éclairée par des études détaillées de toutes les régions et de nombreux pays, ainsi que par des contributions d’experts et d’enfants, l’Étude Mondiale est la première (et, jusqu’à ce jour, la seule) initiative de recherche sur l’ESEVT, qui explore les tendances émergentes et les solutions possibles."

Exploited Dreams: Dispatches from Indian Migrant Workers in Saudi Arabia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:06:43 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "Every day, close to 1,000 Indian low-wage migrant workers are provided with emigration clearances to travel to Saudi Arabia. They are recruited to work in cafeterias, supermarkets, construction sites, and guest houses; they sweep streets, cook in restaurants, and serve in households as domestic workers. Together, they send close to 500 billion INR (approximately 8.2 billion USD) back to India every year. However, Indian migrant workers can often face serious exploitation and deception during the migration process, leading to serious human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia which, at worst, includes forced labour. Drawing on interviews with migrant workers, government representatives and recruiting agents, this report examines the systemic factors in the pre-departure phase of the migration process that contribute to the exploitation and deception of migrant workers by individual brokers and recruiting agents in the state of Kerala, India. It documents the human rights abuses migrant workers encountered during their employment and residence in Saudi Arabia, and analyses the role played by the Indian government in regulating recruiting agents and ensuring access to remedy for migrant workers. It ends with recommendations to the governments of India and Saudi Arabia on how to prevent human rights abuses and protect migrant workers."

Dreams for Sale: the Exploitation of Domestic Workers from Recruitment in Nepal and Bangladesh to Working in Lebanon

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:03:55 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "This report examines the processes and practices involved in the recruitment of migrant domestic workers (MDWs) from Nepal and Bangladesh and explores their work and living conditions in Lebanon. MDWs began entering the Lebanese labour market in the mid-1970s, the influx creating a new labour market that was, and still is, managed by private placement agencies. The Lebanese government did not play a major role in the emergence of this lucrative market, nor did it pro-actively regulate it.It was no more than a witness to the expansion and propagation of this sector, and its consent came as merely as a reaction to its development. Private recruitment agencies in countries of origin and placement agencies in countries of destination are in charge of providing the necessary information and providing the matching services which link the requirements of the employer with the profile of the potential migrant worker, while also sorting out logistical arrangements to facilitate the migration process. Within such a context, the rights of the workers in the country of destination depend, to a large extent, on whether there are any deficiencies in the framework regulating the migration process. This is what this report has set out to explore."

Ethiopian female domestic workers inside Ethiopia and abroad (household slavery, trafficking)

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:04:37 +0000

This report serves as a source of information on Ethiopian women working as domestic servants under conditions of slavery, both within Ethiopia and outside of it.

Everyday atrocities: does internal (domestic) sex trafficking of British children satisfy the expectations of opportunity theories of crime?

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:04:36 +0000

In this study we examine the internal (domestic) sex trafficking of British children using unique data from six major police investigations. This particular type of internal sex trafficking (sometimes known as ‘street grooming’) has been popularly conceptualised as a highly sophisticated, skilled and well-organised phenomenon. This study shows that this characterisation does not withstand empirical scrutiny. Instead, the routine activities and everyday associations of both offenders and victims are shown to play key roles in facilitating, sustaining and spreading the abuse. While the criminal acts associated with internal child sex trafficking can be atrocious, the people, places and processes involved are shown to be far from exceptional. In this respect, the results may be unsettling: they undermine explanations of an emotive crime that rest on reassuring but ultimately naïve errors of attribution. We argue that it is important, however, that preventative strategies are underpinned not by sensationalised narrative and untested assumptions but by sober and robust assessments of appropriate empirical data. The paper contributes to the theoretical and empirical literature on opportunity theories of crime, on human trafficking and on child sexual abuse/exploitation. While the sample size is not especially large (55 offenders and 43 victims), this study helps to expand a sorely limited knowledge base on a topical threat. It is also distinguished by its hard-to-access data and novel analytical approach. The work is likely to interest a broad and international audience of academics, practitioners and policy makers concerned with crime prevention and child protection.

Sex trafficking and women: the Nigerian experience

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:14:31 +0000

This paper examines the menace of sex trafficking particularly as it affects Nigeria. It examines major legal framework in place to curb sex trafficking whilst ascertaining their adequacy or otherwise, and how the menace has been curtailed so far. It finishes by offering a solution.

Southeast Asia: Deadly Journeys-The Refugee and Trafficking Crisis in Southeast Asia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:14:31 +0000

In May 2015 three boats carrying 1,800 women, men and children landed in Aceh, Indonesia. Most of the passengers were Muslim Rohingya, a persecuted religious and ethnic minority from Myanmar. All those who arrived had endured weeks or months at sea, in overcrowded boats controlled by ruthless traffickers or abusive people-smugglers. The report includes testimonies from the Rohingya on the shocking conditions and human rights abuses they suffered on the boats for weeks or sometimes months on end, including killings and beatings while they were held hostage for ransom.

Risk Factors for External Human Trafficking in Nigerian and Indonesian Hotspots

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:06 +0000

This study specifically analyzes external trafficking, the forced migration of victims out of a country’s borders. Two countries which serve as significant sources of victims, Nigeria and Indonesia, will be the focus of these analyses. Nigeria is a notorious source of victims trafficked all over the globe, while Indonesia is considered a moderate source. This gives the opportunity to make a rich comparison between countries that not only sit on different continents, but have varying levels of trafficking.

Spotting the signs of domestic slavery

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:14:31 +0000

Health professionals, including district and community nurses and health visitors, are being encouraged to look out for signs of domestic slavery during home visits. Article in Nursing Standard teaches nurses what to look for to identify domestic slavery

Sex Work and Migration: The Dangers of Oversimplification- A Case Study of Vietnamese Women in Cambodia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:13:17 +0000

The case study of migrant Vietnamese sex workers in Cambodia presented here demonstrates how local interpretations of protection from trafficking and debt bondage can contribute to abuses of sex workers' human rights and exacerbate their vulnerability to HIV and other adverse sexual health outcomes. Using qualitative data, it examines the women's trajectories into sex work as well as their own perceptions of work conditions and related risks

Sex Trafficking of foreign females in Korea: Problems and Enforcement

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:14:31 +0000

No longer a homogeneous country, the Republic of Korea faces diverse social problems related to foreign residents in its society. One large proportion of the foreign residents is foreign female workers, mostly from Southeast Asian countries such as Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Unlike foreign women coming to Korea for international marriage, the female workers come to Korea to remit money they earn back to their families in home countries. The problem is, many of these foreign female workers become targets of Korean brokers who force them into the sex industry by threatening them due to their weak legal status and visas.

Slow Reform: Protection of Migrant Domestic Workers in Asia and the Middle East

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:14:31 +0000

EXCERPT FROM SUMMARY: "This report is based on ongoing research and advocacy engagement on migrant domestic workers by Human Rights Watch and draws upon our work in Bahrain, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates."

Sexual slavery without borders: trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation in India

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:10:12 +0000

Trafficking in women and children is a gross violation of human rights. However, this does not prevent an estimated 800 000 women and children to be trafficked each year across international borders. Eighty per cent of trafficked persons end in forced sex work. India has been identified as one of the Asian countries where trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation has reached alarming levels. While there is a considerable amount of internal trafficking from one state to another or within states, India has also emerged as a international supplier of trafficked women and children to the Gulf States and South East Asia, as well as a destination country for women and girls trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation from Nepal and Bangladesh. Trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation is a highly profitable and low risk business that preys on particularly vulnerable populations. This paper presents an overview of the trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation (CSE) in India; identifies the health impacts of CSE; and suggest strategies to respond to trafficking and related issues.

Sex Trafficking of Women and Girls from Mexico & Latin America

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:14:31 +0000

Powerpoint/fact sheet from Polaris Project on sex trafficking into the U.S. from Central and South America.

Sex trafficking in Latin America: dominant discourse, empirical paucity, and promising research

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:14:31 +0000

Much has been written in the English-speaking world on the topic of sex trafficking, but little is known about what researchers elsewhere have produced on this topic. An exhaustive literature search was conducted to locate publications on this topic from Latin America. A total of 74 publications were located and put through a systematic content analysis. Four main discernible patterns were noticed: (1) the vast majority of the publications were produced by individuals affiliated with international or non-government organisations; (2) the production of trafficking-related literature sharply declined after 2007; (3) of the small number of studies involving empirical data, most were qualitative in nature; and (4) the literature was primarily focused on the sexual exploitation of children. The discourse on sex trafficking in Latin America appeared to be dominated by advocacy groups. There were few scholarly articles, suggesting limited attention from the academic community. Despite limited empirical data, many Spanish-speaking authors made claims on the nature and extent of sex trafficking, with articles citing one another as source of evidence. This review finds a great need for the involvement of the academic community and for dispassionate and empirically grounded research on sex trafficking.

Sex Trafficking of Children in Malaysia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:12:27 +0000

Provides an overview of child sex trafficking in Malaysia, including the prevalence, push and pull factors.

Sex Trafficking and STI/HIV in Southeast Asia: Connections between Sexual Exploitation, Violence and Sexual Risk

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:11:38 +0000

This quantitative research study on the issue of sex trafficking and HIV in Southeast Asia was undertaken by UNDP Regional HIV and Development Program, together with the Harvard School of Public Health. The researchers expect the study will contribute to greater dialogue on issues of sex trafficking and HIV and more effective responses that address the health, well being and safety of sex-trafficked women and girls.

Smuggled South

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:14:31 +0000

This report serves as an updated overview of mixed migration from the Horn of Africa to southern Africa with specific focus on protections risks, human smuggling and trafficking. The paper finds that migrant smuggling along the southern route continues to thrive and exposes migrants in mixed flows to high levels of abuse and risk.

Sex trafficking victims in Cambodia speak out

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:14:31 +0000

Three Cambodian girls once sold into sexual slavery by their own mothers have now found dignity and hope.

Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Boys in South Asia-A Review of Research Findings, Legislation, Policy, and Program Responses

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:10:30 +0000

This paper presents an overview of research findings, legislation, policy and program responses to prevent and respond to sexual abuse and exploitation of boys in South Asia. It represents a contribution to UNICEF IRCs research on the implementation of international standards and supplements previous IRC research on child trafficking in South Asia.

Speaking of Prostitution

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:14:31 +0000

This booklet aims to break down the pro-prostitution arguments commonly heard and works to advocate for a radical feminist view of prostitution as exploitation of women.

Exploring the Demand for Prostitution

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:06:43 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "The following study is a first attempt to explore and better understand the demand side in Lebanon where little has been written on this critical component of the prostitution industry. Studies on male buyers of sexual acts are not only rare, but when they do exist, they often deal with the health side of the subject (e.g., the spreading of HIV/AIDS, use of condoms, use of drugs.) This study collects and compiles insightful data and information on male buyers in Lebanon, their motivations and rationalizations for buying sexual acts, their behavior and practices, and their gendered interactions with and perceptions about women in prostitution. The study concludes by proposing policy recommendations to tackle the demand side, and more holistically, the resulting prostitution and trafficking of victims for sexual exploitation."

Sex trafficking awareness and associated factors among youth females in Bahir Dar town, North-West Ethiopia: a community-based study

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:14:31 +0000

Sex trafficking is a contemporary issue in both developed and developing countries. The number of trafficked women and young girls has increased globally. Females aged 18-25 are the most targeted group of trafficking. Although the problem is evident in Ethiopia, there are no studies that explored sex trafficking awareness among females. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess sex trafficking awareness and associated factors among youth females in Bahir Dar town, North-West Ethiopia.

Southeast Asia: Governments must turn commitments into reality to stem Southeast Asian migrant and refugee crisis

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:14:31 +0000

Ahead of a regional meeting hosted by Thailand tomorrow, Amnesty International calls on the governments of Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand to prioritize protection of the human rights of migrants and refugees in any action directed at combating human trafficking and managing irregular migration. The government of Thailand is hosting the 2nd Special Meeting on Irregular Migration in the Indian Ocean on 4 December 2015 in Bangkok.

Sex Trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:14:31 +0000

Every year, millions of vulnerable children and women are trafficked for sex around the world. This document provides a comprehensive overview of the facts and statistics of sex trafficking around the world.

Severe labour exploitation: workers moving within or into the European Union

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:07 +0000

The phenomenon of worker exploitation in general has to date been the subject of less research than related phenomena, such as trafficking or forced labour. There is therefore scant evidence of the vast number of people who move from one EU Member State to another or migrate into the EU and are forced by their economic and social circumstances to accept working conditions far below recognised legal standards. The extensive fieldwork and desk research conducted for the report aim to fill this knowledge gap, thus challenging the current climate of implicit acceptance of severe labour exploitation. The report identi es risk factors contributing to such exploitation and discusses means of improving the situation. These include prevention strategies such as increased workplace inspections and greater efforts on the part of EU institutions and Member States to tighten public procurement procedures to avoid inadvertently funding exploiters. The report also stresses that greater efforts are necessary to enable and encourage victims to report cases of labour exploitation, for example by encouraging trade unions to take an active role in informing and assisting persons who move to work into the EU or to another EU Member State.

Respect our rights: Trafficked children - policy brief

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:17:58 +0000

Report detailing the state of child trafficking in Ghana, including interventions and government legislation.

Review of Legal Help for those with Trafficking and Modern Slavery Compensation Claims (TMSCCs)

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:06 +0000

Trafficking and Modern Slavery Compensation Claims (TMSCC) are claims under employment law or claims for damages, in either case arising in connection with the trafficking or exploitation of an individual who is a victim of trafficking in human beings or in connection with the conduct by which the individual is a victim of slavery. The claims are within the scope of the legal aid scheme and fall within the miscellaneous category. Legal aid for these matters is available subject to statutory means and merits tests being met.

Specifically, the purpose of the review is to:

identify whether there are current barriers to effective access to Legal Help in the context of TMSCCs where the provisions of LASPO mean it should be provided;
if so, identify the causes of these; and
as a result, to consider what, if any, steps should be taken by the Lord Chancellor and/or the LAA to ensure adequate and effective access to Legal Help regarding TMSCCs. The focus is therefore on access to Legal Help and the opportunity to make an informed decision around pursuing a TMSCC, rather than whether that Legal Help results in a claim being pursued.

Revisiting the Law and Governance of Trafficking, Forced Labor, and Modern Slavery

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:06 +0000

A collection of essays on human trafficking and modern slavery, and the laws surrounding those issues.

Semi-Supervised Learning for Detecting Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:07 +0000

Human trafficking is one of the most atrocious crimes and among the challenging problems facing law enforcement which demands attention of global magnitude. In this study, we leverage textual data from the website “Backpage”– used for classified advertisement– to discern potential patterns of human trafficking activities which manifest online and identify advertisements of high interest to law enforcement. Due to the lack of ground truth, we rely on a human analyst from law enforcement, for hand-labeling a small portion of the crawled data. We extend the existing Laplacian SVM and present S3V M −R, by adding a regularization term to exploit exogenous information embedded in our feature space in favor of the task at hand. We train the proposed method using labeled and unlabeled data and evaluate it on a fraction of the unlabeled data, herein referred to as unseen data, with our expert’s further verification. Results from comparisons between our method and other semi-supervised and supervised approaches on the labeled data demonstrate that our learner is effective in identifying advertisements of high interest to law enforcement.

Ruth-One Woman's Journey from Mexico to Craven County

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:06 +0000

Ruth is putting a new life together in New Bern, overcoming a past in which she lived in a nightmare of human trafficking that started in a Mexican village and continued across the state of Florida where she was driven from town to town and john to john, kept in line by threats to her daughter’s safety back in Mexico.

Scoping study for Parliamentary Advocacy Programme on Combating Early and Forced Marriage in Ghana

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:07 +0000

As a measure to determine the implementation and enforcement of the laws, policies and general knowledge and capacity of key stakeholders concerning early and forced marriage in Ghana, this research intends to ascertain some basic information that will support input into a future seminar on the topic.

Scoping study for Parliamentary Advocacy Programme on Combating Early and Forced Marriage in Ghana

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:07 +0000

This study aims to research and assess current legislation and national policies on early and forced marriage in Ghana, as well as identify best practices in other countries. Further, it aims to assess relevant related national, institutional and provisions for early and forced marriages and ascertain the extent of implementatio, as well as to examine the trend and scale of practice of early and forced marriages in Ghana. Finally, it proposes practical recommendations that contribute to respecting, preventing and protecting rights of victims of early and forced marriage.

S.1631 - Customs Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Reauthorization Act of 2009

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:06 +0000

The Customs and Facilitations and Trade Enforcement Act amended the prohibition on importing goods made with slave or indentured labor to include goods made through the use of coercion or goods made by victims of human trafficking.

Review of the media framing of human trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:06 +0000

The deliverable offers a review of the way in which, human trafficking is framed within the news media - incorporating case studies from the United Kingdom, Cyprus and Poland. Tacking stock of press articles over the course of the years 2010 – 2014 the report summarises the findings and answers three central questions: (i) How does the news media frame human trafficking? (ii) Is there much discourse on European policy and legislation? (iii) What perception of human trafficking is the public likely to retain? To answer these questions 212 articles from ten newspapers were analysed.

S.151 - PROTECT Act

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:06 +0000

The Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the Exploitation of Children Today(PROTECT) Act of 2003, established enhanced penalties for individuals engaging in sex tourism with children, both within the United States and in other countries; The Amber Alert System and other methods of alerting the public to missing, exploited, and abducted children; and grants for transitional housing for child victims of sexual assault.

Royal Decree No 126 / 2008: Anti-Trafficking Law

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:06 +0000

This law, enacted in 2008 by the Sultan of Oman, acts as Oman's current anti-human trafficking legislation. The document attached is the English version of the law.

Saudi Arabia: Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:07 +0000

This law outlines the rules and regulations regarding trafficking in persons in Saudi Arabia. Enacted in 2009, the law specifies definition of trafficking in persons, punishment for the crime, treatment of victims of trafficking, etc. It is the English translation of the original Arabic text.

Senegal: Stop Forced Child Begging

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:07 +0000

This video, produced by Human Rights Watch, provides insight the thousands of young boys in Quranic boarding schools in Senegal, subjected to physical abuse and forced begging.

Sex tourism in Kenya: An analytica review

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:07 +0000

Perhaps the most significant negative impact of the travel and tourism activities in Kenya is sex tourism. This article analytically discusses and reviews the increasingly popular phenomenon of sex tourism in Kenya.

Selling Bodies and Souls: Human Sex Trafficking in China

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:07 +0000

Selling girls from tea plantations for $200

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:07 +0000

CNN meets a convicted trafficker in Assam, India, who confesses to selling girls from tea plantations for as little as $200.

Risk factors for mental disorders in women survivors of human trafficking: a historical cohort study

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:06 +0000

Previous studies have reported high levels of symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among women survivors of human trafficking, but have been hampered by using screening scales rather than a diagnostic instrument, by including women at different stages of trafficking, and by combining populations from different ethnicities, limiting internal validity. No previous research has described risk factors for diagnosed mental disorder among women survivors of human trafficking. The present study addresses this gap by assessing a consecutive sample of ethnic Moldovan women survivors of human trafficking assisted on return to Moldova using a diagnostic instrument to measure mental disorder.

Ruhama Annual Report 2015

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:06 +0000

Ruhama supports women, including trangender women, who are actively involved in prostitution in Ireland, those who are seeking support to exit, victims of sex trafficking, and women with a past experience of prostitution/sex trafficking. In 2015, Ruhama supported a total of 301 women in a variety of different ways.

Root causes and solutions to human trafficking in Ethiopia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:15:06 +0000

This paper examines root causes for human trafficking in Ethiopia -- mostly the migration of Ethiopian women to the Middle East as domestic servants --- and provides possible solutions to the problem.

Retour à L'Île du Bonheur

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:14 +0000

Extrait du Résumé: "Entre octobre 2010 et janvier 2011, Human Rights Watch a visité l’île de Saadiyat à plusieurs reprises pour actualiser les conclusions de son rapport de mai 2009, « L’île du bonheur : Exploitation de travailleurs migrants à Saadiyat Island, Abou Dabi » (« The Island of Happiness: Exploitation of Migrant Workers on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi »), qui détaillait l’exploitation grave et les abus subis par des travailleurs émigrés d’Asie du Sud, ainsi que le manque de protections légales et institutionnelles nécessaires pour réduire ces abus. Nos recherches, basées sur des entretiens avec 47 travailleurs sur l’île, ont permis de conclure que bien que les deux promoteurs et leurs partenaires étrangers se soient engagés à prendre des mesures pour faire disparaître les abus à l’encontre des travailleurs migrants sur l’île de Saadiyat, et malgré certaines améliorations de leurs conditions de travail, les abus continuent. Ce nouveau rapport détaille aussi bien les abus qui persistent que les lacunes dans la protection des travailleurs, auxquelles il faut remédier."

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Cyprus

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:37 +0000

The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) has been set up pursuant to Article 36 of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (“the Convention”), which entered into force on 1 February 2008. GRETA is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Convention by the parties and for drawing up reports evaluating the measures taken by each party. In accordance with Article 38, paragraph 1, of the Convention, GRETA evaluates the implementation of the Convention following a procedure divided into rounds. At the beginning of each round, GRETA selects the specific provisions on which the evaluation procedure is to be based and defines the most appropriate means to carry out the evaluation. GRETA adopts a questionnaire for each evaluation round which serves as the basis for the evaluation and is addressed to all parties.

Report on Italy under Rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure for evaluating implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:13 +0000

Since the adoption of the first report on Italy in July 2014, as part of its mandate to monitor the implementation of the Convention, GRETA has continued to follow developments related to trafficking in human beings in Italy. At its 25th plenary meeting (7-11 March 2016), GRETA was made aware of reports according to which possible victims of trafficking in human beings were being returned from Italy to Nigeria on forced return flights. For example, according to different sources, on 17 September 2015, during a join return operation by air from Rome to Lagos (Nigeria), organised and co-ordinated by the European Agency for the Management of Operational Co-operation at the External Border of Member States of the European Union (Frontex), about 20 Nigerian women detained at the CIE Ponte Galeria, Rome, some of whom were described as victims of trafficking, were forcibly returned to Nigeria. The present report was considered by GRETA at its 27th meeting (28 November – 2 December 2016), following which it was sent to the Italian authorities for comments on 19 December 2016. The Italian authorities’ comments, received on 13 January 2017, are reproduced at the end of this report.

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the Republic of Moldova

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:13 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the Netherlands

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:12 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the Slovak Republic

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:13 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Spain

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:12 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Sweden

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:12 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Switzerland

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:12 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Ukraine

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:13 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the United Kingdom

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:13 +0000

Rescuing girls from sex slavery

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:13 +0000

Survivor story of a domestic violence victim. The video documents her survival and the determination to rescue and empower other child victims and survivors of domestic violence. Maiti Nepal was Anuradha Koirala's brainchild for giving voice, legal defense and rehabilitation to victims of sex trafficking. Use the link to watch full video.

Report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in advance of the examination of Egypt’s initial report on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:13 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers (the Coalition) submits this report for consideration by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in view of its examination in June 2011 of Egypt’s initial report under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC). This report was compiled through desk-based research of available secondary sources. Very limited information was publicly available in relation to the relevant issues. Requests for a meeting with the Defense Attaché to the Egyptian Embassy in London were unanswered. On the basis of the information gathered, this report summarizes the Coalition’s concerns about Egypt’s implementation of its obligations under OPAC, including in relation to:

The possibility for deployment into hostilities of under-18s in the Egyptian armed forces. The lack of legislation criminalizing recruitment and use of children by armed groups.
The risk of refoulement and subsequent human rights abuses including unlawful recruitment and use in hostilities of child asylum seekers, refugees and migrants and the inadequate assistance for former child soldiers seeking asylum in Egypt.
The potential for detention and prosecution of children under security legislation and their prosecution by military tribunals.
The export of small arms and light weapons to countries where children are known to be participating in hostilities."

Report on the features and incentives of traffickers and on the social interactions among them

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:13 +0000

In total 160 court and police files were studied from four different European countries (Romania, The Netherlands, Bulgaria, England), representing areas usually associated with origin, transit and destination of human trafficking. In the 160 files we found information on 233 traffickers. In addition, we interviewed or received information by way of questionnaires from 101 traffickers. Lastly, we consulted a range of professional experts, victims of human trafficking, lawyers and social workers. The total number of conducted and studied questionnaires is 50.

Report on the relevant aspects of the trafficking act (geographical routes and modus operandi) and on its possible evolutions in response to law enforcement

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:13 +0000

This report sets out to fulfil a three-fold task. One, to delineate the geographical routes of trafficked persons. Two, to explore the modus operandi of human traffickers, and three to examine the traffickers’ responses to law enforcement policies. In order to do so, four country desk studies were conducted in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, and the Netherlands by the Animus Association Foundation, Cyprus Police, National Agency against Traficking in Persons and the International La Strada Association (La Strada International), respectively.

Review of EU Projects - Promising Practices in Combatting Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:14 +0000

The initiatives highlighted in the report demonstrate how some Member States are actively building on existing strengths towards the improved protection of victims’ rights during criminal proceedings; greater awareness among at-risk groups such as unaccompanied minors, asylum-seekers, migrant workers and youths; focused public education campaigns in border towns and coastal communities; formalized inter-agency cooperation based on the victim-centred approach; innovative investigation and prosecution tactics; and increased knowledge-sharing among stakeholders on the modalities of trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation, including child trafficking.

Report on the role of current and emerging technologies in human trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:13 +0000

Today a vast number of technologies play a significant role in the everyday lives of human beings, from those technologies that enable us to communicate to technologies that permit us to track our finances. Accordingly, it is necessary to consider how they are used both within the human trafficking process as well as in the fight against human trafficking. Accordingly, this part of TRACE is based on desk-based research, as well as information gleaned from interviews with those involved in combating and committing acts of THB. The report begins with an introduction to the study and a taxonomy of technologies that have been found to play a role in facilitating, combating and preventing THB.

Research on Indicators of Forced Labor

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:14 +0000

A new estimate from the International Labor Organization (ILO) found that there were 20.9 million victims of forced labor around the globe in 2012, a significantly higher number than its previous estimate of 12.3 million victims in 2005.1 This shows that high numbers of workers around the globe continue to be enslaved and demonstrates the need for research to better understand the characteristics and causes of forced labor. From 2008 through 2011, Verité carried out research on the presence of indicators of forced labor in the production of ten goods in seven countries: shrimp in Bangladesh; Brazil-nuts, cattle, corn, and peanuts in Bolivia; sugar in the Dominican Republic; coffee in Guatemala; rubber in Liberia; fish in Indonesia; and tuna in the Philippines.

Report from the joint inquiry into children who go missing from care

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:13 +0000

This joint All Party Parliamentary inquiry examines the issues around children who go missing from care and how they can be better protected, and was set up in response to recent concerns about the care and support they currently receive. Found problems around data quality and collection, quality and stability of care placements, quality of care homes and professionals, identification of abuse in children's homes, and trafficking. All of these factors were found to contribute to the problem. The Inquiry concluded that the system was not fit for purpose and sets out a number of recommendations.

Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council: Report on the progress made in the fight against trafficking in human beings (2016)

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:13 +0000

This report focuses on issues that highlight the comprehensive approach of the anti-trafficking Directive and the EU Strategy. In particular, it examines the progress made on the implementation of ‘the three Ps’, prosecution (with a focus on financial investigations), protection (with a focus on setting up national referral mechanisms) and prevention (with a focus on action taken by Member States to prevent the crime as provided by Article 18 of the Anti-Trafficking Directive). The information submitted by Member States mainly covers the period 2011-2013. However, the report also contains more up-to-date information, including statistical data for the years 2013-2014.

Report Concerning the Implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Albania

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:24:40 +0000

The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Convention by the parties and for drawing up reports evaluating the measures taken by each party. In accordance with Article 38, paragraph 1, of the Convention, GRETA evaluates the implementation of the Convention following a procedure divided into rounds. At the beginning of each round, GRETA selects the specific provisions on which the evaluation procedure is to be based and defines the most appropriate means to carry out the evaluation. GRETA adopts a questionnaire for each evaluation round which serves as the basis for the evaluation and is addressed to all parties. On 3 June 2014, GRETA launched the second round of evaluation of the Convention in respect of Albania by sending the questionnaire for this round to the Albanian authorities. The deadline for submitting the reply to the questionnaire was 3 November 2014. Albania submitted its reply on 23 February 2015.4

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Denmark

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:37 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Finland

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:37 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by France

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:37 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Georgia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:37 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Germany

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:37 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Iceland

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:37 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Ireland

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:37 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Latvia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:37 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Malta

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:37 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Lithuania

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:37 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Luxembourg

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:37 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Montenegro

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:37 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Norway

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:37 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Poland

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:38 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Portugal

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:38 +0000

Report Concerning the Implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Romania

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:38 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by San Marino

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:38 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Serbia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:38 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Slovenia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:18:38 +0000

Regulation of labour market intermediaries and the role of social partners in preventing trafficking of labour

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:26:41 +0000

This report examines how public authorities are currently regulating labour market intermediaries across the Member States, highlighting the effectiveness or otherwise of different registration or licensing schemes. It also examines activities by social partners aimed at preventing trafficking in human beings for labour exploitation. The report was prepared within the framework of the EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012-2016 and especially on developing best practices for public authorities to encourage better monitoring and enforcement of regulations deterring trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation.

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Andorra

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:24:40 +0000

No victims of trafficking have been identified in Andorra as yet. During the evaluation of the implementation of the Convention by Andorra, the authorities were working on a draft law providing for an offence of human trafficking to be included in the Criminal Code. GRETA considers that it is crucial to adopt in internal law an offence of trafficking compliant with the Convention without delay. Given the size of the country and its administration, there is currently no specialised authority on the fight against human trafficking.

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Armenia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:24:40 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Austria

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:24:40 +0000

Group of Experts on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Convention by the parties and for drawing up reports evaluating the measures taken by each party. In accordance with Article 38, paragraph 1, of the Convention, GRETA evaluates the implementation of the Convention following a procedure divided into rounds. At the beginning of each round, GRETA selects the specific provisions on which the evaluation procedure is to be based and defines the most appropriate means to carry out the evaluation. GRETA adopts a questionnaire for each evaluation round which serves as the basis for the evaluation and is addressed to all parties.

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Belgium

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:24:41 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Bosnia and Herzegovina

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:24:41 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Bulgaria

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:24:41 +0000

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Croatia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:24:41 +0000

Region Analysis: Asia Pacific

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:26:40 +0000

The Asia-Pacific is the most populous region of the world. It spans Afghanistan in the west, to New Zealand in the south-east, to Mongolia in the north. Two thirds of the estimated 45.8 million people in modern slavery were identified in the Asia-Pacific. All forms of modern slavery were identified including forced labour in brick kilns, agriculture and the garment sector, child soldiers in Afghanistan, India, and Thailand, forced begging, and commercial sexual exploitation. Men and women experienced forced labour in manufacturing, agriculture, food production and construction. Women were also vulnerable to sexual exploitation, forced marriage and domestic servitude.

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:24:40 +0000

Recruitment, Exploitation of Migrant Workers and Labour Trafficking in Finland, Sweden, Estonia, and Lithuania: Introduction and Research Findings

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:26:40 +0000

The research has been implemented in four countries: Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Lithuania. We present some main findings from all four country reports and outline the existing international framework on the regulation of trafficking in persons. We focus especially on the exploitative recruitment practices that were uncovered in the research. We also aim to present some indicators of irregularities in recruitment, which risk placing a migrant worker in a position where s/he is vulnerable to exploitation and ultimately, trafficking.

Rapport de Programme "Petites bonnes": Contribution à l’Éradication de l’Exploitation des Filles Mineures dans le Travail Domestique au Maroc (2005-2014)

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:27:09 +0000

Extrait du Résumé: "Le partenariat entre la Fondation Womanity et l'ONG marocaine Institution Nationale de Solidarité avec les Femmes en Détresse (INSAF) a débuté en 2005, lorsque la Fondation Womanity, qui s'appelait encore Fondation Smiling Children, s'est engagée dans ce projet historique visant à endiguer l'afflux de jeunes filles au poste de domestiques. L'objectif de ce partenariat était de contribuer à éradiquer la pratique consistant à employer des mineures en tant que « petites bonnes », qui sont des mineures servant de domestiques. Le projet visait également à leur garantir un avenir sécurisé, à leur permettre d'être réinsérer en famille et à l’école et de se lancer éventuellement dans une carrière, au lieu de finir abandonnées et, bien souvent, mères célibataires."

Recommendations from the Conference on How to Enhance Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking in the Baltic Sea Region

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:26:40 +0000

In March 2014, a joint conference on How to Enhance Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking in the Baltic Sea Region was organised in Helsinki by the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), the CBSS Expert Group for Cooperation on Children at Risk (EGCC) and the CBSS Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings (TF-THB). The event attracted over 100 participants working against human trafficking at strategic and operative level in the Baltic Sea region.

This report summarises the key recommendations of the conference based on the content and recommendations of the key note speeches, the expert input from panellists and from the participants.

Recommendations for Migrant Labor Reform in Qatar: Fulfilling a U.S. Foreign Policy Objective of Greater Respect for Human Rights in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:26:40 +0000

ABSTRACT: "The heavy reliance on migrant labor in Qatar presents significant problems for these workers. Qatar benefits from imported labor, and migrants are able to earn more money than they would in their home countries. However, migrant workers from South and Southeast Asia are often deceived and exploited by sponsors and recruiters in the receiving and sending countries through physical and emotional abuse, inadequate wages, poor living conditions, and denial of freedom to travel or change jobs. The practices of recruitment agencies in the sending countries and the current labor laws of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) do not favor the workers and have facilitated the continuation of abusive practices. The sponsor system should be reformed through liberalization of the current system. Simultaneously, the recruitment system should be reformed through bilateral engagements between Qatar and other nations with large numbers of citizens working in Qatar."

Rapport Global de Suivi de la Mise en Oeuvre des Actions de Lutte Contre l'Exploitation Sexuelle des Enfants à des Fins Commerciales: Maroc

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:24:40 +0000

Ce rapport focalise sur l'exploitation sexuelle des enfants à des fins commerciales au Maroc, et produit les recommandations dans le but de terminer l'exploitation sexuelle des enfants. Il discute l'implication des organisations internationales et locales dans la lutte contre l'exploitation des enfants, et comment les enfants peuvent savoir leurs droits.

Rapport Global de Suivi de la Mise en Oeuvre des Actions de Lutte Contre l'Exploitation Sexuelle des Enfants à des Fins Commerciales: Liban

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:24:40 +0000

Ce rapport focalise sur l'exploitation sexuelle des enfants à des fins commerciales au Liban, et produit les recommandations dans le but de terminer l'exploitation sexuelle des enfants. Il discute l'implication des organisations internationales et locales dans la lutte contre l'exploitation des enfants, et comment les enfants peuvent savoir leurs droits.

Refugees and the Rashaida: human smuggling and trafficking from Eritrea to Sudan and Egypt

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:26:40 +0000

The smuggling route from Eritrea to Israel is long, complex and involves many different actors. This analysis consequently focuses primarily on the movement of people from Eritrea to east Sudan, and from east Sudan to Egypt. A review of testimonies from Eritrean refugees and key informant interviews provide an understanding of the situation from the available data.

Rapport Global de Suivi de la Mise en Oeuvre des Actions de Lutte Contre l'Exploitation Sexuelle des Enfants à des Fins Commerciales: Suisse

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:24:40 +0000

Ce rapport focalise sur l'exploitation sexuelle des enfants à des fins commerciales en Suisse, et produit les recommandations dans le but de terminer l'exploitation sexuelle des enfants. Il discute l'implication des organisations internationales et locales dans la lutte contre l'exploitation des enfants, et comment les enfants peuvent savoir leurs droits.

Rapport Global de Suivi de la Mise en Oeuvre des Actions de Lutte Contre l'Exploitation Sexuelle des Enfants à des Fins Commerciales: Luxembourg

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:24:40 +0000

Ce rapport focalise sur l'exploitation sexuelle des enfants à des fins commerciales au Luxembourg, et produit les recommandations dans le but de terminer l'exploitation sexuelle des enfants. Il discute l'implication des organisations internationales et locales dans la lutte contre l'exploitation des enfants, et comment les enfants peuvent savoir leurs droits.

Reconceptualizing human traffickingL The experiences of Ethiopian returnee migrants

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:26:40 +0000

Drawn from a large scale research on migration management, this study examines the experience of Ethiopian returnee migrants from the Middle East and South Africa to conceptualize the context in which migration turns into trafficking. In the Ethiopian context, a blended framework of economic vulnerability and social network approach seems to govern risky migration and the trafficking that follows it. Findings show that returnees experienced one or more forms of abuse both during their way to and arrival and stay at the destined places. The main exploiters are the employers who are unchecked due to the ‘kafala’ sponsorship system and poor support of migrants by agencies and embassies. Based on the findings, discussions are provided on how trafficking is understood in the context of Ethiopian returnee migrants.

Forced child labour: A critical analysis of the Democratic Republic of Congo's compliance with international labour standards

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:49 +0000

This dissertation demonstrates that the DRC's legal system is unable to put an end to forced child labor because of various problems related to the country’s political, social and economic status, including poverty, no-access to education and other social, educational resources. In this case, alternative remedies to eradicate the problem will be discussed throughout.

Forced labor in armed conflicts: special case of the Democratic Republic of Congo

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:49 +0000

This thesis makes a comparative study between the armed conflict in the DRC and the conflict in Sudan. It concludes that the government of the DRC and other stakeholders in the conflict have an obligation to protect civilians in the region from forced labor and other human rights violations.

Prostitution and Trafficking of Women and Girls in Iraq

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:03 +0000

This report details the situation of trafficked and prostituted women in Iraq during the late 2000s and early 2010s and their plan to help these women throughout Iraq. The report discusses a brief history of prostitution and sex trafficking in Iraq, and also reports on prostitution and trafficking houses throughout Iraq that they discovered while conducting research. The publication aims to create awareness of the issue even in the face of government and media disapproval.

Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:29:43 +0000

A brochure targeting the general public and tourist industry to raise awareness about protecting child sexual exploitation in travel and tourism.

Promising Little, Delivering Less: Qatar and Migrant Labour Abuse Ahead of the 2022 Football World Cup

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:02 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "A year ago, on 14 May 2014, the Qatar government promised reforms to address the widespread exploitation of migrant workers in the country. The announcement, made following months of pressure on the authorities over conditions for migrant workers, included only limited changes to the exit permit and other aspects of the “kafala” sponsorship system – a system that facilitates forced labour and a range of other abuses. While a move towards reform is welcome, the changes proposed by the government are inadequate and will not address the daily abuse faced by tens of thousands of migrant workers across the country. Moreover, none of the proposed reforms have yet been implemented. On 4 May 2015, Qatar’s Minister of Labour and Social Affairs told a gathering of media that the changes proposed last year would likely be implemented “before the end of this year” – eighteen months after the plan was first announced. This is not the first time such promises have been made. Senior Qatari officials have reiterated their commitment to labour rights reforms over the past year, usually in response to international criticism of the labour rights situation in Qatar. In 2014, Amnesty International identified nine key labour exploitation issues that Qatar should address urgently, based on extensive research into labour exploitation in the country over the past three years. These were:

the exit permit that allows employers to stop workers leaving the country;
the restriction on changing employers under Qatar’s kafala system;
the lack of protection of domestic workers under the Labour Law;
the practice of late or non-payment of wages to migrant workers;
fees charged and false promises made to migrant workers by recruitment agencies;
harsh and dangerous working conditions on construction sites;
obstacles to access justice for victims of labour exploitation;
the denial of the right to form or join a trade union;
and the authorities’ failure to enforce existing labour standards.

This briefing reviews Qatar’s progress on all nine issues identified by Amnesty International, which include the issues on which the government promised reform in May 2014."

Qatar: Profits et Pertes

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:03 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'AVANT-PROPOS: "Le prix à payer pour exercer une activité commerciale dans l’État esclavagiste du Qatar, c’est de priver 1,8 millions de travailleurs/euses migrants des libertés et des droits fondamentaux; pour les entreprises, le prix à payer est la corruption. Quand une entreprise tire ses béné ces du travail servile, elle accepte la dévalorisation de l’humanité. Aucun directeur général ne présiderait un modèle commercial qui asservit ses propres ls et lles. Exercer une activité au Qatar implique d’accepter le système de la kafala, qui est contraire aux libertés et aux droits qu’o rent les nations démocratiques dans lesquelles se trouve le siège social des entreprises présentes au Qatar. Tout directeur général qui travaille au Qatar est conscient du fait que les béné ces de son entreprise sont issus des faibles salaires – qui découlent souvent d’un système ra- cial discriminatoire – et que ces béné ces mettent en péril la sécurité, avec pour conséquence indéfendable des accidents, des maladies et des décès au travail. Les entreprises de construction qui prennent la responsabilité, dans d’autres pays, d’offrir à leurs ouvriers un hébergement propre et des denrées alimentaires correctes, ne le font pas au Qatar. Les chaînes d’hôtel que la loi oblige, dans d’autres pays, à garantir un nombre minimum d’heures de repos et un tarif horaire plus élevé pour les heures supplémentaires, souvent, ne le font pas au Qatar. Les chaînes de détail qui, dans d’autres pays, respectent les lois en payant les travailleurs à temps et en leur versant le salaire convenu, ne le font souvent pas au Qatar. Et les universités «occidentales», dont la liberté intellectuelle est la pierre angulaire de la valeur de leur enseignement, ne parlent pas de l’esclavage sur leurs campus. Le système de respect des règles concernant les entreprises et les personnes prises au piège au Qatar est à la fois inopérant, ouvert à l’ingérence politique et à l’influence des entreprises. Les entreprises réclament à cor et à cri des licences pour s’installer au Qatar dans ces conditions, et réduisent en esclavage les fils et les filles d’autres humains. Nous exigeons que les entreprises traitent les travailleurs du Qatar de la même manière qu’elles les traiteraient dans leur propre pays."

Preventing Child Trafficking in the Gulf Countries, Yemen and Afghanistan: Policy Options

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:29:42 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "Child trafficking is a global phenomenon exposing tens of thousands of children to increased vulnerability, exploitation and abuse. In the Middle East, every year, tens of thousands of children are trafficked from around 20 countries including Yemen and Afghanistan to the Gulf sub-region where they are exploited as street sellers, beggars and, formerly, camel jockeys. This paper examines the phenomenon and causes of child trafficking from Yemen and Afghanistan to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the Gulf countries. It shows that child trafficking is organized in phases starting in the source countries, and ending in the destination countries were children are exploited. Rescuing children can take place at any phase; however there are many examples where children are rescued to fall again in the trap of trafficking. Unless the causes leading to trafficking in both origin and destination countries are understood, this chain of trafficking is difficult to break."

Prostitution Germany – A Comprehensive Analysis of Complex Challenges

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:03 +0000

This analysis of prostitution and female sex workers in Germany presents only the knowledge gained from many years of professional experience and the facts derived from scientific studies, including their complexities and discrepancies. Presented are the results of different surveys helping to provide a more objective and nuanced basis for discussion about prostitution. Women must be able and allowed to decide themselves how to live their lives in compliance with the law. This also has to apply to decisions that others cannot or barely understand, such as when women decide to work in prostitution. Women are entitled to expect their decisions to be accepted and respected. To claim or imply that these decisions are never made freely is to oppose the call by all women for the right to autonomy. This study also analyzes the possible links between laws on prostitution and incidents of human trafficking.

Processes of child trafficking in West Bengal: A qualitative study

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:02 +0000

A study of 35 trafficked children and young women found.that trafficking is usually conducted through offers of false marriages and jobs, or through outright abduction and sale. In almost all districts and even some villages, the traffickers, who have a strong network, engage agents, who include: another person who herself is a victim of trafficking, unemployed persons, drug addicts/alcoholics or aged women with no income. Sometimes, these agents work under compulsion and/or are blackmailed into abetment. Since poverty and illiteracy are the prime factors contributing to trafficking, income-generating and literacy programs should be arranged for needy families. Local NGOs also need to take the initiative to raise awareness levels in panchayats in order to check trafficking. Training programs and workshops need to be organized too, for the local administration, panchuyai members and police officers.

Psychological Care for Women in Shelter Homes

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:03 +0000

UNODC together with NIMHANS developed this manual to be used as resource material for capacity building of staff working in shelter homes for women in India. The recently published manual highlights the specific needs of women in institutions, enables the care givers to understand these needs and gives them an insight into the spectrum of psychosocial interventions. It gives the care givers an understanding of the various laws and policies that are available to safeguard the rights of women in India. It also focuses on the importance of care and stress management of the caregivers themselves.

Prevention of Trafficking for Labour Exploitation

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:29:43 +0000

Prevention is considered the foundation of any anti-trafficking response yet UK efforts to prevent trafficking to date have been patchy and prevention work has largely been left to the poorly resourced Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA). This paper sets out a roadmap for prevention for the UK including four measures that would improve prevention, including improved labour standard monitoring, the enforcement of employment law and ensuring that immigration responses do not contribute to trafficking for labour exploitation.

Prevention of and Remedies for Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:29:42 +0000

This Uniform Act is a comprehensive new law directed against human trafficking. It provides the three components necessary for ending human trafficking: comprehensive criminal penalties; protections for human-trafficking victims; and public awareness and prevention methods.

Psychological coersion in trafficking of human persons: Antecedents and psychosocial consequences for the victims and society

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:29:43 +0000

This study explored the psychological coercion of trafficking in human persons, antecedents such as causes, psychological coercion and processes and psychosocial consequences. The study concluded that the traffickers and the victim of trafficking need rehabilitation and recommended cognitive therapy for necessary rehabilitation.

Rapport Alternatif sur les Droits des Enfants

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:27:09 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'INTRODUCTION: "L’élaboration d’un rapport alternatif sur les droits des enfants s’inscrit dans le cadre des activités de plaidoyer du réseau NADA, et constitue un document important et précieux auprès des instances nationales et internationales concernées par les questions de l’enfance. Il s’agit d’une première initiative, qui ne pourra pas aborder la situation des enfants dans toute sa diversité, mais plutôt il se limitera à aborder trois principaux thèmes qui pourront être développés à travers l’expérience du Réseau NADA. Néanmoins, un tel rapport pourra fournir des renseignements utiles, sur la maltraitance et la violence à l’égard des enfants, aux organes des Nations unies, chargés de suivre la mise en œuvre de la CDE. Le rapport s’articulera autour des thèmes suivants :

La maltraitance des enfants ;
Les enfants en conflit avec la loi ;
La violence sexuelle à l’égard des enfants.

Ce premier rapport, permettrait également de commenter certaines mesures prises pour assurer les droits fondamentaux des enfants, et de formuler des propositions quant à la modification et l’enrichissement de l’arsenal législatif existant et l’adoption de nouvelles procédures pour renforcer la protection des droits de l’enfant en Algérie, avec l’implication de la société civile."

Protecting children from trafficking through guardianship

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:29:43 +0000

All separated migrant children living in the UK – including potential victims of child trafficking – need an independent legal guardian to protect their rights, advocate for their best interests, and give them the help they need to grow up happy, healthy, and secure. This briefing makes the case for such a system of guardianship to be established in UK law through the Modern Slavery Bill, and explains why it would improve the lives of some of our most vulnerable children.

Qualitative Research on Social Norms around Gender-Based Violence and the Physical Punishment of Children in Kosovo (UNSCR 1244)

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:03 +0000

Following the alarming findings of previous research on the widespread tolerance of violence against women in the home, and the high rate of children being disciplined in a violent manner, this research seeks to understand gender-based violence and the physical punishment of children, what the drivers are of these practices, what keeps them as part of Kosovan society, and what supports the perpetuation of violence from one generation to another. One of the research assumptions was that there are strong social norms (a complex system of values, individual beliefs, social expectations, reinforcements and punishments) in Kosovo that support violent practices within the family and between couples. Using qualitative research methods, the research draws on 50 focus group discussions with men and women from different socio-economic backgrounds, a range of settings and different age groups, as well as 34 in-depth interviews with community leaders and service providers to explore the understanding of and attitudes towards gender roles - man/woman, boy/girl, husband/wife, parent/child - and violence. Additionally, one focus group discussion was organized with children, to gain insights into their perceptions of and attitudes towards violence.

Ransom, Collaborators, Corruption: Sinai Trafficking and Transnational Networks

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:31:48 +0000

This paper seeks to expand our empirical knowledge by describing and analyzing the processes and actors, including Eritrean families both in the diaspora and in Eritrea, involved in the trans-national networks supporting and enabling the smuggling and trafficking of Eritreans through the Sinai to Israel. We focus only on the Sinai route, although migration from Eritrea also occurs south to other parts of Africa, west through Sudan to Libya, and east across the Red Sea.

Rapport Global de Suivi de la Mise en Oeuvre des Actions de Lutte Contre l'Exploitation Sexuelle des Enfants à des Fins Commerciales: Belgique

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:27:09 +0000

Ce rapport focalise sur l'exploitation sexuelle des enfants à des fins commerciales en Belgique, et produit les recommandations dans le but de terminer l'exploitation sexuelle des enfants. Il discute l'implication des organisations internationales et locales dans la lutte contre l'exploitation des enfants, et comment les enfants peuvent savoir leurs droits.

Rapport Global de Suivi de la Mise en Oeuvre des Actions de Lutte Contre l'Exploitation Sexuelle des Enfants à des Fins Commerciales: France

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:27:09 +0000

Ce rapport focalise sur l'exploitation sexuelle des enfants à des fins commerciales en France, et produit les recommandations dans le but de terminer l'exploitation sexuelle des enfants. Il discute l'implication des organisations internationales et locales dans la lutte contre l'exploitation des enfants, et comment les enfants peuvent savoir leurs droits.

Prohibiting Sex Purchasing and Ending Trafficking: The Swedish Prostitution Law

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:29:43 +0000

This article by Max Waltman analyzes the Swedish prostitution law from 1999, which criminalized the sex buyer and decriminalized prostituted persons. He analyzes this law as both appropriate and in line with the United Nation’s Trafficking Protocol from 2000, which states that a person is regarded as a trafficking victim when, e.g., someone abuses her “position of vulnerability” in order to exploit her. Prostitution, based on international jurisprudence and social evidence, generally satisfies this definition. The article shows that Sweden has significantly reduced the occurrence of trafficking in Sweden compared to neighboring countries that have not implemented a similar model. It scrutinizes some misinformation about the law’s impact, showing for instance that claims that allege that there is greater danger for those still in prostitution are unfounded. It also addresses the remaining obstacles to the law’s effective implementation.

Fighting Human Trafficking in Conflict: 10 Ideas for Action by the United Nations Security Council

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:50 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "In December 2015, the United Nations Security Council held its first-ever thematic debate on Trafficking in Persons in Situations of Conflict. The Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement that signalled a willingness to explore concrete steps to strengthen the international response to human trafficking, and requested a report from the Secretary-General, within a year, on steps taken within the UN system. There are real practical and political limits to Security Council action on this issue. But there is also now a unique opening for action. To explore these possibilities and limits, on 30 June and 1 July 2016, United Nations University and the Permanent Missions of the United Kingdom and of Liechtenstein to the United Nations organized a two-day workshop, with the support of Thomson Reuters and Grace Farms Foundation. This workshop brought together 100 expert participants from Permanent Missions to the United Nations, UN entities, national law enforcement agencies, Financial Intelligence Units, the technol- ogy sector, the financial sector, media and civil society. The Workshop Agenda is annexed to this report. This report distils insights from the Workshop regarding the connections between human trafficking and conflict; considers what forms of leverage are available to the Security Council to address this phenomenon; and summarizes the Ideas for Action emerging from the Workshop."

For a Better Life: Migrant Worker Abuse and the Government Reform Agenda

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:34:48 +0000

EXCERPT FROM THE PUBLICATION: "For over three decades, millions of workers—mostly from south and southeast Asian countries such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines—have flocked to the Persian Gulf in the hope of earning better wages and improving the lives of their families back home. Most of these workers come from impoverished, poorly-educated backgrounds and work as construction laborers, domestic workers, masons, waitresses, care givers, and drivers. Providing construction and service industries with much-needed cheap labor, they have helped fuel steady economic growth in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain. Despite their indispensable contribution to the life of their Gulf hosts, many workers have experienced human rights and labor rights abuses, including unpaid and low wages, passport confiscation, restrictions on their mobility, substandard housing, food deprivation, excessive and forced work, as well as physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. The small island nation of Bahrain, with approximately 1.3 million residents, has earned a reputation among labor- receiving countries in the Gulf as the most committed to improving migrant labor practices. Its efforts include new safety regulations, measures to combat human trafficking, workers’ rights education campaigns, and reforms aimed at allowing migrants to freely leave their jobs. However, questions remain about the implementation and adequacy of these reforms. This report explores the experience of Bahrain’s more than 458,000 migrant workers who make up around 77 percent of the country’s workforce—most working in unskilled or low- skilled jobs, in industries such as construction, retail and wholesale and domestic work. The report traces the many forms of abuse and exploitation to which migrant workers in Bahrain are subjected by employers and the obstacles and failures that prevent them from seeking effective redress for such treatment. It outlines the rights and international legal standards that apply to workers, and calls on the governments of Bahrain and of labor-sending countries to adopt additional protections for migrant workers in Bahrain."

Gender More than A Baseline Study of Transgender Persons in the Phnom Penh Sex Industry

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:34:47 +0000

This study aims to provide a baseline of data to better understand the lives of Cambodian transgender persons in the sex industry through qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. A literature review covers transgender in a Cambodian context, research approaches in Asia, prejudice and discrimination of transgender communities and vulnerability and resilience of transgender persons. Results are presented on earnings, social relationships, sexual identity, violence and sexual abuse, health and substance abuse, alternative employment and dignity and self-identity. Discussion is provided on stigma/discrimination, positive societal responses, gender-based violence, social identity and reasons for sex work and contradiction and disconnect. A special section looks at theological considerations before recommendations are provided.

Forced Labour in Northern Ireland: An Update

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:49 +0000

Despite progress reported since 2011, forced labour remains a neglected area of policy development in Northern Ireland. It is especially pervasive in the fruit-picking, mushroom- cultivation, fishing and domestic servitude sectors. Experts interviewed for the report describe forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking as a continuum of exploitation of vulnerable members of society: foreign nationals, asylum-seekers, those with poor English skills or with uncertain legal status.

Forced Labour in the United Kingdom

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:49 +0000

Since 2010, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has supported research into the nature, scale and scope of forced labour in the UK. At a time when new legislation is being considered by the UK Government, Northern Ireland Assembly and Scottish Parliament, this report summarises evidence on forced labour and offers recommendations.

Follow the Thread: the Need for Supply Chain Transparency in the Garment and Footwear Industry

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:34:48 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "This report takes stock of supply chain transparency in the garment industry four years after the industry disasters in Bangladesh and Pakistan that shook the global garment industry. To build momentum toward supply chain transparency and develop industry minimum standards, a coalition of labor and human rights groups asked 72 companies to agree to implement a simple Transparency Pledge. It also asked that companies declining to commit to the Pledge provide reasons for choosing not to do so. Where companies engaged with the coalition, the coalition also sought additional information about their existing transparency practices. This report explains the logic and the urgency behind the Pledge and describes the responses we received from the companies contacted. Further information about the apparel companies contacted, the reasons for choosing them, and the coalition’s engagement process is outlined in Appendix I. Supply chain transparency practices vary immensely among companies. Among those apparel companies that embrace transparency, the details they publish are inconsistent. Many other companies refuse to publish supplier factory information at all, or divulge only scant information. Some companies attempt to justify non- disclosure on commercial grounds. But their explanations are belied by the experiences of other similarly situated companies that do publish and have shown that the benefits of disclosure outweigh perceived risks. Ultimately apparel companies can do far more than implement the Pledge to ensure respect for human rights in their supply chains. Nonetheless, this is one important step in a holistic effort to improve corporate accountability in the garment industry."

Frequently Asked Questions Sheet – Southern African Counter Trafficking Assistance Programme

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:34:47 +0000

The counter-trafficking strategy worldwide focuses on three aspects: prevention, protection and prosecution. This document is meant to serve as a tool for prevention as it aims to raise awareness by providing factual and accurate information trafficking in persons.

Gendered discipline and protective custody of human trafficking victims in Asia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:34:47 +0000

In many parts of Asia, critics have noted the common but hitherto under-researched practices of detaining victims of human trafficking in semi-carceral institutions or ‘shelters’, in the name of victim protection and rescue. Although the formal justification for immigration detention and ‘protective custody’ may be different, there are clear parallels between the experience of trafficking victims in semi-carceral institutions and what Kalhan has termed ‘a quasi-punitive system of immcarceration’. This article seeks to add to the critical work on the changing nature and harms of immigration control by exploring the logic and practices of protective custody in Asia. How can we make sense of the regulatory purposes performed by semi-carceral institutions for trafficking victims? What do we know about women and girls’ experiences of protective custody in South and South-East Asia? In what ways does the dominant anti-sex trafficking discourse of ‘protection’ and ‘rescue’ intersect with gendered notions of belonging and citizenship? And, ultimately, what can a study of gendered carceral practices tell us about the problems and paradoxes of trafficking control?

Forced Child Begging Toolkit for Researchers

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:34:47 +0000

This document is a toolkit outlining qualitative methods for researchers interested in exploring the more exploitative and damaging forms of child begging, where children have been physically forced or coerced into their work. However, many of the tools and methods can be adapted to find out about the lives of other girls and boys living or working on the streets, and about other hard-to-reach and exploited groups

of children.

Forced Begging, Aid and Children’s Rights in Senegal: Stories of Suffering and Politics of Compassion in the Promotion of Rights for the Taalibe Qur’anic School Children of Senegal and Mali

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:49 +0000

Where the transnational trafficking discourse calls Qur'anic masters who make their pupils in Senegal and Mali beg criminal exploiters, the local vulnerable schools discourse views them as legitimate educators. This thesis documents how each of these discourses have taken form and what happens when they converge on the ground.

Forced Marriages and Sham Marriages in the Slovak Republic

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:49 +0000

The main objectives of this research report are to explore the links between sham marriages and trafficking in human beings, to provide new information about vulnerability, factors, methods and channels which facilitate sham marriages leading to trafficking, and to collect information on the phenomenon using qualitative and quantitative approaches. This research report presents the main findings and reflects the issue from the perspective of the Slovak Republic.

Gender bias and sex-trafficking in Indian society

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:34:47 +0000

Human trafficking is a growing crime in South Asia, particularly as economies move post-globalization. This mixed-method study explored several variables fueled by gender biases that create women’s vulnerability to human trafficking. Qualitative results supported the quantitative data from the World Development Indicator’s report that describe gross gender biases practiced in various South Asian countries. The most important findings reveal the current practices of gender bias, prostitution, and trafficking that are not recorded in the existing literature. A multi-dimensional regional practice model is proposed that could support female empowerment and international efforts to curb human trafficking in this region.

Forced Begging in Senegal

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:34:47 +0000

This paper provides an examination of the historical/cultural precedent set by Quranic school leaders, the economic gains that create incentives for gross neglect and exploitation, and the political implications of combating the problem, in order to promote a better of understand of why forced child begging is so prevalent in Senegal.

Foster Care and Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:49 +0000

Foster care children are targeted by traffickers because of their need for love, affirmation, and protection. Victims are trained to call sex traffickers “daddies” and themselves “wifies” – a perverted reflection of the family unit that these children are seeking. These children long for a family…even if it means being subjected to extreme violence and abuse.

Forced Labor in Latin America: Case Studies of Bolivia, Chile and Peru

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:49 +0000

In the first section, I review the scholarly literature on human trafficking, paying specific attention to where my research addresses the weaknesses in the literature. My paper focuses on the experience of the laborer and how that experience can be evaluated on a continuum of exploitation: from the most successful possible conditions to the worst outcome (forced labor).7 I attempt to gain a deeper understanding of the labor continuum by focusing on Latin America, specifically the cases of Bolivia, Chile and Peru. Studying this region is important since most research on human trafficking is focused on the United States and Europe.8 In the second section, I discuss my research design, including the definition of key concepts, the data and methods used and the rationale for case selection. The third section reports the findings of my research based on the independent variables of labor enforcement,type of industry, and race and ethnicity. In the concluding section, I analyze my findings across cases, discussing the broader implications and the potential forfuture research.

Financial Feasibility Study: "Sustainability Fund for Compensation"

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:50 +0000

Access to compensation in the whole region of Serbia is assessed as the weakest link in the overall system of protection and assistance to trafficked persons, although the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings – ratified by Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro – requires all signatories shall provide in their internal law for the right of victims to compensation. Compensation of non-material damages is rarely awarded to trafficked persons, and only after long and exhausting court proceedings. Moreover, the enforcement of court decisions is often inefficient, especially having in mind that many perpetrators do not formally have any assets.

Guide d'Informations pour les Travailleuses Domestiques Migrantes au Liban

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:35:06 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'AVANT-PROPOS: "Au Liban, l’Organisation Internationale du Travail a engagé une politique de dialogue participative avec les autorités libanaises et la société civile a n de garantir des règles et conditions de travail décentes pour les travailleuses domestiques migrantes. Le guide d’informations pour les travailleuses domestiques migrantes suivant est donc le fruit d’un effort commun entre les membres du Comité de Direction National pour les travailleuses domestiques migrantes au Liban qui a été formé en Avril 2007 sous le patronage du Ministère du Travail. Au niveau mondial, une Convention1 Internationale complétée par une Recommandation2 concernant le travail décent des travailleuses et travailleurs domestiques a été adoptée lors de la 100ème Session de la Conférence Internationale du Travail en juin 2011. Ces nouvelles normes internationales du travail représentent un pas historique vers la protection des droits des travailleuses domestiques. Nous espérons que ce guide d’information contribuera au bien-être des travailleuses migrantes travaillant au Liban."

Pendant que ce guide ne focalise pas sur les abus des travailleuses domestiques, c'est important pour les travailleuses domestiques en ce qui concerne les droits de travail et comment on peut éviter les abus de travail.

Free to move, invisible to care: Coordination and accountability towards Romanian unaccompanied minors' safety

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:34:47 +0000

This report explores coordination and accountability towards Romanian children in the United Kingdom. Every child in the UK is entitled to protection and this is enshrined in our primary legislation in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This entitlement also applies to children who have been moved and trafficked into the UK. A key response to safeguarding children being moved across borders where there are concerns for trafficking is correct identification and multi-agency working within and across borders. This report looks at the process of identification and protection specifically in the context of Romanian children in the UK. It explores the systems, processes and tools in place to do so and identifies gaps and challenges. The report concludes by suggesting a supplementary framework that can make this process more comprehensive and it includes recommendations to improve our coordination and responses to vulnerable children.

Guide de Terminologie: Pour la Protection des Enfants Contre l'Exploitation et l'Abus Sexuels

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:35:06 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'INTRODUCTION: "À l’initiative d’ECPAT International, et dans le but de dépasser l’absence de consensus sur les termes à u liser pour décrire les différentes formes d’exploitation et d’abus sexuels des enfants, un groupe de travail interinstitutionnel (GTI) composé d’organisations internationales intergouvernementales et non gouvernementales de premier plan a été chargé en septembre 2014 d’étudier la terminologie et la sémantique relatives à ces problématique. Suite à cette création et pendant plus d’une année, le groupe a mené une analyse approfondie, ainsi que des discussions sur la terminologie et les définitions, sur la base de l’expertise des représentants du GTI et de leurs organisations respectives. Le GTI était présidé par le Professeur Jaap Doek, ancien président du Comité des droits de l’enfant de l’ONU. Parallèlement aux discussions du GTI, un processus de consultation a été mis en place avec un groupe d’experts plus large, sur la protection de l’enfant, avec l’anglais, le français et l’espagnol comme langues de travail. La mission des membres du GTI consistait à mener une procédure interinstitutionnelle de discussion et de consultation, afin d’élaborer un Guide de terminologie propre à ce domaine. L’objectif global de cette collaboration était de favoriser l’émergence d’un consensus, entre les principales parties prenantes, sur la terminologie à utiliser dans le cadre des différents aspects de la lutte contre l’exploitation sexuelle des enfants: programmes, lois, politiques et activités militantes. Ce Guide de terminologie représente le résultat de cette initiative interinstitutionnelle, et contient une série de termes que les professionnels et organismes internationaux utilisent souvent pour leur travail de prévention et d’élimination de l’exploitation et l’abus sexuels d’enfants. Ce Guide se veut «universel» et a pour but d’être applicable à tout type de travail entrepris contre ces phénomènes, dans tous les milieux, y compris le milieu humanitaire."

From the Horn of Africa to the Middle East: Human trafficking of Eritrean asylum seekers across borders

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:32:49 +0000

Each month hundreds of men, women, and children flee Eritrea as a result of grave violations of human rights committed by the Eritrean government. The brutal violence inflicted on migrants during their journeys has been documented in several reports. This paper, based on 134 qualitative interviews conducted with Eritrean individuals in Israel and Ethiopia, sheds light on the role of borders in this abuse. Among the interviewees were victims of kidnapping, torture, extortion and captivity for up to a year in extortion compounds in Eastern Sudan and the Northern Sinai desert.

Global Study on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism: Country Specific Report-India: Goa

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:38:46 +0000

This report explores the inter-linkages between three areas: children, tourism and migration. Goa, since the late 1980s has been a popular destination on the map of thousands of tourists, both domestic and foreign, who enjoy prolonged vacations of the pristine beaches, the food, culture and Goan hospitality. However a harsh reality that came to light was in the early 1990s when the Freddy Peats case was highlighted by the social activists and media, establishing the fact that Goa was witnessing a group of tourists who came here not only for the wine, women and song but children too. Since then several civil society organizations as well as the government have published research studies, census, survey data and records establishing the fact that children are exploited and abused in the context of tourism. However an area that has received scant attention is the situation of children of migrant communities in the context of tourism in Goa.

Globalization and rising human trafficking in Nigeria

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:37:32 +0000

This study examines the relationship between globalization and rising level of human trafficking in Nigeria. The study finds that globalization has a direct link to rising human trafficking in the country. It concludes that the government should therefore moderate the influence of globalization, in order to reduce the level of unemployment and poverty thereby discouraging the craze for greener pastures.

Guardianship systems for children deprived of parental care in the European Union: With a particular focus on their role in responding to child trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:38:46 +0000

This comparative report explores the key features of guardianship systems put in place to cater for the needs of all children requiring such protection and those at risk of becoming victims of trafficking or of other forms of exploitation. In this way, the report looks at how existing guardianship systems for children deprived of parental care respond to the particular needs and vulnerabilities of presumed or identified child victims, or children at risk of trafficking and exploitation, such as unaccompanied children. It aims to assist EU Member States to understand better the strengths and weaknesses of their national system.

Guardianship systems for children deprived of parental care in the European Union: A handbook to reinforce guardianship systems to cater for the specific needs of child victims of trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:38:46 +0000

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.

Ghana's Human Trafficking Act: Successes and Shortcomings in Six Years of Implementation

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:36:39 +0000

Ghana’s Human Trafficking Act was enacted on December 5, 2005, to address human trafficking activity within, to, from and through Ghana. Although the Act appears to address the primary concerns regarding human trafficking, this paper seeks to establish whether it adequately addresses the Ghanaian human trafficking problem, in practice, six years subsequent to the Act's passage into law. It assesses the implementation and efficacy of the Act.

Getting Smart and Scaling Up: The Impact of Organized Crime on Governance in Developing Countries (A Case Study of Ghana)

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:36:40 +0000

This case study presents findings of field research on the impact of organized crime (including human trafficking) on governance and development in Ghana. The objective is not to paint a negative picture of Ghana, but rather to highlight core

structural weaknesses that enable organized crime to flourish largely uncontested, placing significant, albeit not immediately obvious, pressure on the democratic and development gains made over the past two decades.

Global Study on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism. Country Specific Report: Ghana

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:38:46 +0000

This study seeks to answer the following research questions centered around child sex tourism (CST): Which children are victims of CST and what factors render them particularly vulnerable? Who is organizing and exploiting the victims of CST? What is the profile of the perpetrators? What is the modus operandi of the perpetrators? What are the social and cultural contexts in which such exploitation takes place? What is a best practice to combat CST in Ghana? What legal protection from CST has been put in place for children and what gaps remain?

Global Learning Community: End of Year Impact Report

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:38:47 +0000

he Global Learning Community (GLC) project aims to raise the standard of care for vulnerable populations and survivors of human trafficking and exploitation around the world through collaboration and sharing of good practice. GLC extends Chab Dai’s collaboration building experience and expertise to other regions and contexts across the globe through sharing of evidence based practice and encouraging collaboration at a macro level (government), theoretical level (academicians), a peer level (NGOs and other stakeholders), and micro level (community). Global Learning Community’s purpose is to coach and assist citizens and counter-trafficking stakeholders around the world to network with one another; share knowledge and ideas; and increase their capacity to address human trafficking and exploitation through an integrated referral mechanism, prevention, survivor-care, research, community activism, and policymaking.

Guidance on Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Orders and Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders under Part 2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:38:46 +0000

Part 2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 introduces 2 new civil orders designed to prevent the harm caused by slavery and human trafficking offences: Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Orders (STPOs) and Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders (STROs). The police, the National Crime Agency, immigration officers and labour abuse prevention officers from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority can apply to court for these orders, which allow the courts to place a range of restrictions on the behaviour and activities of a person who poses a risk of committing slavery or trafficking offences. The Home Office has published this statutory guidance, issued under section 33 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, as a practical tool intended to help those responsible for applying for STPOs and STROs carry out their responsibilities effectively and appropriately.

Health Consequences of Trafficking of Women and Girls in Southeast Asia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:42:03 +0000

This analysis focuses on the health impacts in the Southeast Asian women trafficking industry, several broad categories of health consequences are likely applicable to trafficking of women and girls globally such as the direct consequences of commercial sex, threats to mental health, and difficulties of health care access.

Ghana Child Labour Report (Statistical Survey)

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:36:40 +0000

Among other objectives, this survey seeks to estimate the number of child workers (or children in employment) aged 5-17 years, and their distribution by sex, major age-groups, educational status, geographical, ecological and rural/urban spread, and also to provide current child labour indicators, estimate the prevalence of child labour and assess the nature and extent of child labour in the country.

Global Slavery Index Sub Saharan African Regional Study

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:38:46 +0000

This report, produced by the Global Slavery Index, provides extensive facts and figures with regards to human trafficking in the Sub-Saharan African region.

Global Study on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism: Middle East and North Africa

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:38:46 +0000

EXCERPT FROM FOREWORD: "This report provides an updated picture of the environment in which sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism persists in the MENA region and proposes a set of recommendations to improve government, non-government and private sector responses to prevent and combat this crime. As such, it will assist in the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals related to children’s right to live free from sexual exploitation. After many years of working on the issue, I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to join efforts and take advantage of multi-sector cooperation to fight this CRIME. This report is an open invitation to all the key stakeholders, including Governments, NGOs, Private sector, UN, Communities and children themselves to work more closely together in the fight against sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism because together we can protect effectively all children from this crime."

Global Monitoring Status of Action against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:36:39 +0000

This report on the commercial sexual exploitation of children in Jordan, produced by EPCAT, makes recommendations on how to stop the practice in Jordan and how to evaluate the implementation of children's rights in Jordan. Some relevant stakeholders in the fight against CSEC provided information to EPCAT for this report. It discusses legislation, education, and cooperation between international, state, and local actors.

Global Monitoring Status of Action against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: Egypt

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:36:39 +0000

EXCERPT FROM FOREWORD:

"This report aims to provide a baseline of information on actions taken and remaining gaps for addressing CSEC in each country, based on the framework of the Agenda for Action, to enable more systematic assessment of progress on implementation of this commitment. It also seeks to contribute to other international mechanisms that exist to protect children’s rights; the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography so as to strengthen the implementation and action against commercial sexual exploitation of children at all levels."

Global Monitoring Status of Action against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: Executive Summary Israel

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:36:39 +0000

This resource focuses on CSEC in Israel, and is the executive summary of the country report published by EPCAT. The report discusses prevention of the crime and protection of children, as well as cooperation between international and local actors in order to fight the crime. Ultimately this executive summary provides recommendations for productive ways to end CSEC in Israel.

Globalization and non-traditional security issues : a study of human and drug trafficking in East Asia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:38:33 +0000

East Asia faces a series of non-traditional security challenges that include environmental concerns, infectious disease and transnational crime. Rather than creating such forms of insecurity, the process of globalization has significantly amplified their spread and impact and accelerated their significance. This paper focuses on illicit drug and human trafficking in China and the Southeast Asian countries and examines these categories of transnational crime in the context of a globalizing world. It argues that the protection of state and human security against drug and people trafficking will increasingly require effective transnational cooperation and some surrendering of state sovereignty. The paper reflects on the depth of such problems in East Asia by analyzing the production, distribution and consumption of narcotics as well as the trafficking of women in the region. It notes an increasing level of multilateral cooperation in East Asia to combat human and drug trafficking. Yet, in addition to the ongoing development of capacity-building and soft mechanisms of cooperation, deeper law enforcement and judiciary collaboration is required at a multilateral level to address these non-traditional security challenges.

Globalisation, Sex Trafficking, and Prostitution: The Experiences of Migrant Women in Ireland

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:38:46 +0000

“Globalisation, Sex Trafficking and Prostitution–The Experiences of Migrant Women in Ireland” makes detailed recommendations on how best to respond to the exploitation of migrant women in Ireland’s sex industry. It is very clear that our response to date has been severely lacking. At the time this report went to print, only two women who had been officially identified as victims of trafficking in Ireland had been offered protection by the State. We believe the Irish government and State agencies take this issue very seriously and are demonstrating great good-will. However, while we continue to treat these women as illegal immigrants, rather than as victims of crime, we will continue to fail them. Victims’ needs, including access to services, accommodation and legal advice, must be at the heart of our response to this problem.

Global Report on Trafficking in Persons

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:38:47 +0000

The exploitation of one human being by another is the basest crime. And yet trafficking in persons remains all too common, with all too few consequences for the perpetrators. Since 2010, when the General Assembly mandated UNODC to produce this report under the UN Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, we have seen too little improvement in the overall criminal justice response.. More than 90% of countries have legislation criminalizing human trafficking since the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, came into force more than a decade ago.

Hidden in Plain Sight: A Baseline Study of Sexually-Exploited Male Masseurs in Metro Manila

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:41:38 +0000

This study is third in a series of studies that explores the little-known lives and experiences, vulnerabilities and resiliencies of sexually exploited young men in Southeast Asia. It is a part of a small, collaborative movement among interested organizations who have both recognized and acted upon the neglect of boys and men in discussions of sexual abuse and exploitation. The studies have utilized both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, merging careful fieldwork and extensive, one-on-one structured interviews to provide a better understanding of the lives of young men and boys within the sex trade industry and an information resource for service providers.

Guidelines to prevent abusive recruitment, exploitative employment, and trafficking of migrant workers in the Baltic Sea Region

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:44:34 +0000

The Guidelines – In Brief version has been designed to be easy to use, refer to and function as a quick overview and checklist on how to best prevent exploitation of mi- grant workers. It is targeting states, businesses - especially recruitment agencies and employers - trade unions and NGOs. The In Brief version includes short extracts from the original Guidelines. For in depth information, references and sources we refer to the main Guidelines publication.

Guidelines to prevent abusive recruitment, exploitative employment and trafficking of migrant workers in the Baltic Sea region

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:44:34 +0000

The aim of these guidelines is to address and tackle the different forms of exploitation and trafficking of migrant workers in the Baltic Sea Region that were identified as problematic in the joint ADSTRINGO research report “Exploitation of Migrant Workers in Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Lithuania. Uncovering the Links between Recruitment, Irregular Employment Practices and Labour Trafficking”. In addition, many of these problematic practices and issues have been identified and discussed in the national experts meetings which have been organised under the ADSTRINGO umbrella in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, as well as in Poland and Russia. The guidelines have been produced in English and translated to the four other project languages Finnish, Swedish, Estonian and Lithuanian. Ultimately, it is our hope that the guidelines will be utilised in efforts to prevent trafficking for forced labour and to protect the rights of migrant workers in the different countries in the Baltic Sea region. In order to achieve best possible impact a shorter and easy to use version of these guidelines is available for practitioners in the five project languages.

How to Assess Human Trafficking in Asia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:49:08 +0000

This report clarifies the State Department's tier system of rating human trafficking in Asia.

HIV Prevalence and Predictors of Infection in Sex-Trafficked Nepalese Girls and Women

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:43:08 +0000

Sex trafficking of girls and women is widespread across South Asia and is recognized as both a violent gender-based crime and major human rights violation. Inadequate empirical data exist to characterize this phenomenon and its related health consequences, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In this study, repatriated Nepalese sex-trafficked girls and women were found to have a high prevalence of HIV infection, with increased risk among those trafficked prior to age 15 years. Present findings demonstrate the need for greater attention to reducing and intervening in sex trafficking in South Asia, particularly among the very young.

H.R.898 - Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2013

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:45:45 +0000

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2013 (TVPRA 2013), which was passed as an amendment to the Violence Against Women Act, establishes and strengthens programs to ensure that U.S. citizens do not purchase products made by victims of human trafficking, and to prevent child marriage. It also puts into place emergency response provisions within the State Department to respond quickly to disaster areas and crises where people are particularly susceptible to being trafficked. The reauthorization also strengthens collaboration with state and local law enforcement to ease charging and prosecuting traffickers.

H.R.7311 - William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:45:45 +0000

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA of 2008) included several new prevention strategies, including requirements that the government provide information about workers’ rights to all people applying for work and education-based visas. It also put in place new systems to gather and report human trafficking data. In addition to the prevention strategies, the 2008 reauthorization expanded the protections available with the T visa, and required that all unaccompanied alien children be screened as potential victims of human trafficking. This reauthorization also enhanced criminal sanctions against traffickers, and expanded definitions of various types of trafficking to make prosecution easier.

H.R.972 - Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:45:45 +0000

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (TVPRA of 2005) included a pilot program for sheltering minors who are survivors of human trafficking, and grant programs to assist state and local law enforcement combat trafficking. It also expanded measures to combat trafficking internationally, including provisions to fight sex tourism, a $5 million pilot program for treatment of trafficking victims abroad, and a strengthening of the regulation over government contracts to ensure they are not made with individuals or organizations that promote or engage in human trafficking.

H.R.2620 - Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:45:45 +0000

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003 (TVPRA of 2003) established a federal, civil right of action for trafficking victims to sue their traffickers. It also added human trafficking to the list of crimes that can be charged under the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute. It also included additional provisions for protection of victims and their families from deportation, and a requirement that the Attorney General report to Congress annually on the activities of the U.S. government in the fight against trafficking.

H.R.3244 - Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:45:45 +0000

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 is the cornerstone of Federal human trafficking legislation, and established several methods of prosecuting traffickers, preventing human trafficking, and protecting victims and survivors of trafficking. The act establishes human trafficking and related offenses as federal crimes, and attaches severe penalties to them. It also mandates restitution be paid to victims of human trafficking. It further works to prevent trafficking by establishing the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, which is required to publish a Trafficking In Persons (TIP) report each year. The TIP report describes and ranks the efforts of countries to combat human trafficking. The act also established the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, which assists in the implementation of the TVPA. The TVPA protects victims and survivors of human trafficking by establishing the T visa, which allows victims of human trafficking, and their families to become temporary U.S. residents and eligible to become permanent residents after three years.

H.R.4310 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:45:45 +0000

Sections 1701-1708 of the National Defense Authorization Act seeks to limit human trafficking associated with government contractors. These sections give governmental agencies the ability to terminate, without penalty, any contract or grant with any organization or individual that engages in human trafficking. It also requires that all grants and contracts worth more than $500,000, have a written certification that no party in the transaction will engage in or support human trafficking practices. It also establishes methods of reporting and investigating possible instances of human trafficking associated with government contracts and grants.

H.R.7804 - A bill to amend chapter 117 of title 18 of the United States Code, commonly referred to as the "Mann Act," to make its prohibitions apply equally with respect to males and females, and to increase the penalties for violation.

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:45:45 +0000

The Mann Act of 1910, (18 U.S.C. § 2421-2424) as amended in 1978 and again in 1986, criminalizes the transportation of minors, and the coercion of adults to travel across state lines or to foreign countries, for the purposes of engaging commercial sex. Both crimes are punishable with up to twenty years in prison, with enhanced punishment options for the transportation of a minor

Hidden in Plain Sight: Human Trafficking in the United States

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:43:08 +0000

In examining human trafficking in 25 nations throughout the world we discovered that each country has its own environmental factors that create a unique set of anti-trafficking issues and obstacles. For example, in India you can’t address the issue of trafficking without also discussing the caste system. In the US you can’t properly address the post-trafficking experience of victims without mentioning the hot button issue of immigration. Despite nation-specific differences, the characteristics of human trafficking are remarkably similar worldwide. Such common characteristics are fraudulent recruitment, exorbitant travel and recruitment fees, the withholding of the victim’s visas and other identifying documentation, controlling and limiting the victim’s movements, threatening deportation, threatening to harm the victim or his/her family, and physically harming the victim. These frequent traits of the trafficking experience can be seen in any nation regardless of geographical location or whether the nation is considered first, second, or third world. What makes identifying each nation’s unique anti-trafficking issues and obstacles critical is not only to recognize potential victims but also to point to common practices or even national objectives that may be in direct conflict with the specific nation’s own anti-trafficking efforts. This article not only describes the precise picture of human trafficking in the US but also illustrates that no nation, including the US, is exempt.

High HIV/AIDS Prevalence in a Suburban Area in Ghana: A Context Analysis of its Relationship to Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:43:08 +0000

Adopting a broad development framework and drawing extensively on postmodernist thought, this research critically examines whether the high labor migration occurrence in the Manya Krobo area has elements of internal human trafficking, which in turn, contributes to the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the study area.

Happily Ever After? From Sham Marriages to Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:43:08 +0000

Despite the fact that NGOs and investigating journalism have identified cases of sham marriage involving exploitation and features of trafficking in persons, despite a world-wide campaign to fight human trafficking, and despite a growing body of research on trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation, very little research has been conducted on sham marriages for exploitative purposes. Before the HESTIA project, there have been no joint research or policy measures initiated at the European level as regards the exploitative elements of sham marriages and their potential links to human trafficking. There is, however, some research on related issues, such as forced marriages and human trafficking. This research will be briefly described in this chapter.

Guide to Legal Remedies for Victims of Trafficking for Labour Exploitation

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:44:34 +0000

This Guide recognises that access to legal remedies for victims of human trafficking is about more than compensation, and that access to justice relies on access to legal assistance and support. Accordingly, the Guide first briefly address the National Referral Mechanism and historic victims; before also outlining some non-financial remedies, including prosecution of traffickers, legal aid, non-criminalisation of victims, and immigration remedies. The Guide then goes on to consider in more detail the routes to accessing compensation, in light of the very low numbers of victims accessing compensation in the UK. The aim of the Guide is to provide practical information that can assist service providers in informing victims about their legal options and directing them towards legal advice.

Guide des Droits de l'Enfant

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:44:34 +0000

Extrait de la préface écrit par Thomas Davin, représentant UNICEF Algérie: "Ce Guide est le résultat de l’excellent partenariat entre l’UNICEF et le Ministère de la Solidarité Nationale, de la Famille et de la Condition de la Femme et dans ses pages vivantes et expressives expose un engagement indéfectible vers les Enfants Algériens. Le chemin vers un respect plein et entier des droits de l’enfant reste un parcours complexe, semé d’embuches et de défis, pour permettre à chaque enfant, partout et à chaque instant de pouvoir bénéficier de l’ensemble de conditions lui permettant d’atteindre son plein potentiel et son épanouissement optimum. A nous de les y accompagner. Ensemble."

Hotline Statistics

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:43:08 +0000

The National Human Trafficking Hotline maintains one of the most extensive data sets on the issue of human trafficking in the United States. The statistics contained on this website are based on aggregated information learned through signals -- phone calls, emails, and online tip reports -- received by the Hotline. The data do not define the totality of human trafficking or of a trafficking network in any given area. The National Hotline uses this data to help human trafficking victims and survivors and to provide the anti-trafficking field with information to help combat all forms of human trafficking.

Guide to Jordanian Labour Law for the Garment Industry

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:43:56 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PREFACE: "This guide was prepared by Better Work Jordan with the aim to provide basic information regarding Jordanian labour law in an easily-understandable way for different readers. We hope this publication will be an effective contribution for building social compliance, harmonious labour relations, friendly working environments, and other benefits to enterprises as well as to society."

Handbook on Identification, Protection and Referral of Victims of Human Trafficking for the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:42:44 +0000

This is a handbook designed for the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment. By reading this guide, one should be able to 1) Understand what Trafficking in Persons is, 2) Identify cases of Trafficking in Persons, including cases of labour trafficking and trafficking for sexual exploitation, 3) Understand the role as an officer within the labour migration regulatory mechanism, 4) Apply interview techniques that will protect the victim and not cause further harm , 5) Protect individuals against further exploitation through appropriate referrals, and 6) Assist in cases of safe return for identified victims.

Human Trafficking – Challenges to Europe and Asia

rsdadmin — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 01:51:52 +0000

On 13 June, the first conceptualizing workshop of the cluster human trafficking took place at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna in Austria. The workshop “Human Trafficking – Challenges to Europe and Asia” aimed to share information on the current challenges with regard to human trafficking in Europe and Asia. By doing so, topics for future cooperation and necessary exchange were identified. The aspects of law enforcement and legal issues were of particular concern. In addition, the role of civil society in combating human trafficking was discussed.

Organ Transplant Legislation: From Trade to Donation

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:49:43 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "For many years, Egypt has been one of the few countries in the world without legislation criminalizing the organ trade and regulating organ and tissue transplant, particularly from the deceased to the living. Nevertheless, the issue has been the subject of a broad debate amid repeated warnings of 'a mafia of organ traffickers,' whose victims are the poor and most vulnerable. Increasingly strong demands have been heard for clear, strict legislation that would regulate the chaos in this critical field in the health sector. On the other hand, a large proportion of those who urgently need organ transplants in Egypt still have no chance of obtaining the necessary organ because of the high cost of the operation, particularly when performed outside the framework of universal insurance (which covers not only the cost of the transplant itself, but post-op treatment and convalescence as well). In addition, the reliance on living donors as the sole source of organs, as is the case in Egypt, has created a severe shortage of organs due to the small number of donors, who often fear complications as a result of the transplantation. This ultimately deprives others of their rights to life and health, thus encouraging transplant tourism and the exploitation of those who are vulnerable. It is in this context, that the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) submits this position paper to offer a rights-based perspective on organ and tissue transplant policies as a means by which the state can meet its commitments to the human rights to health and life. In this document, the EIPR stresses the urgency of a legislation that will put a stop to organ trafficking and ensure the availability of this type of health care for all individuals as part of a system of universal insurance. The EIPR recommends that all concerned parties put aside the debate on the definition of death and look at the consequences of further delaying the proposed law. Finally, the EIPR urges policymakers to be mindful of the fact that this law will be of no value if the state does not allocate the funds needed to implement it, monitor its application and encourage society to adopt a culture of donation."

Human Trafficking in the Sinai Desert: A Case Study of Egypt

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:49:43 +0000

EXCERPT FROM ABSTRACT: "Since 2009 thousands of Eritreans, as well as other, sub-Saharan migrants have become victims of human trafficking in the Sinai Peninsula. These occurrences are linked to the newly coined notion of “Sinai Trafficking” which has been labeled as a new form of human trafficking. According to reports, released or escaped victims have disclosed information regarding collusion between traffickers and Egyptian security forces. Further, there have been reports that trafficking victims from the Sinai are put in detention centers, prisons and police stations in Egypt and are often charged or prosecuted for crimes committed in their capacity as victims of trafficking. Although Egypt is bound to respect and uphold its international law obligations national criminal law concerning human trafficking, the continuation of the situation in Sinai has demonstrated an unwillingness or inability to prevent, suppress and punish the crime. Consequently, the purpose of this thesis is to examine and interpret international law as well as Egypt’s national criminal legislation and policies, pertaining to human trafficking, to determine if there are any inadequacies or gaps in the international legal framework with regards to human trafficking or if it’s rather Egypt’s implementation of the law that is faulty. Moreover, a human rights perspective, relevant theories, literature related to the conceptual framework of human trafficking, the status and treatment of non-nationals and securitization of migration will be applied."

Human Trafficking in the Sinai: Refugees between Life and Death

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:49:42 +0000

EXCERPT FROM SUMMARY: "This report describes the horrific situation of trafficking of refugees in the Sinai desert, a crisis that started in 2009. The refugees include men, women, children and accompanying infants fleeing from already desperate circumstances in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan. An estimated 95% of the refugees held hostage in the Sinai (also referred to as hostages) are Eritreans. Smuggled across borders by middlemen, or kidnapped from refugee camps in Ethiopia and the Sudan as well as their surrounding areas, and then captured or sold, the refugees are held hostage close to the Israeli border in inhumane conditions and tortured for ransoms up to USD 50,000. A large number of the refugees have died, either while being held hostage or after their release – often even after their ransom has been paid. A large number of refugees simply ‘disappear’, killed while being held or shot by the Egyptian military guarding the border with Israel after release. The aim of this report is to give the Sinai refugees a voice. Through the interviews we can hear their stories, and connect with them. It is hoped that this document will raise awareness among the broader public of the desperate plight of these people as a step towards stopping this crime. A second aim of the report is to contextualise these practices within the international legal framework, and, in this way, highlight the obligations of states and international organisations, including the EU, to take action against these practices."

Inaccurate Numbers, Inadequate Policies: Enhancing Data to Evaluate the Prevalence of Human Trafficking in ASEAN

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:50:48 +0000

There is a lack of robust, accurate and standardized data related to human trafficking in Southeast Asia, information that is critical to informing better policy. Policies and programs based on poor data will likewise be poor in efficacy. Current quantitative data has led to largely speculative estimates of the extent of trafficking, and are often based on biased sampling methods and are highly susceptible to politicization. This reports highlights the benefits of local prevalence studies based on the unique circumstances of a given trafficking context, which reveal local trafficking patterns and thus allows for better-informed, more targeted interventions. The report explores methods for estimating hidden populations such as trafficking victims (sampling methods), current global prevalence estimates, examples of localized prevalence studies in Southeast Asia and offers detailed recommendations for ASEAN, governments of ASEAN states and the international anti-trafficking community.

Human Trafficking in East Asia:Current Trends, Data Collection,and Knowledge Gaps

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:52:33 +0000

Migration in East Asia is rather complex, because of that it becomes a challenge to conclude how much of the migration flow is human trafficking. In this paper, the author examines the general trends in human trafficking reported in East Asia from rather disparate sources, identify the main issues and problems raised in the existing information sources, and discuss data collection, research activities, and knowledge gaps.

Human Trafficking and Terrorism: Utilizing National Security Resources to Prevent Human Trafficking in the Islamic State

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:56:06 +0000

This paper addresses the need for the United States to become more involved in fighting human trafficking in relation to ISIS. The author advocates for the United States to use counter-insurgency intelligence and national security resources to prevent recruitment of young women into ISIS. The paper discusses topics such as human trafficking and the Islamic State, anti-human trafficking legislation, cyber-security and social media recruitment tactics, and solutions to the issue.

Paying the price: The criminalisation of sex with 16- and 17-year-olds for payment

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:52:33 +0000

Having sex for payment with a child aged sixteen or seventeen is a criminal offence in the Netherlands. The maximum sentence for the crime is four years’ imprisonment. Research by the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings and Sexual Violence against Children has shown that in the first six months of 2015, as many clients were prosecuted and tried for having sex with sixteen- or seventeen-year-old children for payment as in the past fourteen years.

Les Droits Humaines dans les Chaînes d'Approvisionnement

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:52:33 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'INTRODUCTION: "Dans notre économie mondialisée, les entreprises de tous les secteurs s’approvisionnent de plus en plus en biens et services de toutes sortes auprès de chaînes complexes de fournisseurs qui opèrent souvent dans de multiples pays dotés de pratiques dans les domaines juridique, réglementaire et des droits humains qui diffèrent radicalement les unes des autres. Selon l’Organisation internationale du travail (OIT), plus de 450 millions de personnes occupent des emplois liés aux chaînes d’approvisionnement mondiales. Bien que des chaînes d’approvisionnement mondiales complexes puissent offrir d’importantes possibilités de développement économique et social, elles présentent souvent de graves risques en matière de droits humains, que de nombreuses compagnies n’ont pas atténués ou auxquels elles n’ont pas répondu de manière effective."

Iraq's Next Battle: Combatting Sexual Slavery in Post-Conflict Iraq

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:52:32 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "This research will focus on the most gender-biased of trafficking crimes – the forced prostitution and trafficking into the sex trade of impoverished Iraqi girls and women. The demand for sexual services is growing all over the world, especially in developed countries, and the conditions in Iraq have allowed traffickers to thrive. Part I of this discussion will give an introduction to human trafficking as both a crime and a profitable business. A brief history of the sex industry and human trafficking in Iraq is presented in Part II, followed by a more detailed discussion of the conditions that allow for trafficking in Part III. Part IV explores both domestic and international laws about sex trafficking and how they are implemented in Iraq, as well as the failures of Iraqi law enforcement with regards to this issue. Finally, solutions will be discussed in Part V, including the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the Iraqi government, and the international community."

Manuel: Prévenir la Traite des Êtres Humains aux Fins de Servitude Domestique dans les Foyers Diplomatiques et Protéger les Travailleurs Domestiques Privés

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:52:32 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'INTRODUCTION: "Le but du présent manuel est de sensibiliser et d’informer les autorités compétentes sur la façon de prévenir la traite des êtres humains à des ns de servitude domestique dans les foyers diplomatiques, de détecter les abus et de réagir à des situations d’exploitation tout en protégeant les droits des travailleurs domestiques. Bien que la conduite de la majorité des agents diplomatiques et consulaires soit à la hauteur des normes les plus élevées d’intégrité person- nelle et professionnelle, des cas d’abus et de traite d’êtres humains ont été néanmoins recensés dans un nombre considérable d’États participants de l’OSCE et de Partenaires pour la coopération. Certes, tous les cas d’abus et d’exploitation ne concernent pas la traite des êtres humains, mais chaque cas est une cause de préoccupation et présente des problèmes exigeant des réponses adaptées."

Live Streaming of Child Sexual Abuse: Background, Legislative Frameworks and the Experience of the Philippines

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:52:32 +0000

This article focuses on the ‘live streaming’ of child sexual abuse, a form of child sexual exploitation (CSE) involving the participation of a child – by definition, under coercion - in sexual activities that are transmitted (‘streamed’) live on the Internet for potential viewing by hundreds, thousands or millions of people remotely. This article further explores and examines key aspects of this phenomenon – its definition, causes, consequences and the existing legislative international and national frameworks. Specific focus is given to the experience of the Philippines, from both a socio-cultural and a legislative point of view. Although the empirical evidence surrounding this issue is unreliable and still largely unknown, a recent proliferation of reported cases suggests that the Philippines is among the most significantly affected countries in the world. This article asks the question: ‘why?’; and offers recommendations for what is needed to better address this burgeoning scourge.

Networked trafficking: reflections on technology and the anti-trafficking movement

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:56:06 +0000

In this essay, we offer field notes from our ongoing ethnographic research on sex trafficking in the United States. Recent efforts to regulate websites such as Craigslist and Backpage have illuminated activist concerns regarding the role of networked technologies in the trafficking of persons and images for the purposes of sexual exploitation. We frame our understanding of trafficking and technology through a network studies approach, by describing anti-trafficking as a counter-network to the sex trafficking it seeks to address. Drawing from the work of Annelise Riles and other scholars of feminist science and technology studies, we read the anti-trafficking network through the production of expert knowledge and the crafting of anti-trafficking techniques. By exploring anti-trafficking activists’ understandings of technology, we situate the activities of anti-trafficking experts and law enforcement as efforts toward network stabilization.

Incredible journey: from domestic slave to the Democratic Convention

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:56:06 +0000

In July, Ima Matul got a standing ovation when she spoke at the Democratic National Convention, broadcast live across the United States. It was a remarkable achievement. Almost 20 years earlier she had been living as a domestic slave, trapped in a house in Los Angeles, where she was threatened, abused and beaten.

Human trafficking survivor who smashed triathlon world record

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:56:06 +0000

Bastidas says once she arrived in Japan the agency took her passport and set her up in an apartment. They then informed her she owed them for airfare, the apartment, and food.

Patterns of trafficking in persons and empowerment strategies in Awka Ibom State, Nigeria

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:56:05 +0000

This study investigates the patterns of human trafficking as well as the perceived empowerment strategies against the crime in Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. It seeks to ascertain the demographic, temporal, and spacial pattern of trafficking in persons in Akwa Ibom State. It identifies the factors sustaining human trafficking in Akwa Ibom State, and ascertains the perceived status of government legislation against it. It ends by identifying empowerment strategies against human trafficking in Akwa Ibom State.

Human trafficking and trajectories of neo-slavery: the Nigerian experience and a political economy outline

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:55:14 +0000

This paper is a qualitative exploration of human trafficking as a form of modern day slavery from the theoretical stand-point of Marxian political economy. Drawing insights from the Nigerian experience, the paper posits that by its nature, motive and modality, human trafficking depicts an instance of neo-slavery with strong materialist underpinnings. The paper recommends among other things, the enactment of a self-standing international law against human trafficking as a panacea to the phenomenon in view of its increasingly trans-national character. Information drawn from relevant extant literature constituted the substance of analysis for the paper.

Human trafficking and its effects on national image: the Nigerian case

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:56:05 +0000

This paper deals with human trafficking as a phenomenon of modern slavery. It specifically deals with human trafficking as a contemporary social problem in Nigerian society, and examines its effects on the country’s national image.

Implications of human trafficking for human trights: the case of Nigeria

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:56:05 +0000

This paper examines the nature of human trafficking, how it affects the human rights of Nigerians, and how to manage it with a view of preserving human rights in Nigeria. It concludes that human trafficking is a crime against humanity. Recommendations are made on how it could be managed in order not to infringe on fundamental human rights of Nigerians.

Marriages and Markets: How ISIS is Using Sexual Violence and Slavery as Weapons of Genocide Against the Yazidi Community

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:56:05 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION:

"Through systematic sexual violence, individual Yazidi women are physically and psychologically harmed and stigmatised, families are traumatised, and communities are shattered and deprived of their ability to self-perpetuate. In light of recognition by the G8 and the United Nations that 'sexual violence can constitute a crime against humanity or a constitutive act with respect to genocide,' this paper will examine academic sources that demonstrate how sexual violence against women and girls can be used to further genocidal aims. It will then apply this premise to the current situation in Iraq, based on media articles, UN and government reports, non-government organisation material and media interviews with Yazidi survivors. The picture obtained by analysing the treatment of women and girls is of a highly gendered genocide with sexual violence a prime component, and one in which the world must intervene before thousands more suffer."

Living as Commodities: Human and Sex Trafficking in the GCC

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:56:05 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "This report will examine the abuses migrant workers face on a daily basis as well as the complicity of the GCC governments in human tra cking. In order to successfully combat human trafficking, officials in the GCC need to better enforce the laws it has in place, reform current legislation to better allow victims to take action against their employers, and repeal the abusive and exploitative kafala system."

Human trafficking in Nigeria Implication for human immune deficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:56:06 +0000

This paper articulates the potential vulnerability of human trafficking victims, appraise the link between trafficking and human immune deficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic, assess the potency of the Nigeria legal instruments to curb human trafficking and recommend possible solutions.

Nigeria's human trafficking situation in 2014: A research synthesis

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:56:06 +0000

A 16-page synthesis of existing research concerning the state of human trafficking in Nigeria.

Human Trafficking and Smuggling in Asia

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:56:06 +0000

In this report, the author points out that Asia has long been a global hub for human trafficking and smuggling and the region must make serious efforts to tackle these heinous crimes.

Police save girls from trafficking in Vietnam

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:56:37 +0000

CNN's Alexandra Field meets five 14-year-old girls saved by the Vietnamese border police as traffickers were about to take them across the border into China.

The Work Conditions of Syrian Refugee Children in Jordan

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:11:44 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "The report aims to identify the national and international legal framework that address the work of Syrian refugee women, to identify the social and economic framework for their work in Jordan, in addition to highlighting their working conditions in various labour sectors."

Terrorism and Sexual Exploitation

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:11:44 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "While this chapter will not judge or attempt to advise other cultures on issues involving sexual exploitation, this chapter will put into perspective and analyze, in light of recent events, the large-scale ideologies and deliberate processes of sexual exploitation set up by the Islamic State."

Trafficking and Syrian Refugee Smuggling: Evidence from the Balkan Route

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:11:44 +0000

ABSTRACT: "As of March 2016, 4.8 million Syrian refugees were scattered in two dozen countries by the civil war. Refugee smuggling has been a major catalyst of human trafficking in the Middle East and Europe migrant crises. Data on the extent to which smuggling devolved into trafficking in this refugee wave is, however, scarce. This article investigates how Syrian refugees interact with smugglers, shedding light on how human smuggling and human trafficking interrelated on the Balkan Route. I rely on original evidence from in-depth interviews (n = 123) and surveys (n = 100) with Syrian refugees in Jordan, Turkey, Greece, Serbia, and Germany; as well as ethnographic observations in thirty-five refugee camps or other sites in these countries. I argue that most smugglers functioned as guides, informants, and allies in understudied ways—thus refugee perceptions diverge dramatically from government policy assumptions. I conclude with a recommendation for a targeted advice policy that would acknowledge the reality of migrant-smuggler relations, and more effectively curb trafficking instead of endangering refugees."

我國人口販運防制對策 - 法務部司法官學院

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:06:17 +0000

Trafficking in Persons for the Purposes of Organ Removal

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:11:44 +0000

The present toolkit deals with trafficking in persons for the purpose of organ removal, as defined by the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, (Trafficking in Persons Protocol), supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Organized Crime Convention).

Toolkit to Combat Trafficking in Persons

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:11:44 +0000

As the international cooperation which is crucial to successfully prevent trafficking, prose- cute the culprits and protect and assist its victims gains global momentum, UNODC is hon- oured to present examples of promising practice from around the world relating to traffick- ing interventions. The promising practice and recommended resources included in this Toolkit by no means comprise an exhaustive collection of successful, creative and innova- tive responses to trafficking. Nor are they necessarily in absolute accordance with the anti- trafficking policies of UNODC. However, in the light of the urgent need for cooperative and collaborative action against trafficking, examples have been included with the intention both of commending such initiatives and of demonstrating the range of resources available to assist users in undertaking the anti-trafficking efforts which may feature in the next edi- tion of this Toolkit.

亞裔婦女之家人口販賣防制服務

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:10:47 +0000

此宣傳手冊由美國司法部司法項目辦公室下屬的犯罪受害者辦公室贊助的美亞社區協進會（AACI）製作。宣傳內容包括各種人口販賣的跡象和亞裔婦女之家為人口販賣受害者提供的服務。

誰的人權：防制人口販運運動的人權家國階序

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:05:55 +0000

本文選擇從防制人口販運（human trafficking prevention）運動這項由政府與民間婦女宗教團體所主導的人權政策，透過其建構的脈絡與論述分析，指出人權普世意義下，其實涵蓋了不同社會與政治位置之間的角力。同時，本文特別針對防制人口販運運動中關鍵的「丟包事件」建構進行分析，說明其角力不僅僅只是不同人權價值認知，更是反映了社會的性道德階序（hierarchy）、國家主權的焦慮與不同社會階層的政治權力差異，而人權保障反而是保障了主流性道德價值與再製臺灣政府在國際上「人權立國」的想像，並且排斥了移民、移工、性工作者的人權。藉此，本文透過突顯人權在具體政治與社會權力差異脈絡下的動態建構過程、以及建構過程所反映的社會階序與政治權力關係，以點出權利（rights）即權力（power），人權保障不僅僅只是訴諸普世但抽象的原則，更必須坐落於實踐的脈絡，分析並拆解當中的權力結構。

全球化人口移動下我國跨境人口販運防制之研究

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:08:45 +0000

本研究主要目的從全球化人口移動衍生之跨境人口販運犯罪，探討國際間相關國際組織、國家及我國人口販運防制策略及面臨之問題，為未來我國推動防制人口販運工作及查緝作為上找出改善方案及因應之策略，以期能有效減少我國人口販運問題。目前我國人口販運防制仍面臨一些困境，依據本研究結論提出之建議為：（一）加強外勞管理並適時修正相關法令；（二）加強人員教育訓練及預防宣導作為；（三）加強查緝境內行蹤不明外勞及防處不實簽證入境；（四）積極推廣跨境人口販運國際合作及交流；（五）善用民間組織及民眾之力量。

兒少性交易及人口販運防制

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:09:20 +0000

近年來台灣成為東南亞人口販賣的輸入地，但很多執法單位不了解人口販賣與人口走私的不同也不知人口販賣犧牲者的所受傷害。本文依此問題加以解釋說明。

以被害人為中心的刑事偵訊：以性侵害與人口販運為例

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:09:42 +0000

國際人權之保障已成為普世尊重之價值，犯罪被害人保護制度為國家人權保障之重要指標，面臨人權保障國際化浪潮，現行犯罪被害人保護法互惠原則之相關規定，與現代保障人權平等原則與精神不符，實有檢討修正之必要，政府基於人權立國理念及實踐人道主義，將在臺外國籍與無國籍人士納入本法保護對象，以確保渠等被害者在我國受到合理及平等之對待，使犯罪被害者人權保障更加周延，也更確定政府重視被害人保護，未來的刑事司法政策，將會與先進國家以被害人為中心(Victim-Centered)的刑事政策取向同步，尤其是被害人特別脆弱 (vulnerable)、更多為兒童與婦女的人口販運與性侵害這兩種類型的犯罪，更應入列

The Jordanian Labour Market: Needs for Migrant Workers and the Views of its Employers

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:11:44 +0000

EXCERPT FROM FOREWORD: "In recent years significant attention has been given to the situation of migrant workers in Jordan, their conditions and the hardships they face. The Jordanian government’s regular issuance and amendment of laws that protect migrant workers and regulate their presence in Jordan demonstrates its concern about the issue. As part of the debate over migrant workers, questions have been raised about Jordan's need for foreign labour. Some have questioned whether migrant labour is necessary in Jordan while others have expressed their belief that it competes with Jordanian labour and should be replaced by it. These questions inspired this study. We wanted to look into the Jordanian market's actual need for migrant labour and whether and how much migrants contribute to the Jordanian economy. We also wanted to look at the feasibility of replacing migrant labour with Jordanian labour. We hope that this study may serve as a starting point for similar in-depth studies on the subject."

Syrian Refugees in Turkish Garment Supply Chains

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:11:44 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "Pitiful wages, child labour and sexual abuse is reported to be the reality for some Syrian refugees working without permits in Turkey, posing a major challenge for the garment brands that source from the country to supply Europe’s high streets. This report summarises the responses of 28 of Europe’s largest clothes brands who were asked to explain how they are protecting Syrian refugees in their supply chain. A few are taking decisive action, but many are doing too little."

Trafficking in the Domestic-Work Sector in the Netherlands: A Hidden Phenomenon

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:11:44 +0000

This article seeks to contribute to the anti-trafficking debate by exposing shortcomings in the policy framework applicable to the domestic-work sector in the Netherlands, a sector wherein workers are at risk of trafficking. The findings are the result of qualitative research (desktop research, case analysis, and in-depth interviews), conducted in 2015. Based on the analysis, it will be shown that the current policy framework fosters rather than alleviates the vulnerability of domestic workers for THB (trafficking of human beings), and therewith, the author calls upon the Dutch government to remedy these policies as part of their responsibility to prevent THB.

The problem of human trafficking in the European Union

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:11:44 +0000

Although "human trafficking" has been defined at international level and criminalised throughout the EU, little is known about what is a complex crime. The EU attracts large numbers of irregular migrants, some of whom are deceived or coerced into various forms of exploitation. Moreover, EU citizens themselves are often part of the trafficking process, either as victim or as perpetrator. Whereas the prevalence of human trafficking in the EU is very difficult to assess, some estimates have been made on the basis of limited data. These point, among other things, to a high proportion of women among the victims of trafficking, especially as victims of sexual exploitation. Trafficking networks are mostly composed of small, highly flexible groups specialised in particular criminal activities. However, some organised crime syndicates have managed to control the entire trafficking process from the source to the destination country in the EU. Whatever the structure of a network, the trafficking chain always includes certain activities, such as the recruitment, transport and harbouring of the victims. Whilst sexual and labour exploitation are the most common forms of abuse, victims are also trafficked for several other purposes, such as forced begging or committing various criminal activities. Children are a particularly vulnerable category of victims and they may face all kinds of exploitation.

The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:11:44 +0000

Myanmar's anti-trafficking legislation that aims to prevent and suppress trafficking in persons, in particularly of women, children and youth, and to enable effective and speedy investigation to expose and take action against persons guilty of trafficking in persons and to prevent further trafficking in persons by passing effective and deterrent punishment.

Press coverage of child trafficking in Nigeria: A content analysis of Daily Sun and Vanguard newspapers

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:38 +0000

The press has an imperatives role to play in reporting child trafficking in Nigeria, as the fourth estate of the realm, the watch dog of the society and agenda setting machinery. The main objective of this study, therefore, is to critically examine the performance of the newspapers toward adequate coverage of child trafficking. The study makes use of social responsibility theory and agenda theory to find out how the media create awareness on the ills of child trafficking.

Practical Guide: Access to the Asylum Procedure

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:14:28 +0000

This guide provides information on the core obligations of first-contact officials and the rights of persons who may be in need of international protection in the first-contact situation. It will steer you through the process of identification of persons who may wish to apply for protection and the provision of relevant procedural guarantees and support.

Pour l’Éradication du Travail des « petites bonnes » au Maroc

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:38 +0000

EXTRAIT DE LA PUBLICATION:

"Le présent document a pour objet de contribuer à la réflexion aux conditions d’éradication du travail des «petites bonnes» au Maroc, dans le cadre des actions menées par les associations marocaines, depuis de longues années, et qui commencent à avoir un impact sur la population et sur le débat public sur les droits de l’enfant. Il est élaboré, à partir des publications de l’OIT et de celles du Collectif «Pour l’éradication du travail des petites bonnes. »"

Possibilities to Obtain Compensation for Trafficked Persons in Austria

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:38 +0000

Primarily, this study comprehensively reviews compensation of damages claimed in criminal and civil court cases related to human trafficking and reveals legal options according to the Labour Law (Arbeitsrecht) and the Victims of Crime Act (Verbrechensopfergesetz). Following a presentation of the legal options, case analyses will demonstrate the practice of receiving compensation. The latter closes with conclusions and recommendations for further steps to be taken in the future in Austria.

Post-traumatic stress symptoms among former child soldiers in Sierra Leone: follow-up study

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:38 +0000

Former child soldiers are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, the trajectory of symptoms has yet to be examined. In this article, the risk and protective factors associated with PTSD symptom change among former child soldiers in Sierra Leone were investigated.

Pour un Maroc sans "Petites Bonnes": Modifier la Loi 19.12!!

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:38 +0000

EXTRAIT DE LA PUBLICATION: "Le présent document a pour objet d’éclairer l’opinion publique et toutes les parties prenantes sur l’inadéquation de la Loi 19.12 avec le besoin urgent d’éradication, à terme, de « l’exploitation des mineur(e)s dans le travail domestique » dans notre pays. Cette loi, dont copie ci-joint, qui a été votée par le Parlement, le 26 juillet 2016, et publiée au Bulletin Officiel, le 22 août 2016, et qui traite des «conditions d’emploi et de travail des travailleur(e)s domestiques», comprend des dispositions contraires à la lettre et à l’esprit de nos engagements internationaux et de notre constitution concernant la protection de l’enfant. L’objectif de notre Collectif, à travers la présentation de ce document, est de mobiliser tous les acteur(e)s de la société épris(se)s du respect des droits humains pour créer, ensemble, les conditions objectives et subjectives pour modifier ce texte incongru et pour éradiquer, à terme, cette pratique infâme."

Policy Paper: Improving Access to Compensation for Victims of Trafficking for Labour Exploitation in the UK

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:37 +0000

This paper highlights the concerning position that, one year on from the passage of the Modern Slavery Act, UK law does not ensure access to compensation for victims of human trafficking. It directly addresses 4 key barriers to victims’ access to compensation in the UK, and proposes a set of recommendations to ensure all victims of human trafficking can obtain redress for the abuses committed against them.

Position of Human Trafficking Victims in Court Proceedings ‐ Analysis of judicial practice for 2013 (Serbia)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:38 +0000

Basic aim of the analysis was to overview the position of human trafficking victims in court proceedings, in order to be able to estimate the state of coordination of domestic legislation with international standards in the field, efficiency and implementation of the existing legislation in practice, uniformity of judicial practice, as well as the effect of the implemented trainings for judiciary employees, all with the purpose of improving the position of human trafficking victims in court proceedings. Continuation of the monitoring and analysis of judicial practice is targeted at continuous supervision and objective consideration of the problem in practice, as the basis for future improvements of the efficiency of legal protection for human trafficking victims.

Position of Human Trafficking Victims in Court Proceedings ‐ Analysis of judicial practice for 2016 (Serbia)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:38 +0000

The monitoring of court practice implemented in the course of 2016 follows the objectives and methodology of the previous analyses from the period 2011-2015. It was performed through two types of activities. The first one includes the observing of court proceedings by ASTRA’s researchers. The proceedings were in the most cases conducted in relation to trafficking in human beings and related offences, specifically mediation in prostitution and trafficking in minors for adoption. The researchers entered all the relevant data from the monitored trials into special forms - questionnaires. The second activity, as it has been so far, is the analysis of judgments obtained from competent courts which were passed during 2016 in first-instance and appellate criminal proceedings for the above listed offences.

Position of Human Trafficking Victims in Court Proceedings ‐ Analysis of judicial practice for 2015 (Serbia)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:38 +0000

The main objective of the analysis is to recognise the position of the human trafficking victims in court proceedings in order to evaluate the conformity of the internal legal norms to the international standards in this field, the efficiency and application of the present legal norms in practice, the uniformity of case law, as well as the influence of the training the employees in the judiciary have had so far, all this with the aim to improve the position of the victims of this crime in the court proceedings. The continuation of monitoring and analysis of the judicial practice is aimed at regular monitoring and objective observing of the problems in practice, which may appear due to flaws in the law or the inconsistent application of the existing legislation, thus presenting a valid basis for recommendations and further improvements in the legal protection of the human trafficking victims.

Position of Human Trafficking Victims in Court Proceedings ‐ Analysis of judicial practice for 2014 (Serbia)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:38 +0000

Through the most important results and observations in regard to the position and rights of the victims in court procedures vis-à-vis minimum standards set forth in international documents, the aim of this analysis is to indicate problems in judicial practice in this eld that can occur due to the aws in Serbian legislation and inconsistent implementation of the existing legal solutions in the area of protection under criminal law or civil court proceedings for compensation.

Political determinants of efforts to protect victims of human trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:37 +0000

In focusing on characteristics of national cabinets and parliaments, this paper seeks to understand domestic factors that are conducive to the enforcement of policies which protect victims of human trafficking in 33 democratic member countries of the European Union (EU) and the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD). It argues for the need to consider the role of policymakers when trying to understand what drives the implementation and enforcement of international treaties that combat organized crime, such as the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, in national policies. In so doing, the paper applies theoretical arguments of comparative politics to criminology. Multivariate analyses show that the share of female parliamentarians and the proportion of left wing and social democratic parties in cabinet are significantly and positively associated with stronger efforts to protect victims of human trafficking. Future research should expand the insights of this analysis through case studies on parliamentary behaviour, legislative proposals, and votes related to human trafficking.

Walled in by Alienation: Working and Living Conditions of Migrant Workers in Jordan

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:11:45 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "The annual report entitled 'Walled in by Alienation' includes extensive analysis of the legal framework for migrant workers in Jordan and the most important issues that they face. Furthermore it addresses the working conditions and environment of migrant workers, their numbers, nationalities, and their distribution across labor sectors. In addition, the report devotes a section to discuss victims of human trafficking and suspected human trafficking cases in Jordan. The report will also include a section discussing the administrative detention of migrant workers and alternatives to detention."

Spheres of Exploitation: Thwarting Actors Who Profit from Illegal Labor, Domestic Servitude, and Sex Work

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:39 +0000

EXCERPT FROM WEBSITE: "The report argues that one of the biggest challenges facing law enforcement is that the focus on serious criminals and lawbreakers ignores those who operate on the edge of legality; the reality is that creative criminal organizations exploit legal routes wherever possible, sometimes flying under the radar of police. This situation often creates unexpected results. Some policies to encourage legal migration—like those that tie workers to a particular employer—can facilitate exploitative practices, while policies designed to reduce exploitation (such as licensing systems) might make some operators more likely to hire unauthorized workers."

Sex trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Settings Affected by Armed Conflicts in Africa, Asia and the Middle East: Systematic Review

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:39 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "The original aim of this review was to collect and synthesize prevalence data. However, as will be discussed, in reviewing the literature it is evident that the current definitions and methods used to measure sex trafficking and sexual exploitation are too heterogeneous to synthesize in a meta-analysis. Instead, this review aims to inform future policy, research and programming responses to sexual exploitation and sex trafficking in conflict-affected settings by reviewing the types of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation measured in conflict- affected settings and present the varied terminology use, and discuss the dynamics of these different violence exposures through reviewing prevalence indicators and health outcomes."

Trauma-Informed Human Trafficking Screenings

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:11:45 +0000

Human trafficking victims often experience high levels of trauma, which can have a profound negative impact on their ability to function, their behavior, and their self-identity. This webinar will provide concrete recommendations for first responders to ensure that interviews with potential victims of trafficking are sensitive to trauma. This presentation will encourage law enforcement and service providers to consider ways to tailor engagement that meet the needs each potential victim, build trust, and increase receptivity to services.

Victim Assistance Fact Sheet

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:11:45 +0000

Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the sole Federal agency authorized to certify foreign adult victims of human trafficking so that they are eligible for federal and State benefits and services to the same extent as refugees admitted to the United States. Similarly, it is the sole Federal agency authorized to determine the eligibility of foreign minor victims of trafficking for the benefits and services available to refugees. Certification and Eligibility Letters are issued by the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). U.S. citizen and Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) victims do not need to be certified or receive a letter of eligibility to be eligible for similar benefits and services. The Certification for Adult Victims of Trafficking and Child Victims of Human Trafficking fact sheets provide more information about HHS/ORR certification and eligibility determinations.

Turkey Country Report: Children & Security

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:11:45 +0000

This report depicts the effects of conflict and unrest in Turkey on children and discusses the frequent recruitment of child soldiers. Children have been affected by conflict in Syria and Iraq as well, and ISIS and several other separatist groups have recruited children into their armies. The topic of working Syrian refugee children in Turkey is also described.

Victims of Human Trafficking: Intersections with the Court System

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:11:45 +0000

Victims of human trafficking interact with various aspects of the justice system, from juvenile justice to criminal court, to specialized court calendars, probation and services. This document provides information on how to identify and assist victims and survivors interacting with the court system.

Victimes de servitude domestique

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:11:45 +0000

Cet article développe la servitude domestique, surtout en ce que ceci concerne la France. "En dépit de l’abolition de l’esclavage il y a plus de cent soixante ans, la pratique de la traite des êtres humains s’est extrêmement développéeces dernières années. La France n’est pas épargnée par ce fléau, constate le Comité contre l’esclavage moderne."

Nigerian Policy on Child Labor: An Evaluation of the Education Sector Preparedness for Effective Policy Implementation

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:16:29 +0000

Using the functionalist theory of Durkheim and the infrastructure theory of Frischmann, the purpose of this exploratory case study is to evaluate the level of preparedness of the education sector to implement the Nigerian policy on child labor, which was adopted on September 11, 2013, by the federal executive council of Nigeria.

Policies, practices and data on unaccompanied minors in the EU Member States and Norway

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:16:30 +0000

The current study aims to:

Identify changes in (Member) States’ policies and practices in relation to unaccompanied minors (UAMs) which have occurred since 2009, from the moment of arrival at the external borders or on the EU territory until a durable solution may be found;
Provide new comparable statistics for the period 2009 to 2014;
Fill knowledge gaps identified by the previous EMN work, notably to distinguish between asylum-seeking UAMs and those who have been granted refugee status or other forms of international protection, and non-asylum seeking UAMs, including those who entered irregularly and victims of trafficking;
Explore the situation of UAMs who go missing or abscond from reception and/ or care facilities;
Understand how (Member) States address the situation of UAMs reaching 18 years of age whilst in reception and/ or care; and finally
Highlight good practices which may serve to inform policy-makers of approaches to further strengthen the protection of UAMs in the EU, along with identifying areas in which more work may need to be done.

Plan d'action national 2012-2014 de lutte contre la traite, l'exploitation et le travail des enfants

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:16:30 +0000

Ce plan d’action vise à réduire de manière significative, les pires formes de travail des enfants en Cote d'Ivoire de à 2014 et se décline en quatre axes stratégiques que sont : la prévention ; la protection des enfants; la poursuite et la répression des auteurs d’infractions; le suivi-évaluation des activités.

Perceptions of Organised Crime and Human Trafficking in Northern Ireland: Findings from the October 2016 Northern Ireland Omnibus Survey

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:16:30 +0000

The Northern Ireland Omnibus Survey is conducted several times each year by the Central Survey Unit of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and is designed to provide a snapshot of the behaviour, lifestyle and views of a representative sample of people in Northern Ireland. This particular survey profiles people's attitudes on organized crime and human trafficking.

On the Talibe Phenomenon: A Look into the Complex Nature of Forced Child Begging in Senegal

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:16:29 +0000

This paper focuses on factors that have contributed to the persistence of forced child begging in Senegal. It interprets from a socio-cultural perspective the evolution and acceptance of an unremitting social phenomenon where talibés or Muslim child dis- ciples beg on the streets of a now metropolitan Senegal.

One Child Policy Leads to Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:16:29 +0000

For the past 35 years, China has implemented one of the most brutally-enforced population control policies in modern history, known as "The One Child" policy. But while the policy has lessened population pressures in the country, it has also become one of the major contributors to the growing problem of human trafficking.

Online Child Sexual Exploitation: A Common Understanding

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:16:30 +0000

This booklet contains three series of factsheets related to online child sexual exploitation providing easy, ready-to-use resources to anyone interested in getting a better grasp of this issue. The first series is comprised of factsheets describing different manifestations of online child sexual exploitation. The second series covers the five relevant regional and/or international legal frameworks containing provisions regarding one or more of the manifestations of online child sexual exploitation. Finally, the third series consists of Internet and Technology factsheets describing terms and tools which are relevant to understand the Internet and how different technologies are (potentially) used by child sex offenders or those trying to obstruct the perpetrators.

Online Child Sexual Abuse Images: Doing More to Tackle Demand and Supply

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:16:30 +0000

This report outlines existing research and statistics about child sexual abuse images. It looks at what is and could be done to further address the issue. The report starts by defining what constitutes a child sexual abuse image. It then goes on to look at the impact such images have on children, what is being done to tackle their production and distribution and what more work needs to be done to ensure that children are protected.

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:16:30 +0000

Considering that, in order further to achieve the purposes of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the implementation of its provisions, especially articles 1, 11, 21, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, it would be appropriate to extend the measures that States Parties should undertake in order to guarantee the protection of the child from the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Considering also that the Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education, or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development,

Policy Options on Domestic Violence/ Gender-based Violence in Kosovo

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:16:30 +0000

The overall purpose of this policy options paper on DV/GBV is to highlight policy provisions that need to be focused on to further institutionalize attention to DV/GBV prevention and interventions. These provisions, based on recent evidence, experience and practice in the Kosovan context, are aimed at changing knowledge, attitudes, practices and behavior in favor of gender equality and a future without violence for the children, women and men of Kosovo. The different policy options can be considered for adoption at the municipal level, in line with required legal provisions, while they can also be considered by central level institutions, such as the National Coordination Mechanism on Domestic Violence.

Organ Trafficking and Migrants from Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:16:30 +0000

This article is about migrants and organ trafficking, a crime against humanity against the poor and the helpless, against those who, through no fault of their own, have been pushed out of their country, lost and confused, who needed compassion but face murder and mutilation almost routinely.

Policy Change in Prostitution in the Netherlands: from Legalization to Strict Control

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:16:30 +0000

The Netherlands legalized prostitution in 1999 and is currently debating a new bill, the ‘Law regulating prostitution and suppressing abuse in the sex industry’. The legalization made a distinction between voluntary sex work, which is legal, and forced prostitution, which remains a criminal offence. In the 2000s, evaluations showed that, while there is a reasonably working legal prostitution sector, abuse, bad working conditions and trafficking still occur. The media have played an important role in reframing the issue, and politicians have successfully set the revision of the legalization on the agenda, resulting in a new bill at the end of the decade. With this proposal and its framing of fighting human trafficking and organized crime, the Netherlands is reneging on its original progressive legalization by adopting a strict regulation of all prostitution. Sex workers will have to register with the authorities; the age to work in the sex industry will be raised to 21 years and clients have to check whether the sex worker is registered and not an undocumented worker. This article accounts for these two major shifts in prostitution policy in the Netherlands and discusses the consequences for sex workers.

Policy Paper on Reforming the "Sponsorship System" for Migrant Domestic Workers: Towards an Alternative Governance Scheme in Lebanon

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:16:30 +0000

PREFACE: "In recent years, the “sponsorship system” (kafala) in Lebanon and in other countries in the region has been identified as a core problem leading to the exploitation and abuse of migrant domestic workers. Previous studies published by KAFA (enough) Violence & Exploitation have argued that “sponsorship” is one root cause for migrant domestic workers’ vulnerability to forced labor, physical and sexual abuse, as well as trafficking.2 This policy paper on the alternatives to the “sponsorship system” builds on previous research conducted by KAFA which called for the reform and/or abolition of this regulatory and customary system, and addresses gaps in existing research that fell short in proposing concrete measures. The policy paper attempts to provide policy makers, human rights advocates and other relevant stakeholders with a framework for the implementation of a rights-based approach to the recruitment and employment of foreign domestic workers, as well as examples and lessons learned from other countries to guide in the development of this alternative policy. We hope it will offer all relevant stakeholders a new discussion platform to debate and develop alternative immigration and employment mechanisms for migrant domestic workers that protect their rights and effectively prevent trafficking and exploitative situations from occurring."

Risk Factors Associated with the Practice of Child Marriage Among Roma Girls in Serbia

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:39 +0000

This paper looks at the practice of child marriage among the Roma population in Serbia, where about half of young Roma women are married before 18. It explores the main causes of child marriage in this context, including the links between child marriage and education. The authors call for more research on child marriage among marginalised groups in Europe.

Running in Circles: Progress and Challenges in Regulating Recruitment of Filipino and Sri Lankan Labor Migrants to Jordan

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:39 +0000

EXCERPT FROM WEBSITE: "Review of government data, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions with migrants point to specific problem areas such as the proliferation of licensed agents, unlicensed subagents, and brokers; exploitation among agents and between agents and employers; insufficient capacity to weed out unqualified employers; a broken legal system for migrants; and the recruitment ban on Filipino domestic workers. To address these gaps, this report recommends initiatives and programs to strengthen system management, including controlling and reducing the number of licensed recruitment agencies and unqualified employers; defining legally acceptable transactions among recruiters, migrants, and employers; and creating migrant-friendly grievance mechanisms."

Pauvreté, genre et traite des personnes en Afrique subsaharienne

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:16:30 +0000

Cet étude tente de montrer les interrelations entre la traite des personnes et la pauvreté en Afrique subsaharienne, sur la base d'une analyse critique des processus de migration en relation avec les violations des droits humains.

Street children in Senegal: Finding new approaches to an old problem

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:39 +0000

This paper seeks to present a new approach to the problem of street children in Senegal, and to propose policies that could be put into place by the Senegalese government.

Syrian Child Workers in Turkey

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:39 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "The war which erupted in Syria in 2011 caused an ever-growing humanitarian crisis in the region. This article focuses on the economic exploitation faced by children who ed Syria along with the multifaceted problem of child labor predating Syrians’ arrival to Turkey based on data provided by eld research conducted by Hayata Destek/Support to Life (STL), a humanitarian aid agency carrying out operations for Syrian refugees since 2012. The author argues that it would not be accurate to tackle the issue of child labor among Syrians without taking into consideration the structural disparities already existing in Turkey."

Sex Work and Trafficking: Moving beyond Dichotomies

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:39 +0000

This contribution examines how feminist economists have conceptualized sex work and trafficking through the lens of agency and stigma. The ongoing debate about legalization has focused on sex workers’ agency and choice, and on the role of stigma in shaping the supply of and demand for sex work. Building on the analysis advanced by contributions to this special issue, this study contends that theoretical and policy debates about sex work are dominated by false dichotomies of agency and stigma. It argues that the relationship between stigma and agency operates along a continuum of contractual arrangements that underpins a high degree of segmentation in the industry. The higher the stigma, the lower tends to be the agency. Current policies toward sex work therefore need reconsideration – especially mounting support for criminalization of clients, which, by increasing stigma, is likely to detract from the agency and the well-being of sex workers, however unintentionally.

Prosecuting Human Trafficking Cases: Lessons Learned and Promising Practices

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:15:39 +0000

In an effort to increase the understanding of prosecutors’ ability to use the tools available to prosecute and convict traffickers while balancing the needs of trafficked persons, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) awarded a grant in the fall of 2006. NIJ awarded, ICF International (formerly known as Caliber Associates, an ICF Consulting Company) and subcontractor the American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI), a grant to design a study that examined the effects of existing federal and State legislation from the perspective of the prosecution and identified critical challenges and barriers to successful prosecution of cases.

Modelo de atención integral para sobrevivientes víctimas del delito de Trata de Personas

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:25:34 +0000

Este informe homologa entre las instituciones competentes los criterios para la conceptualización de la trata de personas, los procesos de detección, indentificación, derivación y acreditación de las víctimas así como de atención integral; incluyendo lineamientos para le proceso de reintegración social. This work presents the criteria for recognizing human trafficking, the processes of detection, identification, derivation, and accreditation of the victims, as well as comprehensive care; including guidelines for social reintegration.

National Action Plan to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Lebanon by 2016

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:25:34 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "Exact numbers of children working in the worst forms of labour do not exist in Lebanon. However, a number of studies have been conducted which show that the problem is increasing due to several factors, including the lack of appropriate response mechanisms in the country, and especially the lack of adequate prevention programmes. In addition, poverty contributes to the seriousness of the child labour problem in general. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) National Development Report for Lebanon (2008–2009), poverty is a serious problem in Lebanon, with almost 300,000 individuals unable to meet their food and non-food basic needs. The number of people living below the poverty line has increased in the past decade. According to the Lebanon Millennium Development Goal Report 2008, 28.5 per cent of the population is living below the upper poverty line (with an estimated income below $4 per capita per day), and 8 per cent of them are extremely poor and live below the lower poverty line (with an estimated income below $2.4 per capita per day), and cannot meet their basic needs. A large number of children are found to work in sectors and occupations such as auto repair (eg. mechanical work, car painting etc.), construction, metal working including aluminium and forged iron, and sanitary installations. In general, child workers are mainly employed in industrial sites and places that lack adequate infrastructure and they work with obsolete technology and unsafe machinery and tools. Most of these enterprises use in ammable, explosive, harmful or hazardous materials and substances. Within these environments there is a low level of awareness of the health and safety considerations that should govern basic working conditions."

Multinational corporations, human rights and child labour in Ghana

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:25:34 +0000

Child labour is an unbridled practice in the Ghana cocoa industry. The purpose of this study is to illustrate how businesses may be complicit in the exploitation of children in the cocoa industry in Ghana. The research focuses on the increasing demand for human rights to form a part of the work of multinational and transnational corporations.

Organ Trafficking During Times of War and Political Conflict

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:20:35 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "Here, I will address another and more hidden dimension of organ trafficking: the plunder of the bodies of the enemy during or in the aftermath of wars, with the complicity and collaboration of militarized police states. The theft and plunder of enemy bodies, living and dead, during times of war, has a long genealogy (Harrison, 2013). Medicalized executions for organ procurement for transplantation and for commercial uses during political conflict, civil wars, and ethnic cleansings represent a worst-case scenario and a collective human nightmare: the fear of being cannibalized while living or dead. In each of the cases documented by Organs Watch bearing on disappeared bodies, illegal dissections, and the harvesting and stockpiling of organs, tissues, and other body parts (limbs, torsos, and heads) from the bodies of the enemy, fact and fiction, truth and rumor, the hallucinatory and cold, forensic medical facts are often combined."

Morocco: Summary of Key Issues related to Child Domestic Workers

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:24:18 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "In Morocco, thousands of children—predominantly girls and some as young as eight— work in private homes as domestic workers. Known as petites bonnes, they typically come from poor, rural areas hoping for a better life in the city and the opportunity to help their family financially. Instead, they often encounter physical and verbal violence, isolation, and seven-day-a-week labor that begins at dawn and continues until late at night. Although Moroccan law sets 15 as the minimum age of employment, many children —overwhelmingly girls—still enter domestic work at much younger ages. Laws prohibiting the employment of children under 15 are not effectively enforced, and government mechanisms to identify children who are working below the minimum age or are subject to violence and abuse are grossly inadequate. In 2012, Human Rights Watch conducted an investigation into working conditions for child domestic workers in Morocco, interviewing 20 former child domestic workers as well as government officials, lawyers, teachers, and representatives of NGOs, UNICEF, and the International Labor Organization. We found that since our previous 2005 investigation of child domestic work in Morocco, the government had made some progress in reducing overall rates of child labor and increasing school enrollment. However, our investigation revealed continuing and serious violations of child domestic workers’ rights to be free from violence (Article 19), to education (Article 28), to rest and leisure (Article 31), to be free from economic exploitation (Article 32), and to access physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration (Article 39)."

Modern Slavery: The Dark Side of Construction

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:25:34 +0000

This report explores the nature of labor exploitation within the construction industry worldwide. It discusses cases such as that of New York University in Abu Dhabi and construction surrounding the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The report mainly focuses on the global exploitation of migrant construction workers and what is being done to change harmful practices.

Midterm Review of Project to End Forced Child Begging in Senegal

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:37:49 +0000

This project aims to tackle the complex issue of forced child begging, practiced in the context of Koranic schools (daaras) where the Senegalese state has never really played a systematic regulatory role nor provided any regular financial support. It aims to do this by advocating in favor of a daara modernization scheme which was proposed by the previous government and which the current government has said it is determined to implement. Under the new system, daaras which meet certain criteria would be regulated by the state and would either be funded by the state or by other private or international donors and stop forcing children attending these daara to provide for their own maintenance by begging.

Nationality, Migration and Statelessness in West Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:22:11 +0000

This report sets out the history of nationality law in West Africa from pre-colonial times to the present day. It looks at nationality administration in practice today, and identifies some of the major blockages. It discusses the populations most at risk of statelessness, above all among migrants and their descendants, and describes the ECOWAS treaty regime relating to free movement and migration in the West Africa region, and the challenges in implementing these commitments. A summary of high-level conclusions from the research for this report is elaborated on, and, finally, a comprehensive set of recommendations is provided.

Policy Brief-Human Trafficking in Asia

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:20:16 +0000

Introductory guide and factsheet on human trafficking in Asia

Monitoring and Evaluation of Anti-Trafficking Laws and Policies and Their Implementation in the Republic of Serbia in 2014 and 2015

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:25:34 +0000

This report describes action taken to stop trafficking in human beings in the Republic of Serbia during 2015. It focuses on five specific issues:

The law and the national legal framework for criminalizing trafficking in human beings
The identification of trafficking victims
The protection of victims of trafficking
Assistance and support for victims
Compensation and legal redress

North Korea: End Rampant Forced Child Labor

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:20:35 +0000

In North Korea, children are being forced to perform labor and deprived of education. Schools only focused on providing education to students with money to afford private lessons, and were invariably the ones selected to attend regional competitions and national school events. Additionally, school children were indoctrinated to worship the Kim family and to incite discrimination, hostility, hate, racism, and violence, all contrary to educational goals found in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Neither safe nor sound: unaccompanied children on the coastline of the English Channel and the North Sea

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:20:35 +0000

Examines the predicament of unaccompanied children stranded on the coastline of Northern France trying to get to the UK to seek asylum. Describes the conditions the children are living in and highlights the dangers and vulnerabilities of the children. Looks at who the children are; where they are from and their age range; the legal framework; protocols for protecting children; human trafficking among unaccompanied children. Concludes with ten recommendations. Includes a photo report showing the children's living conditions.

National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:25:34 +0000

In Canada, human trafficking often takes place in large urban centres, and also occurs in smaller cities and communities, largely for the purpose of sexual exploitation. We know that men, women and children fall victim to this crime, although women represent the majority of victims in Canada to date. More generally, those who are likely to be at-risk include persons who are socially or economically disadvantaged, such as some Aboriginal women, youth and children, migrants and new immigrants, teenaged runaways, children who are in protection, as well as girls and women, who may be lured to large urban centres or who move or migrate there voluntarily. Young women are sometimes recruited by younger male members of street gangs who use the promise of affection as a tool to recruit them.

Office for Victims of Crime Snapshot Report

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:20:35 +0000

This report summarizes the activities conducted, and the trafficking victim population served, by 39 active OVC grantees during two reporting periods—January 1 through June 30, 2012, and July 1 through December 31, 2012, as reported through TIMS. During this period, there were three different types of OVC trafficking victim services grants, each with a unique set of required performance measurements and unique criteria for eligibility for services through the grant. This Snapshot Report combines the datasets from those three grant programs in order to provide a holistic picture of the activities of the grantees and the entire OVC human trafficking grant initiative. It highlights key statistics on the trafficking population served, grantee collaborative partners, services provided, and outreach and training efforts supported by OVC funding.

Organ Trafficking of Eritreans in the Sinai: Perpetration or Provision of Service?

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:19:49 +0000

The most horrific fates, however, meet those Eritreans migrating through the Sinai desert who are utilized as a human incubators for illegal organ sales. This articles presumes that organ traffickers believe they are providing a service by ensuring survival of family groups. This research, therefore, examines organ trafficking from the perspective of the trafficker in order to gain insight into ways to prevent future abductions and harvests. Qualitative information is gathered from current media and governmental resources that may have been in contact with traffickers, as well as scholarly materials.

Multi-agency approaches in ‘criminogenic’ settings: the case of the Amsterdam Red Light District

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:25:34 +0000

This paper assesses the empirical evidence on multi-agency collaboration to reduce crime, uphold justice and improve safety in the so-called ‘Red Light District’ in the city center of Amsterdam, which has been a high crime area for decades. Three periods are analyzed: crime on the streets (1980s–1996); organized crime behind the front doors (1996–2007); and reconquering the Red Light District (2007–2011). The paper analyzes shifts in the definition and framing of central crime problems, causal assumptions, policy assumptions, and evidence on multi-agency collaboration and outcomes. Alongside positive outcomes, all three periods contain evidence on how difficult it is to forge and sustain alliances between government agencies; and to coordinate a shared focus on a single area and on a single topic. Furthermore, the final outcomes of these efforts are hard to measure with the exception of visible street crime. Finally, the paper contributes to the literature on Third Party Policing and multi-agency collaboration by looking beyond the police as the central actor and by widening the predominant instrumental focus to normative and political issues such as changing norms, priorities, and increasing and decreasing internal and external support for certain policy lines and actions.

No One Wants a Baby Girl: Analyzing Gendercide in China and India

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:18:27 +0000

In recent years, India’s and China’s rapid economic has caught the eye of developed nations. While it confuses some and sings praises from others, India and China's rise to competitive economic powers is a sign that their status as developing nations could change sooner than many would have expected. Despite their rapid development, India and China’s neglect of gender inequality, especially the gendercide phenomenon, not only draws harsh criticisms from world governments, but also affects their ability to compete in the global economy because it perpetuates issues such as poverty, violence, and dramatically reduces human capital. This article focuses on the factors that explain gendercide in India and China.

Men who buy sex: Who they buy and what they know

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:37:15 +0000

A sample of 103 men in London, England, who used trafficked and non-trafficked women in prostitution were asked about their experiences and awareness of the sex industry. Almost all (96%) bought sex indoors. Many reported that they were aware of pimping, trafficking and other coercive control over those in massage parlour, brothel, and escort prostitution. These men were frequently aware of the vulnerability and risk factors for entry into prostitution including childhood abuse, lack of alternative job choices, coercive control and homelessness.

Needs Assessment Toolkit on the Criminal Justice Response to Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:21:31 +0000

The aim of this toolkit is to provide comprehensive guidance for assessing the criminal justice response to trafficking in persons in a given State. The toolkit contains a number of components that are crucial for curtailing the crime of trafficking in persons. Due to the fact that this crime has multiple layers, the toolkit broadens the scope of traditional criminal justice responses by including all relevant actors and measures involved in appropriately prosecuting the perpetrators and adequately assisting the victims of trafficking in persons.

Profits and Poverty: the Economics of Forced Labour

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:20:35 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "The publication of this new ILO report on the economics of forced labour takes the understanding of forced labour, human trafficking, and modern forms of slavery to a new level. It builds on earlier ILO studies on the extent, cost and profits from forced labour. For the first time, it looks at both the supply and demand sides of forced labour, and presents solid evidence for a correlation between forced labour and poverty. What’s more, it provides startling new estimates of the illegal profits generated through the use of forced labour, as well as new evidence of the key socio-economic factors that increase the risk of falling victim to coercion and abuse."

Managing the Risk of Hidden Forced Labour: A Guide for Companies and Employers

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:54:34 +0000

These guidelines are a brief guide for companies and employers regarding the risk of human trafficking for forced labour and methods to avoid being associated with such cases unintentionally. These guidelines, which have been prepared by the Danish Centre against Human Trafficking (CMM). The guidelines target all sectors and are intended as an aid for companies which may risk becoming affected by forced labour. The checklists (A, B, C) at the end of this publication include a number of measures which may be taken by companies to reduce the risk of hidden forced labour. They may be regarded as general guidelines and the extent to which the individual points should be implemented depends of course on the size of the company and the business sector in which it operates.

Human Trafficking and Labor Migration: The Dichotomous Law and Complex Realities of Filipina Entertainers in South Korea and Suggestions for Integrated and Contextualized Legal Responses

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:53:39 +0000

This Article examines the complex legal situation of Filipina “entertainers” in U.S. military camp towns in South Korea: the individuals located at the intersection of human trafficking and labor migration. The Article investigates how the dichotomous law fails to recognize these entertainers as either trafficking victims or as migrant workers. The law therefore denies proper legal rights and remedies for the serious rights violations they suffer in the destination state. This research demonstrates that these migrants have diverse needs, aspirations, and transnational experiences that embrace both victimhood and agency. It illuminates the fundamental problems of the current global anti-trafficking regime, particularly the criminal justice and immigration control agendas of destination states that adopt flattened and paternalistic perception and treatment of trafficking victims. It makes concrete recommendations on how to overcome the law’s dichotomy and a crime and immigration control centered framework; empower victimized migrants in the human, civil, and labor rights contexts; and address the diverse needs of migrant individuals with comprehensive, integrated, and contextualized responses. Crucially, it proposes the right to stay and work in destination states as an effective remedy in itself, criticizing the current repatriation policy that does more harm than good to the individuals.

Labour Exploitation: Spotting the signs

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:54:50 +0000

This guidance has been produced for use within the industry sectors regulated by the GLA (Gangmasters Licensing Authority). It can also be used as a reference to assist anyone who comes into contact with individuals who may have been trafficked and/or are being exploited by people who wish to control their movements and actions to exploit them for their labour. Labour exploitation can be an element of criminal offences of forced labour or human trafficking which themselves constitute modern slavery. This guide explains those terms and provides advice on how to spot the signs.

Labour Trafficking among Men and Boys in the Greater Mekong Subregion: Exploitation, Violence, Occupational Health Risks and Injuries

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:54:49 +0000

This study highlights the abuse and extreme occupational hazards suffered by trafficked men and boys in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Occupational health and safety interventions are urgently needed to protect male migrant laborers working in high-risk sectors, particularly fishing.

Internationally recognized core labor standards in the Democratic Republic of Congo

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:54:49 +0000

This report reviews the trade policies in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It emphasizes that, although child labor is regulated by the law and children are not allowed to perform hazardous work, many children perform the worst forms of child labor in mines, quarries or as forced prostitutes. Additionally, the recruitment of child soldiers by armed groups and certain units of the national forces is an alarming problem.

Human Trafficking, Exploitation, and Human Displacement in Syria

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:54:49 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "At the onset of the crisis in Syria, there is a reduction in or eradication of traditional support structures and rule of law which might all create favourable conditions for organized criminal groups, new opportunities for human traffickers and possibly impunity from law, lack of organized response to prevention, protection and prosecution as well as the reduction in the capacity and/or availability of skilled and specialized anti-trafficking key responders. Most internally displaced people in Syria are living in temporary shelters or with host communities and therefore may be at higher risk of becoming victims of various human rights abuses, discriminatory practices, exploitation and human trafficking. Such risk factors may include precarious conditions coupled with specific age, sex, gender or allegiance to a specific religious or ethnic group."

Human Trafficking in Iran

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:54:49 +0000

INTRODUCTION: "In the 21st century we are still witnessing slavery in society, it has changed form and is presented to us through human trafficking and prostitution; a human beings body at the mercy of another, like an object, bought and sold in markets around the world. During the last eight years human trafficking has had a dramatic increase in Iran. According to some estimates there has been a 600 percent increase in prostitution in recent years. The average age of prostitution has dropped to 16 and girls as young as 10 years old are being sold. In many cases which have been reported, government officials are involved in heading prostitution rings and trafficking rings. Most are shocked to hear of these numbers in a state in which is ruled by Islamic fundamentalism. In fact, exploitation of women, and suppression of women are two sides of a coin. Islamic fundamentalism is based on gender discrimination, thus women are treated as second-class citizens and prostitution and trafficking are the modern forms of slavery. In the 2003 U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report we were stunned to find that Iran was moved up from tier 3 to tier 2, due to lack of information available to the State Department in this regard. A few professors of women's studies, which we had been working with, advised us to start an independent research on this issue. With their guidance and help a few of WFF's researchers, which were fluent in both English and Farsi, began an extensive research by monitoring Iranian media and interviewing Iranians with contacts within the country. During a six-month period we were able to analyze the social circumstances which have led to the growth of trafficking in Iran, its effects on society, and what steps have been taken to counter it. The following is a portion of our analysis and findings."

Lithuanian Migrants as Victims of Human Trafficking for Forced Labour and Labour Exploitation Abroad

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:54:49 +0000

This study addresses both of these phenomena in order to find out the scope and the nature of the problem and to assess the situation in respect of prevention and victim assistance in Lithuania. In this research, human trafficking for forced labour is understood as a situation in which two phenomena, labour exploitation and human trafficking, co-exist and overlap. Human trafficking for forced labour is analysed in the context of the broader phenomenon of labour exploitation. Such an approach is not chosen coincidently. As the primary data of this research shows, modern human trafficking for forced labour within the European Union (EU) (Lithuania included) may not bear all the characteristics of human trafficking. There are situations where the stage of victim transportation is absent and victims are persuaded to travel to the agreed point of destination themselves. This research shows that victims may be exposed to psychological and not necessarily to physical coercion. Based on the primary data of this research, it is difficult to distinguish where labour exploitation ends and human trafficking for forced labour begins.

Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Strategic Plan 2015-17

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:54:49 +0000

This document sets out the proposals for the UK's Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Kevin Hyland, for the next three years (2015-2017).

La Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative: Compétences Fondamentales de la Formation au Secteur de la Sécurité sur la Prévention de l’Utilisation d’Enfants Soldats

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:54:49 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'INTRODUCTION:

"À l’heure actuelle, plus de 55 groupes armés étatiques et non étatiques opèrent sur trois continents et utilisent des enfants soldats. Parmi ces groupes, 32 passent pour des multirécidivistes dont les noms, depuis au moins cinq années consécutives, apparaissent sur cette liste. Au rang de ces multirécidivistes gurent sept armées étatiques. Au cours des dernières années, l’Initiative Dallaire s’est efforcée de dispenser les formations et les outils les plus exhaustifs aux intervenants du secteur de la sécurité dans le but d’affronter le phénomène des enfants soldats. Nous l’avons fait parce que, jusqu’ à présent, le milieu de la protection de l’enfance a largement ignoré les expériences et contributions des soldats, des policiers et des juristes. En mettant l’accent uniquement sur le désarmement, la démobilisation et la réintégration (DDR) plutôt que sur la suppression totale du phénomène d’utilisation des enfants soldats, la communauté internationale ne fait qu’essayer de réparer le mal au lieu de protéger les enfants. Tant que le programme de sécurité n’accordera pas une importance accrue à cet enjeu, la communauté internationale continuera de passer à côté d’excellentes occasions de prévenir le recrutement d’enfants dans des forces armées et des groupes armés. Nous souhaitons qu’avec le temps, le combat que nous menons actuellement ne soit plus nécessaire, parce que le recrutement et l’utilisation des enfants dans les con its armés appartiendront au passé. Toutefois, nous ne pouvons atteindre cet objectif seuls. Pour y parvenir, nous devons être ouverts à toute collaboration avec d’autres parties prenantes, tant du secteur de la sécurité que parmi les civils, qui partagent un intérêt pour la protection de l’enfance."

Les esclaves des mines du Congo" L'esclavage dans les sites miniers du Sud-Kivu

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:07 +0000

Cette enquête de terrain menée par Free the Slaves avait pour objectif de documenter les types, la nature et l’ampleur de l’esclavage dans les principaux sites miniers dans la province du Sud-Kivu, d’analyser les caractéristiques qui expliquent les raisons pour lesquelles des travailleurs congolais sont vulnérables à l’esclavage, et de recommander des solutions

La trata sexual en Argentina: aproximaciones para una análisis de la dinámica del delito

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:07 +0000

El objetivo es brindar un primer diagnóstico sobre la problemática de la trata de personas con fines de explotación sexual en nuestro país, dando cuenta de las principales características que asume la dinámica delictiva. Este informe se refiere sólo a aquellos casos de trata de personas en los que la explotación se dio por cualquier forma de comercio sexual (supuesto), donde la finalidad de los autores fue obtener un provecho material o económico de la prostitución ajena. Da cuenta de ella la información referida al perfil de las víctimas; los modus operandi de los tratantes; las rutas; el perfil de los tratantes y las características de las redes; las formas de connivencia y complicidad pública; la vinculación con otros mercados delictivos; las cifras del negocio. The objective is to offer a basic diagnosis of sex trafficking in Argentina, giving a summary of the principle characteristics that are responsible for the crime. This report only refers to the cases of trafficking which deal with commercial sexual exploitation, where the purpose of the perpetrators was to obtain material or economic benefits from the prostitution of others. This gives an account of information relating to victim profiles; the modus operandi of traffickers; trafficking routes; profiles of traffickers and characteristics of networks; forms of collusion and public complicity; links with other crime sectors; the business figures.

Informe sobre acciones realizadas en materia de prevención del delito de la trata de personas

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:04:43 +0000

Este documento delinea las medidas establecidas contra el delito de la trata de personas en Venezuela. Incluyendo es un resumen de intervenciones por el gobierno con respecto del delito y una historia breve de las leyes sobre la trata de personas en el país. This document outlines the measures established against the crime of human trafficking in Venezuela. It includes a summary of interventions made by the government with respect to the crime and a brief history of laws about human trafficking in the country.

Legal Manual for lawyers, prosecutors, judges: Strengthening legal knowledge for a better protection of victims of human trafficking rights in the judicial proceedings

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:06 +0000

The legal manual was developed by Romania, Bulgarian, Swedish and German legal experts & trainers. It provides a comprehensive legal information related to victims of human trafficking rights based on national and international legislation.

Le travail des enfants dans les marches de nuit d'Abidjan

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:06 +0000

Cet étude part sur l'hypothèse que le travail des enfants dans les marchés de nuit d’Abidjan est une forme astucieuse de l’exploitation de ces gamins par les adultes, freinant ainsi leur épanouissement psyco-sociologique. L’objectif visé est donc de réussir à dégager tous les paramètres qui soutiennent les activités informelles de ces mineurs surtoutpendant les nuits, les analyser et faire des propositions visant à atténuer ce phénomène.

KOK Brochure on Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:06 +0000

KOK published a brochure on trafficking for sexual exploitation in Germany. It deals with the legal framework and presents the work of the specialised counselling centres regarding protection and support for persons trafficked for sexual expoitation.

Human Trafficking Act, 2005, Ghana

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:06 +0000

Ghanaian act, implemented in 2005, designed to address the prevention, reduction and punishment of human trafficking, for the rehabilitation and reintegration of trafficking persons and for related matters.

La Trata y el tráfico de personas: escenarios globales de la esclavitud moderna

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:06 +0000

El documento expone la situación de Latinoamérica en materia de trata de personas y vulnerabilidad social, además de la participación de instituciones internacionales, como la Organización de Naciones Unidas, que han catalogado a diversos países como fuente, tránsito y destino para la trata de personas, mujeres, niñas, niños y adolescentes con propósitos de explotación laboral y sexual, o para adopciones ilegales, tráfico de órganos entre otros ilícitos. The document explores situation in Latin America on the subject of human trafficking and social vulnerability, in as well as the participation of international institutions, like the UN, than have identified a number of countries as sources, transit and destinations for the trafficking or people, women, children, and adolescents for the purpose of labor and sexual exploitation, or for illegal adoption or organ trafficking among others.

Independent external monitoring of Nestlé's cocoa supply chain in Ivory Coast: 2014-2015

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:06 +0000

From September to December of 2014, during the peak cocoa-harvesting season, the Fair Labor Association conducted 13 unannounced independent external monitoring visits to four cooperatives in the Ivory Coast supplying to Nestlé, in order to monitor their supply chain for its annual report.

Migrant Labor in the Gulf

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 18:38:07 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "This Summary Report details the research finndings that were presented by the Migrant Labor in the Gulf working group participants during their meetings in Doha, Qatar, hosted by the Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS) at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar."

Legal and policy assessment report on child domestic workers in Uganda

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:08 +0000

The study is an assessment of legal and policy framework to identify gaps about child labor in domestic work and to find out whether child domestic workers are recognized by law in Uganda. In addition, it tries to find out whether the education system caters for the domestic workers.

La trata de personas en América Latina: una problemática de asistencia e identificación

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:08 +0000

El documento consiste en siete artículos. En el primer se analiza la gobernanza del problema de la trata de personas en Colombia. El segundo se presenta una exploración teórica sobre los principales factores involucrados y se explora la historia de la tema en Argentina. El tercer se analiza críticamente la representación mediática que hacen los medios de comunicación sobre la problemática de la trata de personas en Ecuador. El cuatro es sobre la proliferación de la problemática criminal de la trata de personas en la zona fronteriza de Argentina, Paraguay y Brasil. El quinto cuenta la experiencia del proceso de construcción de política pública contra la trata de personas en Ecuador, y el sexto discute la explotación sexual de mujeres en México.

The document consists of six articles. The first article analyses the governance of the human trafficking problem in Colombia. The second presents a theoretical exploration of the principle factors involved and explores the history of the topic in Argentina. The third critically analyses the media's representation of the issue in Ecuador. The forth is about the proliferation of the crime in Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. The fifth describes the experience of politically constructing an anti-trafficking sentiment in the Ecuadorian public, and the sixth discusses the sexual exploitation of women in Mexico.

Informe sobre la tratamiento judicial de casos de trata de personas en la Argentina

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:07 +0000

En el presente trabajo se analizarán brevemente algunas características de los casos de Trata de personas con fines de explotación sexual en la Argentina, que ingresan al sistema de justicia. El estudio se efectuó a partir del análisis de cuarenta y siete expedientes judiciales en diversas jurisdicciones del país. Con el fin de proporcionar una primera aproximación al tratamiento judicial de los casos de Trata, se analizaran las características generales observadas de las investigaciones judiciales a partir de los expedientes judiciales relevados. Seguidamente se señalarán las dificultades observadas en la investigación judicial de estos casos y, por último, se formularan algunas recomendaciones. This work briefly analyzes the characteristics of human trafficking cases dealing with sexual exploitation in Argentina which enter the justice system. The study was based on an analysis of 47 judicial filings in different jurisdictions of the country. With the goal of providing the first approximation of judicial treatment of trafficking cases, the report analyzes general characteristics observed in the judicial investigations from the available judicial records. Also explored are the the difficulties observed in the judicial investigation of these cases and, finally, some recomendations are provided.

Jordan Country Report: Children and Security

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:07 +0000

This report, published by the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative, details the safety and security of children within Jordan. The report focuses primarily on child soldiers, trafficking and child labour, sexual and gender-based violence, and education. The report also discusses the security situation in Jordan, highlighting terrorist groups such as ISIS. This report is an excellent resource for those interested in researching or collecting information on the status of children within Jordan and the daily struggles many of them face.

Libya Country Report: Children and Security

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:07 +0000

EXCERPT FROM BACKGROUND: "Armed conflict, insecurity, and political instability have impacted civilians in Libya, with far-reaching and devastating effects on children. Libya remains politically divided and volatile, with fighting nearly six years after the revolution in 2011. In January 2017, the situation in Libya was still considered serious, with escalating tensions and the threat of renewed conflict following developments in central Libya. Since 2014, child protection concerns have increased dramatically with continued armed confrontations and the expansion of terrorist groups. Children are particularly affected by protracted fighting in Benghazi as well as sporadic armed clashes in Ajdabiya, Darnah, Kufra, Sabha, Sirte, Tripoli and the oil crescent. Children are victims of indiscriminate shelling in residential areas, air strikes, suicide bombings, crossfire as well as summary executions by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The recruitment and use of children is prevalent and the abduction of children by armed groups, militias, and criminal organisations is on the rise. Children, especially in western and southern Libya, are reportedly targeted for kidnappings, which are motivated by ransom. Schools as well as medical facilities and personnel have also come under attack, with 40 schools reportedly damaged or destroyed in 2015. Conflict in Libya has forced civilians, including children, to flee their homes. An estimated half a million civilians have been internally displaced, with numbers increasing since September 2016. Internally displaced persons (IDPs), the non-displaced conflict-affected population, refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants are among the 1.3 million people estimated to be in need of protection and some form of humanitarian assistance, with 439,000 children in need of humanitarian assistance at the end of 2016. IDPs have taken refuge in IDP camps, schools, factories and even empty water tanks. Children assessed in IDP camps have exhibited moderate to severe post-stress symptoms. Libya also serves as an important, yet perilous route for child migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. Notably, migrant children are often arbitrarily detained and exposed to abuse and exploitation."

In the Dock: Examining the UK’s Criminal Justice Response to Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:07 +0000

This report looks at how the UK’s criminal justice system deals with the crime of trafficking in human beings. It demonstrates that there is still much to be done to ensure the prosecution and conviction of traffickers as well as the protection of victims. People who are trafficked sometimes commit offences. They may well be trafficked and forced to carry out illegal activities, such as cannabis cultivation, street begging or pick-pocketing. Many may also be committing immigration offences as part of their trafficking ordeal. However, it is crucial to remember that they do not commit these offences of their own free will. They commit them because they are in the thrall of their traffickers. Unfortunately the UK’s prosecution system all too often fails to recognise who are real victims and who are offenders. This is a sad reflection of the lack of understanding throughout the criminal justice system of what trafficking is, and how it affects those who are trafficked.

Human Trafficking, Border Security and Related Corruption in the EU

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:07 +0000

This paper Human Trafficking, Border Security and Related Corruption in the EU, by Atanas Rusev of the Center for Study of Democracy in Bulgaria, investigates the much under-researched aspect of corruption and human trafficking. Rusev explores this topic vis-à-vis border authorities and connected corruption to facilitate, inter alia, THB and how this corruption can be related to the corporate sector and enter into the highest political spheres.

La trata de personas con fines de explotación laboral: El caso de la minería aurífera y la tala ilegal de madera en Madre de Dios

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:07 +0000

El presente estudio pretende contribuir al tema de la trata de personas en Peru una investigación hecha en la región de Madre de Dios respecto de la trata con fines de explotación laboral en el campo de la minería aurífera y la tala ilegal de madera, actividades económicas de carácter extractivo que tienen fundamental importancia en la economía regional. This study explores an investigation made in the region of Madre de Dios (Peru) with respect to labor trafficking in the gold mining and illegal logging regions, extractive economic activities that have fundamental importance in region’s economy.

Human Trafficking - How to Investigate It: Training Manual for Law Enforcement Officers

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:07 +0000

This training manual includes introductory lessons on the difference between irregular migration and human trafficking and spotting the indicators of trafficking. More advanced subjects are also covered such as how to conduct screening interviews, the use of specialist investigative techniques for human trafficking investigations, supporting the needs of victims during investigative procedures, and conducting evidential interviews.

Lonely Servitude: Child Domestic Labor in Morocco

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:07 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "In Morocco, thousands of children – predominantly girls – work in private homes as domestic workers. Known as petites bonnes, they are often recruited from poor rural areas to work for families in the cities, cooking and preparing meals, washing dishes, doing laundry, washing floors and carpets, shopping for groceries, and caring for young children. Despite Moroccan law prohibiting the employment of children under age 15, Human Rights Watch found that girls as young as eight work long hours for little pay as child domestic workers. Some work up to 12 hours a day, seven days a week, for as little as US$11 per month. Some girls told Human Rights Watch that their employers beat and verbally abused them, denied them education, or refused them adequate food. Isolated in private homes and far from their families, many have no idea where to turn for help. According to government statistics, Morocco has made significant progress in recent years in reducing overall rates of child labor and increasing the number of children who attend school. Rates of child domestic labor also appear to have declined. However, existing efforts are not sufficient to address the unique characteristics of child domestic labor. Labor inspectors lack authority to access private households in order to identify child domestic workers. Criminal prosecutions against employers responsible for physically abusing child domestic workers are rare, and fines almost never imposed on employers who hire under-age children for domestic work. Lonely Servitude recommends that the Moroccan government strictly enforce laws prohibiting child domestic labor below the age of 15, expand public awareness campaigns about child domestic labor, and create an effective system to identify and remove child domestic workers who are illegally employed or subject to abuse."

Informe de la Relatora Especial sobre la trata de personas, especialmente mujeres y niños

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:07 +0000

En este informe, presentado de conformidad con la resolución 26/8 del Consejo de Derechos Humanos, la Relatora Especial reseña las actividades que ha llevado a cabo durante el período examinado y presenta un informe temático sobre la trata de personas en situaciones de conflicto y posteriores a conflictos: la protección de las víctimas de la trata de personas y las personas en riesgo de ser objeto de trata, especialmente las mujeres y los niños. Conclude con las recomendaciones de la Relatora Especial. In this report, presented in accordance with the Human Rights Council's resolution 26/8, the Special Rapportuer reviews the actives that it has carried out during the examined period and presents a thematic report about human trafficking in conflict and post-conflict situations: the protection of trafficking victims and people at risk to be trafficked, especially women and children. The report concludes with recommendations from the Special Rapporteur.

Human Trafficking Manual for Journalists

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:31 +0000

This Manual was created with the intention to offer all those who write or wish to write on the phenomenon of trafficking in women fundamental information on the problem itself, and give recommendations for writing, all for the purpose of the most precise possible presentation of the problem to the citizens, in the interest of women victims of trafficking and all the persons dealing with them.

Human Trafficking in Mongolia: Risks, Vulnerability, and Trauma

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:05:57 +0000

Disadvantaged by poor economic conditions, trafficking in persons is growing rapidly in Mongolia. Findings of this report indicate that many Mongolian women are lured into trafficking with false newspaper ads that promise lucrative job opportunities or educational scholarships at foreign universities. Sadly, many of the victims were also sold into prostitution by their friends or acquaintances.

Human Trafficking: Practical Guidance

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:06:51 +0000

Small businesses through to multi-national companies could be implicated in instances of exploitation and human trafficking if they do not make the necessary checks or take appropriate precautions. Thoroughly checking supply chains and recruitment agencies will ensure that the potential for human trafficking to occur is significantly reduced. As an employer, manager or colleague you have a responsibility to ensure that your employees and fellow workers are safeguarded, treated fairly and with dignity. You must operate effective due diligence – turning a blind eye is not an option.

I was forced to sell my body in a Hong Kong bar: a Filipino’s experience of trafficking, prostitution

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:10:13 +0000

Narrative from Jean, a single mother from the Philippines, had dreamed of the good life when she was offered a job in Hong Kong but instead, forced into prostitution to service a never-ending ‘debt’.

Korean Sex Trafficking Exacerbated By E-6 Entertainment Visa

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:11:14 +0000

Recently, news reports of Korean & foreign women being raped or murdered have thrust South Korea into the international spotlight. But, another crime affecting females (that also affects males to a lesser extent) is sex trafficking. Korea FM recently spoke with Taina Bien-Aimé, executive director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, & James Pond, global director of survivor care for Hope For Justice, to learn more about South Korea's E-6 visa program that is used to lure young women as hotel or entertainment employees before being pressured or forced into sex work.

India Country Assessment Report: Current Status of Victim Service Providers and Criminal Justice Actors on Anti Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:08:24 +0000

This report is a result of ten months (March-December 2012) of intensive consultations with the nodal AHT officers, field visits to see the functioning and measure the impact of the Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) on the ground, visits to the government and NGO run shelter homes, interaction with Ministry and NGO officials. Given the clandestine nature of the crime and difficulty in reporting the same, data and statistics are largely based on anecdotal and media reports. UNODC expects that findings of this report will pave the way for developing a strategic plan on establishing an adequate system of victim assistance, protection and referral mechanism for the country.

Human Trafficking in the United States: Expanding Victim Protection beyond Prosecution Witnesses

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:13:28 +0000

A research paper on the importance of increasing legal protections for victims of human trafficking in the United States.

La lutte contre la traite des personnes au Sénégal : Etat des lieux et mise en œuvre du Plan d’Action National

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:13:09 +0000

Ce rapport présente extensivement le statut de Sénégal dans sa lutte contre la traite des êtres humains, ainsi que certaines récommendations pour obtenir de meilleurs résultats.

LOI N° 2005 -06 relative à la lutte contre la traite des personnes et pratiques assimilées et à la protection des victimes (Senegal)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:12:49 +0000

Loi adopté par l'Assemblée nationale en 2009 qui soutient la prévention de la traite des êtres humains, ainsi que la protection des victimes et la prosecution des criminels.

Labor Migration and Trafficking among Vietnamese Migrants in Asia

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:20:51 +0000

Asia is known as a continent where human trafficking is particularly prevalent. Departing from the bulk of research on trafficking in Asia that focuses on illegal migration and prostitution, this article examines the embeddedness of human trafficking in legal temporary migration flows. This analysis uses survey and interview data to document the experiences of Vietnamese migrants who worked in East Asian countries. It identifies a continuum of trafficking, abuse, exploitation, and forced labor, and examines how exploitation begins at the recruitment stage with the creation of bonded labor. Guest-worker programs in destination countries put migrants in particularly precarious situations, which do, in some cases, qualify as trafficking. I argue that temporary migration programs may create the conditions that lead to extreme forms of exploitation among many legal migrant workers in the region.

Human Trafficking in the ASEAN 2015

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:21:19 +0000

In 2015, IOM assisted 7,000 victims of trafficking globally, 25% of the victims came from the ASEAN countries. This infographic presents ASEAN statistics on human trafficking.

Inside the cocoa pod: an analysis of the Harkin-Engel protocol in Côte d'Ivoire

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:21:30 +0000

This study uses data on over 2,500 children from regions in Cote d’Ivoire gathered by Tulane University to test whether remediation projects have reduced the amount of child labor in cocoa growing regions and the amount of physical harm that children have endured as a result of their work on cocoa plantations.

Human Trafficking Awareness Self-Paced Courses

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:22:24 +0000

Online course aimed at promoting trafficking awareness among the general public.

Kate-A Survivor's Story

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:23:31 +0000

Experts say Kate was a victim of a process called "grooming." Emily Pasnak Lapchik is an end trafficking program officer with UNICEF. She explained traffickers use mind games. They make victims think they are in love - then gradually replace loving actions with abuse. "Children are very malleable, especially if that child has been abused in the home, which many trafficking victims have experienced prior abuse. They're used to that cycle of abuse."

It Happened To Me: I Was Forced Into Sexual Slavery By My "Modeling Manager"

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:24:23 +0000

My freshman year of college started, and I began to get offers to model for local commercials, advertisements and clothing lines. I'd modeled as a younger child and that dream never went away. Suddenly, modeling was presented to me again, and I was ready to do whatever I needed to make that happen. I knew I needed representation, but didn’t know where to start. February of my second semester, a girl contacted me through a modeling website and said she could help me. Her pictures looked like they were straight out of Vogue, and I just wanted to do whatever she was doing because clearly it was working. She sent me a message saying her manager saw potential in me, loved my look, and would like to help me.

Human Trafficking in West Africa: A Case of Sierra Leone

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:24:43 +0000

This study investigates why Sierra Leone is an anchor-spot for human trafficking in West Africa. Through qualitative research methods, criteria for data collection were established, data from a number of different types of sources were collected, and analysis was undertaken to inform the research's findings and conclusions.

Information Brochure for Private Domestic Staff

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:24:57 +0000

This brochure provides Private Domestic Staff in Austria information on their rights, expectations, and obligations as a Private Domestic Staff of a diplomat, career consul, or employee of an international organization living and working in the country.

Human Rights and Existing Contradictions in Asia-Pacific Human Trafficking Politics and Discourse

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:25:37 +0000

This article discusses the different discourses of human trafficking and exploitation in Asian countries. There is a need for conceptual clarity in the anti-trafficking paradigm.

Male victims of human trafficking in Austria

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:17:55 +0000

Media analysis and interviews with experts and practitioners have been undertaken to further outline the issue of male victims of human trafficking and labour exploitation – a topic that hasn’t really been brought into the spotlight so far. This report aims to assist the Austrian Task Force on Combating Human Trafficking in planning further steps since improvement both in identification as well as protection of male trafficking victims is strongly required.

Karamatuna: An Investigation into the Sex Trafficking of Women and Girls

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:17:41 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "This paper focuses closely on the trafficking of Iraqi women and girls into neighbouring Syria, offering additional snapshots from across the region. It precedes future field-based research from which SCEME and the international community can work together in order to formulate appropriate responses to this under-researched and under-considered issue."

Informe de evaluación del trabajo contra la trata de personas en la República Dominicana

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:17:20 +0000

Un análisis en profundidad de la naturaleza y el alcance de la trata de personas en la República Dominicana y algunos recomendaciones para ayudar a orientar a la USAID/RD y otras partes interesadas en sus decisiones de programación decisiones contra la trata. An in-depth analysis of the nature and scope of human trafficking in the Dominican Republic and some recommendations to help orient the USAID/ RD and other interested parties in how their actions can fight trafficking.

Living Rough on the Street in Senegal

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:16:40 +0000

An estimated 50,000 children are forced to beg on the streets of Senegal every day. These children are known as talibés. This report is based on publications by NGOs, especially Human Rights watch, which investigated the issues concerning talibés in Senegal in 2010, 2014, and 2015. In addition, a literature review of existing peer-reviewed academic articles was conducted as well as interviews with three key informants.

Manuel de lutte contre la traite des êtres humains à l’usage des praticiens de la justice pénale: Module 1

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:16:29 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'INTRODUCTION: "Le Manuel de lutte contre la traite des êtres humains à l’usage des praticiens de la justice pénale est le produit d’un savoir-faire largement assis, rassemblé au cours d’une série de réunions de groupes d’experts où se sont retrouvés juges, procureurs et agents des services de répression, tous praticiens du domaine de la traite des êtres humains. Chacun des modules du manuel est conçu pour outiller ces praticiens de la justice pénale dans le sens d’une réponse adéquate aux défis qui les attendent dans ce domaine. Les pratiques prometteuses présentées dans chaque module visent à révéler les complexités du sujet et à permettre aux praticiens de mettre en oeuvre dans leur propre champ d’action les leçons retenues par d’autres praticiens. Les modules abordent chaque phase de la réponse de la justice pénale à la traite des personnes, de l’identification des victimes aux enquêtes et aux poursuites contre les trafiquants, jusqu’à la protection des victimes. Chaque module est conçu pour satisfaire de façon autonome aux besoins spécifiques de la phase particulière de la réponse de la justice pénale à laquelle il s’intéresse. Ce manuel ne doit pas être vu comme un traité universitaire mais comme un guide pratique pour les praticiens de la justice pénale."

Manual for Training Police on Anti-Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:14:41 +0000

This Manual for training police on Anti Human Trafficking (AHT) is a part of the series of tools brought out by UNODC ROSA, in its anti human trafficking project (IND/S16), which is being run in partnership with the Government of India (Ministry of Home Affairs) and state government agencies as well as civil society partners and is fully funded by the US government. This Manual focusing on the needs of the police trainers has been supported by the UNODC, and prepared by the Gender Training Institute (GTI) of the Centre for Social Research (CSR), New Delhi. This Manual owes its existence to the understanding of the ground realities and an effort to address them in the best possible way. Finding its primary relevance in facilitating a change in perspective and attitude towards issues of human trafficking, this Manual endeavors to provide useful tips to the police trainer who can in turn enable the police personnel to better appreciate the nuances of the unique interface found in police-victim/survivor interactions.

Lost kids, lost futures: the European Union's response to Child Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:25:53 +0000

The paper is organized into six chapters. The first of these gives a general overview of child trafficking in Europe by presenting the facts and figures relating to the phenomenon. Chapter II offers a general introduction to EU policy on child trafficking, on the one hand by presenting and explaining where it fits within the overall structure of the EU, and on the other by outlining the international context within which any EU policy on child trafficking must be situated. Chapters III, IV and V provide a critical assessment of the EU legislative, policy and implementation framework in relation to child trafficking. Conclusions and recommendations are presented in chapter VI.

Les talibes du Senegal : Une categorie de la rue, prise entre reseaux religieux et politiques d’action humanitaire

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:26:17 +0000

L’interrogation problématique de ma recherche consiste donc à définir comment la prise en compte des spécificités de la population des taalibe-mendiants au Sénégal, sous l’angle d’une catégorie au statut et au rôle sociaux spécifiques, permet de mieux appréhender l’existence et l’évolution de sa fonction sociale.

Human Trafficking for Forced Labour in Poland – Effective prevention and Diagnostics of Mechanisms

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:26:35 +0000

The purpose of the report is to provide new information on human trafficking for forced labour; especially regarding the situation of migrant workers, the different mechanisms of recruitment and methods of labour exploitation, the roles of particular stakeholders and possible methods of prevention. There was less emphasis given to human trafficking as such but focus was placed on forced labour as a specific form of “modern day slavery”. The issue was also viewed in the light of two larger social phenomena – that of the economic situation of the particular country and the way the labour market functions in the country. Thanks to this it was possible to contextualize the research findings.

Managing Migration: Is border control fundamental to anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling interventions?

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:27:24 +0000

Over the last several decades, globalization and a growing concern over security issues, including transnational crime and terrorism, has shaped migration policies and the priorities of states. Transnational crimes, such as trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants, have been increasingly defined as border security problems. This article examines the extent to which border control is fundamental to anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling interventions, situating the debate within the wider nexus of globalization and the securitization of migration. Based upon their work with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Centre for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, the authors take the standpoint that given it is the sovereign right of each state to control its border and regulate migration, the human rights of migrants must be considered within this realpolitik. Clearly, though, this claim is highly political and contentious. In the article, we explore some of the tensions and contradictions that have emerged in this debate, and then develop an argument to suggest that it is possible for states to combine managed migration and strict border controls with the protection of human rights in the current context of globalization.

Manuel de Lutte contre la traite des êtres humains à l’usage des praticiens de la justice pénale: Module 5

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:28:15 +0000

OBJECTIFS DU MODULE: "Après avoir achevé ce module, les utilisateurs auront les capacités suivantes:

Rappeler les principes de l’évaluation continue des risques dans la traite des personnes;
Énoncer les questions clefs à prendre en considération lors de l’évaluation des risques dans les affaires de traite des personnes;
Comprendre le concept de “risque” dans les circonstances de la traite des personnes;
Identifier l’objet (“qui”/“quoi”) des risques dans la traite des personnes;
Décrire comment la gravité du risque et sa probabilité sont prises en considération pour déterminer le niveau de risque;
Rappeler les actions à envisager au moment de décider d’une réponse à un risque identifié et du niveau de ce risque;
Décrire quels sont les risques, quel est le niveau de risque et quelle action devrait être entreprise éventuellement, en prenant en compte les éléments suivants:
- Toutes les catégories de victimes de la traite des personnes;
- Les victimes de la traite des personnes qui coopèrent avec les enquêteurs des services de détection et de répression;
- Les victimes qui coopèrent partiellement avec les services de détection et de répression;
- Les victimes de la traite des personnes qui ne coopèrent pas avec les services de détection et de répression;
- Les parents et amis des victimes de la traite des personnes;
- Les personnels des services de détection et de répression et autres professionnels enquêtant sur la traite des personnes;
- L’enquête relative à un cas de traite des personnes;
- Les mesures ultérieures à l’enquête (rapatriement et réintégration)."

Human Security in East Asia: Embracing Global Norms through Regional Cooperation in Human Trafficking, Labour Migration, and HIV/AIDS

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:30:09 +0000

The paper examines the pressing human security issues in East Asia and the scope and form of institutionalization of regional cooperation dealing with these issues. Among the issues to be examined are human trafficking, labour migration, and HIV/AIDS, three of the most challenging human security issues in the region. Of particular interest is the extent to which the countries of the region have embraced the global norms regarding the rights of individuals concerned, including trafficking victims, migrant workers, and persons living with HIV and AIDS patients. Also of concern in this present study are the obstacles to further multilateral cooperation. The article shows that regional cooperation is growing and gradually being institutionalized through such mechanisms as regional consultative dialogues, ASEAN and its various action plans and programs, APEC and its subordinate forums, as well as cooperation with extra-regional parties and global organizations. The study concludes, however, that the human security of border-crossing individuals remains particularly vulnerable in terms of violation of their basic rights.

Manuel de lutte contre la traite des êtres humains à l’usage des praticiens de la justice pénale: Module 2

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:29:05 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'INTRODUCTION: "Ce module est destiné à ceux qui, de par leur travail, rencontrent les premiers les victimes de la traite des personnes, doivent connaître les indicateurs de la traite des personnes et savoir quels types d’actions peuvent aider à mettre au jour ces indicateurs pour que les victimes puissent être secourues et que les enquêtes commencent."

Human Trafficking and Sham Marriages in Latvia

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:30:16 +0000

In Latvia links between human trafficking and sham marriages have been identified. However, not all sham marriages can be considered to be human trafficking. The present report aims to characterise those forms of human trafficking that are linked to sham marriages and to identify where signs of exploitation can be discerned. The main concept used in the report is exploitative sham marriage (in Latvian, ekspluatatīvas fiktīvas laulības). The aim of the project is, on the basis of national reports, to contribute to the creation of a uniform international understanding of this form of human trafficking – human trafficking with the aim of involving a person in a sham marriage. In addition, the aim is to formulate national and European Union (EU) level policy recommendations, based upon the findings of the study on this form of human trafficking.

Manuel de Lutte contre la traite des êtres humains à l’usage des praticiens de la justice pénale: Module 3

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:29:10 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'INTRODUCTION: "Ce module s’attache principalement aux effets des abus sexuels et de l’exploitation sexuelle sur les victimes de la traite des personnes. Il s’ouvre sur une vue d’ensemble des réactions psychologiques puis met en relief certaines des expériences traumatogènes communes que traversent les victimes avant que le mécanisme de la traite des personnes ne s’enclenche, et pendant son déroulement. Les effets de ces expériences sont ensuite énumérés et expliqués."

IOM Ghana: Child Trafficking and Child Protection Campaign, "Free to be Me"

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:30:24 +0000

This report provides information about the IOM campaign “Free to be Me”, which includes the development of a child trafficking and child protection toolkit, and pilot implementation of the toolkit in Ketu South & North and South Tongu Districts of the Volta Region in Ghana.

Manuel de Lutte contre la traite des êtres humains à l’usage des praticiens de la justice pénale: Module 4

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:29:16 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'INTRODUCTION: "Les trafiquants ne réussissent dans leurs entreprises que s’ils parviennent à contrôler leurs victimes puisque, par définition, une victime de la traite ne consent pas à ce qui lui arrive. Il peut sembler parfois que la victime consent, mais une enquête plus serrée montre que le consentement a perdu toute valeur du fait du recours à la contrainte, à la fraude, à la duperie ou à d’autres moyens irréguliers. Ce contrôle est entretenu de multiples façons. Le présent module met en relief certains des mécanismes de contrôle communément rencontrés. Dans chaque cas, il indique le mode d’utilisation de la part des trafiquants et émet quelques suggestions pour vous aider à lui faire face."

Links Between the Involvement of Estonian Women in Sham Marriages Abroad and Trafficking in Human Beings

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:30:34 +0000

The primary focus of this report is on providing a better understanding of the exploitative dimension of sham marriage arrangements. Estonian citizens were previously found to have been recruited for sham marriages abroad, which are meant to legalize the status of third-country nationals wishing to obtain residence permits in other Member States. With that in mind, we can infer that Estonia serves as a source country for people who are recruited in sham marriages for the purpose of migration fraud, including exploitative sham marriages, in other EU countries.

Informal Child Marriages in Mexico

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:30:42 +0000

Child marriage is common in many areas of Mexico. Nearly 1 in 4 girls (or 23%) are married or in a union before the age of 18, a rate that has been stagnant for almost 30 years. Living in rural area is a risk factor. In 14 of the 32 states, the report found that 30% of girls in rural settings were married before 18. Rates vary across regions and states with girls in rural areas, where up to 30% of girls are married before 18, being most at risk.

Labour Compliance to Exploitation and the Abuses In-Between

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:30:49 +0000

The Labour Exploitation Advisory Group (LEAG) is a group of experts from key organisations working with potential and actual victims of trafficking for labour exploitation. This position paper was developed to represent the views and experiences of LEAG members on the relationship between labour abuses and exploitation.

Improving the Identification and Support of Victims of Trafficking for Labour Exploitation in the EU

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:30:56 +0000

This paper highlights the concerning position that, in many European countries current responses to trafficking fall short of international and European obligations, and that more needs to be done both to effectively prevent trafficking for labour exploitation, and to support and protect its victims from further victimization. It proposes a set of recommendations in order to ensure a sustainable and comprehensive approach to human trafficking for labour exploitation in the EU. It calls for the effective and full implementation of European obligations by Member States, and seeks to provide input to the post-2016 EU strategy on Trafficking in Human Beings.

Investigative Journalism and Human Trafficking in West Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:33:37 +0000

Investigative journalism that aims to prise out information that the state or certain businesses want to keep undisclosed has been unthinkable under many postcolonial African regimes. However, since the promulgation of democratic constitutions, a generation of ambitious investigative journalists has grown up in Africa. In order to show how journalism has changed, the paper brings Anas Aremeyaw Anas’s activities into focus. Anas’s single-minded mission to bring justice has targeted organisations involved in human trafficking, smuggling, and forced labour in West African countries since 2010.

Migrant Workers and the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar: Actions for Business

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:33:30 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "In this brief, BSR frames findings and recommendations by looking at structural issues affecting migrant workers in Qatar and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The brief also considers contextual issues specific to how these workers will be affected by the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The brief concludes that an effective plan to prevent abuses of migrant workers during preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup must address the underlying issues affecting migrant workers in the region, as well as specific issues that could arise in the context of bringing in hundreds of thousands of additional workers to build infrastructure projects for the event."

Migration and the Gulf

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:33:24 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "This collection of essays is the first of three volumes devoted to Migration and the Arab World. The 19 authors whose essays appear in this first volume address several salient questions: What are the sizes and characteristics of the non-national workforces of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries? Which “push” and “pull” factors have driven and continue to drive this phenomenon? What effects has labor migration had on the sending and receiving countries, and on the migrants themselves? What lessons or tentative conclusions can be drawn from the policies and practices of sending and receiving countries? Through the discussion of these and other questions, the contours of the future — and future impact — of labor and migration in the Middle East begin to emerge. Their precise features will decisively shape the region’s unique economic, political, and national destinies."

Migrant Work & Employment in the Construction Sector

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:33:16 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "This report broadly addresses the role that migrant workers play in the construction industry internationally, and explores some of the barriers they can face in accessing fair, safe and decent work in this sector. Migrants, both internal and international, have long been a key source of labour for construction markets across both industrialized and industrializing nations. This report focuses speci cally on international temporary migrants – individuals who live and work across national borders and whose residency and citizenship status where they work is in some way temporary – to explore how this group of workers is currently being incorporated into local labour markets, and to examine some of the intersecting factors – political, institutional, economic and geographical – that can make migrants employed in the sector vulnerable to exploitation or substandard working conditions. While recognizing that the structure of construction labour markets and construction activities in different places can vary immensely, this report both explores the variation of working conditions and employment relations for migrants employed in construction, and identities some common conditions and shared challenges for fair, safe and decent work that international migrants often face – some of which extend beyond any single labour market."

Identification & Support of Victims of Trafficking For Labour Exploitation in the Netherlands, the UK and Romania

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:32:33 +0000

This report analyses findings on identification and support from the UK, the Netherlands and Romania and sets out recommendations for change. These recommendations provide the basis for a set of EU- wide strategies to improve the proactive identification and support of persons trafficked for labour exploitation. Research findings focus on seven key areas: identification; access to support; housing; psychological and social support; work; access to justice; and move-on options.

Human trafficking in Asia

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:32:19 +0000

Human trafficking is a term thrown around a lot in the media. It’s all encompassing term, but what do we really mean by it and how bad are things in Asia? In this podcast, Asia News Weekly discuss things plainly and welcomes back Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia division to the podcast.

Malaysia: Jungle camps where traffickers raped and killed

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:32:11 +0000

The BBC's Ian Pannell and cameraman Darren Conway went to migrant camps on Malaysia's border, where traffickers abused and killed Rohingya Muslims

Manuel de Lutte contre la traite des êtres humains à l’usage des praticiens de la justice pénale: Module 6

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:28:26 +0000

OBJECTIFS DU MODULE: "Après avoir achevé ce module, les utilisateurs auront les capacités suivantes:

Expliquer pourquoi la coopération internationale a toutes chances d’être nécessaire dans les affaires de traite des personnes;
Rappeler les différentes formes de coopération internationale;
Donner des exemples de coopération internationale officielle et de coopération internationale informelle;
Rappeler les principes de la coopération internationale;
Décrire les répercussions des différents systèmes juridiques sur les procédures d’extradition;
Décrire les types de coopération internationale pouvant être offerts selon les définitions de la Convention des Nations Unies contre la criminalité transnationale organisée;
Rappeler le mécanisme de la demande officielle d’entraide judiciaire;
Rappeler ce qui devrait figurer dans une lettre officielle de demande de coopération internationale;
Expliquer quand il est — ou non — souhaitable d’avoir recours à des demandes informelles de coopération internationale;
Décrire les actions nécessaires si vous déposez des demandes urgentes et des demandes “d’agent à agent”;
Expliquer les questions à prendre en considération lorsqu’un agent/enquêteur doit établir un contact public dans une autre aire de compétence;
Rappeler les éléments à prendre en compte lorsque des agents/enquêteurs vont en déplacement dans une autre aire de compétence;
Décrire les mesures à prendre pour le partage d’informations entre divers cadres juridictionnels;
Décrire les mesures requises lorsqu’on envisage le rapatriement des victimes de la traite des personnes."

Manuel de Lutte contre la traite des êtres humains à l’usage des praticiens de la justice pénale: Module 7

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:28:33 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'INTRODUCTION: "Ce module étudie en quoi les examens des éléments de preuve matériels peuvent être utilisés pour appuyer les enquêtes dans des affaires de traite des personnes. Le module se concentre sur les principaux types d’éléments de preuve matériels susceptibles d’être rencontrés dans les affaires de traite des personnes, par exemple des échantillons biologiques, des empreintes digitales, des documents et des matériels de communication, et sur les particularités de l’examen de la scène de crime dans la traite des personnes."

India's child brides for sale

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:31:54 +0000

Bride selling is a common phenomenon among rural India. In this video, the narrative describes how she was sold into the fake marriage as well as the nightmare and tortures.

Huma Trafficking in Latin America: Two applicable measures to reduce the demand

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:41:35 +0000

This is a research paper on human trafficking in Latin America written in Icelandic and English.

Human Trafficking in Latin America: Culture and Victimization

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:41:45 +0000

Human trafficking has recently garnered much publicity, often being considered the second or third most profitable black market trade after drugs and weapons. In this paper the role of Mexican and Brazilian cultures, primarily as they pertain to gender, race/ethnicity, and poverty, in Latin American trafficking victimization is examined. It determines that there is a great lack of research into Latin America, both in human trafficking and in anthropological studies, but suggests that there is a connection between how culture treats gender, race/ethnicity and poverty, the interplay of those factors, and the likelihood that a person will be trafficked for sex or labor.

Human Trafficking: The Prevalence in Latin America

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:42:21 +0000

Human trafficking is the trading of a man, woman, or child for the use of forced labor, sexual exploitation, or other forms of oppression and exploitation. This is a phenomenon that is growing worldwide. According the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report of 2010, there are approximately 800,000 individuals, mostly women and children, who are trafficked internationally each year (CIA, 2011). The TIP Report also reveals that, “75% of all victims are trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation” (CIA, 2011). Most would agree that human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery. According to the International Labor Organization, there is an estimated 12.3 million people who are currently enslaved worldwide (CIA, 2011). Slavery, especially in today’s society, should not be tolerated. So why, then, is there such a demand for the trafficking of humans? More specifically, what fuels this demand in countries like Latin America?

Le Travail des Enfants en Algérie: Entre Stigmate de la Pauvreté et Stratégies Familiales

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:42:37 +0000

RÉSUMÉ: "Notre papier se propose d’analyser le travail des enfants comme dimension de la problématique générale de l’économie informelle. L’interrogation porte sur la relation liant le phénomène à deux variables explicatives : la situation de pauvreté des familles et les stratégies familiales. La mise au travail des enfants est une décision parentale. Une majorité d’enfants travaille en fréquentant l’école. L’activité de vente ambulante et le travail agricole dominent. Le travail occasionnel des enfants caractérise surtout les milieux urbains pour des chefs de ménages salariés. Les représentations et les stratégies parentales dans le travail de leurs enfants reposent sur leur statut d’emploi mais renseigne en même temps sur l’impact des facteurs immatériels."

Literature Review of Trafficking in Persons in Latin America and the Caribbean

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:47:00 +0000

The USAID Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), through the USAID Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Trade, Office of Women in Development (EGAT/WID), commissioned a literature review to identify, annotate, and synthesize research studies and available project/intervention reviews and assessments related to trafficking in persons for labor and sexual exploitation in the LAC region, with a particular focus on prostitution and domestic servitude in Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, and Paraguay.

Manuel de Lutte contre la traite des êtres humains à l’usage des praticiens de la justice pénale: Module 8

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:40:46 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'INTRODUCTION: "Ce module s’intéresse aux interrogatoires de victimes témoins présumées dans les enquêtes relatives à la traite des personnes. Les termes 'victime' et 'témoin' revêtent des sens spécifiques différents d’une juridiction à l’autre."

Manuel de Lutte contre la traite des êtres humains à l’usage des praticiens de la justice pénale: Module 9

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:40:46 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'INTRODUCTION: "Le présent module est destiné à vous sensibiliser à quelques-unes des questions particulières que pose l’interrogatoire des enfants victimes de la traite des personnes. Il ne se veut pas un outil global de formation à l’interrogatoire des enfants témoins vulnérables en général; les enfants devraient toujours, dans le cadre d’une pratique normale, être interrogés par un professionnel spécialement formé. Il est clair, cependant, que dans certains lieux, les personnels formés peuvent ne pas être immédiatement disponibles ou qu’il ne sera possible, concrètement, de former des interrogateurs. Pour faire face à de telles circonstances, nous faisons ici quelques suggestions élémentaires qui pourront vous aider à améliorer vos perspectives de succès dans la tenue des interrogatoires des enfants victimes. Il faut cependant souligner que toutes les fois où ce sera possible, des personnels devraient être formés à cette spécialité, et que vous devriez toujours avancer le meilleur de vos ressources pour interroger un enfant victime de la traite."

Manuel de Lutte contre la traite des êtres humains à l’usage des praticiens de la justice pénale: Module 12

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:40:46 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'INTRODUCTION: "La protection des témoins est un terme qui ne se prête pas facilement à une définition précise. Il est compris de manière distincte selon les personnes. Cela est compliqué encore par des réglementations et des pratiques divergentes d’un cadre juridictionnel à l’autre. Le présent module définit la protection des témoins comme suit."

Manuel de Lutte contre la traite des êtres humains à l’usage des praticiens de la justice pénale: Module 13

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:40:46 +0000

EXTRAIT DE L'INTRODUCTION: "La “réparation” est différemment comprise selon le contexte et les circonstances. On la confond souvent avec la “restitution”, et les deux termes sont parfois utilisés l’un pour l’autre. Il est important de comprendre, d’emblée, les définitions et connotations légales de ces deux mots. Alors que l’indemnisation est généralement considérée comme une indemnisation ou une réparation en compensation de blessures physiques ou d’un préjudice, la restitution est une forme de paiement ou de mesure prise aux fins de restaurer la victime dans la situation qui serait la sienne si la victimisation n’était pas intervenue. Dans ce module, le sens utilisé dénote une forme de paiement, le plus généralement en argent liquide, versé à une personne qui a souffert d’un préjudice en tant que victime d’un acte criminel, en l’occurrence le crime de traite des personnes."

Law Above All and Court Practices

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:54:52 +0000

The research looks into the impact of the laws in Serbia that criminalize sex work on the protection of the human rights of both sex workers and trafficked persons. Although from the perspective of the universality of human rights, it may seem logical that anti- trafficking and sex workers’ rights organizations work together, in practice this rarely happens. One of the reasons is that anti-trafficking measures too often have been used to harm the human rights of sex workers.

Human Trafficking For Sexual Exploitation In Southeast Asia

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:53:26 +0000

This study centers on the political aspects of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Southeast Asia. Specifically, the human trafficking is a security studies concern because it is not only a social issue, but also a security threat. Just as with drug trafficking, human trafficking has security consequences. The study analyzed human trafficking issues in the following three countries in Southeast Asia: Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia. These three countries were chosen due to the high levels of human trafficking.

Human Trafficking Manual for Journalists

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:52:24 +0000

This manual, besides the definition and historical outline, also provides a general overview of the situation and new trends in human trafficking in Serbia and in the world. The Manual also presents the results of the opinion poll on human trafficking and the analysis of press clipping, i.e. articles published in selected daily newspapers. The analysis is done both according to the contents and headlines of the articles and from the point of view of language used in them. Journalists working in the area of radio, TV, documentary journalism, print media and marketing have given their contribution to this Manual, sharing their experience in covering the topic of human trafficking.

Human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of women and children in East Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:52:06 +0000

This study seeks to make an inventory of the faith based networks, NGOs, and other civil associations that are active in providing assistance to trafficked women and children who have been victims and/or survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, to find out what the needs of these organizations in terms of financial assistance and capacity building are, to assist actors in the sharing of experiences, skills and information with each other in order to promote general collaboration and networking, and, finally, to stimulate creativity amongst the present actors and generate interest amongst other non-involved actors.

Human Trafficking in Southeast Asia: Policy and Implications

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:51:49 +0000

This thesis examines human trafficking within Southeast Asia to identify the similarities and differences between the causes of labor and sex trafficking. The thesis also analyzes how three case study countries have tailored their anti-trafficking policies to causes present in their country. The causes examined are divided into two distinct categories, universal and specific. The universal causes studied are large-scale social issues affecting the majority of countries, such as poverty and globalization. Specific causes are those that are limited to the Southeast Asian region or the individual case study country. The three countries selected are Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand due to the unique trafficking profile of each. The thesis finds that each of the three governments has not addressed all of the causes that lead to human trafficking in their country. The policies of each country tend to be universally focused and do not account for the unique circumstances present in the country. As a result, anti-trafficking policies are not as successful at reducing human trafficking. Countries must create policies that directly address its unique combination of causes, universal and specific, to effectively combat the challenging issue of human trafficking.

Human trafficking in Kenya

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:50:22 +0000

This document, produced by HAART, describes prevention, protection, and prosecution strategies currently in place in Kenya regards to human trafficking. It ends by suggesting numerous actions to be taken in order to pave the way forward.

Human Trafficking in the Greater Horn of Eastern Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:50:14 +0000

This report explores the human trafficking industry and examines why there is such a low level of awareness about it in the region. It highlights trends and insights about both the victims and traffickers themselves and how they are all part of a dark but lucrative livelihood strategy. It also speculates about the impact on trafficking of the free movement of labour enshrined in the regional integration process, and suggests that better regulation of both international and domestic recruitment could better protect voluntary migrants.

Human Trafficking and Smuggling on the Horn of Africa-Central Mediterranean Route

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:50:03 +0000

The overall purpose of the study is to provide a baseline assessment of the criminal syndicates along the smuggling/tracking corridor on the Horn of Africa-Central Mediterranean route, and how they operate across source, transit, and destination countries. Between June and September 2015, a team from Sahan, operating under the auspices of ISSP, conducted primary and secondary research on the presence and operations of human smuggling and trafficking networks in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Libya, with special emphasis on operations.

Human Trafficking in the Asia Pacific Region

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:49:45 +0000

This paper explores the nature and consequences of trafficking and the position at international law with regard to trafficking. It goes on to examine the recommendations made by various bodies on the actions needed to combat trafficking and then lets some of the victims of trafficking speak for themselves by telling their stories. It finishes with some suggestions for possible actions that can be taken by judges.

Human Trafficking and Smuggling in the Horn of Africa: Patterns, Dynamics, and Criminal Networks

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:54:32 +0000

This article discusses the patterns and dynamics of human trafficking and migrant smuggling in and out of the Horn of Africa region, the common routes; and the nature of the perpetrators. Currently, intra-regional human trafficking and migrant smuggling pose limited security threats compared to the alarming growth of informal migration out of the region. The article will also try to link the prevalence of a sizable and 'less regulated' refugee population as a vulnerable group exposed to human trafficking and migrant smuggling out of the region.

Integrated Responses to Human Smuggling from the Horn of Africa to Europe

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:54:17 +0000

This report presents the major findings of research conducted between July and September 2016 over eight major smuggling hubs between the Horn of Africa and Europe. The research methodology was a broad selection of key informant interviews with national government officials, civil society actors, international officials, think tanks and policy bodies, but most importantly with migrants and traffickers themselves. This was supplemented with a review of the growing body of literature on mixed migration in the region and towards Europe. In doing so, the study adopts an innovative approach, situating human smuggling within its local political economy, and proposing context relevant approaches in response.

Human Trafficking and Conflict

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:55:52 +0000

The rise in regional conflicts since the end of the Cold War has contributed to a growing problem in the glo- balized world: an increase in human trafficking. Conflicts in East and Central Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America have led to large numbers of displaced people and refugees being increasingly vulnerable to exploitative forces. While the conflicts may seem distant, their effects are global, and trafficked women and children often end up as prostitutes or domestic servants in European capitals. Understanding the connection between, and mechanisms behind, human trafficking and conflict is crucial in gaining better knowl- edge of how to deal with the problem.

International child sex tourism: A South African Perspective

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:55:39 +0000

After explaining the nature and extent of the problem of child sex tourism, this article identifies the relevant instruments of international law, before discussing the legal tools available in South Africa to deal with this issue.

Kenya's constitution and child trafficking as a security threat

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:55:10 +0000

This article discusses three forms of child trafficking: sexual exploitation, forced labor and child soldiers and argues that the newly promulgated Kenyan constitution in chapter three on citizenship has a provision that can be interpreted as encouraging child trafficking.

Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham 1997 - 2013

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:56:16 +0000

Independent Inquiry into child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Rotherham, covering the periods 1997-2009 and 2009-2013. Estimates that approximately 1,400 children were sexually exploited in Rotherham during the period covered by the Inquiry. Reports that, in over a third of cases, children were known to agencies because of child protection and neglect concerns. Issues identified include: evidence prior to 2007 of an emphasis on protecting younger children to the exclusion of older CSE victims, some as young as 11-years-old; lack of accountability in Rotherham Safeguarding Children Board for monitoring the implementation and outcome of policies and procedures to tackle CSE; insufficient management response to the wide-spread exploitation of children in care; and the message from some senior Council and Police managers to 'downplay' the ethnic dimensions of CSE, leading to frontline staff being confused about how to act and how to determine what would be seen as 'racist'. Makes recommendations, including: ensuring that resources are available to support continuing preventive work with children who have been exploited, particularly if the children or family are unlikely to disclose behaviours that could put the child at risk of harm; development of a more strategic approach to protecting looked after children who are sexually exploited, including improved arrangements for supporting children in out-of-area placements; and ensuring access to support services and outreach work with children affected by CSE.

Human Trafficking: A Violation of Human Rights

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:57:05 +0000

Human trafficking, while being a criminal offence in Canada and a violation of human rights, occurs throughout the country and within the province of Alberta. As such, responses to human trafficking, including assistance to victims, prosecution of traffickers, and enhancing knowledge and awareness of the issue within communities must incorporate a human rights perspective 2 ACT Alberta has emerged as the leader in Alberta’s response to human trafficking and with the support of the Human Rights, Multiculturalism and Education Fund, promotes a human rights based response to human trafficking in communities throughout the province and across the country.

Human Trafficking in the Sinai: Refugees between Life and Death

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:57:30 +0000

This report describes the horrific situation of trafficking of refugees in the Sinai desert, a crisis that started in 2009. The refugees include men, women, children and accompanying infants fleeing from already desperate circumstances in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan. The aim of this report is to give the Sinai refugees a voice. Through the interviews we can hear their stories, and connect with them. It is hoped that this document will raise awareness among the broader public of the desperate plight of these people as a step towards stopping this crime. A second aim of the report is to contextualize these practices within the international legal framework, and, in this way, highlight the obligations of states and international organizations, including the EU, to take action against these practices.

It happens here: equipping the United Kingdom to fight modern slavery

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:57:52 +0000

Inquiry into modern slavery in the UK, examining the scale of the problem and the Government's response. Recommendations include: the appointment of an Anti-Slavery Commissioner to oversee and influence the Government's response to the problem; the passing of the Modern Slavery Act; changes in the way information is collected to capture the scale of the problem more effectively; mandatory training to equip social workers to identify and respond to the issue; long-term support to enable survivors to rebuild their lives.

Human trafficking and smuggling of migrants in the context of mixed migration flows: state of play in the IGAD region

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:58:12 +0000

This report focuses on the human trafficking and smuggling of migrants in the context of mixed migration flows in the IGAD Region. The content for this paper is organized in four parts: Part 1 provides a general overview of the regional context with regard to mixed migration flows and human trafficking in particular; Part 2 provides a summary on IGAD countries, their challenges and response; Part 3 discusses key migration issues in the region; and Part 4 provides recommendations on trafficking and smuggling of migrants based on the IGAD Regional Migration Policy Framework. Country profiles on Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda are annexed to the report.

Human Trafficking in Mongolia

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:58:54 +0000

Human trafficking in Mongolia is a difficult problem to monitor. For illegal trafficking, there are few if any statistics available. One estimate, by the Human Rights Commission in Mongolia, postulated that by the end of 2002 over 200 women had been trafficked.1 Women are the primary victims of trafficking in and out of Mongolia. What we do know is that human trafficking there is on the increase, and that to effectively counter the threats posed by it, the problems that lead to such dire situations must be understood. In addition, the threats posed by trafficking itself must be studied in order to prevent such abuses in future.

Human Trafficking in Russia and Other Post-Soviet States

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:59:15 +0000

Since the collapse of the Soviet regime, post-communist states have rapidly learned the modern face of slavery. Slavic women have been trafficked to the sex markets of Western Europe, Asia, and North America. The surge in human trafficking is the result of numerous factors, including the dramatic fall of the economic system and complete deterioration of the social safety net. This paper explores the causes and conditions of the growth of the trade in persons in the region, the profile and typical behavior of the victims, and the public perception of the trafficking problem. It identifies the inefficiencies behind the national and international responses to trafficking and the complications for policymaking associated with the stigma attached to sex workers.

Key messages to the AU-Horn of Africa initiative on human trafficking and smuggling of migrants by the North Africa Mixed Migration Task Force

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:01:04 +0000

This report provides key messages for action with regards to migrants, asylum-seekers, refugees, and victims for human trafficking in Africa. It also includes a clear distinction between the concepts of human trafficking and human smuggling.

Measures Against Human Trafficking in Japan

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:00:12 +0000

In the early 1980s, Japan began to witness the human trafficking of females into the country from neighboring Asian countries; however, Japan's government did not take sufficient measures against human trafficking. Since 2000, the United States has actively moved to combat human trafficking, and Japan did not fare well in the annual Trafficking in Persons Report. According to the 2004 report, Japan was ranked as a Tier 2 Watch List country. That same year, to improve its reputation in the international arena, Japan enacted and revised laws to take measures against human trafficking. This article examines how the Japanese laws were improved and discusses the measures implemented to fight human trafficking through the development of Japan's Action Plan to Cope With Human Trafficking.

Kidnapping, Hostage-Taking and Ransoming of Eritrean Asylum Seekers in the Sinai Desert

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:06:20 +0000

This legal opinion is written in reply to a request made by Release Eritrea on available legal recourse to tackle the recent development of trafficking in persons that has victimized thousands of Eritrean asylum seekers or immigrants. In the last decade, thousands of Eritrean youths have been fleeing Eritrea to escape unmatched political repressions. A significant number of them trek to reach Israel using smugglers that operate the route from refugee camps in Sudan to the common border of Egypt and Israel. In the last two years the smugglers have resorted to dreadful acts of kidnapping, hostage-taking, torture, rape and other sexual abuses and ransoming of Eritrean immigrants or asylum seekers in their custody.

Japan’s Actions to Combat Trafficking in Persons: A Prompt and Appropriate Response from a Humanitarian Perspective

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:06:34 +0000

This guide serves as a framework to show the initiatives to combat trafficking of persons from the Japanese government.

Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Inquiry into an Australian Modern Slavery Act

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:06:42 +0000

The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Inquiry into an Australian Modern Slavery Act is a tremendous opportunity for Australia to lead the region in harnessing the power of business to put an end to modern slavery. The Walk Free Foundation congratulates the Attorney General George Brandis for his initiative in launching this Inquiry and welcomes the support and positive engagement from members of Parliament from all sides, united in their desire to end modern slavery.

Mobility of Sex Workers in European Cities

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:07:16 +0000

This article focuses on mobility as a crucial aspect of prostitution and human trafficking. I distinguish between horizontal (geographical) and vertical (organizational) mobility to analyze the context in which women, their families, agents, and other actors decide to move from one place to another in the framework of sex-work activities. Data used in this article derive from the ongoing research on human trafficking and prostitution in western and eastern Europe. This research is carried out through participant observation among migrant prostitutes and through interviews and content analysis of media reports in several countries.

Human trafficking in the Sinai Desert

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:07:24 +0000

CNN video report of human trafficking occurring in the Sinai Desert (graphic content).

Maryland Safe Harbor Workgroup: Final Report

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:07:36 +0000

Chapter 91 of 2015 established the Workgroup to Study Safe Harbor Policy for Youth Victims of Human Trafficking and tasked the Workgroup with studying legal protections and the provision of services for youth victims of human trafficking. The Workgroup’s 23 members met five times over the course of two months to discuss and develop recommendations to restore victims and bring traffickers to justice.

Maryland Human Trafficking Victim Identification and Services Survey

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:07:44 +0000

Fact Sheet on Trafficking Victims in Maryland in 2014.

Human Trafficking: Russia

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:07:47 +0000

This paper presents a brief overview of the scope of human trafficking in Russia. Russia is a country of origin, transit, and destination for trafficking and has been labeled by the US State Department as failing to provide necessary services to combat the trafficking and treat victims.

Locked In: Interactions with the Criminal Justice and Child Welfare Systems for LGBTQ Youth, YMSM, and YWSW Who Engage in Survival Sex

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:07:56 +0000

This report focuses on LGBTQ youth who become involved in the commercial sex market to meet basic survival needs, describing their experiences with law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and the child welfare system. Interviews with these youth reveal that over 70 percent had been arrested at least once, with many reporting frequent arrest for “quality-of-life” and misdemeanor crimes other than prostitution offenses. Youth described their experiences of being cycled in and out of the justice system as highly disruptive and generating far-reaching collateral consequences ranging from instability in the home and school to inability to pay fines and obtain lawful employment. This report is part of a larger three-year Urban Institute study of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) youth; young men who have sex with men (YMSM); and young women who have sex with women (YWSW) engaged in survival sex.

Identifying Challenges to Improve the Investigation and Prosecution of State and Local Human Trafficking Cases: Executive Summary

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:08:53 +0000

This report examines challenges faced in the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking in the United States. The research targeted counties across the U.S. for a systematic review of human trafficking case records and interviews with police, prosecutors, and service providers. The study found that there was a significant lack of awareness about human trafficking among practitioners and the law enforcement community, as well as a focus on sex trafficking (which is disproportionate to the larger issue of human trafficking). The study provides recommendations to help improve the identification, investigation, and prosecution of human trafficking cases in the United States.

JuST Response State System Mapping Report

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:08:45 +0000

While there is growing recognition at the federal, state and local levels that youth caught in the commercial sex industry are victims of exploitation rather than willing participants in criminal activity, in the 15 years since the Trafficking Victims Protection Action (TVPA) of 2000 was enacted, the majority of state prostitution laws have remained at odds with the federal definition of a juvenile sex trafficking victim .2 Only recently have state agencies that regularly interact with juvenile sex trafficking victims begun to screen the youth they serve for possible commercial sexual exploitation,3 and even when victims are screened, staff may lack the training to accurately identify trafficking . Yet another barrier arises when victims are identified but appropriate services are not available, leaving overburdened state agencies with an impossible task of connecting a victim to services that do not exist, or the multiple individuals and agencies working with this population are left to develop protocols in silos, resulting in victims touching multiple systems with no coordinated response .

KAFA Annual Report: 2016 Highlights

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:08:27 +0000

This report highlights the different issues that Kafa (enough) Violence and Exploitation focuses on, such as family violence, gender-based violence against children, and human trafficking and prostitution. The report concludes with an important section on how to help victims/ how victims can help themselves during times of crisis.

Human Trafficking: the Bahrain Experience

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:10:31 +0000

ABSTRACT: "Drug smuggling may top the list of the world’s most profitable and headline-grabbing illegal activities, but second to that —in a close tie with the illegal arms trade — is human trafficking, the recruitment or coercion of people who are held captive as laborers in everything from the sex industry to domestic servitude. More than 12 million people worldwide are currently victims, according to the United Nations’ International Labor Organization. The $9 billion industry is the 21st century’s fastest-growing criminal enterprise. And some of it takes place right here in our own backyard, an audience attending a May 29 conference at Covel Commons on human trafficking found out. In fact, according to experts who provide victims with shelter and other services, human trafficking is on the rise because of the economic downturn."

Manual for social workers and staff providing services to victims of human trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:10:51 +0000

The Manual has four main parts focusing on two major contents including introduction of the minimum standards in provision of services to victims and introduction of knowledge and basic skills for service providers who work directly with victims at shelters and in the communities. The Manual is a reference document for social workers who directly deliver services to victims. It can also be the reference source for relevant agencies or organizations in developing training programs to build capacity for their staff to provide services to victims.

Kidney Trafficking in Nepal

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:11:06 +0000

The majority of victims of kidney trafficking are from the poorest and most marginalized communities, where illiteracy and ignorance make them vulnerable to fraud and deception by brokers, and allow brokers to avoid legal consequences. The research showed that existing legal mechanisms are largely ineffective against kidney trafficking, while trafficking victims are stigmatized by their families and communities for selling their organs. As a result of this stigma, victims have often felt so isolated and rejected. In some instances, brokers have taken advantage of this isolation to coerce victims into becoming organ brokers themselves. The research revealed that most victims were never paid what was promised, and that not a single victim had improved his or her economic circumstances by selling a kidney.

Manila, Philippines

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:11:22 +0000

Cybersex trafficking is a form of modern slavery that was unimaginable before the digital age. This resource documents IJM's progress of combatting cybersex trafficking in Manila, Philippines since 2000.

Combatting Trafficking in Persons in Jordan: Gaps between Legislation and Implementation

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:12:22 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "This assessment, conducted by Tamkeen Fields for Aid, is an important step in the self-assessment process on the success of governmental legislation policies and practices which are in place to combat human trafficking in Jordan and address its remaining gaps. Moreover, it evaluates the compliance of Jordanian laws with international standards which present the reference framework for combating human trafficking."

Invisible Women: the Working and Living Conditions of Irregular Migrant Domestic Workers in Jordan

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:12:29 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "This report focuses on (irregular domestic workers), documenting their realities in Jordan through extensive fieldwork. The research study pays specific attention to the issues of irregular migrants, through their working and living conditions, and access to basic labor rights and services, such as healthcare, awareness about their legal rights, and matters relating to family relationships both in their home countries and in Jordan."

Child Marriage in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Overview)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:12:41 +0000

This UNFPA fact sheet provides information about child marriage in Bosnia and Herzegovina and offers recommendations aimed at addressing the issue. It includes:

A review of national legislation and the country’s ratification of the various international standards relevant to the issue,
Analysis of current practices and attitudes towards child marriages,
Statistical information about the prevalence of the practice.

The methodology for this study involved a review of the existing legal framework and literature related to child marriages in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and interviews with child spouses and experts working in the fields of children’s and women’s rights.

Être Vu, Être Entendu!: la Participation des Enfants Travailleurs Domestiques

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:16:07 +0000

EXTRAIT DE LA PUBLICATION: "Ce rapport présente les activités des Comités consultatifs (CC), qui sont composés d’enfants domestiques et d’anciens enfants domestiques. Les CC ont été mis en place afin d’établir un cadre qui leur permet de renforcer et de contribuer aux politiques, aux stratégies, au travail de proximité et au plaidoyer effectué par les partenaires du projet. Le rôle des membres des CC était de commenter et d’approuver les plans et les stratégies du projet et de participer à certaines des activités de celui-ci. On envisageait également que ces comités pouvaient servir de lieux de soutien pour leurs membres. Ce rapport cible l’évaluation des activités des CC ; son but est de partager les leçons tirées du projet d’Anti- Slavery International sur les enfants travailleurs domestiques avec ceux qui sont impliqués dans les activités participatives auprès de ces enfants."

Child Marriage in Uzbekistan (Overview)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:16:01 +0000

This UNFPA fact sheet provides information about child marriage in Uzbekistan and offers recommendations aimed at addressing the issue. It includes:

A review of national legislation and the country’s ratification of the various international standards relevant to the issue,
Analysis of current practices and attitudes towards child marriages,
Statistical information about the prevalence of the practice.

The methodology for this study involved a review of the existing legal framework and literature related to child marriage in Uzbekistan, and interviews with child spouses and experts working in the fields of children’s and women’s rights.

Child Marriage in Albania (Overview)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:15:55 +0000

This UNFPA fact sheet provides information about child marriage in Albania and offers recommendations aimed at addressing the issue. It includes:

A review of national legislation and the country’s ratification of the various international standards relevant to the issue,
Analysis of current practices and attitudes towards child marriage,
Statistical information about the prevalence of the practice

The fact sheet was developed by reviewing the existing legal framework and literature related to child marriages in Albania, and interviewing child spouses and experts working in the fields of children’s and women’s rights.

Child Marriage in Azerbaijan (Overview)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:15:49 +0000

This fact sheet provides information about child marriage in Azerbaijan and offers recommendations aimed at addressing the issue. It includes:

A review of national legislation and the country’s ratification of the various international standards relevant to the issue,
Analysis of current practices and attitudes towards child marriages,
Statistical information about the prevalence of the practice.

The methodology for this study involved a review of the existing legal framework and literature related to child marriages in Azerbaijan, and interviews and focus groups with child spouses, community members and experts.

Child Marriage in Georgia (Overview)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:15:43 +0000

This fact sheet provides information about child marriage in Georgia and offers recommendations aimed at addressing the issue. It includes:

A review of national legislation and the country’s ratification of the various international standards relevant to the issue,
Analysis of current practices and attitudes towards child marriages,
Statistical information about the prevalence of the practice.

The methodology for this study involved a review of the existing legal framework and literature related to child marriage in Georgia, and interviews with child spouses and experts working in the fields of children’s and women’s rights.

A study on the situation of child labour in Ethiopia: Review of existing studies and brief assessment

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:15:33 +0000

This study intends to review and compile existing data regarding the scope, trend and challenges of the issue of child labor in Ethiopia.

Child Brides

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:15:20 +0000

This report by Flying Broom addresses early and forced marriage in Turkey from a number of perspectives: law, healthcare, education, human rights. It provides a brief history of Flying Broom’s work on child marriage and a selection of news stories on child marriage in Turkey.

Anti-Trafficking Review Special Issue: Where's the Evidence?

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:15:06 +0000

EXCERPT FROM WEBSITE: "This issue of the Anti-Trafficking Review explores the role of evidence, research and data in anti-trafficking work and how they influence our understanding of the issue and responses to it. Contributors examine the evidence used—or rejected—in the formation of national anti-trafficking policies in Northern Ireland, Canada and India, as well as the role of statistics, and monitoring and evaluation of anti-trafficking interventions. In the debate section, four authors take turn defending or rejecting the proposition 'Global Trafficking Prevalence Data Advances the Fight against Trafficking in Persons'."

Child Marriage in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Regional Overview

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:14:53 +0000

This report provides a brief overview of child marriage in the following countries and territories: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo (UNSC 1244), the Kyrgyz Republic, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. It accompanies a set of fact sheets and executive summaries that provide more detailed information on the issue in each country. These country fact sheets are designed to provide a ‘snapshot’ of child marriage in this region, and are based on small-scale, rapid qualitative research carried out in two to three districts in each country or territory. Researchers carried out semi-structured interviews with girls and women (and some men) who married before the age of 18, as well as with national and local state officials, experts in women’s and children’s rights from the NGO sector, and professionals working in health and education. In some countries, focus groups were also held, in communities where child marriage is practiced.

Forgotten Rights: the Working and Living Conditions of Migrant Workers in the Agricultural Sector in Jordan

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:16:50 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "This report is the result of unprecedented quantitative and qualitative research on the working and living conditions of migrant workers in the agricultural sector in Jordan, and serves as the first stage of a broader project to promote and protect the rights of migrant workers in this sector. The study has been funded by the European Union, coordinated by ARCS-Culture and Development, and implemented by Tamkeen Fields for Aid. It is based on individual interviews with 324 agricultural migrant workers, 17 field visits to work sites, and 12 interviews with main stakeholders, including ministries, farmers’ associations, embassies and international organisations. All research was conducted in full cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Agriculture, and farmers’ associations."

Human Trafficking Awareness Training

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:16:43 +0000

An online training course on human trafficking provide by the United States Department of Homeland Security

Child Marriage in Kazakhstan (Overview)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:16:34 +0000

This fact sheet provides information about child marriage in Kazakhstan and offers recommendations aimed at addressing the issue. It includes:

A review of national legislation and the country’s ratification of the various international standards relevant to the issue,
Analysis of current practices and attitudes towards child marriages,
Statistical information about the prevalence of the practice.

The methodology for this study involved a review of the existing legal framework and literature related to child marriage in Kazakhstan, and interviews with child spouses and experts working in the fields of children’s and women’s rights.

Child Marriage in Kyrgyzstan (Overview)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:16:30 +0000

This UNFPA fact sheet provides information about child marriage in Kyrgyzstan and offers recommendations aimed at addressing the issue. It includes:

A review of national legislation and the country’s ratification of the various international standards relevant to the issue,
Analysis of current practices and attitudes towards child marriages,
Statistical information about the prevalence of the practice.

The methodology for this study involved a review of the existing legal framework and literature related to child marriage in Kyrgyzstan, and interviews with child spouses and experts working in the fields of children’s and women’s rights.

Child Marriage in Tajikistan (Overview)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:16:24 +0000

This UNFPA fact sheet provides information about child marriage in Tajikistan and offers recommendations aimed at addressing the issue. It includes:

A review of national legislation and the country’s ratification of the various international standards relevant to the issue,
Analysis of current practices and attitudes towards child marriages,
Statistical information about the prevalence of the practice.

The methodology for this study involved a review of the existing legal framework and literature related to child marriage in Tajikistan, and interviews with child spouses and experts working in the fields of children’s and women’s rights.

Child Marriage in Armenia (Overview)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:17:34 +0000

In Armenia, rates of child marriage are very low. However, child marriages occur in some remote areas of the country, and are also more common among some minority ethnic groups. This is one of 14 country overviews produced by UNFPA EECARO about child marriage in the region, including country-specific national and legal context, responses, data, and recommendations for the future.

Child Marriage in Turkey (Overview)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:17:33 +0000

Child marriage is a social problem that is prevalent in all regions of Turkey and primarily affects girls. Gender inequality is embedded in traditions and values, rises with poverty and lack of education, and results in child marriage for girls. This is one of 14 country overviews produced by UNFPA EECARO about child marriage in the region, including country-specific national and legal context, responses, data, and recommendations for the future.

Human smuggling and human trafficking in Somalia

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:18:20 +0000

This information sheet describes backgrounds, alarming trends, international/national responses, humanitarian partners and coordination mechanisms concerning both human trafficking and human smuggling in Somalia.

Child Marriage in Kosovo (Overview)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:17:33 +0000

In Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) today, child marriage is relatively rare, but it continues to be practised among certain communities and/or ethnic groups, most notably, but not exclusively, Roma, Ashkali, Balkan Egyptians, and Gorani. This is one of 14 country overviews produced by UNFPA EECARO about child marriage in the region, including country-specific national and legal context, responses, data, and recommendations for the future.

Asian Labour Migrants and Humanitarian Crises: Lessons from Libya

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:18:30 +0000

EXCERPT FROM WEBSITE: "This brief provides a background on the displacement and evacuation of migrant workers caught in the Libyan civil war. It highlights questions raised as a result of this crisis regarding the response of the international community, discusses lessons learned from the Libyan experience, and identifies several policy recommendations for better addressing the protection needs of labor migrants during humanitarian crises."

Human Trafficking in Africa: The Role of Universities in Teaching and Research

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:18:42 +0000

This paper is an attempt to raise awareness and interest among African scholars about the scourge of human trafficking, and the need to embark on a focused socialization process through the teaching of human trafficking as a subject in educational institutions in Africa.

Comprehensive Assessment of Organized Crime in West and Central Africa

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:18:52 +0000

The objective of this study, which was commission under the framework of the AU Plan of Action on Drug Control (2013-2017), was to assess the impact of organised crime in West and Central Africa; to build a record of the available literature; provide relevant recommendations for developing an effective response; and, identify areas where additional research is required.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Migrant Worker's Caught Between Employers' Abuse and Poor Implementation of the Law

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:19:03 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "The foundations of this report are rooted in the claims received by Tamkeen Center for Legal Aid and Human Rights throughout the past year. In addition to pursuing and resolving these claims, Tamkeen’s dedicated staff and volunteers conducted a number of interviews, meetings, and discussions with migrant workers, their employers, other civil society organizations, experts in the field, Unions, various embassies, ministries and governmental departments in order to gain a comprehensive picture of the state of migrant workers in Jordan in 2011 and the first half of 2012."

EU Roadmap on Forced/Early Marriage (FEM) Referral Pathway for Frontline Professionals

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:19:34 +0000

Forced and early marriage (FEM), contracted without the free and valid consent of one or both partners or before the age of 18, is internationally acknowledged as a violation of human rights and as a form of gender-based violence. The purpose of the EU FEM Roadmap is to provide frontline professionals with a guidance document to assist in the protection and support of (potential) victims of FEM. Created by frontline professionals specialized in providing support to victims of FEM, the EU FEM Roadmap is intended to serve as a guidance document that complements existing national guidelines and standard operating procedures at the organizational level. The Roadmap includes a seven-step referral pathway for all frontline professionals, and then provides specific guidance for school/educational providers, child protection services, health professionals, criminal justice (police and justice) professionals and magistrates of civil marriage services.

Human Trafficking Legal Access Center

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:20:14 +0000

This site is a project developed by the American Bar Association Task Force on Human Trafficking and Polaris Project, and hosted by probono.net. The goal of this site is to provide information and resources for service providers that work with human trafficking survivors and to connect human trafficking service providers that have the capacity to provide training, mentoring and supervision to pro bono attorneys who want to work with their clients.

Identification and Legal Advocacy for Trafficking Survivors

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:20:37 +0000

This manual is focused on the T visa, which was established by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) and put into effect by immigration regulations published in January 2002. The T visa provides immigration relief to foreign nationals trafficked into the United States. If favorably adjudicated, it grants the survivor permission to remain within the U.S. and to obtain employment authorization for three years. At the end of the three years, or when the investigation is complete, the survivor is eligible to petition for permanent residency. This manual discusses the background of the T visa, suggests points to consider in evaluating a client’s eligibility for the T visa, evaluates the statute and the regulations, and offers step-by-step instruction on preparing a T application for consideration by the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service.

Immigration Relief for Crime Victims: The U Visa Manual

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:21:48 +0000

The U visa was established under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA),1 and was subsequently reauthorized in 2003, 2005, and 2008 (Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, or TVPRA).2 It was created as humanitarian relief for a vulnerable population, most of which do not have lawful status in the United States. It provides legal status to victims of certain serious crimes who have suffered substantial physical or mental harm and can document cooperation with law enforcement. If favorably adjudicated, the U visa grants permission to remain and work in the U.S. for up to four years, and allows beneficiaries to eventually apply for permanent resident status.

Lawyer's Manual on Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:21:56 +0000

Unquestionably, this Manual makes an invaluable contribution to our understanding of human trafficking and will be an important guide not only for lawyers who represent victims but also for the entire community of judges, prosecutors, government agencies, service providers, community groups, and others concerned about this terrible human rights abuse

Erythrée: enlèvements, demandes de rançons et trafic d'organes

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:17:33 +0000

Raport sur le trafic humain divisé en trois parties: "enlèvements, demandes de rançons et déportation au Soudan", "enlèvements, demandes de ranççons et déportation dans le Sinaï", et enfin, "des réseaux jusqu'en Suisse."

Le Sinaï et son trafic d'etres humains, la violente derive d'une peninsule instable

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:17:33 +0000

Cet article a pour objet de s’interroger sur le traf d'êtres humains dans le Sinaï, afin d’en connaître les causes, les

faits et les conséquences, mais également de tenter d’expliquer les raisons pour lesquelles le Sinaï en est le théâtre.

Legal Needs of Human Trafficking Survivors

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:22:05 +0000

This document provides a list of legal and related issues that may affect human trafficking survivors. Legal providers should be aware of these diverse needs and develop plans to help survivors address them. This list is not meant to be comprehensive, but rather a starting point for understanding the issues faced by survivors of trafficking. Underlined items are designated by Polaris Project Client Services as of particular interest to US Citizen survivors requiring legal assistance.

Children Begging for Qur’ānic School Masters

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:22:20 +0000

This is one of give thematic briefing papers that have been developed for types of child labour that have particular relevance for children in West and Central Africa. The purpose of the child labour briefing papers is to synthesise the empirical evidence of effective approaches to child labour and exploitation and identify approaches that have not worked or are unlikely to work with the current levels of human and financial resources.

Global Monitoring Status of Action against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: Turkey

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:22:36 +0000

EXCERPT FROM FOREWORD: "This report, as part of the Second Edition series of country monitoring reports produced by ECPAT International, provides a comprehensive baseline of information on all manifestations of CSEC in the country and an assessment of achievements and challenges in implementing counteractions (including the participation of children and young people themselves) to eliminate CSEC. The report, which follows the framework of the Stockholm Agenda for Action, serves as an instrument for the sharing of information and experiences among various stakeholders and duty- bearers within the country as well as internationally. It also suggests concrete priority actions urgently needed to proactively advance the national fight against CSEC."

Counter-Trafficking Policy and Immigrant Rights in Turkey

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:22:42 +0000

ABSTRACT: "Turkey has long been a transit site for irregular migration, and policy makers and advocates have stressed the vulnerability of many of these irregular migrants to human trafficking. The Turkish government increased its anti-trafficking efforts in the early 2000s, but these efforts may in fact be increasing immigrants’ vulnerability to trafficking. Using data from fieldwork among NGOs and government officials and analyses of laws and policy reports, we analyze the changing legal terrain and shifting migration flows into Turkey. We argue that recent counter-trafficking policies designed to curb human trafficking may in fact be making immigrants more vulnerable to traffickers. Our findings inform the labor exploitation theoretical framework of human trafficking that we proposed in earlier research."

Global Study on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism: Turkey

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:22:58 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "CSEC is a crime committed against the child. It is a crime not only against the sexual integrity of the child but also an assault to all rights of the child and treats the child as a commodity, it is a form of slavery, hence a crime against humanity. Commercial sexual exploitation of children confronts us in various forms. It includes child pornography, child marriages, child prostitution, trafficking and sexual exploitation of children in tourism and travel. This report explores only one form of CSEC in Turkey as a contribution to a global study conducted by ECPAT International and its members all over the world."

A Guide to Human Trafficking for State Courts

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:28:31 +0000

In large part, because the role of state courts in addressing human trafficking is a recent topic to many court practitioners, the HT Guide includes considerable background and context-defining information about numerous aspects of human trafficking as well as practical guidelines and tools for directly assisting court practitioners in cases involving traffickers and trafficking victims.

Anti-human trafficking manual for criminal justice practitioners

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:27:06 +0000

The Anti-Human Trafficking Manual for Criminal Justice Practitioners is offered in response to these various challenges. It aims to address capacity gaps of criminal justice practitioners working to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, protect and assist its victims, and effectively cooperate with others in doing so. The manual elaborates promising practices in every phase of criminal justice response to trafficking in persons, and stands as a practical guide and training tool for criminal justice practitioners. The Anti-Human Trafficking Manual for Criminal Justice Practitioners is the product of broad- based expertise gathered in the course of a series of expert group meetings of judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers who are practitioners in the field of human traf- ficking. Each of the modules in the Manual is designed to equip criminal justice practitioners to appropriately respond to the challenges of trafficking in persons. The promising practices offered in each module are intended to reveal the complexities of the subject matter, and enable practitioners to apply lessons learned by other practitioners to their own experiences in the field.

Human trafficking in Wales 2010

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:26:59 +0000

There are gaps in knowledge over issues of identification of victims of trafficking and responses once identified as well as specialist provisions of services, despite the recent creation of a refuge for trafficked women in Wales. Gender- specific and child-friendly policy initiatives are at the heart of effective enforcement and protection strategies. These need to be tailored to the particular needs of local communities in Wales. Strategies that reflect the different landscapes – rural, urban, language, cultural – all require co-ordination in a national (Welsh) centre for trafficking. From that multi- agency point, training, awareness-raising, advocacy and many other services can be provided and tailored for the needs of the people in Wales.

Assessment of the Hazelnut Supply Chain and Hazelnut Harvest in Turkey

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:26:47 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "In the summer of 2011, the Fair Labor Association began working with Nestlé to evaluate labor and human rights issues in the hazelnut supply chain in Turkey. Although Nestlé was not a FLA Participating Company at the time, FLA agreed to the special project because the organization’s methodology and agriculture work had uniquely positioned the FLA to be able to offer tools and strategies that could make a real difference in the lives of workers on hazelnut farms in Turkey."

Human Trafficking Knowledge Portal

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:26:39 +0000

The Human Trafficking Knowledge Portal is an initiative to facilitate the dissemination of information regarding the implementation of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and specifically the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. The Human Trafficking Knowledge Portal hosts a Case Law Database on officially documented instances of trafficking in persons crime. By creating this portal, UNODC is working to increase the visibility of successful prosecutions and, at the same time, promote awareness of the realities of this devastating crime. Such a portal enables users to read about human trafficking issues, consult court decisions and practices from different countries and broaden their knowledge of human trafficking crimes.

Demand in the context of trafficking in human beings in the domestic work sector in the Netherlands

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:26:32 +0000

In general the Netherlands is performing relatively well in terms of combatting trafficking in human beings (THB). Yet, the Dutch government still needs to make considerable effort to address the demand-side of THB and to take action in relation to forms of exploitation outside the sex industry. While generally attention for labour exploitation is on the increase, sector-specific attention is still required. The domestic work sector has been considered a risk sector for exploitation since 2008, yet attention for this sector remains scarce. Because the work takes place in the private household, domestic workers are in a vulnerable and isolated position and are therefore in need of specific attention to avoid exploitation. At the same time, the fact that the work takes place in the private realm and that the group of domestic workers is diverse poses serious challenges for the Dutch Government to tackle this particular form of labour exploitation. This report seeks to provide general insight into THB in DW in the Netherlands with special attention for demand side aspects, in order propose recommendations to the Dutch Government how it could step up its efforts to tackle THB in DW.

India

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:26:26 +0000

This document contains India's various anti-trafficking legislation [The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act of 1956, Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act of 1976, The Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of 1986, The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act of 2000], which are all enacted by the Parliament of the Republic of India.

From Cubs to Lions: a Six-Stage Model of Child Socialization in the Islamic State

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:25:19 +0000

ABSTRACT: "Using the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) as a case study, we explore the process by which children evolve from novice recruits to fully fledged members of a violent extremist movement. From currently available data, we propose six stages of child socialization to ISIS—Seduction, Schooling, Selection, Subjugation, Specialization, and Stationing. Furthermore, we explore this process in the context of “Community of Practice” (COP) as developed by Wenger and Lave. COP models highlight how newcomers learn and pass through degrees of involvement from the periphery of an organization to the inside. In subsequent research, Hundeide highlighted how “contracts of deep commitment” and “conversion” constitute important social and psychological elements of communities of practice. We regard such qualities as intrinsic to children’s involvement in ISIS. We conclude with implications drawn from the disengagement and reintegration experiences of former child soldiers in other contexts."

Kazakhstan Criminal Code

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:25:12 +0000

Anti-Trafficking Legislation of Kazakhstan

Employer-Migrant Worker Relationships in the Middle East

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:24:57 +0000

EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "The unique aspects of sponsorship systems in the Middle East, commonly known as kafala, result in a delegation of responsibility by the State to the private employer to oversee both a migrant worker’s immigration and employment status. This is inherently problematic as it creates an imbalance between the rights and abilities of workers and employers to terminate an employment relationship, and be mobile on the labour market in the respective country. This paper argues that reforming the sponsorship systems in a way which disassociates a worker’s immigration status from their employer’s control, and enables a migrant worker to resign or terminate his/ her employment contract by giving reasonable notice and without losing valid immigration status, can have significant economic, social and administrative benefits. Furthermore it may contribute to progress towards nationalization programmes, the smooth functioning of the labour market, and adherence to the rule of law."

From Zero-Tolerance to Full Integration: Rethinking Prostitution Policies

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:24:48 +0000

This DemandAT working paper develops a typology for prostitution policy regimes. Based on an inductive methodological approach, it presents a typology of three general prostitution policy models (or regimes), as repressive, restrictive or integrative. The intention of such a tripartite typology is that it can serve as a tool for assessing, evaluating and comparing prostitution policies, even in cases where they seem to contain contradictory or incoherent elements. Besides using the prostitution policy typology for analytical purposes, it can also serve as a tool for developing context-sensitive measures against violence, exploitation and trafficking in human beings in the sex work sector.

Macau Special Administrative Region Law No. 6/2008

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:24:36 +0000

This law establishes measures to prevent and suppress the crime of trafficking in persons, ascertains the rights of victim, and provides necessary measures for his or her protection and assistance.

Evaluation Summary: Fair Recruitment and Decent Work for Women Migrant Workers in South Asia and the Middle East - Global Component – Midterm Evaluation

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:24:20 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "Work in Freedom (WIF) is a 5-year programme implemented by the ILO and funded by United Kingdom Department of International Development (DFID) in the amount of 8.3 million GBP. The overall development objective is 'Women are empowered to make informed migration decisions and an enabling environment is created for their safe migration into decent work.' The programme focuses on 2 sectors – domestic work and garment work – across 5 countries: Bangladesh, India, Jordan, Lebanon and Nepal."

Laws of Malaysia, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:24:13 +0000

An Act to provide for the offense of trafficking in persons, the protection and support of trafficked persons, the establishment of the Council for Anti-Trafficking in Persons, and for matters connected therewith.

2007 Report on Combatting Human Trafficking: Turkey

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:23:58 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PREFACE: "'2007 Turkey Report on Combatting Human Trafficking' is the continuation of the 2006 report, which was recognized as the first 'National Report' and a reference document. The report analyses Turkey's determined fight against human trafficking from the aspects of prevention of human trafficking, protection of victims, and prosecution of the traffickers."

Forced Labor and Human Trafficking: A Casebook of Court Decisions

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:31:06 +0000

We believe that the present casebook fills an important gap. It covers a range of national experience, from judicial decisions on forced and bonded labour in a number of developing countries, through to the more recent decisions on forced labour and trafficking in industrialized countries. In particular, it seeks to illustrate how national court decisions have taken into account the provi- sions of the ILO’s own Conventions on forced labour, and how this may provide useful guidance for future court decisions. By increasing familiarization with and awareness of jurisprudence on forced labour, we hope also to promote cross-fertilization of experience and dialogue among judicial practitioners, both within domestic courts and between domestic and international courts. To enrich future editions of this casebook, the first of its kind, we also urge readers to share copies of court decisions involving forced labour.

A glimpse into 30 years of struggle against prostitution by the women's liberation movement in Norway

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:30:50 +0000

The Women's Front of Norway has worked against prostitution for 30 years. In 2008 a law criminalizing the purchase of a sexual act was passed in Norway. This article describes the struggle and the main actors in lobbying for the law. In the 1980s, we raised awareness of prostitution and trafficking in women in a study of the pornography industry, and targeted sex tourist agencies organizing trips to the Philippines and Thailand. In the 1990s, our members in trade unions got their unions to take a stand against prostitution and against legalizing prostitution as “work”. In 2006, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions Congress supported a law criminalizing the buyer of a sexual act; this had a strong impact on the centre-left coalition Government. We invited leaders of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women to Norway to meet parliamentarians and trade unionists, and kept up the pressure. From the start, the focus was on ensuring that the situation for women in prostitution was ameliorated. Our demands have been for better social services and job training. Street prostitution, especially in Oslo, has been curbed, and a growth in the indoor market has not been reported.

Bangladesh Women and Children Repression Act of 2000

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:30:23 +0000

Bangladesh anti-trafficking legislation.

Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:29:32 +0000

The objective of this law is to suppress the acts of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in order to protect the rights and dignity of human beings, to improve the health and welfare of citizens, to preserve and enhance good national customs, and to implement the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, or other international instruments or agreements with regard to human trafficking that the Kingdom of Cambodia has ratified or signed.

Between social opprobrium and repeat trafficking: chances and choices of Albanian women deported from the UK

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:28:43 +0000

The focus of this chapter is on the character and effects of the situation that Albanian women face on returning home from trafficking and sexual exploitation abroad, and the retrafficking risks this situation incurs. The present chapter relies on predominantly qualitative analysis based on open sources, plus research interviews conducted in autumn 2008 with stake-holders of Albania’s pronounced anti-trafficking fight. These interviews were conducted in preparation for a cross-examination by the UK immigration tribunal, and for an expert witness report in a ‘country-guidance case’9 on the return situation of adult female Albanian victims of trafficking. The research was guided by and sought to address three contested observations among national and international stakeholders (Lesko and Puka 2008: 6–8; Republic of Albania 2008a; US Department of State 2008a). The first was that failed and returned Albanian asylum seekers who have been trafficked are highly likely to follow repeat trafficking patterns. Second, internal trafficking has been increasing significantly in recent years and thus poses an additional risk to this category of returnees. And finally, many of them would re-engage in prostitution ‘both willingly and voluntarily’, particularly if they are beyond the traffickers’ priority target groups of very young women and children. Given these observations, the question of free choice of Albanian sex workers versus the nature of socioculturally restrictive circumstances in Albania, which would frame such ‘choice’, has become paramount in the ongoing country guidance case (in early 2009).

Addressing demand in the context of trafficking in the domestic work sector : perspectives from seven European countries

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:32:26 +0000

The paper argues that measures addressing the demand-side (employers/labour market) can hardly be separated from tackling the ‘supply’ side, namely addressing the workers’ situations. Domestic workers face vulnerabilities to exploitation: the work is performed in private homes within intimate relationships characterised by dependency and power imbalance, very often within informal and live-in arrangements. Some policies may also foster the precariousness of migrant domestic workers. Preventing trafficking from occurring and discouraging inappropriate demand includes the reduction of vulnerability to abuse on the side of workers and the limitation of the opportunities for exploitation on the side of employers. Thus, a holistic approach must be adopted to address the demand-side of trafficking. Establishing stronger regulations for domestic work is crucial, but it is not sufficient without simultaneously seeking ways of empowering domestic workers and fostering change in social norms and employers’ behaviour, beliefs, and attitudes that tend to undervalue domestic work.

Améliorer la gestion des flux migratoires à la Corne de l’Afrique

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:32:37 +0000

Fiche descriptive sur les flux migratoires dans la Corne de l'Afrique, proposant plusieurs suggestions pour améliorer la situation.

ILO IPEC+ Flagship Strategy: International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour and Forced Labour

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:32:46 +0000

The IPEC+ Flagship is ILO’s response to the persistent global challenge of eradicating child labour and forced labour.

First Aid Kit for Use by Law Enforcement Responders in Addressing Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:33:10 +0000

A kit given to law enforcement and first responders to help them identify human trafficking, stabilize and control the human trafficking situation, prepare victims and pass information on to investigators, and refer victims to specialized service providers (NGOs, medical and psychological assistance, legal counseling, shelter...)

A Case Study of Sex Trafficking in Romania

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:33:19 +0000

This research paper will analyze the historical context of modern-day slavery in Romania as well as the economic background and the social dimensions of its transition and transformation that has left it increasingly prone to a filthy industry that rots, decays, and dehumanizes. This paper will examine not only the individual attributes but also the environmental factors and will argue that inequality, power, and other social and economic dynamics play a major role in the procurement of sex and continue to leave Romania completely exposed to the cunning web of traffickers. Furthermore, the paper will draw a parallel showing the links between prostitution and sex trafficking, which many times are interrelated. The data will show that it is seriously naïve to assume that all of these girls are victims, that they are driven by an enhanced perception of opportunities outside the borders of Romania which increase their social status back home, and will attempt to answer the question of whether the traffickers select these girls or if the girls self-select.

Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:33:41 +0000

Philippine's anti-trafficking legislation. It is an act to institute policies to eliminate trafficking in persons especially women and children, establishing the necessary institutional mechanisms for the protection and support of trafficked persons, providing penalties for its violations, and for other.

Singapore Penal Code

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:34:22 +0000

This document contain's Singapore's anti-trafficking legislation, including the Singapore Penal Code, Children and Young Person's Act, and Singapore's Women's Charter 1997.

Demand in the Context of Trafficking in Human Beings in the Domestic Work Sector in Italy

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:34:31 +0000

The paper highlights that domestic workers frequently experience several forms of exploitation and maltreatment, which go from the violation of the fundamental protection provided by the contract to severe abuse and trafficking. The hidden nature of DW renders the identification of cases of THB extremely difficult. The paper reveals that while economic motivations are the main factor influencing the demand for cheap and exploitable workers in DW, other aspects, such as political, legal, social and cultural factors, also play a crucial role in affecting the demand-side. Moreover, this study points out that Italian legal and political responses to THB and severe exploitation have proven inadequate in preventing these phenomena and in protecting the rights of the victims. By highlighting the need to adopt a comprehensive approach to THB, the paper proposes a set of recommendations in regard to political and legal responses, also addressing the demand-side.

Secure Communities and Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:34:46 +0000

New York State, especially New York City, is a destination for trafficked persons from all over the world who are forced into various labor sectors, such as restaurant, domestic, or commercial sex work. To address this important concern, New York State enacted the New York State Anti-Trafficking Law of 2007 (NYATL). While the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPRA) (first passed in 2000 and later re-authorized) was very substantial, improvements still needed to be made on the state level to more effectively carry out the mission. The NYATL was enacted to further those ends. The dual intent behind both the federal and state laws is to serve a humanitarian need and to safeguard the public. Secure Communities contradicts the intent of these laws and further pushes trafficking victims underground.

New York State Anti-Trafficking Law

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:42:37 +0000

New York State (NYS), especially New York City (NYC), is a destination for trafficked persons from all over the world who are forced into various labor sectors, such as restaurants, agriculture, domestic or sex work. To address this important concern, New York State enacted an anti-trafficking law that took effect on November 1, 2007. This document highlights the key changes made to New York State laws.

Act on the Prevention of Sexual Traffic and Protection, etc. of Victims Thereof

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:43:21 +0000

The purpose of this act is to prevent sexual traffic, protect victims of sexual traffic and persons who have sex with people in exchange for money, and support their self-reliance.

Human trafficking revisited: legal, enforcement and ethnographic narratives on sex trafficking to Western Europe

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:43:27 +0000

In this paper we focus on the ways ‘victims’ and ‘perpetrators’ are imagined in the narratives on women who have been trafficked to West Europe for sexual exploitation. Three specific domains: international/national law, local law enforcement and ethnographic academic perspective are particularly important as they strongly influence political reaction to trafficking and describe the phenomenon from the perspective of the individuals concerned. In our analysis, an explanation of the diversity of the perceptions in these three domains is provided.

The Psychosocial Rehabilitation of Children who have been Commercially Sexually Exploited: A Training Guide

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:43:35 +0000

This guide for trainers has been written as a response to the many requests received at ECPAT International for advice and assistance in training carers to look after children who have been commercially sexually exploited. Often carers find themselves in the position of having to fulfil many of the child’s needs, and take on many roles, sometimes with few resources and little formal training. We hope then, that this resource will be useful when putting together training programmes for carers. Our idea is that it is not followed slavishly, but used as a basis when developing training to meet the needs of organisations and which fits particular circumstances. We are not suggesting that this course will train carers to be ‘experts’ in the subjects covered in the sessions, but we are hopeful that it will give them an overall appreciation and understanding, and help identify future training needs.

Convention on the Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women Children for Prostitution Act, No 30 of 2005

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:44:31 +0000

This act gives effect to the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) Convention on preventing and combating trafficking in Women and Children for prostitution and to provide protection for matters connected to the crime.

The Health Consequences of Sex Trafficking and Their Implications for Identifying Victims in Healthcare Facilities

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:45:07 +0000

This paper explores the health consequences and healthcare experiences of women and girls trafficked in the United States for commercial sex. The paper is based on an original study of over one hundred domestic sex trafficking victims and survivors. It provides evidence that women and children who are trafficked into prostitution are physically, mentally, and emotionally devastated by the crime, and this devastation is lasting with injuries, illnesses, and impairments continuing for decades. It illustrates how our healthcare system is failing trafficked women and children. It makes the case that health care providers of all kinds in emergency wards, healthcare clinics, and private practices are seeing trafficking victims but failing to identify them, thereby unwittingly contributing to continuing criminal activity and exacerbating both public and private physical and mental health problems for this segment of the population. It offers recommendations on ways that public policy and healthcare practice can combat sex trafficking by more readily identifying victims and catalyzing rescues. Finally, it argues that law, policy, and protocols must change in order to adequately address the health consequences of sex trafficking.

Human Trafficking Control and Prevention Act

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:45:24 +0000

This Act is enacted to prevent human trafficking and to safeguard the rights of victims.

What to Look for in a Healthcare Setting

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:45:49 +0000

An At a Glance document describing the role healthcare professionals should take in identifying and serving victims of trafficking and describing the short-term and long-term health effects of human trafficking on victims.

The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act B.E 2551 (2008)

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:46:41 +0000

This document contains Thailand's Anti-Trafficking legislation.

Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan 2001

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:47:15 +0000

Section of the Uzbekistan Criminal Code pertaining to the exploitation of persons.

Forced labour and UK immigration policy: status matters?

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:47:30 +0000

This paper: investigates the links between immigration status and migrants' vulnerability to forced labour; explores how socio-legal status (specific rights to residence, work and social welfare) impacts on migrants’ risk of forced labour, and; reviews UK immigration policy to assess how far it may reduce or facilitate the use of forced labour.

Slavery in Mauritania: Briefing note

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:47:54 +0000

In light of a hearing on the subject of Contemporary Forms of Slavery in the Sahel Region, UNPO has prepared this briefing note, in order to bring solid background information to the situation in Mauritania, a key country in the Sahel when it comes to slavery.

Still Far From Freedom: The Struggle of Mauritania’s Haratine Women

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:27:22 +0000

This report draws on extensive research and first-hand testimony from Haratine women. Besides highlighting the everyday reality of abuse and oppression experienced by those in servitude – ranging from exploitative labour, intimidation and confinement to rape, violence and the enforced separation of families – it also explores how formerly enslaved Haratines and their descendants still face widespread stigmatization and lack access to necessities such as education, land rights and political participation. As a result, many former slaves struggle to integrate into Mauritanian society even once they have nominally secured their freedom.

Open letter from Biram Dah Abeid

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:26:57 +0000

This is an open letter from Biram Dah Abeid, an important Mauritanian human rights activist who - as the child of slaves - has devoted his life to the struggle against slavery, impunity and injustice.

Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking at Hotspots by Focusing on People Smuggled to Europe

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:26:45 +0000

Research has shown that smuggling of migrants is associated with human trafficking. Hence, victims of human trafficking amongst smuggled migrants should be identified by EU Member States at hotspots established by the European Commission, to overcome the migrant and refugee crisis. Identified victims should be given a visa and a programme of protection to escape their traffickers. In order to achieve these objectives, research suggests that EU law on migrant smuggling should be amended and the Temporary Protection Directive should be applied to smuggled persons when there is an indication that they may be victims of human trafficking. This approach should be adopted by the EASO in cooperation with police forces investigating smuggling and trafficking at hotspots.

Encore loin de la liberté: la lutte des femmes Haratines en Mauritanie

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:26:36 +0000

Ce rapport de Minority Rights Group International s’appuie sur la recherche et de nombreux témoignages directs des femmes Haratines. En plus de souligner la réalité quotidienne des abus et l’oppression vécus par les personnes en servitude - allant de l’exploitation au travail, l’intimidation et la soumission au viol, la violence et la séparation forcée des familles - il explore aussi comment les Haratines anciens esclaves et leurs descendants se heurtent encore à la stigmatisation généralisée et le manque d’accès aux nécessités tels que l’éducation, les droits fonciers et la participation politique.

Caring for Trafficked Persons: Guidance for Health Providers

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:26:00 +0000

This document aims to provide practical, non-clinical guidance to help concerned health providers understand the phenomenon of human trafficking, recognize some of the health problems associated with trafficking and consider safe and appropriate approaches to providing health care for trafficked persons. It outlines the health provider’s role in providing care and describes some of the limitations of his or her responsibility to assist.

Missing Children of India, Issues and Approaches A CHILDLINE Perspective

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:25:15 +0000

Missing children is a social problem in India. However, the exact statistics of "how many go missing" and "how many are recovered" are hard to obtain. Often when a child is found and returns to the family, this information is not passed on to the authorities or organizations that may have been originally informed about the missing child. The CHILDLINE India Foundation aims to utilize this publication to strengthen the existing child rights systems and provide intervention by working with government and non-government agencies, creating collaborations and partnerships and raising the awareness and participation of civil society.

Enforcing Mauritania’s Anti-Slavery Legislation: The Continued Failure of the Justice System to Prevent, Protect and Punish

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:23:56 +0000

This report will examine current legal approaches to eradicating slavery within the Mauritanian criminal justice system, specifically the efficacy of a law passed in 2007 which aimed to eradicate slavery and the recent approval in September 2015 of a new anti-slavery law which aims to strengthen the previous provisions against slavery.

The Human Cost of 'Crushing' the Market: Criminalization of Sex Work in Norway

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:46:30 +0000

The issues described in this report demonstrate that Norway is not implementing its international obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of people who sell sex. Amnesty International spoke with sex workers who had experienced violations of the right to housing, the right to security of person, the right to equal protection of the law, the right to health, the right to non-discrimination and the right to privacy. Amnesty International is therefore calling on the Norwegian authorities to change its approach and instead place the protection of the human rights of all people who sell sex at the centre of its responses to commercial sex.

Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:46:19 +0000

The Special Rapporteur conducted an official mission to Mauritania from 24 October to 4 November 2009. The main objective of the mission was to look at the effectiveness of the Mauritanian policies, laws and specific programmes to combat slavery. This report summarizes these findings.

Exploited Labour Two Years On: The 'Rosarno Law' Fails to Protect Migrants Exploited in the Agricultural Sector in Italy

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:45:52 +0000

Since Amnesty International published its first report on labour exploitation of agricultural migrant workers in the agricultural sector, the Italian authorities have failed to effectively address the problem and to ensure that victims of labour exploitation have access to justice and can obtain full remedy. Italy’s restrictive implementation of the EU Employers’ Sanctions Directive, along with its failure to amend its migration policy and repeal the crime of ‘illegal entry and stay’, pose a serious threat to the full enjoyment of the human rights of migrants in an irregular situation.

Middle East- EU Migration: Scenarios

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:45:33 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "Although large-scale displacement within Iraq and Syria continued in 2016, movement through and from the Middle East of people displaced by conflict fell significantly compared to 2015. This was due primarily to political determination to prevent cross- border movement, rather than any changes in the root causes of displacement. The drivers and patterns of movement through the Middle East are too numerous to capture here; this report focuses on the movement of refugees and other migrants through Greece and Turkey. These scenarios consider how future policy decisions, primarily by the EU and Turkey, combined with other relevant variables, could affect movement in the region, specifically through Greece and Turkey, over the coming six months, and the potential humanitarian consequences. As is clear from the range of scenarios that could occur, each involving varying degrees and directions of movement, there is an urgent need to address the negative reasons for displacement rather than continue to restrict movement, a policy that is unable to afford protection the most desperate."

Exploited Labour: Migrant Workers in Italy's Agricultural Sector

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:45:22 +0000

The agricultural sector in Italy is heavily reliant on migrant workers. This report focuses on the violation of labour rights of migrant workers in the areas of Latina and Caserta. It documents widespread labour exploitation, including wages below minimum standards, arbitrary reductions, delays or non-payment of wages and long hours of work. Amnesty International demonstrates that Italian migration policy increases the vulnerability of migrant workers to labour exploitation and that Italian legislation offers them inadequate protection and limited access to justice.

Application de la législation anti-esclavage en Mauritanie: l’incapacité permanente du système judiciaire à prévenir, protéger et punir

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:45:06 +0000

Ce rapport examinera les approches légales actuelles visant à éradiquer l’esclavage dans le système judiciaire mauritanien, plus précisément l’efficacité d’une loi votée en 2007 qui avait pour but d’éradiquer l’esclavage et la validation récente en août 2015 d’une nouvelle loi anti-esclavage qui vise à renforcer les dispositions précédentes contre cette pratique.

"We wanted workers but we got humans instead" Labour Exploitation of Agricultural Migrant Workers in Italy

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:44:45 +0000

This report focuses on foreign national migrant workers from sub-Saharan Africa, north Africa and Asia, employed in low-skilled jobs, mostly in the agricultural sector in Southern Italy. Amnesty International believes that the system created by the “flows decree”, the Security Package and the inadequate protection for victims, facilitates the exploitation of migrant workers and creates obstacles to their access to justice. The organization believes that this system violates the country’s obligation to respect the rights of migrant workers to just conditions of work.

Human Smuggling and Trafficking into Europe: A Comparative Perspective

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:50:13 +0000

This report reviews national reports and research conducted in diverse countries of the European Union to paint a better picture of what is taking place on the ground. It also reviews reports and analyses of cases that have been investigated by Europol, ILO, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Finally, it draws on the scholarly literature on smuggling and trafficking. The report has two goals: to outline the effects of smuggling/trafficking and to discuss policy options for limiting the phenomenon.

Emerging good practice by state authorities, the business community and civil society in the area of reducing demand for human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:50:23 +0000

The report sets out to identify methods that, on the basis of the information currently available, represent good practice. It presents, in turn, examples of initiatives by governments, businesses and civil society organisations. It reviews their strengths and weaknesses in terms of their effectiveness at preventing human trafficking in business practices and supply chains (which are also known as product and value chains). It also aims at encouraging other governments, businesses and civil society organisations to review these examples with a view to developing similar methods of their own. The report includes some examples of initiatives taken from Europe and elsewhere, all of which are reckoned to be replicable within Europe.

Human Trafficking Task Force E-Guide

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:54:00 +0000

Developed in partnership by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), this Guide is a resource to support established task forces and provide guidance to agencies that are forming task forces. Its purpose is to assist in the development and day to day operations of an anti-human trafficking task force and to provide fundamental guidance for effective task force operations.

The Role of Trade Unions in Reducing Migrant Workers’ Vulnerability to Forced Labour and Human Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Subregion

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:51:32 +0000

This paper provides an analysis of what trade unions can offer to reduce the vulnerability of migrant workers to forced labour and human trafficking in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and Malaysia as a key destination for GMS migrant workers. The exploration of the potential for the engagement of trade union partners is a timely contribution to the forced labour and anti-trafficking debate, given the shift towards a more holistic labour rights approach, and the ensuing search for more actors and partnerships to combat these crimes, which led to adoption of the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930, (Forced Labour Protocol) in June 2014. Examples from Malaysia and Thailand highlight the role that trade unions can play in policy development and service provision, and also some of the challenges associated with unionization of a vulnerable, temporary, and often repressed, migrant workforce.

Study on Demand Reduction Measures to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings for the Purpose of Labour Exploitation Through Engagement of the Private Sector

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:51:43 +0000

In this report, I attempt to identify several issues related to the broad problem of addressing demand, taking into account, however, that this work is a preliminary exploration. In Poland, the "legacy" of considering human trafficking as a phenomenon associated with the sex industry is still strongly present in the collective consciousness, although police data shows that there are more investigations conducted in connection with allegations of forced labour than there are in relation to 'typical' human trafficking cases. For many people, including experts, human trafficking is a matter related to the criminal justice system, while the importance of issues such as workers' rights, control of the supply chain and exploitation is minimal. Meanwhile, in practice, trafficking for forced labour purposes is one of the most serious challenges faced by all EU Member States. Victims include third-country nationals and EU citizens, blue-collar and highly educated employees, men, women and children. Forms of enslavement are much more sophisticated than the mere confiscation of a passport or a threat. In order to force victims to work, perpetrators use deception, fraud, manipulation, as well as mental and physical coercion.

Brexit & the UK’s fight against modern slavery

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:54:20 +0000

The following paper considers the potential impact of the UK’s withdrawal (‘Brexit’) from the European Union (EU) on efforts to tackle modern slavery. The purpose of this briefing is to review the extent to which the UK’s membership in the EU has influenced national anti-trafficking efforts, and consider if and how Brexit may impact the UK’s ability to combat modern slavery and protect its victims. Where possible, recommendations have been made on the steps to take to mitigate any potential risks posed by Brexit to UK anti-trafficking efforts.

Creating and Sustaining a Local Response to Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:52:20 +0000

The following activities and strategies were identified as promising practices by Rescue & Restore Victims of Human Trafficking Regional Program (Rescue & Restore) grantees and their local partners for the purpose of providing direction and recommendations for organizations responding to human trafficking in their communities. Regional and local anti-trafficking organizations found these practices to be beneficial for the advancement of public awareness and strengthening of outreach and service provision for victims of human trafficking nationwide.

Begging for Change: Research findings and recommendations on forced child begging in Albania/Greece, India and Senegal

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:52:32 +0000

This report is based on research conducted in Albania and Greece, India and Senegal, and looks at the phenomenon of forced child begging both in its local specifics and global commonalities. Forced child begging involves forcing boys and girls to beg through physical or psychological coercion. It falls into the category of forced labour as it is “work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily.”

Working with Law Enforcement

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:55:02 +0000

A slideshow for service providers about cooperation with law enforcement officials.

Use of the Term ‘Bonded Labour’ is a Must in the Context of India

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:57:08 +0000

There is no question that we should distinguish between forced labour, trafficking and slavery. But, we should also include in the debate another concept, ‘bonded labour,’ as it describes a distinct and widespread form of forced labour in India that does not fully accord with the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) definition of forced labour. The sociopolitical reality in India and bonded labour’s intimate link with the Indian caste system demand that the term ‘bonded labour’ be retained in the discourse on forced labour and trafficking in persons. Addressing bonded labour enables two interconnected areas of exploitation and discrimination to be addressed, namely working towards emancipation of the minority Dalit community and of the Moolnivasi indigenous communities.

Slavery in Mauritania: the "Roadmap to combat the vestiges of slavery" is not being implemented convincingly

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:56:53 +0000

On March 6, 2014, the Mauritanian government published a “Roadmap to Combat the Vestiges of Slavery." Two years after the adoption of the Roadmap - which was welcomed by the international community - this report examines the extent to which the proposed projects were actually implemented.

UK implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:56:41 +0000

UK Government policies and spending decisions are failing to prioritise children, including child victims of trafficking, according to new research by the Children's Rights Alliance for England (CRAE).

Lighting the way: Steps that lawyers, legal guardians and child trafficking advocates in the UK can take to better identify and protect children who may have been trafficked

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:46:41 +0000

In this report published by ECPAT's ReACT project, expert children's rights lawyer Nadine Finch offers practical guidance for professionals and authorities to improve the care of children who may have been trafficked, including embedding the National Referral Mechanism within existing child protection systems, consistently applying the presumption of age requirement and providing specialist training on trafficking and exploitation for all child protection professionals.

Extreme Forms of Child Labour in Turkey

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:00:31 +0000

ABSTRACT: "Two little known forms of child labour in Turkey are examined. The process through which these children are made to work has parallels with the experiences of slaves. First, a longstanding practice from Northwestern Turkey of parents hiring children to better-off farmers is examined. Further, a more recent problem is examined where children are trafficked to big cities and forced to join criminal rings. Both forms of child labour are consequences of poverty. The factors that give rise to child trafficking and parents letting their children be trafficked are extreme poverty and internal displacement of families."

Sex Trafficking of Minors: What Schools Need to Know to Recognize and Respond to the Trafficking of Students

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:00:11 +0000

This brief provides educators with an overview of the issue of minor sex trafficking and suggests specific steps that schools can take to respond to signs of trafficking among its students. It also offers suggestions for how State Coordinators for Homeless Education and local homeless education liaisons can help guide their states’ and school districts’ efforts to address trafficking within schools. Youth experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable to being targeted for victimization through trafficking; because of this, educators working with homeless and other at-risk students should be well informed about the issue and effective ways to respond within schools.

Enseignements tirés des intiatives nationales pour mettre fin au mariage des enfants

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:59:59 +0000

En novembre 2016, plus de 20 gouvernements avaient entamé un processus d’élaboration de stratégie ou de plan d’action national en vue de mettre fin au mariage des enfants. Le présent rapport porte sur les initiatives nationales de 11 pays dont la stratégie nationale pour mettre fin au mariage des enfants était accessible au public. L’objectif est d’analyser collectivement ces initiatives afin de tirer des enseignements communs sur leur efficacité potentielle. Ces enseignements pourront ainsi servir de base à d’autres initiatives dans le monde.

Protocol at the Crossroads: Rethinking anti-trafficking law from an Indian labour law perspective

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:59:35 +0000

As we approach the fifteenth anniversary of the United Nations Trafficking Protocol, we can discern several phases of its diffusion, materialization and interpretation in domestic criminal law regimes across the world. Although not exclusively preoccupied with sex work and sex trafficking anymore, the fact remains that the inordinate attention on trafficking in Western industrialized economies is disproportionate to the extent of the problem. Only 7% of the world’s 20.9 million forced laborers are in developed economies while 56% are in Asia Pacific. Yet in countries like India, with a substantial majority of the world’s trafficked victims and where 90% of all trafficking is domestic, trafficking has gained policy resonance only relatively recently. Even as India remains an active site for sexual humanitarianism with international and local abolitionist groups actively targeting sex workers, the article argues that less developed countries like India can play a crucial role in reorienting international anti-trafficking law and policy. Towards that goal, this article offers India’s bonded, contract and migrant labour laws as a robust labour law model against trafficking in contrast to the criminal justice model propagated by the Trafficking Protocol worldwide.

Child Labor Lesson Plan

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:59:13 +0000

IME REQUIREMENT:

120 minutes

GUIDING QUESTIONS:

Why does child labor exist?
How can I make a difference in ending child labor?
What examples of child labor can I find closest to my community?

OBJECTIVES: After this lesson, students will be able to

Understand the causes and conditions of child labor in South Asia (rug-making industry), Ecuador (banana industry) and the United States (migrant farm workers).
Explain how Kailash Satyarthi fights against child labor in South Asia.
Understand how RugMark and Fair Trade advocate for fair labor practices.
Determine the causes of child labor and what can be done to prevent it.
Research one area or industry where child labor is prevalent and prepare and action to address it.
Create an action plan to fight child labor.

Rights to Work, Labour Rights, & Trade Unions in Iran

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:58:58 +0000

EXCERPT FROM INTRODUCTION: "The Iranian government has failed to take appropriate and effective steps to progressively implement economic, social and cultural rights. Not only has it failed in its immediate obligation to eliminate discrimination in all pertaining areas, it has also perpetuated discrimination. However, given the vast expanse of the ICESCR rights and the government’s failure in all areas, FIDH-LDDHI joint alternative report aims to concentrate on “the right to work” and the related issues: existing overall legislation overall as well as the specific legislation and policies on employment of women, discrimination in law and practice, the enjoyment of just and favourable conditions of work, trade union rights, right to strike, independent unionists and the burgeoning new unionist movement, among others. This alternative report draws extensively on a variety of official and semi-official sources: data and reports published by the government, statements of senior officials, domestic newspapers, websites, media and news agencies, academic literature, and other reliable sources."

Slavery/Trafficking Lesson Plan

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:58:43 +0000

GUIDING QUESTIONS:

If slavery is illegal, why does it exist throughout the world today?
For what reasons do governments turn a blind eye to human trafficking and slavery?
How can effective change occur?

TIME REQUIREMENT: 40 minutes OBJECTIVES: After this lesson, students will be able to

Recognize the issue of human trafficking and its relationship to modern slavery.
Listen to an excerpt about Juliana Dogbadzi and discuss the source of her enslavement, the results of her enslavement, and the ultimate outcome of her situation.
Reflect on the concept of paying for the wrongs of another person in order to recognize the ways in which the issue relates to their own lives.
Brainstorm ideas for taking action against these violations of human rights.
Write for personal reflection to assess their understanding of the issue
Propose an action and implement the action.

The IOM Handbook on Direct Assistance for Victims of Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:07:05 +0000

IOM has had some 13 years of experience in implementing counter-trafficking activities and has provided assistance to over 14,000 victims of trafficking in all regions of the world. With a growing number of organizations, especially local non-governmental organizations, now providing or intending to provide assistance to victims of trafficking, IOM would like to share its experience and lessons learned. This Handbook summarizes and systematizes this experience. IOM recognizes that each victim is unique and requires and desires different assistance. As well, the nature of trafficking is different around the world and is ever evolving, requiring changing responses. Therefore, this Handbook is not meant to provide a single methodology for the provision of assistance to victims of trafficking, but to offer suggestions and guidance, based on IOM’s many years of experience. IOM hopes that it will be helpful to all organizations providing such assistance to victims, but especially for organizations who are just beginning to develop victim assistance programmes and can benefit from IOM’s experiences. This Handbook provides guidance and advice necessary to effectively deliver a full range of assistance to victims of trafficking from the point of initial contact and screening up to the effective social reintegration of the individuals concerned.

Rapport de la Rapporteuse spéciale sur la traite des êtres humains, en particulier les femmes et les enfants

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:19:29 +0000

EXTRAIT DE LA PUBLICATION: "Le secrétariat a l’honneur de transmettre au Conseil des droits de l’homme le rapport thématique de la Rapporteuse spéciale sur la traite des êtres humains, en particulier les femmes et les enfants, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, établi en application de la résolution 26/8 du Conseil. Dans son rapport, la Rapporteuse spéciale examine le lien entre la traite des êtres humains et les conflits, thème dont elle a estimé, dans son précédent rapport au Comité (A/HRC/29/38), qu’il intéressait son mandat et devait être étudié plus avant. Dans le présent rapport, la Rapporteuse spéciale cherche à sensibiliser l’opinion internationale aux formes et à la nature de la traite dans les situations complexes que sont les conflits."

Training Manual to Fight Trafficking in Children for Labor, Sexual, and Other Forms of Exploitation: Facilitators' Guide

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:01:49 +0000

The course is structured to move from understanding and knowledge to action, with the vital intermediary stage of planning. It is organized into three textbooks (and a related exercise book)

Le rôle de la diaspora dans la lutte contre l’esclavage en Mauritanie.

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:01:18 +0000

L’objet de cette étude sera d’analyser le rôle que joue la diaspora mauritanienne dans une succession d’issant à la condamnation de l’esclavage à un niveau local, régional et mondial. Central mais occulté, renié, le tabou de l’esclavage encore à l’œuvre en Mauritanie est aujourd’hui remis en cause par une dénonciation franche et tranchante.

Strategies for Giving Public Presentations on Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:00:50 +0000

Slideshow presentation giving suggestions for speaking about human trafficking publicly.

Re-evaluating Palermo: The case of Burmese women as Chinese brides

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:19:19 +0000

The definition of human trafficking as set in the Trafficking Protocol (also known as the Palermo Protocol) functionally centers most of the response to the phenomenon in the criminal justice system. This occludes many of the sociopolitical determinants of vulnerability that leads to trafficking. It also discourages any real debate about the various forms of oppression and even structural violence that act as catalysts to the human trafficking market. The Trafficking Protocol, and a vast number of international organizations, non-governmental organizations and governments, focuses on statistics of prosecution rates, arrests, victim typology and organized crime. I use the example of bride trafficking along the Sino-Burmese border to illustrate the complications and, in certain instances, harm that befall an anti-trafficking regime that does not use a wider lens of migration, agency, development and gender equality to address the factors leading to exploitation.

Strengthening Laws Addressing Child Sexual Exploitation

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:14:41 +0000

his guide was developed to support a necessary transition from aspiration to action. It consolidates and builds upon the ECPAT network’s experience monitoring and its systematic assessment of the implementation of international commitments such as the Stockholm Declaration and Agenda for Action and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Through this work, ECPAT has identified major gaps in protection and made concrete recommendations for change. The ECPAT network has also initiated and supported legal reform initiatives around the world which provide a solid foundation upon which it will continue building.

Slavery Footprint

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:15:23 +0000

Survey that calculates how many slaves work for you through the lifestyle you lead and goods you buy.

Precarious Fates: The Experiences of Migrant Workers in Singapore

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:20:49 +0000

Migrant labor flows amidst our contemporary era of globalization have been raising significant political, social and cultural issues worldwide. At a time when labor markets are becoming increasingly volatile and unstable, migrant “unskilled” workers have become dispensable units of the capitalist workforce. Drawing upon 3.5 months of ethnographic fieldwork and 91 interviews with migrant workers, NGO staff, employers, and bureaucrats in Singapore, this thesis examines the legal, social, and economical constraints that migrant workers confront everyday. In doing so, this project argues that the transnational labor economy does not only bring about remittances but also broken bodies.

Trafficking in Human Beings in Conflict and Post-Conflict Situations

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:04:45 +0000

The purpose of this research-action is to help identify more clearly the processes of exploitation resulting from conflict and post-conflict situations. It also aims to offer concrete recommendations at the local, national and international level, based on a series of experiments in various countries. It allows all stakeholders in acts of trafficking in human beings to increase their knowledge and offers methods for intervention that best reflect the situations on the ground. It should therefore help ensure greater attention is paid to the specific vulnerabilities in both trafficking of children and adults, both during an initial emergency and in the long term.

Tainted Carpets: Slavery and Child Labor in India’s Hand-Made Carpet Sector

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:13:31 +0000

This research project is: 1. The largest ever investigation into slavery and child labor in the hand-made carpet sector of India; 2. The largest single first-hand investigation of slavery and child labor of any kind conducted to date; 3. The largest single first-hand investigation of slavery and child labor in a commodity’s supply chain conducted to date; and 4. A fully replicable model for future investigations into slavery and child labor in the supply chains of dozens of commodities that may also be tainted by these offenses.

When We Raise Our Voice: The Challenge of Eradicating Labor Exploitation

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:03:46 +0000

Manav Sansadhan Evam Mahila Vikas Sansthan (MSEMVS) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that has worked for decades with communities in the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh (UP) to eradicate forced and bonded labor. These communities are home to some of the most economically disenfranchised and vulnerable populations in India; community members are employed in local agriculture, carpet and brick industries, widely recognized hubs for exploitative and abusive labor conditions. This report is an independent, evidence-based assessment of MSEMVS’s work, produced by the FXB Center, Harvard’s only university-wide human rights center.

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Belarus

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:18:59 +0000

GRETA’s evaluation reports are the result of information gathered from a variety of sources. They contain an analysis of the situation in each Party regarding action taken to combat trafficking in human beings and suggestions concerning the way in which the country may strengthen the implementation of the Convention and deal with any problems identified. In its assessment, GRETA is not bound by the case law of judicial and quasi-judicial bodies acting in the same field, but may use them as a point of departure or reference. The reports are drawn up in a co-operative spirit and are intended to assist States in their efforts; they can offer support for the changes on which the national authorities have already embarked, and lend legitimacy to the direction of national policies. Because of its multidisciplinary and multinational composition, and as a consequence of its independent approach, GRETA provides a professional and impartial international voice in this process.

Report concerning the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by Bosnia and Herzegovina (Second Evaluation Round)

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:18:12 +0000

Understanding Illicit Trade: Impact of Human Trafficking and Smuggling on the Private Sector

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:04:01 +0000

This resource explores the global nature of human trafficking and smuggling on the private sector, focusing specifically on online exploitation of children, exploitation of migrant workers in the US and Gulf countries, human trafficking in global sports, and trafficking for organs. National policies and fraudulent business practices are also explored.

Working off debt in Cambodia's crick kilns

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:03:17 +0000

In Cambodia, brick kilns are fueling the country's construction boom -- but the kilns are plagued with allegations of debt bondage.

Organ Trade

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:20:59 +0000

Adopting a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods (a systematic literature review, a national survey and interviews), this thesis addresses the following aims:

Provide insight into the scale of patients who buy organs for transplantation and describe why, where, how and from whom they purchased organs (chapter 3)
Acquire knowledge and understanding of the experiences, attitudes, behaviors and needs of transplant professionals who treat patients before and/or after they buy organs (chapter 4)
Examine the modus operandi of those who facilitate illegal transplantations and study the investigation and prosecution of organ trade networks (chapter 5)
Assess the possible implications of a punitive, legislative approach (chapter 6)
Propose alternative strategies that may deter organ trade more effectively (chapter 7)

Organ Recipients Who Paid for Kidney Transplantations Abroad: A Report

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:21:12 +0000

The main conclusion of the HOTT project’s first report, ‘Trafficking in human beings for the purpose of organ removal: a comprehensive literature review’ (hereafter: literature review), is that a literature study provides limited information and knowledge about the nature and incidence of the crime. The underlying report aims to fulfil gaps of knowledge highlighted in the literature review by presenting the results of interviews with patients who travelled abroad for paid kidney transplantations. The purpose of this study is to describe the process of the transplantation (how, where and by whom it was facilitated) and the perspectives, experiences, behaviors and motivations of these patients.

Protection of persons targeted or trafficked for the purpose of organ removal: Recommendations

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:19:44 +0000

The primary purpose of the recommendations presented hereafter is to contribute to the development of a non-legislative response to trafficking in human beings for the purpose of organ removal (hereafter THBOR) by focusing on the necessary measures to ensure the protection of victims of THBOR. Guided by the definition of THBOR given in the United Nations (UN) Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, we posit that an individual who parts with an organ (usually a kidney) for money within an illegal scheme becomes ipso facto a victim. Our aim is to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices in the area of victim protection, which could help the relevant target groups to identify, detect and protect individuals, who have been victims of THBOR, or are targeted for THBOR. It is our hope that the recommendations will help policy makers and other authorities at the EU level to develop a policy-driven EU action plan for the protection of victims of THBOR in the EU and in the respective countries of origin and transfer of victims.

Trafficking in Human Beings for the Purpose of Organ Removal and the Ethical and Legal Obligations of Healthcare Providers: Recommendations

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:05:13 +0000

In this paper, we outline the potential role of physicians during three key phases of the physician patient interaction. The first is the phase when the patient is investigating all the clinical options, including the possible purchase of an organ. The second phase is when the patient has made up his mind and has chosen to pursue the purchase of an illegal transplant. And the third phase is post-transplantation. Below we briefly explore the legal and ethical tensions at each phase and offer recommendations on how best to negotiate the relevant professional norms. While there are healthcare professionals involved throughout the organ trafficking process, the focus in this paper is on the role of physicians with patients considering the illegal procurement of an organ. It should also be noted that while the focus of our analysis has been on ways to eliminate the trafficking in human beings for the purpose of organ removal (THBOR), this paper considers illegal organ transplantation on a broader scale. This is because physicians may not be aware if THBOR is involved in their particular patients’ situation. As such, from the perspective of the relevant physician, and for the purposes of this paper, the most salient issue is the decision by a patient to purchase an organ. Of course, addressing this broader issue also helps to address the critical issues associated with THBOR.

Mixed Migration: Libya at the Crossroads

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:22:38 +0000

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "Since the turn of the century, migration flows into Libya, thanks to its geographic location amongst six bordering countries, and through the country, due to its strategic positioning between Africa and Europe, have steadily increased. As it is a mixed migration flow, the countries of origin and the motivations vary, but the migrants follow the same routes and most of them claim to be drawn to Libya for the opportunities that exist in the arena of income generation. Between January and May 2013, Altai Consulting conducted a research study to better understand the routes that these migrants are taking in order to reach Libya, to better understand the drivers of their migration, to look at how the situation has changed since the Libyan revolution of 2011, and to pinpoint protection needs."

A Guide to Training Trainers – specifically in relation to trafficking in children and the sexual exploitation of children

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:36:55 +0000

This guide has been written in order to assist people who are providing training to trainers. It is based on our experiences of training trainers in relation to combating the trafficking in children for sexual purposes1, and draws from those experiences, but the methodology has also been used in the training of trainers on a broad range of issues. Consequently we think that, with slight adaptation, it can also be of use to those who are required to train trainers on other subjects related to children’s welfare and rights. Furthermore, the information relating to the techniques of training may serve as a useful refresher to trainers themselves.

Factsheet – Slavery, servitude and forced labour

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:37:09 +0000

This factsheet lists notable legal cases in Europe from the last few years involving issues of slavery, servitude, and forced labour. A brief description of the case and outcome is given for each.

Human Trafficking Assessment for Runaway and Homeless Youth

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:24:22 +0000

A trafficking assessment for runaway and homeless youth programs to identify and assist potential victims of trafficking, including both labor and sex trafficking indicators.

Factsheet - Trafficking in human beings

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:37:17 +0000

This factsheet lists notable legal cases in Europe regarding trafficking in human beings, divided into cases relating to the obligation on States to protect the victims of trafficking, refugee status and residence permit, and measures taken by States against traffickers and their accomplices.

Esclavage en Mauritanie: L'echec de l'application de la feuille de route pour la lutte contre les sequelles de l'esclavage

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:38:08 +0000

Cette publication a pour but d’analyser la Feuille de route pour la lutte contre les séquelles de l’esclavage, publiée par le gouvernement mauritanien le 6 Mars 2014. Cette feuille de route divisée en 29 points détaille les mesures d’ordre juridique, économique et social afin de lutter contre les séquelles de l’esclavage. Ce rapport analysera l’application de ces mesures dans la réalité du quotidien des Mauritaniens.

L’esclavage en Mauritanie: Enquête menée par Amnesty International

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:23:23 +0000

En 2011 en Mauritanie des militants ont été emprisonnés pour avoir évoqué l’esclavage alors que l’État a aboli cette pratique depuis trente ans. Pourtant aucune mesure n’a été prise par les différents gouvernements pour mettre fin à cette pratique. Les fugitifs sont souvent remis au maître par la police, les associations abolitionnistes sont menacées et les juges refusent de juger ces faits puisque la loi en a aboli la pratique. L’État refuse de reconnaître la persistance de l’esclavage. Les engagements de l’État dans les conventions des Nations unies interdisant l’esclavage s’imposent pourtant aux gouvernements successifs et les statuts de la Cour pénale internationale font désormais de cette pratique un « crime contre l’humanité ». Amnesty International demande à la Mauritanie de prendre toutes les mesures pour prévenir et réprimer l’esclavage et à la communauté internationale d’agir auprès de l’État mauritanien pour abolir cette pratique.

Collaborating with the Media: Guideline for Social and Legal Service Providers Working with Survivors of Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:38:17 +0000

Cases of human trafficking are gaining attention in the media. There are benefits to collaborating with journalists, but without preparation, there can be unintended challenges and consequences. Respectful coverage can be helpful to a trafficked person’s case, while insensitive reporting can lead to additional suffering for your client and can lead to further revictimization as well as misrepresentation of the issue(s) involved. Effective media relations can be your most valuable tools to bring about public awareness of human trafficking.

Harry Wu Forced Labor Lesson Plan

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:38:27 +0000

TIME REQUIREMENT FOR THE LESSON:

80 minutes

OBJECTIVES: After this lesson, students will be able to

Define and provide examples of dehumanization.
Explain how labor camps in China deny human rights.
Become a defender of human rights by helping Harry Wu and his fight against forced labor camps in China.

GUIDED QUESTIONS:

What is dehumanization?
How are labor camps a violation of human rights?

Ending Sexual Exploitation: Activities and Resources for Educators of High School Students

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:38:36 +0000

This toolkit includes several exercises that you can use to talk with your students about gender roles, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking. These activities focus on the pressures your students may face to engage in sexually exploitive acts or sexual activities that make them feel uncomfortable. Also provided are conversation ideas to help cultivate an open dialogue with your students regarding these issues. The goal of this activity guide is to provide assignments, ideas, and classroom discussions to help educators facilitate interactive, informative, and moving interpersonal and peer-group discovery about the difficult issues their students may be facing.

Combating human trafficking: The South African legal context

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:38:58 +0000

South Africa’s international obligation to combat human trafficking in terms of the Palermo Protocol requires the promulgation of comprehensive counter-trafficking legislation. The present counter-trafficking legislative response is fragmented. Transitional anti-trafficking provisions are included in the Children’s Act, which criminalises all types of child trafficking, and in the Sexual Offences Amendment Act, which criminalises sex trafficking. However, these two pieces of legislation do not fully comply with the minimum standards set out in the Palermo Protocol, especially the core standards for a domestic criminal law response. For this reason, law reform is essential and needs to be finalised as a matter of urgency.

Human Trafficking In Depth Review for Educators

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:24:06 +0000

A resource specifically for educators and school-based professionals to help recognize, respond, and prevent human trafficking in an educational context.

Human Trafficking Assessment Tool for Educators

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:24:15 +0000

A resource specifically for educators and school-based professionals to help recognize, respond, and prevent human trafficking in an educational context.

Human Trafficking of Children in the United States: A Fact Sheet for Schools

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:23:47 +0000

Trafficking can involve school-age children—particularly those not living with their parents—who are vulnerable to coerced labor exploitation, domestic servitude, or commercial sexual exploitation (i.e., prostitution). Sex traffickers target children because of their vulnerability and gullibility, as well as the market demand for young victims. Those who recruit minors into prostitution violate federal anti-trafficking laws, even if there is no coercion or movement across state lines. The children at risk are not just high school students—studies demonstrate that pimps prey on victims as young as 12. Traffickers have been reported targeting their minor victims through telephone chat-lines, clubs, on the street, through friends, and at malls, as well as using girls to recruit other girls at schools and after-school programs.

Model Law against Trafficking in Persons

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:22:28 +0000

The Model Law will both facilitate and help systematize provision of legislative assistance by UNODC as well as facilitate review and amendment of existing legislation and adoption of new legislation by States themselves. It is designed to be adaptable to the needs of each State, whatever its legal tradition and social, economic, cultural and geographical conditions.

Is This Protection? Analyzing India's Approach to the Rescue and Reintegration of Children Trafficked for Labor Exploitation

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:25:18 +0000

This report provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of the Indian government’s efforts to rescue and reintegrate children trafficked for their labor.1 Despite frequent expressions of public concern, the government’s main responses to this entrenched problem have not been carefully evaluated to date. As a result, no metrics for gauging reintegration success have been developed, nor is there a process for evaluating the impact of interventions over time. This paper measures existing legal and policy frameworks against current realities, based on empirical findings from a qualitative study carried out by the FXB Center for Health & Human Rights at Harvard University.

Human trafficking: West Africa as a region of origin, crossing and destination

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:23:37 +0000

The objectives of this research are: (1) to study human trafficking in West Africa, with special attention to women and children; (2) to expose the case of Ghana as a country of origin, crossing and destination; (3) to analyse the situation of young women at risk for sex and labour trafficking; and (4) to develop a study warning on detected vulnerabilities of these girls to become victims of criminal networks.

Human Trafficking in Southeast Asia

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:24:43 +0000

Human trafficking is not a new practice, throughout much of human history there have been slaves for labor and sex slaves. Much of the world has abolished this practice and actively fights against it, but there are still many countries where this activity is still very common and a large part of the labor economy including many nations in Southeast Asia, primarily Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. This problem has three main causes; their poor economy, the way that their economy is structured, and their corrupt politics.

New Name, Old System?

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:21:21 +0000

INTRODUCTION FROM WEBSITE: "Qatar has been under intense international scrutiny for its treatment of migrant workers since being awarded the rights to host the 2022 World Cup. Particular focus has been placed on the notorious 2009 sponsorship law, which ties workers to their employers, putting them at risk of forced labour. In December 2016, this law is being replaced. This briefing examines whether its replacement, Law No. 21 of 2015, will make any significant improvement to the lives of workers in the country."

Le Nom change, mais le système ne reste-t-il pas le même?

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:22:47 +0000

EXTRAIT DE LA PUBLICATION: "Le Qatar est soumis au regard critique de la communauté internationale, qui lui reproche la manière dont sont traités les travailleurs migrants depuis qu’il a obtenu les droits d’organisation de la Coupe du monde de football en 2022. La fameuse Loi de 2009 sur le parrainage, qui lie les employés à leur employeur, en les exposant à un risque de travail forcé, a notamment été très décriée. Cette loi est abrogée en décembre 2016. La présente synthèse se propose d’examiner si le texte qui la remplace, la Loi n°21 de 2015, se traduira par une véritable amélioration du sort des travailleurs qui vivent dans le pays. Alors que le gouvernement qatarien reconnaît la nécessité de lutter contre l’exploitation chronique dont sont victimes les travailleurs migrants, l’analyse d’Amnesty International montre que la Loi n°21 n’apporte pas une protection suffisante aux travailleurs migrants et qu’il reste beaucoup à faire pour mettre en place un dispositif assurant le respect de leurs droits fondamentaux au Qatar.. La nouvelle loi confirme en particulier la possibilité pour un employeur d’empêcher un employé de changer de travail et de quitter le pays. Alors que les projecteurs sont braqués sur le Qatar dans la perspective de la tenue dans ce pays de la Coupe du monde de la FIFA en 2022, les carences de la nouvelle loi montrent que ces autorités n’ont pas su saisir l’occasion de cette manifestation pour véritablement changer les choses, comme elles l’avaient pourtant promis. Pour que la Coupe du monde se déroule, comme promis, dans des conditions garantissant que les migrants qui construisent actuellement les stades et qui assureront le transport des supporters et les services aux visiteurs ne seront pas exploités, le Qatar doit faire plus que changer le nom du système de parrainage et procéder à des réformes qui touchent les raisons profondes de l’exploitation des travailleurs migrants."

Educator’s Guide: A collection of curricula to aid in ending violence and exploitation

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:39:07 +0000

The content of these units explores many sensitive topics, such as prostitution, sexual-based violence, gender-based violence, and slavery. Many of the units also contain explicit, mature language and ideas. Your students and their parents will have varying degrees of comfort with these issues. Your class may include victims or family members of victims as well. We have found it helpful to set a tone from the beginning of a class regarding the types of mature, complex, and potentially explicit issues that you will be discussing, and clarify that you expect the class to explore these issues in a mature fashion.

Handbook for parliamentarians: The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:43:40 +0000

This handbook is intended as a practical tool for all parliamentarians and people involved in fighting trafficking in human beings. It suggests working approaches for all of us who want to promote the convention and gives us concrete tools to combat this scourge. It comprises an outline of the phenomenon of trafficking, a description of the main provisions of the convention – concerning the prevention of trafficking, the protection of victims and the prosecution of traffickers – and a series of questions and answers. To enable you to have at your disposal some practical references, the handbook cites examples of legislation as a guide, without prejudice to the assessment of this legislation by the Group of Experts against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), the monitoring mechanism set up under the convention.

France & the fight against trafficking in human beings

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:43:10 +0000

This factsheet provides an overview of anti-human trafficking projects, organizations, and legislation in France, developed by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

Combating Trafficking in Persons: A Handbook for Parliamentarians

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:42:54 +0000

Parliamentarians have an essential role to play in the fight against human trafficking. The present Handbook for Parliamentarians suggests some practical ways in which they can develop and promote the comprehensive frameworks needed to do so.

Guidance on Recognizing Activity that May be Associated with Human Smuggling and Human Trafficking – Financial Red Flags

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:42:42 +0000

To support law enforcement efforts to fight human smuggling and human trafficking, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) seeks to advise financial institutions on how to detect and report suspicious financial activity that may be related to human smuggling and/or human trafficking. Financial institutions, large and small, can play a critical role in identifying and reporting transactions related to these unlawful activities based on their observations when interacting with customers and their monitoring processes. FinCEN, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, non-governmental organizations and members of the financial industry, has identified financial indicators, or “red flags,” that may indicate financial activity related to human smuggling or human trafficking. In addition to identifying red flags, this advisory provides common terms that financial institutions may use when reporting activity related to these crimes. The use of common terms will assist law enforcement in better identifying possible cases of human smuggling or human trafficking reported through Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs).

Child Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings in France: #Invisibles

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:42:32 +0000

#Invisibles is a short film depicting child trafficking in France. This accompanying booklet seeks to aid in identifying and supporting child victims of trafficking for domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, forced begging, incitement to commit crimes, and exploitation in sport through deception by providing background information, survivor stories, and fact sheets.

Corruption and Labor Trafficking in Global Supply Chains

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:45:04 +0000

In this white paper, Verité outlines how trafficking-related activities in global supply chains include corruption, bribery, and other conduct that could result in liability for companies subject to Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) jurisdiction. It also provides guidance on how and where companies should respond to the specific compliance risks associated with labor trafficking.

An Ethical Framework for Cross- Border Labor Recruitment

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:42:04 +0000

Our Ethical Framework for Cross Border Labor Recruitment offers a set of specific operational practices (“Standards of Ethical Practice”) for recruitment firms that operate across borders. These practices are reinforced by a Verification and Certification system to document compliance and provide essential information to third parties and potential business partners

Fair Hiring Toolkit

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:41:26 +0000

Whether you are a brand, supplier, government, investor, anti-slavery or labor-rights organization, social auditor, or certifier, your approach to protecting migrant workers is not complete unless it includes a focus on the path that workers take to get a job in the global economy. This Fair Hiring Toolkit offers tools, guidance, and approaches to support the responsible recruitment and hiring of migrant workers in global supply chains.

General Principles & Operational Guidelines for Fair Recruitment

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:41:02 +0000

EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION: "The objective of these non-binding ILO general principles and operational guidelines for fair recruitment (hereafter 'principles and guidelines') is to inform the current and future work of the ILO and of other organizations, national legislatures, and the social partners on promoting and ensuring fair recruitment. These principles and guidelines are derived from a number of sources. The primary sources are international labour standards and related ILO instruments. Other sources and good practices have also been consulted. All the sources are listed in the appendix to this document. These principles and guidelines are intended to cover the recruitment of all workers, including migrant workers, whether directly by employers or through intermediaries. They apply to recruitment within or across national borders, as well as to recruitment through temporary work agencies, and cover all sectors of the economy. Implementation of these principles and guidelines at the national level should occur after consultation between the social partners and the government."

Asia Human Trafficking: Thailand hotspot for slave trade

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:40:46 +0000

Despite efforts and legislation, Thailand is still the hotspot for slave trade in Asia. Conditions range from sexual slavery to forced labor.

Establishing trafficking in human beings for the purpose of organ removal and improving cross-border collaboration in criminal cases: Recommendations

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:40:32 +0000

The summary is posited within the context that organ trafficking should not be viewed as a predominantly global challenge taking place outside Europe; on the contrary, as a number of the case studies and group discussions demonstrate, the crime of organ trafficking can not only involve European citizens as both donors and recipients within the global context of the crime, but that the principal elements of the criminal enterprise also occur on the continent of Europe.

North America Research Guide, 2017

rsdadmin — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 17:22:55 +0000

A research guide produced by Human Trafficking Search for students and researchers interested in conducting preliminary research on the region. Download the research guide here.

East Asia Research Guide, 2017

rsdadmin — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:20:54 +0000

A research guide produced by Human Trafficking Search for students and researchers interested in conducting preliminary research on the region. Download the research guide here.

Middle East Research Guide, 2017

rsdadmin — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:24:25 +0000

A research guide produced by Human Trafficking Search for students and researchers interested in conducting preliminary research on the region. Download research guide here.

North Africa Research Guide (ENG), 2017

rsdadmin — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:24:03 +0000

A research guide produced by Human Trafficking Search for students and researchers interested in conducting preliminary research on the region. Download the research guide here.

Afrique du Nord Guide Regional (FR), 2017

rsdadmin — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:23:34 +0000

A research guide produced by Human Trafficking Search for students and researchers interested in conducting preliminary research on the region.

South and Southeast Asia Research Guide, 2017

rsdadmin — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:23:09 +0000

A research guide produced by Human Trafficking Search for students and researchers interested in conducting preliminary research on the region. Download the research guide here.

Sub-Saharan Africa Research Guide (ENG), 2017

rsdadmin — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:22:37 +0000

A research guide produced by Human Trafficking Search for students and researchers interested in conducting preliminary research on the region. Download the research guide here.

Afrique Sub-Saharienne Guide Regional (FR), 2017

rsdadmin — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:21:42 +0000

A research guide produced by Human Trafficking Search for students and researchers interested in conducting preliminary research on the region.

Europe and Australia Research Guide, 2017

rsdadmin — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:25:23 +0000

A research guide produced by Human Trafficking Search for students and researchers interested in conducting preliminary research on the region. Download the research guide here.

Assisting Survivors of Human Trafficking: Multicultural Case Studies

rsdadmin — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 18:22:09 +0000

This book uses fictional case vignettes based on true stories and on real dilemmas faced in the field. They highlight the obstacles to successfully identifying victims and getting to the truth in interviews. They illustrate the hidden reasons many victims stay in abusive situations, though their chains might not be tangible or easily understood by an outsider. The case studies explore the pitfalls and challenges to designing and implementing culturally competent interventions that do not re-victimize or re-traumatize survivors. They grapple with the additional challenges of working through an interpreter and collaborating effectively across sectors to prosecute traffickers and protect victims.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT

Glossary and Definitions

rsdadmin — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 18:25:00 +0000

A glossary of terms related to human trafficking and modern-day slavery and their definitions. Compiled by Human Trafficking Search. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL GLOSSARY AND DEFINITIONS

The Connection between the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 18:26:05 +0000

The Mara Salvatrucha, better known by their acronym MS-13, is one of the largest and most violent transnational criminal organizations in the world. Their motto is “Kill, Rape, Control.”9 Since the 1980s, MS-13 members have typically engaged in a wide range of violent and criminal activity including, “drug distribution, murder, rape, prostitution, robbery, home invasions, immigration offenses, kidnapping, carjacking/auto thefts, and vandalism.”10 More recently there has been a rise in MS-13 engaging in various forms of human trafficking. This paper seeks to explore the connection between the MS-13 and human trafficking.

Institutional Maintenance in Private Prisons: A Case of Labor Exploitation

rsdadmin — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 19:53:14 +0000

Within the debate of penal labor, one commonly ignored aspect is the use of labor in contract facilities, also known as private prisons. Private prisons account for 16 percent of federal prisons, eleven percent of federal inmates respectively. Given the corporate nature of private prisons, questions arise regarding whether penal labor in private facilities is exploitative. This study examines the use of penal labor for institutional maintenance by federally contracted private facilities. Findings indicate that penal labor in contracted facilities operates in a similar fashion to labor in public prisons. The author argues that the nature of privatization and profit-driven incarceration in private facilities renders all forms of labor paid less than US minimum wage to be exploitative, thus classifying penal labor for institutional maintenance in contact facilities as labor exploitation. Findings also indicate that forced labor may be occurring as a result of penal labor policies in private facilities. Recommendations for the Bureau of Prisons, state departments of corrections, anti-trafficking practitioners, private companies and investors, and students are listed. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT

An Unholy Alliance: The Connection between Foster Care and Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 18:21:04 +0000

It is general knowledge within the anti-trafficking community that children facing abuse, neglect and parental substance abuse are at the greatest risk for human trafficking. Yet very little research has connected these same abused and neglected children that are currently in foster care with human trafficking. This paper examines the connection between foster care and human trafficking in the United States with special emphasis on sex trafficking.

Click Here to Download the full "An Unholy Alliance" Report

Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage

rsdadmin — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 21:55:41 +0000

The 2017 Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, published by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Walk Free Foundation, in partnership International Organization for Migration (IOM), focuses on two main issues: forced labour and forced marriage. The estimate of forced labour comprises forced labour in the private economy, forced sexual exploitation of adults and commercial sexual exploitation of children, and state-imposed forced labour.

People for Sale: Where Lives are Auctioned for $400 (CNN Exclusive Report)

rsdadmin — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 16:33:07 +0000

A CNN Exclusive Report on modern slavery in Libya and the public markets where African migrants are sold as "merchandise."

Freedom from Slavery Forum 2017: Final Report

rsdadmin — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 17:08:39 +0000

The Freedom from Slavery Forum is an annual gathering designed to bring leaders from the anti-slavery field together to coalesce, create partnerships, discuss promising practices, and develop a shared agenda for action. Each year, Forum participants build relationships and prioritize actions in areas such as advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, and collaboration with other sectors. Additionally, the Forum is meant to educate the public about the issues of modern slavery and human trafficking. Accordingly, the 2017 Forum was a two and a half day event comprised of a public event, featuring author Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick, and private meetings for anti-slavery experts. As the fifth iteration of the Forum, this convening was designed with input from participants of the 2016 Forum along with the guidance of an Advisory Committee representing participating organizations. Five primary themes were prioritized for the 2017 Forum in response to the priorities established by participants. Each theme had an associated working group of Forum participants who met throughout the spring, summer, and fall to design their topic’s session and prepare presentations on their group’s findings.

Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2016

rsdadmin — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 20:56:09 +0000

Since the last Global Report on Trafficking in Persons in 2014 there have been a number of significant developments that reinforce this report’s importance, and place it at the heart of international efforts undertaken to combat human trafficking. Perhaps the most worrying development is that the movement of refugees and migrants, the largest seen since World War II, has arguably intensified since 2014. As this crisis has unfolded, and climbed up the global agenda, there has been a corresponding recognition that, within these massive migratory movements, are vulnerable children, women and men who can be easily exploited by smugglers and traffickers. Other changes are more positive. In September 2015, the world adopted the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and embraced goals and targets on trafficking in persons. These goals call for an end to trafficking and violence against children; as well as the need for measures against human trafficking, and they strive for the elimination of all forms of violence against and exploitation of women and girls. Thanks to the 2030 Agenda, we now have an underpinning for the action needed under the provisions of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and its protocols on trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling. In terms of the different types of trafficking, sexual exploitation and forced labour are the most prominent. But the report shows that trafficking can have numerous other forms including: victims compelled to act as beggars, forced into sham marriages, benefit fraud, pornography production, organ removal, among others. In response, many countries have criminalized most forms of trafficking as set out in the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol. The number of countries doing this has increased from 33 in 2003 to 158 in 2016. Such an exponential increase is welcomed and it has helped to assist the victims and to prosecute the traffickers. Unfortunately, the average number of convictions remains low. UNODC’s findings show that there is a close correlation between the length of time the trafficking law has been on the statute books and the conviction rate. This is a sign that it takes time, as well as resources, and expertise to chase down the criminals. Perhaps the 2016 Report’s main message is that inroads have been made into this horrendous crime. We must, however, continue to generate much needed cooperation and collaboration at the international level, and the necessary law enforcement skills at the national and regional levels to detect, investigate and successfully prosecute cases of trafficking in persons. The 2016 report has done a fine job of setting out the situation, but there is more to be done.

Trafficking in Persons Report 2017

rsdadmin — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 21:00:27 +0000

The Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report is the U.S. Government’s principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking. It is also the world’s most comprehensive resource of governmental anti-trafficking efforts and reflects the U.S. Government’s commitment to global leadership on this key human rights and law enforcement issue. It represents an updated, global look at the nature and scope of trafficking in persons and the broad range of government actions to confront and eliminate it. The U.S. Government uses the TIP Report to engage foreign governments in dialogues to advance anti-trafficking reforms and to combat trafficking and to target resources on prevention, protection and prosecution programs. Worldwide, the report is used by international organizations, foreign governments, and nongovernmental organizations alike as a tool to examine where resources are most needed. Freeing victims, preventing trafficking, and bringing traffickers to justice are the ultimate goals of the report and of the U.S Government's anti-trafficking policy. In the TIP Report, the Department of State places each country onto one of three tiers based on the extent of their governments’ efforts to comply with the “minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking” found in Section 108 of the TVPA. While Tier 1 is the highest ranking, it does not mean that a country has no human trafficking problem. On the contrary, a Tier 1 ranking indicates that a government has acknowledged the existence of human trafficking, made efforts to address the problem, and complies with the TVPA’s minimum standards. Each year, governments need to demonstrate appreciable progress in combating trafficking to maintain a Tier 1 ranking.

The Counter-Trafficking Data Collaborative

rsdadmin — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 17:06:25 +0000

The Counter-Trafficking Data Collaborative (CTDC) is the first global data hub on human trafficking, with data contributed by counter-trafficking organizations around the world. It facilitates an unparalleled capacity for cross-border, inter-agency data analysis to provide the counter-trafficking movement with greatly improved evidence for policy and programming. Equipped with up to date data and analytics, decision makers will be empowered to design and implemented more targeted and effective intervention strategies to combat this crime. CTDC offers primary, individual-level, de-identified data on victims of human trafficking that can be found in the Global Dataset and country-level geographic data that show human trafficking trends that can be found on the Map.

Global Slavery Index 2016

rsdadmin — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 18:51:58 +0000

The Global Slavery Index provides a map, country by country, of the estimated prevalence of modern slavery, together with information about the steps each government has taken to respond to this issue. This information allows an objective comparison and assessment of both the problem and adequacy of the response in 167 countries.

Safe Harbor: State Efforts to Combat Child Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 19:31:29 +0000

Child trafficking crimes—actions that facilitate the commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor of youth— present difficult criminal justice and human services challenges for government officials. State legislators, through the deliberation and enactment of policy, are at the forefront of the current intergovernmental effort to identify and implement effective procedures to combat child traffickers and pursue justice for survivors. A recent trend in state child trafficking policy focuses on treating trafficked youth as survivors of trauma who should be provided rehabilitative services rather than as perpetrators of crimes they were forced to commit. Policies created for this purpose are a subset of child trafficking measures often referred to as safe harbor laws. This report identifies six themes in state safe harbor laws and provides policy alternatives within each theme. The six themes are:

Collaboration and coordination of state entities and resources.
Decriminalization and/or diversion for actions of trafficked youth.
Funds for anti-trafficking efforts and survivor services.
Provision of services for youth survivors.
Increased penalties for traffickers of children.
Training to recognize and respond to trafficking crimes and its victims

2017 Protected Innocence Challenge Report

rsdadmin — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 14:49:42 +0000

Shared Hope International's Protected Innocence Challenge (PIC) is a comprehensive study of existing state laws designed to inspire and equip advocates. Under the Challenge, every state receives a Report Card that grades the state on 41 key legislative components that must be addressed in a state's laws in order to effectively respond to the crime of domestic minor sex trafficking. In addition, each state receives a complete analysis of this 41-component review and practical recommendations for improvement.

Human Trafficking & Health Care Providers: Lessons Learned from Federal Criminal Indictments and Civil Trafficking Cases

rsdadmin — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 20:40:08 +0000

Health care providers have an important, proactive role to play in combating human trafficking in the United States. With proper training, health care providers can play a significant part in identifying and caring for trafficking victims. Medical personnel can also document injuries, testify as expert witnesses, and provide affidavits for submission in legal cases. But in order to be able to identify trafficking cases, health care providers must be familiar with red flags and trafficking indicators.

This fact sheet highlights medical components of case studies drawn directly from federal criminal indictments and civil trafficking complaints. These case studies provide documented incidents that illustrate how human trafficking has presented in health care settings. It is hoped that these concrete examples gleaned from legal cases will assist medical professionals in recognizing red flags and risk factors.

Testimony to U.S. Senate: Investigations in Indian Country or Involving Native Americans and Actions Needed to Better Report on Victims Served

rsdadmin — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 21:48:22 +0000

Human trafficking is the exploitation of a person typically through force, fraud or coercion for purposes such as forced labor or commercial sex, and it involves vulnerable populations including Native Americans. Several components within DOJ, DHS, and the Department of Interior investigate and prosecute human trafficking in Indian country, and federal agencies provide grant funding to support efforts to combat trafficking and assist victims. This testimony focuses on trafficking occurring in Indian country or involving Native Americans and addresses the extent to which: (1) federal agencies collect and maintain data on investigations and prosecutions; (2) tribal and major city LEAs encounter trafficking and the factors that affect their ability to investigate and prosecute such activities; and, (3) federal grant programs are available to help address trafficking and how well the granting agencies are positioned to know the number of victims served. This testimony is based on GAO reports issued in March and July 2017. To do this work GAO reviewed federal trafficking data and conducted three surveys. We surveyed the 203 known tribal LEAs, 86 major city LEAs, and 315 victim service provider organizations that received fiscal year 2015 DOJ or HHS grants that could be used to assist human trafficking victims.

Report to Congressional Requesters: Action Needed to Identify the Number of Native American Victims Receiving Federally-funded Services

rsdadmin — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 22:07:08 +0000

This report focuses on federal efforts to address human trafficking in Indian country or of Native Americans regardless of location. We will issue a second report later this year that will include perspectives from tribal and local law enforcement agencies and victim service providers on human trafficking in Indian country or of Native Americans regardless of location. Specifically, this report addresses the following questions: (1) To what extent do federal agencies collect and maintain data on investigations and prosecutions of human trafficking in Indian country or of Native Americans regardless of location? 2) To what extent are federal grant programs available to help address human trafficking in Indian country or of Native Americans regardless of location, and how many Native American trafficking victims have received assistance through these programs?

Report to Congressional Requesters: Information on Cases in Indian Country or that Involved Native Americans

rsdadmin — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 22:14:36 +0000

This report focuses on the perspectives of law enforcement agencies and victim service providers that have encountered human trafficking in Indian country or of Native Americans regardless of location. This report addresses the following questions: (1) To what extent have tribal and major city law enforcement agencies encountered human trafficking in Indian country or of Native Americans? (2) What factors affect the ability of tribal and major city law enforcement agencies to identify and investigate human trafficking in Indian country or of Native Americans? (3) What are the perspectives of tribal and major city law enforcement agencies and selected victim service providers regarding the availability and accessibility of services for Native American human trafficking victims?

Using Participatory Statistics to Examine the Impact of Interventions to Eradicate Slavery: Lessons from the Field

rsdadmin — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 15:43:30 +0000

This CDI Practice Paper by Pauline Oosterhoff, Sowmyaa Bharadwaj, Danny Burns, Aruna Mohan Raj, Rituu B. Nanda and Pradeep Narayanan reflects on the use of participatory statistics to assess the impact of interventions to eradicate slavery and bonded labour. It deals with: (1) the challenges of estimating changes in the magnitude of various forms of slavery; (2) the potential of combining participatory approaches with statistical principles to generate robust data for assessing impact of slavery eradication; and (3) the practical and ethical questions in relation to working with people living within a context of modern slavery. The paper draws lessons from the realities of using participatory statistics to support the evaluation of a slavery eradication programme in North India.

Basic Income and the Anti-Slavery Movement

rsdadmin — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 15:51:58 +0000

Unconditional basic income is not only feasible, but it also has more emancipatory potential than any other single policy because it targets economic vulnerability, the heart of all labor exploitation.

The Typology of Modern Slavery: Defining Sex and Labor Trafficking in the United States

rsdadmin — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 20:45:48 +0000

From sex trafficking within escort services to labor trafficking of farmworkers, the ways humans are exploited differ greatly. Each type has unique strategies for recruiting and controlling victims, and concealing the crime. For years, we have been staring at an incomplete chess game, moving pieces without seeing hidden squares or fully understanding the power relationships between players. With The Typology of Modern Slavery, our blurry understanding of the scope of the crime is now coming into sharper focus. To complete this report, Polaris analyzed more than 32,000 cases of human trafficking documented between December 2007 and December 2016 through its operation of the National Human Trafficking Hotline and BeFree Textline—the largest data set on human trafficking in the United States ever compiled and publicly analyzed. Polaris’s research team analyzed the data and developed a classification system that identifies 25 types of human trafficking in the United States. Each has its own business model, trafficker profiles, recruitment strategies, victim profiles, and methods of control that facilitate human trafficking.

The socio-economic impact of human trafficking and migrant smuggling in Pakistan

rsdadmin — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 16:18:33 +0000

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Government of Pakistan has jointly developed the UNODC’s Country Programme and as part of the assistance programme strive to improve the skills and knowledge of law enforcement agencies, especially the Federal Investigation Agency in overcoming the challenges related to human trafficking and migrant smuggling in Pakistan. This report was commissioned in order to develop an in-depth understanding of the socio-economic patterns and trends related to human trafficking and migrant smuggling in Pakistan. The findings of the report aim to highlight the important relationship between the socio-economic conditions and irregular migration within the country. The recommendations provided in the report would assist the relevant ministries and the law enforcement agencies in Pakistan to effectively plan and allocate resources towards the high migration areas while developing mechanism for effective interagency communication and international cooperation.

The Colorado Project

rsdadmin — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 16:52:52 +0000

Beginning in 2010, the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking led a three-year, interdisciplinary research project known as The Colorado Project with the aim of creating a framework to end human trafficking in Colorado. The project considered the landscape of scattered efforts, frustrated communities cobbling resources to combat a vast and complex problem, victims falling through the cracks, and traffickers escaping punishment. The ultimate goal of the research was to develop sustainable efforts to end human trafficking with the essential input of those working on the ground. In order to achieve this, The Colorado Project assessed the ongoing anti-trafficking efforts in the state of Colorado in order to understand if and how Colorado addressed prevention, prosecution, protection, and partnerships (4 Ps). The results of The Colorado Project have informed anti-trafficking efforts in Colorado and created a replicable process for other states to conduct assessments of their own communities. The impact of the research continues to be foundational to the efforts of LCHT and its partners. This is most clearly visible in the Colorado Action Plan which was produced at the close of the project through the collaboration of the state and national advisory board. In addition to The Colorado Project Report, the project produced a Statewide Data Report, National Survey Report, and a 4 Ps Framework to help evaluate and address trafficking in Colorado.

Prostitution and Denver's Criminal Justice System: Who Pays?

rsdadmin — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 17:02:02 +0000

Prostitution and Denver’s Criminal Justice System: Who Pays? is a study that examined the enforcement of current prostitution laws in the City and County of Denver. The study, made possible with the generous support of the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, was conducted in partnership with Metropolitan State University of Denver and the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking (LCHT), for the purpose of obtaining a knowledge base of prostitution-related offenses. The goal of the study was to highlight potential points of intersection between prostitution and sex trafficking, in addition to the role of the criminal justice system in investigating and prosecuting buyers of commercial sex. Who Pays? helps provide baseline context that surrounds prostitution enforcement, and will help inform actions to support victims and survivors of human trafficking. When it comes to the question of Who Pays?, clearly it is the vulnerable, those susceptible to harm. As the inquiries into the crime of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation evolve, so too must our conversations around our communities’ responses to prostitution.

Human trafficking and exploitation: A global health concern

rsdadmin — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 17:27:13 +0000

While migration within and across national borders has been an economic and social mobility strategy that has benefited millions of people around the world, there is growing recognition that labor exploitation of migrant workers has become a problem of global proportions. Human trafficking and other forms of extreme exploitation, including forced labor and forced marriage, now collectively under the terminological umbrella “modern slavery,” are reported to affect an estimated 40.3 million people globally, with 29.4 million considered to be in situations of forced labor. PLOS is launching a collection of essays and research articles on “Human Trafficking, Exploitation and Health” to increase awareness of the connection between human trafficking and global health, and to urge health and nonhealth professionals alike to engage in international and local responses to protect the health of individuals and populations affected by trafficking. In this introduction to the Collection on Human Trafficking, Exploitation and Health, we describe the magnitude of the problem, discuss the complex characteristics of trafficking, indicate the harm and associated health burden of trafficking, and offer a public health policy framework to guide robust responses to trafficking. Ultimately, however, in this introductory paper, we assert that human trafficking is a global health concern. That is, the health consequences of human trafficking are so widespread and severe that it should be addressed as a public health problem of global magnitude. Furthermore, because human trafficking has pervasive global health implications, we propose that these abuses—and perhaps labor exploitation more generally—be treated as preventable.

ANÁLISIS SITUACIONAL SOBRE LA EXPLOTACIÓN SEXUAL COMERCIAL EN NIÑAS, NIÑOS Y ADOLECENTES EN ECUADOR

rsdadmin — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 18:18:03 +0000

This report, in Spanish, seeks to identify the magnitude, nature, context, and trends of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) in Ecuador with the aim of designing interventions and recommendations for relevant public and private authorities. Conocer la magnitud, la naturaleza, el contexto y las tendencias de la explotación sexual comercial de niñas, niños y adolescentes (ESCNNA) en Ecuador para diseñar intervenciones y recomendaciones a ser sugeridas a las autoridades públicas y privadas pertinentes, de forma que se combatan sistemática e integralmente estas abominables violaciones de los derechos en Ecuador.

Handbook for the translation and adaptation of the terminology guidelines for the protection of children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse

rsdadmin — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 19:59:31 +0000

The Terminology Guidelines for the protection of children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (hereinafter the ‘Luxembourg Guidelines’ or the ‘Guidelines’) are a tool guiding child protection professionals all over the world in their choice of words. Adopted by large consensus by the Interagency Working Group (IWG), composed of major international child protection agencies, they contribute to a more coherent, but also a more adequate and child-centered terminology in the work against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.

Protecting Children from Online Sexual Exploitation: A Guide for Religious Leaders and Communities

rsdadmin — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 20:08:18 +0000

The rapid development of information and communications technologies (ICTs) and the advent of the Internet have introduced an entirely new dimension to the sexual exploitation of children. Religious groups and communities represent the most developed, inter-connected form of social organisations in existence, reaching the smallest villages to capital cities and beyond. Due to this unique position, religious leaders and communities are particularly well placed to protect children from online sexual exploitation, to offer care and support to those who suffer such violence, and to work with children, parents, teachers and the larger community, as well as with law enforcement, to prevent and stop this crime. Regardless of their specific traditions, practices or beliefs, all can agree that children are the most precious and vulnerable members of our societies, and deserve our best efforts to protect them. Major steps have been taken in the past 20 years to build and strengthen civil society and religious engagement in the fight to end the sexual exploitation of children. However, much more needs to be done and therefore, Religions for Peace (RfP) and ECPAT International are pleased to present this guide to action to help religious communities harness their strengths to prevent, respond and end online child sexual exploitation. It is the hope that this guide (available in English and Spanish - for download) provides some basic tools to equip religious leaders and communities to act, advocate, educate, and collaborate both among themselves and with broader initiatives so that each and every child can live without fear, develop their true potential and enjoy the inviolable gift of their human dignity.

Online Child Sexual Exploitation: An Analysis of Emerging and Selected Issues

rsdadmin — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 20:16:54 +0000

Although information and communication technologies (ICTs) are an important and positive component of modern life, their rapid expansion is making more children vulnerable to online sexual exploitation. The swift evolution of the technology is leading to a terrifying growth in online child sexual abuse material (CSAM), as well as new emerging threats to children. Without a doubt, the volume and scale of CSAM has reached unprecedented levels. In 2014, INHOPE, the association of INTERNET hotlines, assessed that 83,644 URLS containing child sexual abuse material exist worldwide, a 64% increase from the year before. The NCMEC Cybertipline (which handles reports of child sexual exploitation for major tech companies in the US) received more than 7.5 million reports since 1998, yet 4.4 million of these were received in 2015 alone. There is also a clear indication that child abuse material is being circulated by offenders through more hidden platforms, such as file sharing networks (including peer-to-peer), the ‘Dark Net’ or similarly encrypted software techniques such as The Onion Router (TOR). ECPAT has a long record of contributing to global efforts aimed at eliminating online child sexual exploitation (OCSE). ECPAT advocates for the development and implementation of stronger, relevant legal frameworks; calls for the wider deployment of technical tools to reduce the availability of CSAM; supports law enforcement; and raises awareness with the public. ECPAT’s Journal Series is yet another strategy to research, analyse and depict emerging global threats and trends in the sexual exploitation of children, including online, and to highlight lessons learnt and recommendations for better prevention and protection. The latest ECPAT Journal predominately focuses on the online sexual exploitation of children. It contains four articles exploring some of the technical challenges and emerging concerns.

No Vacancy for Child Sex Traffickers Impact Report

rsdadmin — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 20:38:48 +0000

Child sex trafficking is a problem across the United States. Children as young as 12 and 13 are integrated into the sex industry and are bought and sold alongside adults. While the hospitality industry is not responsible for the exploitation, it does have an important role to play in helping to stop it. Thirteen years ago ECPAT-USA set out to engage the United States travel and tourism industry in protecting children from sex trafficking. This report shows the results of that effort. An evaluation study conducted by the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service has collected data demonstrating the results of this work. We now know that half of all hotels in the U.S. have training about how to prevent and disrupt child sex trafficking and at least 35% of those have ECPAT-USA training. Additionally, most hotel properties received training from their parent companies, which reinforces the efficacy of partnering with hospitality brands to reach properties on the ground level. This impact report described has four sections. The first is a discussion about why and how ECPAT-USA works with the hospitality industry. The second section is a description of the resources and tools that are now available to the hospitality industry throughout the United States. These have been made possible because of the industry’s willingness to invest resources into creating and disseminating them. The third section is a description of the extent and impact of training now available to the hospitality industry in the U.S. The fourth and final section contains recommendations for how to continue and expand the success that has been achieved.

“We Can’t Refuse to Pick Cotton:” Forced and Child Labor Linked to World Bank Group Investments in Uzbekistan

rsdadmin — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 20:59:08 +0000

This report on forced labor in Uzbekistan is available in English (go to webpage) and Russian (download file). Based on interviews with victims of forced labor in September to November 2015, April to June and September to November 2016, and early 2017, leaked government documents, and statements by government officials, this report details how the Uzbek government forced students, teachers, medical workers, other government employees, and private-sector employees to harvest cotton in 2015 and 2016, as well as prepare the cotton fields in the spring of 2016. The report documents forced adult and child labor in one World Bank project area and demonstrates that it is highly likely that the Bank’s other agriculture projects in Uzbekistan are linked to ongoing forced labor in light of the systemic nature of the abuses. The report also finds that there is a significant risk of child labor in other Bank agricultural projects in the country.

“Working Like a Robot:” Abuse of Tanzanian Domestic Workers in Oman and the United Arab Emirates

rsdadmin — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 21:46:32 +0000

This report on forced labor in Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is available in English (go to webpage) and Arabic (download file). This report, based on 87 interviews conducted in November 2016 and February 2017, including 50 Tanzanian domestic workers, documents the abuse women face in Oman and the UAE. The report looks at how the Tanzanian, Omani, and UAE governments’ failure to protect Tanzanian migrant domestic workers leave them exposed to exploitation both at home and abroad.

McMafia: The scale of human trafficking in numbers

rsdadmin — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 19:11:58 +0000

The issue of human trafficking highlighted in the BBC One drama McMafia, through the character of beautician Lyudmilla. According to the UN, more than 18,000 people are victims every year. But the true scale of the trade in human lives is thought to be much greater than figures suggest. McMafia is broadcast on BBC One and available after broadcast on the BBC iPlayer. Click "Go to Webpage" to watch the video.

Human Trafficking: The broken lives

rsdadmin — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 19:17:34 +0000

More than 3,000 people are trafficked into the UK every year, with the majority coming from Albania. This BBC video focuses on Reeta Chakrabarti's conversations with some of the victims. Watch the video by clicking "Go to Webpage"

The Human Cost of Trafficking

rsdadmin — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 19:37:15 +0000

BBC Scotland goes undercover to expose the human cost of trafficking through the examination of human trafficking gangs and organ trading. Watch the video by clicking the "Go to website" button.

More than Drinks for Sale: Unveiling Sex Trafficking in Canteens and Bars in the United States (English & Spanish)

rsdadmin — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 17:44:46 +0000

A lo largo de Estados Unidos, miles de mujeres latinoamericanas son prisioneras de la industria de la trata sexual en bares y cantinas. Estas mujeres son víctimas de una economía clandestina sexual, operada por tratantes que se ven poco afectados por la ley. Entre diciembre del 2007 y marzo del 2016, la Línea Nacional Contra la Trata de Personas y la Línea de Texto BeFree identificaron a 1,300 posibles víctimas de Latinoamérica en casos relacionados a cantinas en 20 estados de Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico. Engañadas y persuadidas con falsas promesas de buenos trabajos o una mejor vida, las víctimas son atraídas a Estados Unidos por algunas de las redes de trata más violentas que operan en el país y son obligadas a participar en sexo comercial. El informe nuevo de Polaris: “Más que Bebidas a la Venta: Desvelando la Trata Sexual en Cantinas y Bares en Estados Unidos”, detalla cómo es que la mayoría de estos burdeles de fachada comercial continúan operando sin mayores obstáculos al hacerse pasar como bares o clubes nocturnos tradicionales - y subraya la necesidad de erradicar este delito y apoyar a los que lo sobreviven.

Para leer el informe, haga clic en español, haga clic en el botón "Ir al sitio web."

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Throughout the United States, thousands of Latin American women are imprisoned in the sex trade industry in bars and canteens. These women are victims of a clandestine sexual economy, operated by traffickers who are little affected by the law. Between December 2007 and March 2016, the National Line Against Trafficking in Persons and the BeFree Text Line identified 1,300 possible victims of Latin America in cases related to canteens in 20 states of the United States and Puerto Rico. Deceived and persuaded with false promises of good jobs or a better life, the victims are attracted to the United States by some of the most violent trafficking networks that operate in the country and are forced to participate in commercial sex. The new Polaris report: "More than Drinks for Sale: Unveiling Sex Trafficking in Canteens and Bars in the United States", details how most of these commercial façade brothels continue to operate without major obstacles when posing as bars or traditional nightclubs - and underlines the need to eradicate this crime and support those who survive it. To read the report in English, click the "Download file" button.

Pretesting a Human Trafficking Screening Tool in the Child Welfare and Runaway and Homeless Youth Systems

rsdadmin — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 21:33:08 +0000

Despite the fact that youth involved in the child welfare (CW) and runaway and homeless youth (RHY) systems are particularly vulnerable to being trafficked, there is no consensus screening tool to identify trafficking experiences among such youth. In order to better serve youth trafficking victims, this study developed a Human Trafficking Screening Tool (HTST) and pretested it with 617 RHY- and CW-involved youth. This research established that the screening tool is accessible to youth and easy to administer, and that both the full-length tool and a shorter version were effective in identifying youth who are trafficking victims in RHY and CW systems, though additional research with more youth is needed.

From Abused and Neglected to Abused and Exploited

rsdadmin — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 21:40:47 +0000

This report takes a deeper dive into the link between the child welfare system and the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). The paper highlights many of the issues faced by the child welfare system in addressing the problem, possible risk factors and vulnerabilities, and recommendations and opportunities for the technology sector. This is a valuable resource for those working in each of these fields, as well as a road map for ways the technology sector can get involved in tackling the issue.

Addressing Child Sex Trafficking from a Child Welfare Perspective

rsdadmin — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 21:46:51 +0000

Human sex trafficking of girls and boys in the United States is a serious and growing concern for policymakers, child welfare leaders and the public, particularly given the strong linkages between the child welfare system and human trafficking. But more accurate information is needed about who is being trafficked, how that is occurring, what factors place these children at risk and what protections might be most effective. This report presents the results of a national survey that sought to gather child welfare leaders’ insights into this problem and what they need to learn more about to combat it. Representatives from 45 jurisdictions representing 29 states, 13 counties, New York City, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia completed the interview in March and April 2014. While the survey provided a modest first step in learning about child welfare leaders’ thoughts and needs regarding child sex trafficking, more accurate data are needed about who is being trafficked, how that is occurring, what risk factors place these children at risk and what protections might be most effective.

Sold for Sex: Trafficking in Nebraska

rsdadmin — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 16:47:17 +0000

The NET News documentary ”Sold for Sex: Trafficking in Nebraska” examines how sex trafficking happens in the state, the fight to stop it and what is being done to help victims. Watch the companion documentary, “Sold for Sex: Survivor Stories.”

Sold for Sex: Survivor Stories

rsdadmin — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 16:54:04 +0000

The NET News documentary "Sold for Sex: Survivor Stories" focuses on Nebraska women who have been trafficked. This program includes the powerful stories of three different Nebraska trafficking survivors; interviews with experts on how people become trafficking victims, and why the crime is often not reported or punished; and perspective from more than 20 Nebraska trafficking survivors compiled for a new report. Watch the companion documentary, “Sold for Sex: Trafficking in Nebraska."

Backpage.com's Knowing Facilitation of Online Sex Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 22:46:17 +0000

For more than twenty months, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has investigated the problem of online sex trafficking. The investigation led the Subcommittee to focus on Backpage.com, the leading online marketplace for commercial sex. Operating in 97 countries and 943 locations worldwide—and last valued at more than a half-billion dollars—Backpage is the world’s second-largest classified advertising website. Backpage is involved in 73% of all child trafficking reports that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) receives from the general public (excluding reports by Backpage itself). The National Association of Attorneys General has aptly described Backpage as a “hub” of “human trafficking, especially the trafficking of minors.” Backpage does not deny that its site is used for criminal activity, including the sale of children for sex. Instead the company has long claimed that it is a mere host of content created by others and therefore immune from liability under the Communications Decency Act (CDA). Backpage executives have also repeatedly touted their process for screening adult advertisements as an industry-leading effort to protect against criminal abuse. Since June 2015, the Subcommittee has sought information from Backpage—first through a voluntary request, then by subpoena—about those screening measures. Backpage refused to comply, and the Subcommittee was forced to initiate the first civil contempt action authorized by the Senate in more than twenty years. In August 2016, the Subcommittee prevailed and secured a federal court order compelling Backpage to produce the subpoenaed documents. The internal company documents obtained by the Subcommittee conclusively show that Backpage’s public defense is a fiction. Backpage has maintained a practice of altering ads before publication by deleting words, phrases, and images indicative of criminality, including child sex trafficking. Backpage has avoided revealing this information. On July 28, 2011, for example, Backpage co-founder James Larkin cautioned Backpage CEO Carl Ferrer against publicizing Backpage’s moderation practices, explaining that “[w]e need to stay away from the very idea of ‘editing’ the posts, as you know.” 2 Backpage had good reason to conceal its editing practices: Those practices served to sanitize the content of innumerable advertisements for illegal transactions—even as Backpage represented to the public and the courts that it merely hosted content others had created. This report details three principle findings.

Not A #Number: A Guide for Professionals

rsdadmin — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 20:47:11 +0000

Victims of trafficking and exploitation are not a number. They are individuals—young girls and boys, as well as adults of all social and economic backgrounds. In the most unfortunate of circumstances, the victim may be your own child. It’s possible you may have come across a child at risk of exploitation at some point in your career and not know it. This curriculum includes information to help participants understand the reality of human trafficking and exploitation, and most importantly, what you can do as a professional working with children to prevent child trafficking and exploitation.

Not a #Number: A Guide for Parents & Caregivers

rsdadmin — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 20:50:51 +0000

Human trafficking is modern day slavery. It is the practice of using force fraud or coercion to exploit people through labor and commercial sex. You can help your child and other children in your community help feel empowered to protect themselves from exploitation, and know that they can come to you with their concerns, vulnerabilities and experiences. Victims of trafficking and exploitation are not a number. They are not a statistic. They are individuals—young girls and boys, as well as adults of all social and economic backgrounds. It’s possible you may have come across a child at risk of exploitation at some point in your life and not know it. In the most unfortunate of circumstances, the victim may be your own child. The resources here include information to help you understand the reality of human trafficking and exploitation, and most importantly, what you can do as a parent/caregiver to safeguard your children and others in your community.

Human Trafficking in Ukraine: From Involuntary Labor to Sex Slavery

rsdadmin — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 19:19:03 +0000

Human trafficking - from involuntary labor to sex slavery. Through force, fraud, and coercion, people everywhere are being bought and sold against their will. It's the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. So, where does Ukraine stand? Yulia Sachenko, the director of the international anti-slavery organization "a21," joins UATV English to discuss.

Trafficked: Sex for Sale in the Bakken

rsdadmin — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 20:43:01 +0000

Forum News Service takes on the issue of human trafficking and female exploitation in this seven-part in-depth reporting series. They explore the emerging crisis as it unfolds in the Oil Patch of western ND, as well as in Minnesota and South Dakota. In the summer of 2014, Forum News Service set out to shed light on what they saw as a growing problem in North Dakota: human trafficking. It wasn’t until they began reporting that they realized truly what a serious issue the state had on its hands. Not only because of the depravity of the crimes taking place in local communities, but also because of the difficulties in detecting trafficking victims and given the unique nature of the Oil Patch, where the high ratio of men to women has created an issue of supply and demand.

Trafficked Documentary

rsdadmin — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 20:49:31 +0000

The Racial Roots of Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 21:02:24 +0000

This Article explores the role of race in the prostitution and sex trafficking of people of color, particularly minority youth, and the evolving legal and social responses in the United States. Child sex trafficking has become a vital topic of discussion among scholars and advocates, and public outcry has led to safe harbor legislation aimed at shifting the legal paradigm away punishing prostituted minors and toward greater protections for this vulnerable population. Yet, policymakers have ignored the connection between race and other root factors that push people of color into America’s commercial sex trade. This Article argues that race and racism have played a role in creating the epidemic of sex trafficking in the United States and have undermined effective legal and policy responses. Race intersects with other forms of subordination including gender, class, and age to push people of color disproportionately into prostitution and keep them trapped in the commercial sex industry. This intersectional oppression is fueled by the persistence of myths about minority teen sexuality, which in turn encourages risky sexual behavior. Moreover, today’s anti-trafficking movement has failed to understand and address the racial contours of domestic sex trafficking in the United States and even perpetuates the racial myths that undermine the proper identification of minority youth as sex trafficking victims. Yet, the Obama administration has adopted new policies that raise awareness about the links between race and sex trafficking. These policies also facilitate the increased role of minority youth as leaders and spokespersons in the anti-trafficking movement. Their voices defy stereotypes about Black sexuality and call upon legislators and advocates to address some of the unique vulnerabilities that kids of color face with respect to sex trafficking.

Voting to End Vulnerability: Understanding the Recent Proliferation of State-Level Child Sex Trafficking Legislation

rsdadmin — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 16:21:20 +0000

This article details the recent proliferation of state-level child sex trafficking legislation in the U.S. It first focuses on the history of CSEC (commercially sexually exploited children) legislation in the United States by contextualizing the history of state anti-trafficking laws within the larger anti-trafficking policy framework of federal U.S. statutes and United Nations’ (U.N.) protocols. The second and third sections address the variables, statistical model, and results of our data analysis. The fourth section discusses the implications of these findings. The article concludes with practical considerations for future CSEC legislative efforts on the state level.

Human Trafficking in Illicit Massage Businesses

rsdadmin — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 18:36:50 +0000

Commonly called massage parlors, illicit massage businesses (IMBs) that front for commercial sex operations have been ubiquitous in the American landscape for decades. While some keep a low profile, many others blatantly advertise “Asian gals,” or bear sexualized names like “Good Girl Spa.” In 2017, Polaris analyzed more than 32,000 cases of human trafficking from the National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH) and developed a classification system that identifies 25 distinct types of human trafficking in the United States. By mapping and cross referencing numerous publicly available datasets, Polaris found more than 9,000 illicit massage businesses operating in America. They exist in every single state and revenues for these businesses total approximately $2.5 billion a year. Evidence gathered from the Hotline, from focus groups and from extensive case studies suggest that thousands of women are being trafficked in massage parlors in the United States on any given day.

Her freedom, her voice: Insights from the Freedom Fund’s work with women and girls

rsdadmin — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 19:58:12 +0000

Of the 40 million people trapped in modern slavery today, 70 percent of them are women and girls. Every day across the globe, millions of women and girls are used, controlled and exploited for commercial or personal gain. They are trafficked into the sex industry, kept in servitude as domestic workers in private homes, forced to work in exploitative conditions in factories and bonded into agricultural labour. They suffer terrible violence and are denied their basic rights and freedoms. The Freedom Fund's report, "Her freedom, her voice: Insights from the Freedom Fund’s work with women and girls," draws on insights from the Freedom Fund's last four years working in countries with a high burden of slavery. The report identifies promising approaches to tackle this scourge, and highlights priorities for further research and investment.

Human Trafficking Among Native Americans: How Jurisdictional and Statutory Complexities Present Barriers to Combating Modern-Day Slavery

rsdadmin — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 20:30:10 +0000

It is undeniable that human trafficking is a global enterprise that transcends all racial and geographic boundaries. “Human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the world and it is easily the fastest growing.” While much of the focus on human trafficking centers on its global effect, little attention is given to the rampant issues women on our own soil face. The breadth and regularity of human trafficking in the United States cannot be overstated, and most people fail to recognize its presence and complexity. Indeed, human trafficking is a troubling national issue, but its impact on Native Americans is even more startling and almost entirely overlooked. This article addresses human trafficking issues in the United States with particular emphasis on human trafficking among Native Americans in Oklahoma.

Human & Sex Trafficking: Trends and Responses across Indian Country

rsdadmin — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 20:34:26 +0000

Human and sex trafficking is a crime that affects nearly every community across our nation; it is an insidious threat that has proven difficult to track and quantify, and exceedingly hard to dismantle. While there is a perception that human trafficking involves international criminals targeting victims living in the developing world, it is commonplace here in the US and in Indian Country. We can not ignore the networks, pipelines, the victims, or the systems that enable human trafficking. In this Tribal Insights Brief, the NCAI Policy Research Center paints a portrait of human trafficking in American Indian and Alaska Native communities—from its root causes and historical context to current trends—in order to emphasize the systemic policy and program levers that are essential in combating this crime. Our goal is to support tribal nations in promoting health and justice for their citizens by raising awareness of and engagement with this critical issue for our communities.

Understanding and Responding to Modern Slavery within the Homelessness Sector

rsdadmin — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 16:20:49 +0000

Homelessness organisations and anti-slavery organisations have both been aware of links between modern slavery and homelessness in the UK, yet there has been little research into how these issues overlap and impact on one another. An initial scoping exercise was, therefore, commissioned in 2016 by the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Kevin Hyland OBE, to gain a better understanding of modern slavery within the homelessness sector. The Passage, a leading homelessness charity, was appointed to look into this issue. Using an online survey completed by 61 organisations throughout England, two focus groups in Birmingham and London, and semi-structured interviews with various other relevant organisations, it has been found that homeless people are at risk of being exploited when they are on the streets, and victims of modern slavery are at risk of becoming homeless if no long-term support is provided to them. A set of recommendations has been developed to address some of the issues identified through this exercise in order to improve the multi-agency response to modern slavery.

Addressing Human Trafficking and Exploitation in Times of Crisis- Evidence and Recommendations for Further Action to Protect Vulnerable and Mobile Populations (English, French, & Spanish)

rsdadmin — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 16:34:39 +0000

Although efforts to combat human trafficking have gathered momentum and several international organizations have developed approaches to address it, the phenomenon remains a serious crime, with grave human rights concerns, that is largely overlooked in crisis situations. In addition, human trafficking is typically not considered a direct consequence of crisis. This misplaced assumption, coupled with the fact that counter-trafficking efforts are not necessarily understood as an immediate life-saver in crisis, often hampers the humanitarian response to human trafficking cases, particularly in terms of identification of and assistance to victims. In reality, as the newly published IOM report Addressing Human Trafficking and Exploitation in Times of Crisis reveals these efforts are a matter of life and livelihood for victims of trafficking and should therefore be considered with as much priority as for any other crisis-affected population and be addressed at the outset of a crisis. The report recommends that human trafficking in times of crisis be urgently included in the humanitarian community, with support from both emergency and development donor communities. En Français ici En Español aquí

Hidden Chains: Rights Abuses and Forced Labor in Thailand's Fishing Industry (English & Thai)

rsdadmin — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 20:57:00 +0000

Despite several years of highly publicized efforts to address problems in the Thai fishing industry, the Thai government has not taken the steps necessary to end forced labor and other serious abuses on fishing boats. This report documents forced labor and other human rights abuses in the Thai fishing sector. It identifies poor working conditions, recruitment processes, terms of employment, and industry practices that put already vulnerable migrant workers into abusive situations—and often keep them there. It assesses government efforts to address labor rights violations and other mistreatment of migrant fishers. It also highlights improvements and shortcomings in Thai law and the operational practice of frontline agencies that allow victims of forced labor to fall through gaps in existing prevention and protection frameworks. For example, in an official report from 2015, the Thai government noted that inspections of 474,334 fishery workers had failed, astonishingly, to identify a single case of forced labor. *** ในภาษาไทยที่นี่ แม้จะมีการประกาศอย่างกว้างขวางในช่วงหลายปีทีผ่านมา ถึงความพยายามทีจะแก้ปัญหาในอุตสาหกรรมประมงไทย แต่รัฐบาลไทยยังไม่ได้ดําเนินการทีจําเป็น เพือยุติแรงงานบังคับและการปฏิบัติมิชอบร้ายแรงในรูปแบบอืนในเรือประมง รายงานนีให้ข้อมูลประเด็นแรงงานบังคับ และการปฏิบัติมิชอบด้านสิทธิมนุษยชนอืน ๆ ในภาคประมงไทย จําแนกสภาพการทํางานทีเลวร้าย กระบวนการจ้างงาน เงือนไขการจ้างงาน และการปฏิบัติในอุตสาหกรรม ซึงส่งผลให้แรงงานข้ามชาติอยู่ในสภาพทีถูกปฏิบัติมิชอบ และต้องทนอยู่ในสภาพนันต่อไป เป็นการประเมินผลการดําเนินงานของรัฐบาลเพือแก้ปัญหาการละเมิดสิทธิแรงงานและการปฏิบัติทีเลวร้ายอืน ๆ ต่อแรงงานต่างด้าวภาคประมง ยังเน้นให้เห็นการปรับปรุงและข้อบกพร่องของระบบกฎหมายและขันตอนปฏิบัติในไทยของหน่วยงานในพืนที อันเป็นเหตุให้เกิดปัญหาเหยือแรงงานบังคับทีเกิดขึนได้จากช่องว่างของกรอบเพือการป้องกันและคุ้มครองทีเป็นอยู่ ยกตัวอย่างเช่น ในรายงานของรัฐบาลไทยเมือปี ระบุว่าจากการตรวจคัดแยกคนงานประมง 474,334 คน กลับไม่พบว่ามีกรณีแรงงานบังคับแม้แต่คนเดียว ซึงเป็นเรืองน่าประหลาดใจ

Understanding the psychosocial and mental health needs of bonded labourers in south-eastern Nepal

rsdadmin — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 21:19:21 +0000

In 2014, the Freedom Fund conducted a comprehensive needs assessment into the situation of bonded laborers in south-eastern Nepal which informed our program strategy for the region. Through this research, we identified that many of the bonded laborers experienced emotional suffering, primarily arising from their situation of bonded labor. In line with our holistic approach to programming, the Freedom Fund sought to directly address the bonded laborers’ mental health needs, alongside delivering a range of strategies working towards their liberation. The Freedom Fund believes that if individuals are going to sustain their freedom, then alongside accessing their rights, they need to be able to act for their own protection and development. Therefore it is important to work with them to overcome obstacles, including psychological obstacles such as severe depression that might prevent this self-help and mutual assistance. To understand how best to overcome these obstacles, in 2015 the Freedom Fund commissioned the Helen Bamber Foundation to review existing evidence on the psychological effects of modern slavery. The research uncovered that very few studies had assessed the effects of bonded labor and little was known about how best to support the mental health needs of slavery survivors. This study provides a clinical assessment of the psychosocial and mental health needs of bonded laborers in south-eastern Nepal and gives an understanding of how to develop psychosocial interventions in an area with scarce counselling or mental health services. It was a collaboration, commissioned by the Freedom Fund, between the Helen Bamber Foundation, Dr Kim Murray (a UK clinical psychologist and honorary researcher at King’s College London) and the Centre for Mental Health and Counselling – Nepal.

A Report on the Use of Technology to Recruit, Groom and Sell Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Victims

rsdadmin — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 21:49:10 +0000

Thorn’s mission is to drive technology innovation to combat the sexual exploitation of children. In an effort to do this most effectively, Thorn commenced a survivor survey in 2012 to understand the ways in which controllers leverage various technology platforms to recruit, groom and sell domestic minors. The purpose of this report is to disseminate the results of the survivor survey and to inform key anti-trafficking stakeholders in the private, non-profit and public sectors about general trends at the intersection of technology and domestic minor sex trafficking.

Forced at 15: Child Marriage in Niger

rsdadmin — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 15:28:38 +0000

In this Al Jazeera web-documentary, Dirk Gilson documents child marriage in Niger and the efforts of young women and NGOs to combat the dangerous practice.

The West African country of Niger has the highest rate of child marriage in the world. This tradition jeopardizes the future of the young girls forced into such marriages and endangers their health. But more and more girls are fighting back.

Survivor Protection: Reducing the Risk of Trauma to Child Sex Trafficking Victims

rsdadmin — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 20:30:39 +0000

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. 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.

2018 Insight Series: Forced Marriage

rsdadmin — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 16:58:33 +0000

With 15.4 million people living in a forced marriage (Global Estimates of Modern Slavery), this Insight Series looks at what we know about forced marriage – where it happens, who is affects and importantly, what we can do about it.

Confronting the Root Causes: forced labour in global supply chains

rsdadmin — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 20:30:34 +0000

It is by now widely recognised that effectively tackling forced labour in the global economy means addressing its ‘root causes.’ Policymakers, business leaders and civil society organisations all routinely call for interventions that do so. Yet what exactly are these root causes? And how do they operate? The two most commonly given answers are ‘poverty’ and 'globalisation.' Although each may be foundational to forced labour, both terms are typically used in nebulous, catch-all ways that serve more as excuses than explanations. Both encompass and obscure a web of decisions and processes that maintain an unjust status quo, while being used as euphemisms for deeper socio-economic structures that lie at the core of the capitalist global economy. The question thus becomes: exactly which aspects of poverty and globalisation are responsible for the endemic labour exploitation frequently described with the terms forced labour, human trafficking or modern slavery? Which global economic processes ensure a constant and low-cost supply of highly exploitable and coerced workers? And which dynamics trigger a demand among businesses for their ex- ploitation, making it possible for them to profit from it? This 12-part report is an attempt to answer these questions in a rigorous yet accessible way. With it, we hope to provide policymakers, journalists, scholars and activists with a road map for understanding the political economy of forced labour in today’s “global value chain world.”

Faces of Human Trafficking Video Series (English & Spanish)

rsdadmin — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 18:22:40 +0000

The Faces of Human Trafficking video series, produced by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), is intended to be used for outreach and education efforts of service providers, law enforcement, prosecutors, and others in the community. The series includes information about sex and labor trafficking, multidisciplinary approaches to serving victims of human trafficking, effective victim services, victims' legal needs, and voices of survivors. Accompanying the video series is a discussion guide, four OVC Fact Sheets, and four posters that can be used to augment trainings and generate discussion. Download the complete Discussion Guide or the sections associated with each video below.

Human Trafficking Task Force e-Guide

rsdadmin — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 18:30:49 +0000

Developed in partnership by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) initially in 2011, this Guide is a resource to support established task forces and provide guidance to agencies that are forming task forces. Its purpose is to assist in the development and day to day operations of an anti-human trafficking task force and to provide fundamental guidance for effective task force operations.

Modern Slavery: A CFR InfoGuide

rsdadmin — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 15:41:57 +0000

This Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) interactive info guide explores the root causes and human toll of modern-day slavery around the world.

Seafood Slavery Risk Tool

rsdadmin — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 15:59:01 +0000

In recent years significant use of forced labor and human trafficking have been exposed in the fishing industry. The Seafood Slavery Risk Tool, developed by Seafood Watch, Liberty Asia, and the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership rates the likelihood that forced labor, human trafficking, or hazardous child labor is occurring on fishing boats in a fishery. Ratings are not produced for countries. Evidence from credible media and authoritative institutions and civil society organizations is evaluated according to the Risk Tool’s criteria to determine a profile fishery’s rating. A fishery can be rated critical, high, moderate, or low risk. Read Methodology and FAQs for more information. Risk Tool ratings are produced primarily for Seafood Watch’s and SFP’s business partners and Liberty Asia’s financial sector partners to inform their due diligence. Users of the Risk Tool must still undertake comprehensive due diligence before making sourcing and investment decisions. Read What Businesses Can Do.

Report on Demand for Sexual Services that can fuel Sexual Exploitation in the Context of Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 15:15:18 +0000

This report broaches the issues of the conceptualization of demand, of the interconnections and interdependences between the actors involved in human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, of the definition of sexual exploitation, and of the shortcomings identified in the international and legal definitions of human trafficking in order to tackle sexual exploitation. The aim of this report is to understand how human trafficking for sexual exploitation can occur within the sex industry, and to reflect upon what needs to be done in order to develop a useful tool for designing new effective policies in order to prevent human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

People for Profit: North Korean Forced Labour on a Global Scale

rsdadmin — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 18:51:44 +0000

"People for Profit," a 2018 report from the Leiden Asia Centre, reveals that North Korean forced labor is still prevalent in the European Union, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, despite sanctions. The report demonstrates how companies hire North Koreans through lending structures at shipyards, building sites, in horticulture, and in construction of monuments and statues in Africa. In practice, these workers experience modern slavery: the working conditions are dangerous and consist of extremely long days, they live in cramped conditions, and the majority of their wages are withheld by the North Korean regime.

After Rescue: Evaluation of Strategies To Stabilize and Integrate Adult Survivors of Human Trafficking to the United States

rsdadmin — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 19:25:27 +0000

This project examined comprehensive case management services from 2006 to 2011 for foreign-born adult survivors of trafficking in the United States. The survivors were victims of forced labor, domestic servitude, and/or sexual exploitation, all of which are transnational crimes that victimizes men, women, and children around the world.

The Nature and Extent of Gang Involvement in Sex Trafficking in San Diego County

rsdadmin — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 19:33:25 +0000

This study focused narrowly on one of the most understudied aspects of human trafficking in the U.S.: the role of street gangs as facilitators of sex trafficking. Researchers gathered and analyzed data from hundreds of current and former gang members, schools, law enforcement agencies and victim service providers. This three-year project had three primary goals:

Determine the role of street gangs in facilitating sex trafficking in San Diego County
Determine the scope of sex trafficking victimization in San Diego County
Estimate the regional commercial sex economy in San Diego County

The study findings include:

Gang involvement: The study found that at least 110 gangs are involved in the exploitation of individuals for commercial sex in San Diego. Gang members made up an estimated 85 percent of pimps/sex-trafficking facilitators in the area.
Victimization: The study estimated that San Diego County has between 8,830 and 11,773 victims/survivors of sex trafficking every year, of whom 1,766 came into contact with law enforcement.
Regional commercial sex economy: Researchers estimated that sex trafficking produces an estimated $810 million annually in San Diego, making it San Diego’s second-largest underground economy after drug trafficking ($4.76 billion annually).
Clients: Based on interviews conducted with sex traffickers in prison, the researchers found that demand was widespread and that clients of commercial sex came from all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.
Recruitment: The average age of entry into child commercial sexual exploitation was 15 years old. The researchers found that significant recruitment occurred on high school and middle school campuses.

Human Trafficking & Migrant Smuggling: Understanding the Difference

rsdadmin — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 20:25:48 +0000

This fact sheet from the U.S. Department of State explains the key differences between human trafficking and human smuggling, and details why these distinctions are important. Available in multiple languages: بالعربية

用中文（表達

En français हिंदी में Em português

на русском

En español

Out of the Shadows: Child Marriage and Slavery

rsdadmin — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 20:59:50 +0000

This report reviews the literature available on child marriage to show that a potentially high proportion of children in marriage are in slavery. Despite a good deal of publicity around child marriage its links with slavery have received very little attention to date. As not all child marriage (involving under 18 year-olds) is slavery, the report outlines the relevant international slavery framework to help clarify when child marriage could amount to slavery. It also notes gaps at the international level for addressing child marriage as a slavery issue, and at the national level in terms of tackling it in law and practice. It also deals with the complexity of root causes.

Precious Metal, Cheap Labor: Child Labor and Corporate Responsibility in Ghana’s Artisanal Gold Mines

rsdadmin — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 18:17:20 +0000

This Human Rights Watch report documents the use of child labor in Ghana’s artisanal, or unlicensed, mines, where most mining takes place. It is estimated that thousands of children work in hazardous conditions in violation of Ghanaian and international law. They pull the gold ore out of shafts, carry and crush loads of ore, and process it with toxic mercury. Most child laborers are between the ages of 15 and 17, but younger children also work in Ghana’s mines.

“What … if Something Went Wrong?”: Hazardous Child Labor in Small-Scale Gold Mining in the Philippines

rsdadmin — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 18:27:43 +0000

This Human Rights Watch reports documents how thousands of Filipino children – some just 9 years old – work in illegal, small-scale gold mines, mostly financed by local businessmen. Children work in unstable 25-meter-deep pits or underwater along the coastal shore or in rivers, and process gold with mercury, a toxic metal.

The Hidden Cost of Jewelry: Human Rights in Supply Chains and the Responsibility of Jewelry Companies

rsdadmin — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 18:35:26 +0000

In this report, Human Rights Watch scrutinizes steps taken by key actors within the jewelry industry to ensure that rights are respected in their gold and diamond supply chains. The report focuses on the policies and practices of 13 major jewelry brands, selected to include some of the industry’s largest and best-known jewelry and watch companies and to reflect different geographic markets: Boodles (United Kingdom), Bulgari (Italy), Cartier (France), Chopard (Switzerland), Christ (Germany), Harry Winston (United States), Kalyan (India), Pandora (Denmark), Rolex (Switzerland), Signet (United States-based parent company of Kay Jewelers and Zales in the US, Ernest Jones and H. Samuel in the UK, and other jewelers), Tanishq (India), Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri Ltd. (TBZ Ltd.)(India), and Tiffany and Co. (US). Collectively, these 13 companies are estimated to generate over $30 billion in annual revenue. For millions of workers, gold and diamond mining is an important source of income. But the conditions under which gold and diamonds are mined can be brutal. Children have been injured and killed when working in small-scale gold or diamond mining pits. Indigenous peoples and other local residents near mines have been forcibly displaced. In war, civilians have suffered enormously as abusive armed groups have enriched themselves by exploiting gold and diamonds. Mines have polluted waterways and soil with toxic chemicals, harming the health and livelihoods of whole communities.

The Hidden Cost of Jewelry (video)

rsdadmin — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 18:41:11 +0000

Precious minerals and stones are mined in dozens of countries around the world, and then typically traded, exported, and processed in other countries. Although their supply chains can be long and complex, jewelers and watchmakers have a responsibility to ensure that their operations do not contribute to human rights abuses - including child labor - at any point along those chains.

Children's Lives at Risk in Tanzania's Gold Mines (video)

rsdadmin — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 18:46:07 +0000

Children as young as eight-years-old are working in Tanzanian small-scale gold mines, with grave risks to their health and even their lives. The Tanzanian government should curb child labor in small-scale mining, including at informal, unlicensed mines, and the World Bank and donor countries should support these efforts.

Exposed: Hundreds Of Homeless Slaves Recruited on British Streets

rsdadmin — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 19:01:13 +0000

Recruited from soup kitchens and street corners with the promise of cash, drugs, or drink. Locked in squalid conditions, beaten, and forced to work brutal shifts to pay spiraling debts. A BuzzFeed News investigation reveals how hundreds of Britain’s homeless people are being trapped into modern slavery – and Theresa May’s flagship anti-trafficking initiative is failing to protect them.

CNA Vulnerable Populations: Local Communities’ Strategies and Best Practices to Address the Problem of Child Trafficking in the U.S.

rsdadmin — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 16:30:38 +0000

Child trafficking is a pervasive criminal justice and public health concern in the United States. Over the past 17 years, law enforcement agencies have made great strides in understanding child trafficking networks, investigating child trafficking cases, bringing traffickers to justice, and restoring freedom to children trafficked for sex and labor. Law enforcement agencies are frequently the first contacts for child victims of trafficking and serve as community leaders for local anti-trafficking initiatives. While law enforcement agencies have grown in their capacity to identify and respond to child trafficking situations, key challenges persist in victim identification, victim engagement and support, and investigation protocols. This document provides a broad overview of the challenges facing law enforcement agencies and how interdisciplinary partnerships are being used across the country to overcome these barriers and ensure a comprehensive approach to curbing child sex and labor trafficking.

Students take up Lincoln's fight to end slavery (Video)

rsdadmin — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 18:28:15 +0000

Teens from around the world attended the Students Opposing Slavery summit, held at the cottage where Abraham Lincoln drafted the Emancipation Proclamation.

Exploited Part I: Who Buys a Child for Sex?

rsdadmin — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 15:48:31 +0000

Exploited Part II: Shattering the Lolita Fantasy

rsdadmin — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 16:01:23 +0000

"Exploited: Inside the Dark World of Child Trafficking" is a 10-part series by IndyStar columnist Tim Swarens, with the support of a Society of Professional Journalists fellowship. Swarens spent more than a year investigating the lucrative trade where children are abused at low risk to buyers or traffickers. In "Part II: Shattering the Lolita Fantasy" Swarens documents that, uncomfortable with Dolores the rape victim, our culture turned her into Lolita, a "precociously seductive girl" luring men into her bed. Read Part I here.

Exploited Part III: Victim Who Needs Training Wheels

rsdadmin — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 16:10:39 +0000

"Exploited: Inside the Dark World of Child Trafficking" is a 10-part series by IndyStar columnist Tim Swarens, with the support of a Society of Professional Journalists fellowship. Swarens spent more than a year investigating the lucrative trade where children are abused at low risk to buyers or traffickers. In "Part III: Victim Who Needs Training Wheels" Swarens documents the horrific reality that many victims are too young to ride a bike without training wheels, but not too young to be a sex trafficking victim. Read Part I here. Read Part II here.

Exploited Part IV: Boys the Silent Victims

rsdadmin — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 16:16:09 +0000

"Exploited: Inside the Dark World of Child Trafficking" is a 10-part series by IndyStar columnist Tim Swarens, with the support of a Society of Professional Journalists fellowship. Swarens spent more than a year investigating the lucrative trade where children are abused at low risk to buyers or traffickers. In "Part IV: Victim Who Needs Training Wheels" Swarens documents the often forgotten victims of these crimes - boys. Read Part I here. Read Part II here. Read Part III here.

Exploited Part V: 'Johns' Talk About Buying Sex

rsdadmin — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 16:25:57 +0000

"Exploited: Inside the Dark World of Child Trafficking" is a 10-part series by IndyStar columnist Tim Swarens, with the support of a Society of Professional Journalists fellowship. Swarens spent more than a year investigating the lucrative trade where children are abused at low risk to buyers or traffickers. In "Part V: 'Johns' Talk About Buying Sex" Swarens speaks with sex buyers about why they buy sex and explains that for most 'Johns' it's a don't ask don't tell transaction. Read Part I here. Read Part II here. Read Part III here. Read Part IV here.

Exploited Part VI: The 'Choices' That Lead to Sex Work

rsdadmin — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 16:31:56 +0000

"Exploited: Inside the Dark World of Child Trafficking" is a 10-part series by IndyStar columnist Tim Swarens, with the support of a Society of Professional Journalists fellowship. Swarens spent more than a year investigating the lucrative trade where children are abused at low risk to buyers or traffickers. In "Part VI: The 'Choices' That Lead to Sex Work" Swarens details how human traffickers prey on vulnerabilities and few are more vulnerable than those living on the streets. Read Part I here. Read Part II here. Read Part III here. Read Part IV here. Read Part V here.

Exploited Part VII: Trafficking, Toxic Masculinity Collide

rsdadmin — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 16:37:11 +0000

"Exploited: Inside the Dark World of Child Trafficking" is a 10-part series by IndyStar columnist Tim Swarens, with the support of a Society of Professional Journalists fellowship. Swarens spent more than a year investigating the lucrative trade where children are abused at low risk to buyers or traffickers. In "Part VII: Trafficking, Toxic Masculinity Collide" Swarens details how culture is the hidden driver of sexual exploitation. Read Part I here. Read Part II here. Read Part III here. Read Part IV here. Read Part V here. Read Part VI here.

Exploited Part VIII: 'Animals don't do to their offspring...'

rsdadmin — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 16:53:23 +0000

"Exploited: Inside the Dark World of Child Trafficking" is a 10-part series by IndyStar columnist Tim Swarens, with the support of a Society of Professional Journalists fellowship. Swarens spent more than a year investigating the lucrative trade where children are abused at low risk to buyers or traffickers. In "Part VIII: 'Animals don't do to their offspring...'" Swarens details how no crime exposes a darker side of humanity than cyber-sex trafficking. Read Part I here. Read Part II here. Read Part III here. Read Part IV here. Read Part V here. Read Part VI here. Read Part VII here.

Exploited Part IX: Inside a Brothel with a 5-year-old Boy

rsdadmin — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 17:02:18 +0000

"Exploited: Inside the Dark World of Child Trafficking" is a 10-part series by IndyStar columnist Tim Swarens, with the support of a Society of Professional Journalists fellowship. Swarens spent more than a year investigating the lucrative trade where children are abused at low risk to buyers or traffickers. In "Part IX: Inside a Brothel with a 5-year-old Boy" Swarens tells the story of a 5-year-old boy who wants to be a police officer when he grows up, but today lives in a brothel. Read Part I here. Read Part II here. Read Part III here. Read Part IV here. Read Part V here. Read Part VI here. Read Part VII here. Read Part VIII here.

Exploited Part X: No Person is Beyond Hope

rsdadmin — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 17:10:36 +0000

"Exploited: Inside the Dark World of Child Trafficking" is a 10-part series by IndyStar columnist Tim Swarens, with the support of a Society of Professional Journalists fellowship. Swarens spent more than a year investigating the lucrative trade where children are abused at low risk to buyers or traffickers. In "Part X: No Person is Beyond Hope" Swarens tells the story of Kathi Hardy, who after 15 arrests and years of addiction left the sex trade and now helps others do the same. Read Part I here. Read Part II here. Read Part III here. Read Part IV here. Read Part V here. Read Part VI here. Read Part VII here. Read Part VIII here. Read Part IX here.

Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence Fact Sheet

rsdadmin — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 15:12:10 +0000

Advocates have long pointed to links between domestic violence and human trafficking. The federal government also has acknowledged the link between these two crimes, recognizing that cases that initially appear to be domestic violence may mask sex or labor trafficking. Understanding the connections between human trafficking and domestic violence is key to identifying appropriate criminal, civil, and immigration remedies. This Fact Sheet provides examples in each context, highlighting cases in which courts and administrative bodies recognized the nexus between human trafficking and domestic violence.

The Unfree

rsdadmin — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 15:43:47 +0000

"The Unfree," a project by The Atlantic and the nonprofit National Domestic Workers Alliance, is a set of essays written by women who are survivors of human trafficking. These stories offer glimpses of the cruelty faced by the desperate and powerless, but they are also tales of an astonishing sort of human resilience.

Children of the Sex Trade (Full Documentary)

rsdadmin — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 19:41:41 +0000

This exceptional film follows two young sisters in the Philippines who help former Australian police and Special Forces officers rescue underage girls from sex bars. In the Phillipines, over 800,000 women and children work in the sex-trade. Police corruption makes local law enforcement ineffective in protecting the most vulnerable groups from abuse. 16 year-old Michelle and 19 year-old Marisol were both abused by foreign men as children and had also worked in Subic Bay’s sex bars. They now work at PREDA, a human rights foundation set up in 1974 by Fr. Shay Cullen, an Irish Catholic priest. Together, with former Australian Federal Police officers, the group sets out on a sting operation to bring child-abusers to justice. With exclusive access, this is a gripping investigation into an urgent crisis led by the brave, teenage sisters who sacrifice their own safety to save others from the same fate. 57 minutes.

Sex trafficking isn't what you think it is

rsdadmin — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 19:47:09 +0000

“When I first started studying sex trafficking in 2008, I thought it mean girls were kidnapped and chained to beds,” explains Professor Meghan Sobel. Soon she realized that was the Hollywood version - not the reality. In order to combat sex trafficking effectively, we must first understand what it is. Meghan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at Regis University, where she teaches classes on international communication, public relations, and human rights. Meghan's research focuses on the role of mass media in combating human rights abuses and humanitarian crises. She is also a certified cake decorator. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. 13 minutes.

Call+Response

rsdadmin — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 19:07:10 +0000

This documentary urges viewers to help end the global slave trade, portraying a contemporary epidemic in which countless underprivileged and anonymous people -- often young women and girls -- are sold into various forms of bondage in all corners of the world. The film makes its points through commentary from experts like Princeton University professor Cornel West and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and with performances by socially conscious musicians such as Talib Kweli. 90 mins.

2017 Hotline Statistics

rsdadmin — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 19:44:46 +0000

The National Human Trafficking Hotline and BeFree Textline provide survivors of human trafficking with vital support and a variety of options to get help and stay safe. These could include connecting callers with local law enforcement, emergency shelters, transportation, trauma counselors or a range of other services and supports. The 40,000+ cases identified on these helplines comprise the largest publicly available data set on human trafficking in the United States. The data do not represent the full scope of human trafficking. Lack of awareness of the crime or of these resources in certain geographic regions, by particular racial or ethnic groups, and by labor trafficking survivors, can lead to significant underreporting. Nonetheless, this information spotlights where and how traffickers operate so that we can put them out of business, keep them from harming more people, and help survivors find the services they need.

Not My Life (purchase required)

rsdadmin — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 16:34:42 +0000

Not My Life comprehensively depicts the cruel and dehumanizing practices of human trafficking and modern slavery on a global scale. Filmed on five continents, in a dozen countries, Not My Life takes viewers into a world where millions of children are exploited through an astonishing array of practices including forced labor, sex tourism, sexual exploitation, and child soldiering.

Not My Life is being used as a tool to educate communities worldwide about the millions of children, women, and men who are exploited every day through an astonishing array of practices including forced labor, domestic servitude, begging, sex tourism, sexual violence, and child soldiering. Since its release, Not My Life has reached millions of people through public screening and community events, television broadcasts, and in classrooms and homes around the world.

Not My Life has reached a broad, global viewership through a rich network of partners that include: NGOs; UN agencies; corporations and their CSR initiatives; international development and law enforcement agencies; faith-based communities; and student groups.

The film is directed by Robert Bilheimer and narrated by Glenn Close.

64 minutes. Purchased required.

Tim Ballard: "Operation Underground Railroad" | Talks at Google

rsdadmin — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 17:09:20 +0000

Tim Ballard, Founder & CEO of Operation Underground Railroad is here to talk with Googlers about the recently released film entitled "The Abolotionists" produced by Gerald Molen, which covers Tim and his team's mission to eradicate child sex trafficking. Tim was former CIA and HSI and left to start this non-profit which has now rescued 549 victims and assisted in the arrest of 243 traffickers around the world. He talks to Google about that mission, what the company can do to help, and how we can help these children have a new shot at life. 48 minutes.

Prosecuting Human Traffickers in Ghana: Challenges and Recommendations

rsdadmin — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 18:25:31 +0000

“In late 2005, a police officer in a major European city noticed a young boy begging at the entrance of a large shop. The police officer tried unsuccessfully to communicate with the boy. All he would say was, "I'm a tourist, and I'm waiting for my father". The police officer decided to take the boy to a police station. There, he produced a bad copy of a foreign passport. With the help of a translator, a trained police interviewer established that the boy, named Krasimir, was living in the city with a "friend" and that his family was still in his home country. Based on this information, specialist investigators were tipped off. Three more boys were found and the "friend" was arrested. Interviews took place before an investigative judge and a defence lawyer so that the boys did not have to go to court. The interviews revealed that the boys had been forced into begging by the adult "friend," Two months later, the case went to court and the trafficker was sent to prison”. Deducing from the preamble, to effectively address the issue of human trafficking the following points were identified: 1. Spotting the Signs of Human trafficking 2. Investigation 3. Gathering evidence 4. Witness and victim protection

Anti–Corruption Approach to Combating Human Trafficking In Ghana

rsdadmin — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 18:30:45 +0000

A nexus exists between corruption and human trafficking. This has affected the effectiveness of counter-human trafficking measures. Notwithstanding the relationship between human trafficking and corruption, the implications of corruption in the implementation of human trafficking strategy and policy is often not contemporary in anti-corruption approaches and strategy. The implications of corruption in human trafficking policy and strategy is often misunderstood and ignored in its systematic, sustainability and significance to the development of effective policy and strategy to deal with transnational organised crimes like human trafficking.

Child Labour In the Supply Chains of Corporations In Ghana

rsdadmin — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 18:33:10 +0000

Mining is a form of child labour which presents and exposes the child to all forms of chemicals, heat and equipment hazardous to the health and wellbeing of the child. These may affect the child’s physical and mental development. Gold, diamond and cobalt are amongst the list of minerals commonly mined by trafficked children between the ages of 5 and 17 years for approximately less than $ 2 per day (Amnesty International, 2016). In most situations, however, children who are coerced into this form of child labour are not paid. Apart from mining, other forms of child labour exist in Ghana. For example, child labour in cocoa farms; processing plants etc. Amnesty International reports that, children are at the mercy of all forms of child labour in Gold, Diamond and Tin mines. The report further states that in the Democratic Republic of Congo, cobalt mined by child laborers have been traced to supply chains of major tech companies like Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and some car manufacturers. In Ghana, the Eban Centre for Human Trafficking Studies has reported that children as young as 7 years have been actively involved in child labour in the Gold mines of Ashanti, Western and BrongAhafo regions

What is Human Trafficking? (video)

rsdadmin — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 18:45:48 +0000

The Blue Campaign infographic resources will help you to answer the question, “What is Human Trafficking?” Please help us bring this crime out of the shadows by sharing these materials on social media.

Foster Parents Human Trafficking Training DHHS (video)

rsdadmin — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 19:21:59 +0000

This video provides training to foster parents on the risks of human trafficking. Though the training was created for foster parents in Nebraska, it is relevant nationwide. The video features a presentation from a Department of Health & Human Services representatives as well as survivor stories. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIo_PHfW0hs[/embed]

Learning from Demand-Side Campaigns against Trafficking in Human Beings: Evaluation as Knowledge-Generator and Project-Improver

rsdadmin — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 17:05:09 +0000

Trafficking in human beings covers various forms of coercion and exploitation of women, men and children. Responses to trafficking have traditionally focused on combating the criminal networks involved in it or protecting the human rights of victims. However, European countries are increasingly exploring ways in which to influence the demand for services or products involving the use of trafficked persons or for the trafficked persons themselves. DemandAT aims to understand the role of demand in the trafficking of human beings and to assess the impact and potential of demand-side measures to reduce trafficking, drawing on insights on regulating demand from related areas. DemandAT takes a comprehensive approach to investigating demand and demand-side policies in the context of trafficking. The research includes a strong theoretical and conceptual component through an examination of the concept of demand in trafficking from a historical and economic perspective. Regulatory approaches are studied in policy areas that address demand in illicit markets, in order to develop a better understanding of the impact that the different regulatory approaches can have on demand. Demand-side arguments in different fields of trafficking as well as demand-side policies of selected countries are examined, in order to provide a better understanding of the available policy options and impacts. Finally, the research also involves in-depth case studies both of the particular fields in which trafficking occurs (domestic work, prostitution, the globalised production of goods) and of particular policy approaches (law enforcement and campaigns). The overall goal is to develop a better understanding of demand and demand-factors in the context of designing measures and policies addressing all forms of trafficking in human beings.

Matrix of OVC/BJA-Funded Human Trafficking Services Grantees And Task Forces

rsdadmin — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 17:14:42 +0000

This searchable matrix provides details on human trafficking services, funded by the Office of Victims of Crimes and Bureau of Justice Assistance, available by state.

The Nexus of Statelessness and Human Trafficking in Thailand

rsdadmin — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 17:28:04 +0000

The aim of the research was twofold: first, to develop a research methodology to identify the nexus between statelessness and human trafficking, and second, to identify the nexus between statelessness and human trafficking among hill tribe people in the Northern part of Thailand. Answering the central research question on how to measure the impact of statelessness on a women’s vulnerability to human trafficking and piloting the developed research instrument among the hill tribe people in Thailand helps to close the knowledge gap on the link between statelessness and human trafficking. A variety of research methods was used for the identification of consequences of statelessness among the hill tribe people and risk factors for human trafficking, and how they impact on the vulnerability and empowerment of stateless women, in comparison to citizens and to men: desk review, key-informant interviews, survey, qualitative interviews, focus groups and finally additional interviews with key informants. The research commenced in September 2012 and the analysis of data was completed in September 2014. For the research in Thailand two field trips were undertaken; the first in January 2013 to conduct key-informant interviews and to set-up the survey, and the second in January and February 2014 to set up and supervise the in-depth interviews and focus groups and to conduct additional interviews with key-informants to verify and discuss some provisional findings of the project. For the data collection, cooperation was sought with the law clinic of Chiang Mai University who also provided advice on how to set up the data collection, helped with establishing contacts in research locations and provided input on the questionnaire and interview protocol.

Bitter Harvest: Child Labor and Human Rights Abuses on Tobacco Farms in Zimbabwe

rsdadmin — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 15:29:30 +0000

This report—based on extensive field research and interviews with 64 small-scale tobacco farmers like Panashe, as well as 61 hired workers on tobacco farms in the largest tobaccogrowing provinces in Zimbabwe—found several serious human rights problems in the tobacco sector. Many children under 18 work in hazardous conditions on tobacco farms in Zimbabwe, often performing tasks that threaten their health and safety or interfere with their education. Adults involved in tobacco production—both small-scale farmers and hired workers—face serious health and safety risks, but the government and tobacco companies are failing to ensure that workers have sufficient information, training, and equipment to protect themselves. Hired workers on some large-scale tobacco farms said they were pushed to work excessive hours without overtime compensation, denied their wages, and forced to go weeks or months without pay. Zimbabwe is among the top tobacco producers in the world. Tobacco production is central to the country’s economy, and tens of thousands of small-scale farmers, and thousands of hired workers on tobacco farms, rely on tobacco cultivation for their livelihoods. Yet, the government of Zimbabwe is failing to meet its international human rights obligations to protect children’s rights and is also failing to tackle other workers’ rights abuses in the tobacco sector. As President Mnangagwa’s administration strives to promote Zimbabwe’s economic growth, authorities should address human abuses faced by the small-scale farmers and hired workers sustaining the tobacco industry.

7th General Report on GRETA's Activities

rsdadmin — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 15:49:26 +0000

Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings' (GRETA) 7th annual report finds that human trafficking for labor exploitation is on the rise throughout Europe. In several countries, it has overtaken sexual exploitation as the main form of human trafficking. Official figures underestimate the true scale of the problem and there have been few successful prosecutions and convictions.

Situation Report: Trafficking in humans in the EU

rsdadmin — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 19:26:34 +0000

This report details the situation of human trafficking within the European Union.

Child Sex Trafficking: A San Francisco Survivor's Story (video)

rsdadmin — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 20:17:03 +0000

A young woman's story of surviving child sex trafficking which began when she was age 12. Produced by Aimee Allison with the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women. Directed by Jerome Newton. 13 minutes. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35AErgcBoqI[/embed]

Sex Trafficking in the U.S.: Young Lives, Insane Profit (video)

rsdadmin — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 20:23:47 +0000

This talk is eye-opening and heart-breaking. Yolanda Schlabach shows the reality of sex-trafficking in the State of Delaware, a terribly unrecognized and under-prosecuted state of affairs. She guides us through the process by which girls are trapped, and eventually lose their independent identity. Yolanda is a Registered Nurse. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Management from Regent University in 2004 and graduated in 2014 from Liberty University with a Master’s in Human Services & Counseling. Yolanda attended the University of Maryland, earning a Certificate in Working with Survivors of Violence, Trauma and Torture. Yolanda is a member of Delaware’s Human Trafficking Coordinating Council and Co-Chair of the Victim Services Committee. Yolanda has served as Executive Director of Zoë Ministries, Inc. since 2012, when the organization received 501©3 status. For the past few years, she has spent her time engaged in public awareness and professional education to bring the reality of human trafficking to the forefront in Delaware. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNq2WS-QFcc[/embed]

The Nexus of Illegal Gold Mining and Human Trafficking in Global Supply Chains

rsdadmin — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 18:39:46 +0000

Verité’s report, The Nexus of Illegal Gold Mining and Human Trafficking in Global Supply Chains, starkly highlights how illegal gold mining throughout Latin America is tied to human trafficking, which will be of interest to the wide variety of companies and retailers that sell products containing gold. The report draws from field research in Peru and Colombia as well as extensive desk research and analysis of global gold flows. Verité research has found that the diminishing supply and increasing demand for gold, combined with criminal and armed groups’ quest for new sources of illicit revenue, have contributed to a surge in illegal extraction of gold from increasingly remote and lawless regions. In Latin America, and elsewhere in the world, illegally mined gold is strongly linked to human trafficking and other labor abuses. It is also closely associated with child labor, severe threats to workers’ health and safety, and sex trafficking. Combatting illegal gold mining and the human and labor rights abuses that accompany it requires a coordinated, multi-pronged approach by the governments of gold producing countries, as well as the countries and companies that import gold. Verité’s report provides recommendations for how companies and governments can ensure that illegally mined gold does not make its way into central banks and global supply chains, and ultimately into the hands of consumers in the form of jewelry, gold bullion, and electronics. In the coming months, Verité will publish a white paper covering these recommendations in greater detail.

3rd Human Trafficking in San Francisco Report

rsdadmin — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 18:49:08 +0000

This is the 3rd annual report from the Mayor’s Task force on Anti-Human Trafficking, administered by the Department on the Status of Women, on human trafficking in San Francisco.

The Climate Change-Human Trafficking Nexus

rsdadmin — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 16:02:02 +0000

Climate change increases the risk of natural disasters and places a strain on livelihoods. This may contribute to high-risk behaviours and other negative coping strategies among affected populations, such as resorting to unscrupulous recruitment agencies associated with human smuggling and trafficking. This IOM infosheet explores the links between climate change, human trafficking and smuggling in the Asia-Pacific region. To address these challenges, the infosheet provides an overview of best practices from existing projects in the region.

Climate Change and Human Trafficking After the Paris Agreement

rsdadmin — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 18:07:53 +0000

Climate change is a major contributor to migration and displacement. Persistent drought forced as many as 1.5 million Syrian farmers to move to overcrowded cities, contributing to social turmoil and ultimately a civil war that drove hundreds of thousands of people to attempt to cross the Mediterranean into Europe. Drought also worsened refugee crises in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and other parts of the continent. Climate change can cause displacement in multiple ways. No reliable estimates exist of the number of people who will be displaced partly or wholly by climate change, due to uncertainties concerning the rate of climate change, the ability of different societies to cope with this change, and other factors. However, several estimates put the number of people in the hundreds of millions in the latter part of this century. It is well documented that displacement leads to a considerable increase in human trafficking.

The Giant Ocean Case (video)

rsdadmin — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 18:25:55 +0000

This video describes the human trafficking ring behind the former recruitment agency Giant Ocean International Limited, now accused and convicted for human trafficking in Cambodia. USAID’s Counter Trafficking In Persons Program supports 97 victims in this case, which one of the few cases in the world where a licensed recruiting agency has been prosecuted under a Trafficking In Persons law for trafficking men on fishing vessels. 30 minutes. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aenyrNqGFo8[/embed]

Episode 8: Fighting Slavery from Space (video)

rsdadmin — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 16:07:48 +0000

Space technology and slavery don’t often go hand-in-hand. One provides the freedoms of the information age, while the other signifies the ultimate lack of liberty. But a revolutionary use of satellite technology could be a breakthrough in tackling one of the world’s dirty hidden secrets. 46 minutes.

Episode 2: Adopted into Slavery (video)

rsdadmin — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 16:12:41 +0000

Hidden behind locked doors, tortured and abused by their employers, child servants in Myanmar face many dangers. “Adopted into Slavery” investigates the murky trade of children sent away or sold into bondage by their parents, exposing the suffering faced by Myanmar’s most invisible and vulnerable. 46 minutes.

Episode 3: Nicotine Kids (video)

rsdadmin — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 16:17:30 +0000

Big Tobacco provides jobs for millions of Indonesians, but these jobs come at a cost for hundreds of children working in tobacco fields. Child-workers like Geger, Aning, and Sisil suffer from the effects of nicotine poisoning and pesticides as they toil to supply to the wealthiest cigarette brands. 45 minutes.

Business It's Time to Act: Decent Work, Modern Slavery, and Child Labour

rsdadmin — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 16:22:23 +0000

Decent work cannot exist where modern slavery and child labour persist. The elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour and the effective abolition of child labour are two of the four Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, on which two of the Labour principles of the United Nations Global Compact are based. Modern slavery is a human rights violation and a crime, yet it is alarmingly widespread. Forced labour and child labour are more prevalent in some countries and economic sectors, but none are immune to these abuses.

Model Guidelines on Government Measures to Prevent Trafficking for Labour in Supply Chains

rsdadmin — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 16:27:30 +0000

Trafficking in human beings is a human rights abuse and a lucrative crime that can be found in the production of goods, and in the delivery of services we consume. Today’s globalized economy is characterized by complex supply chains, with goods, materials and labour sourced from all around the world. It can be difficult for buyers and consumers to be sure that the goods or services they purchase or procure were not produced by trafficked labour. Therefore, addressing this issue of trafficking in human beings in supply chains is an area of urgent concern.

Trafficking of Vietnamese women and girls for marriage in China

rsdadmin — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 18:23:56 +0000

Bride-trafficking has been a growing phenomenon in Southeast Asia, particularly in China, where one-child policies have resulted in demographic imbalances favoring males. Yet, empirical evidence about women and girls sold into marriage in China remains sparse.

This study describes the experiences of 51 Vietnamese women and girls as young as 14 in post-trafficking services who were sold into marriage in China. A consecutive sample of individuals from five services in Vietnam were invited to be interviewed within the first 2 weeks of admission. It is part of a wider dataset for research on the health of men, women, and children in post-trafficking services in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam, the largest study to date on human trafficking and health.

Young, Invisible, Enslaved: Child Victims of Trafficking and Labour Exploitation in Italy

rsdadmin — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 18:34:14 +0000

The 2017 Young Invisible Enslaved Dossier highlights the cruel practices many unaccompanied children arriving in Italy are subjected to at the hands of traffickers. Through the voices and stories told by boys and girls exploited sexually and at work in Italy, the dossier presents a detailed investigation into the main vulnerabilities experienced by victims and provides an up-to-date review of the criminals profiting from them. The report, in five chapters, report opens with a review of the international, European and Italian legal framework on trafficking and serious exploitation. It then presents the updated profiles of trafficking and exploitation victims in Italy, highlighting the connections between recent migratory trends and the different types of exploitation suffered by minors. The vulnerability examined this year also provides an overview of the main criticalities detected in Ventimiglia, Rome and Calabria, territories where trafficking and exploitation are becoming alarming also with regard to criminals, exploiters and abusers who make a daily profit on girls and boys. The profiles of those who take advantage of the vulnerability of trafficked children every day have been examined to provide a faithful picture of the criminal chain, which will also be useful to developing a political and programmatic plan of action against this repulsive crime.

Child Marriage, Early Childbearing, and Low Educational Attainment for Girls, and Their Impacts in Uganda

rsdadmin — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 18:44:04 +0000

Overall, the economic and social costs of child marriage, early childbearing, and low educational attainment for girls are large. This note is part of a series that discusses trends in girls’ education, child marriage, and early childbearing, their impacts on a wide range of development outcomes, and the policies and programs that could improve opportunities for adolescent girls. The analysis builds on work at the World Bank on the cost of not investing in girls, and on a previous global study on the economic impacts of child marriage conducted by the World Bank in partnership with the International Center for Research on Women. The conceptual framework for the analysis is provided in appendix.

A qualitative study exploring child marriage practices among Syrian conflict-affected populations in Lebanon

rsdadmin — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 18:48:17 +0000

Recent reports have suggested that child marriage among Syrians may be increasing as a result of displacement and conflict. This study sought to gather qualitative data about the factors that promote child marriage practices among Syrian refugees in Al Marj area in the Bekaa valley, Lebanon, where the majority of Syrian refugees have settled in Lebanon. The second aim of this study was to generate recommendations on how to mitigate the drivers and consequences of child marriage practices based on the findings. Eight focus group discussions were conducted separately with married and unmarried young women and mothers and fathers of married and unmarried women. Furthermore, researchers conducted 11 key informant interviews with service providers and stakeholders to understand how conflict and displacement influenced marriage practices of Syrian refugees in Al Marj community.

Towards a Common Future: Achieving SDG 8.7 in the Commonwealth

rsdadmin — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 15:10:45 +0000

"Towards a Common Future: Achieving SDG 8.7 in the Commonwealth" assesses current responses to modern slavery across the Commonwealth and highlights an agenda for action. Launched to coincide with the 2018 Commonwealth Summit, this report emphasizes the unique role the Commonwealth can play to support member states to achieve SDG 8.7 – the eradication of forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking, and the worst forms of child labour. To support this goal, the Walk Free Foundation recommends that the Commonwealth convene a meeting of member states, establish a Commonwealth Business and Government Forum, and support member states to endorse the Call to Action and ratify the 2000 UN Trafficking Protocol, the 2014 Forced Labour Protocol, and the 2011 Domestic Workers Convention. Through resourcing, sharing of good practice, and exchange of technical expertise the Commonwealth should also support member states to implement a ten-point action plan to eradicate modern slavery by 2030.

What works? a review of interventions to combat modern day slavery

rsdadmin — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 19:25:45 +0000

What works to eradicate modern slavery? Where have evaluations of modern slavery programmes been conducted? What type of interventions have been evaluated? This paper provides an introduction to the Promising Practices Database, including an overview of the methodology used to develop it and a description of the initial findings. The Promising Practices Database collates impact and programmatic evaluations of anti-slavery and counter trafficking programming and categorizes these by terms such as country, type of modern slavery, and outcome of the evaluation.

2018 Insight Series: The Nevsun Effect - A New Era of Corporate Responsibility

rsdadmin — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 19:30:21 +0000

This Insight Series analyses the ground-breaking case of Araya v Nevsun Resources currently before the Canadian courts. It is the first international trial against a corporation on grounds of modern slavery within its supply chains. Prudent corporates, legal advisors, financiers and investors should pay close attention, as this case is already having knock-on effects for global companies.

Modern Slavery Toolkit for Business Primer

rsdadmin — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 19:33:24 +0000

A toolkit primer for businesses containing an overview on what is modern slavery, why business should act, where are the risks and how business can respond.

Trafficking in America (video)

rsdadmin — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 15:06:06 +0000

FRONTLINE and the Investigative Reporting Program at U.C. Berkeley tell the inside story of Guatemalan teens forced to work against their will on an egg farm in Ohio. 55 minutes.

Human Trafficking and Opioid Crisis Webinar

rsdadmin — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 15:38:36 +0000

This webinar was hosted by the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center. Presentations were delivered by grantees from the Office on Trafficking in Persons and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration visit disclaimer page. At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

Investigate the role of substance use for individuals at risk of, currently experiencing, or recovering from trafficking
Examine trauma-informed approaches from providers, client-based, and research perspectives to understand contributing factors to vulnerability
Identify promising practices and recommend spotlight treatment options that address the underlying issues that can put victims and survivors at risk

90 minutes. [embed]https://youtu.be/1grFNl0gyuQ[/embed]

Editorial: Moving Forward - Life After Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 18:02:16 +0000

Spectacular stories of life in trafficking saturate the media, politicians’ speeches, and non-governmental organisations’ fundraising campaigns. With so much focus on stories of brutality, or of dramatic escapes and rescues, there has been little attention to what happens after trafficking. This special issue of the Anti-Trafficking Review shines a light on trafficking outcomes—both for those who have been labelled by state actors or the NGO sector as trafficked, as well as those whose exploitation garnered no legal protections or service provision. The volume puts centre stage the challenges and successes after trafficking that largely have unfolded off stage. It points to contradictions, slippages, missed opportunities, and failings.

Vulnerable Here or There? Examining the vulnerability of victims of human trafficking before and after return

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 18:08:07 +0000

This article deals with how return programmes for rejected asylum seekers and irregular migrants construct and create vulnerabilities. Few studies have explored the role of assistance provided through such programmes for the sex worker returnees and victims of trafficking who return through them. Even fewer holistically examine a return programme through data elicited in both destination and origin locations, before and after return. That is what we aim to do in this article. We first look at the legal-bureaucratic construction of vulnerability in a host state, Norway, and the systemic logic of its efforts to return victims of trafficking. We then look at how returnees narrate their experiences of and perspectives on vulnerability upon return to their country of origin, Nigeria. This study, together with the broader research within this field, indicates that flaws in programme implementation can in fact exacerbate vulnerabilities rather than help returnees overcome them.

Dilemmas in Rescue and Reintegration: A critical assessment of India’s policies for children trafficked for labour exploitation

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 18:11:03 +0000

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the Indian government’s efforts to combat pervasive child trafficking for labour exploitation through rescue and reintegration of affected children. It evaluates the extensive policy and legal frameworks against on-the-ground realities in the states of Bihar and Rajasthan, using empirical findings from a qualitative study carried out by the FXB Center for Health & Human Rights at Harvard University. The results demonstrate that current practices fail to adhere to human rights norms or protect rescued children from risk of future exploitation. They underscore important challenges in the rescue and reintegration of trafficked children, and call into question the singular focus on this category of post-harm response over preventative interventions. The findings point to a critical need for future research, sustained multi-stakeholder discussion and concrete reforms.

At Home: Family reintegration of trafficked Indonesian men

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 18:17:21 +0000

Large numbers of Indonesian men migrate each year for work in construction, in factories and in agriculture, on plantations and on fishing boats. Many of them end up exploited in ways that constitute human trafficking, suffering violence, deprivation, restricted freedom and severe exploitation as well as long periods of separation from their families. This article explores the challenges faced by forty-nine Indonesian men reintegrating into their families and communities after having been trafficked. While many problems with the family were caused by economics, tensions also resulted from long separations, fractured relationships, and frustration and blame over ‘failed’ migration and unfulfilled expectations. Tensions were sometimes exacerbated when men faced recrimination and blame in their communities after return. Understanding the nature of and reasons for the problems that men faced after trafficking is vital in considering how trafficked men and their families can be supported to recover and reintegrate after trafficking.

From Passive Victims to Partners in Their Own Reintegration: Civil society’s role in empowering returned Thai fishermen

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 18:21:48 +0000

Despite the significant international attention to human trafficking in the fishing industry in Southeast Asia, victims continue to experience poor outcomes after their return to Thailand. The Labour Rights Promotion Network (LPN) has assisted many returned fishermen in the difficult journey that begins after their rescue and repatriation. In this paper, we argue that the poor outcomes are the product of systemic failures in the aftercare processes, which are not sufficiently victim-centred and discourage trafficked fishermen’s participation in prosecutions. This is the case in the criminal justice system, where flaws in victim identification and evidence collection can undermine trafficked persons’ rights and make it extremely difficult for them to obtain compensation—a significant factor in their recovery and reintegration. This same cycle of disenfranchisement is pervasive in reintegration services at large in Thailand, many of which are overly paternalistic and neglect survivors’ individual needs and interests. Civil society organisations can remediate these problems by supporting the government in its efforts to strengthen prosecutions and make the criminal justice system more victim-friendly. More broadly, civil society can contribute to a victim-centred approach that places aftercare in a larger perspective—one that extends beyond the purview of the criminal justice system. This paper will examine two emerging models in post-trafficking service provision: Unconditional Cash Transfers (UCTs) and volunteer social networks, which recognise victim empowerment not just as a means towards better law enforcement, but as an end in itself.

Life after Trafficking in Azerbaijan: Reintegration experiences of survivors

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 18:34:37 +0000

Assisting survivors of trafficking is considered one of the pillars of a human rights-based response Shelter, medical, psychological and legal assistance in the short term and job placement, accommodation and reunification with family and community in the long term are critical steps for helping them recover and feel in control of their lives and futures. This paper examines survivors’ experiences of trafficking and recovery in the Azerbaijani context, using questionnaire responses from 22 women who were trafficked for sexual exploitation between 2006 and 2009 and who were assisted upon their return. It finds that while Azerbaijan has been quite successful at short-term assistance, there are still significant gaps in longer-term assistance, especially with regard to job placement and family reunification. Survivors point to these gaps as significant impediments to full reintegration into society. Looking at their experiences can provide insights into improvements in assistance programmes that can be implemented in both Azerbaijan and elsewhere.

Family Separation, Reunification, and Intergenerational Trauma in the Aftermath of Human Trafficking in the United States

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 18:39:18 +0000

Family reunification is a complex part of a survivor’s journey; its processes long, arduous, and unassured. This article seeks to examine the intricacies of human trafficking and family separation in migration, and intergenerational trauma following family reunification. The authors apply theoretical frameworks and concepts established by literature on migration and trauma, and provide a case study to explain the implications of family separation that occurs during and after the survivor’s human trafficking experience. Written from the perspective of social service providers, this article also provides a look at life after trafficking and how the individual’s worldview is altered by the trauma endured, resulting in possible intergenerational transmission of trauma from parent to child. The article explains the family’s process of moving from crisis back to balance, and the need for adjustment and adaptation, flexibility and cohesion in finding resilience. Finally, the authors discuss family resiliency frameworks as empowering models for serving survivors of human trafficking and their families during the reunification process. With the appropriate support, families can move forward in their journey towards healing.

‘There are no Victims Here’: Ethnography of a reintegration shelter for survivors of trafficking in Bangladesh

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 18:49:04 +0000

This article, based on nine months of ethnographic data from a reintegration shelter for survivors of trafficking in Bangladesh, examines the tensions between claims of empowerment and the disempowering practices that undermine an organisation’s liberatory objective. The author documents how the leadership and other staff of an anti-trafficking NGO engage in regulating survivors’ desires, directing their desires by demanding that they perform a desire to engage in particular modes of self-improvement, and rehabilitating their desires to seek gender-conforming occupations. These three strategies together constitute disciplining desire, which I identify as a process of othering of poor Third World women and cultivating an ideal survivor subjectivity that conforms to gender and class expectations in the name of ‘reintegration’. This account encourages researchers to critically consider the micro-interactions that undermine the emancipatory goals within women’s empowerment regimes in the Global South.

Trafficked Women in Denmark—Falling through the cracks

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 18:52:47 +0000

The policy framework for combating human trafficking and protecting victims in Denmark does not match the reality faced by the majority of the migrant women arriving in the country. Especially in relation to women from African countries, the national legislation and regulations can be a source of frustration for agencies such as Reden International, which helps foreign women working in prostitution in Denmark, particularly victims of trafficking.

Life after Trafficking: A gap in the UK’s modern slavery efforts

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 18:57:12 +0000

The Modern Slavery Act (2015) was a symbol of the UK’s commitment to combatting exploitation and human trafficking. Yet the Act offers little help to people who have been trafficked to, or in, the UK to recover and build a new life.

In Their Own Words...

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 19:02:45 +0000

The Editors approached service providers members of the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW) with a request to speak to people who are using their services and ask them about the difficulties they are currently facing, their hopes for the future, or anything else they want to share with the journal audience. The responses below were translated by the service providers or GAATW staff and have been edited only for clarity.

Sold in America: The Trafficking (video)

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 19:31:00 +0000

Thousands of people in the U.S. are trafficked for sex each year. Newsy talks to survivors and explores new efforts to stop exploitation. 20 minutes. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Empxdrk7UuA[/embed]

Children for Sale: The Trafficking Ring Selling Babies from the Slums to Rich Couples (video)

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 19:38:43 +0000

A vast underground network of traffickers has made a living convincing poor mothers in Bulgaria to sell their infants to rich Greek couples. From the courts, to the slums, to the NGOs fighting to put an end to the practice, VICE Greece took a deep dive into how the trafficking ring functions—and the toll it takes on both the mothers and their children. 20 minutes. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMnOrRf0Wug[/embed]

Brides for Sale: Bulgaria's Roma Marriage Market (video)

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 19:43:49 +0000

The Kalaidzhi bride market takes place in the southeast of Bulgaria every year. Unmarried women are often paired off with financially strong men. But more and more young Roma are rebelling against the old tradition. For young Kalaidzhi the annual bride market at Bachkovo Monastery is the only chance to find a partner. Their Orthodox Christian faith and traditional code of conduct prohibit them from dating, flirting or having any other pre-marital relations. The Kalaidzhi - a name meaning tinsmiths or boilermakers - marry only within the group. Finding a spouse from outside - and in particular a non-Roma Bulgarian - is out of the question. Love is only a secondary consideration. What matters is the dowry. A growing number of young Roma, however, are rebelling against the traditional marriage market. They want to make their own decisions, and to love and marry the person of their choice. For girls especially - some as young as 15 when they are put up for marriage - the wedding is the end of self-determined life. They will subsequently be housewives and mothers. The film accompanies 17-year-old Teni and 19-year-old Maria in the week before the market day. For them it means buying a lot of new clothes and masses of other preparations. Can this be a way to find true love? And how is the outdated ritual affected by the Internet and social media? 26 minutes. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ReFNdkQ5Y8[/embed]

Slaves of Dubai (video)

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 19:52:27 +0000

Most people know Dubai for its massive skyscrapers and luxurious hotels, but few know that the city was built by modern-day slaves. For months, the BBC's Ben Anderson hung out around the glittering, insane towers springing up in Dubai trying to infiltrate the community of expatriate workers who are putting them up. What he found when he finally got in was that the jewel of the Arab world is almost entirely built upon imported slave labor. 15 minutes. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMh-vlQwrmU[/embed]

The Secret Slaves of the Middle East (video)

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 19:57:41 +0000

Mary Joy Dao-Ay is a Filipino maid who used to be a domestic worker in Lebanon. She left her 3 children in the Philippines, planning to pay for their education by earning a higher salary working in the Middle-East. Instead, she was forced to flee for her own safety, and got stuck in Lebanon seeking refuge at a shelter. The secret slaves of the Middle East is the story of Mary Joys’ desperate struggle for justice, in a country with no labour laws protecting foreign domestic workers, and where the special Arab Kefala-system renders it impossible for an unskilled worker to leave the country or change their employer. It is the story of how poverty leads unprivileged women from developing countries to be deceived and trafficked into slavery. Watch the video here. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb_pBhWi1YM[/embed]

Trafficking in Human Beings and Smuggling of Migrants in ACP Countries: Key Challenges and Ways Forward

rsdadmin — Tue, 01 May 2018 20:03:53 +0000

Trafficking in human beings (THB) and smuggling of migrants (SoM), two distinct but often interrelated phenomena, occur on a global scale. Searching for a way out of economic inequalities, environmental crises, armed conflict, political instability and persecution, and in view of tightening border controls and restricted options for legal migration, migrants are driven to seek the services of smugglers. At the same time, a globalized economy fosters demand for diverse types of exploitation, which also makes migrants vulnerable to traffickers. Both THB and SoM are billion-dollar businesses that exact high human costs. This is illustrated by the many migrants dying while being smuggled along increasingly dangerous migration routes, and by the millions of trafficking victims trapped in exploitative situations worldwide. The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States are increasingly stepping up to address THB and SoM. However, they face challenges in developing the necessary holistic, long-term interventions that combine law enforcement with a rights-based, victim-centred approach and with prevention efforts that are linked to development and offer realistic, practical alternatives to irregular migration. This ACP-EU Migration Action publication analyses these challenges and provides recommendations to tackle the difficulties that ACP countries face in relation to THB and SoM.

Better support, better protection: Steps lawyers and guardians can take to better identify and protect trafficked children

rsdadmin — Thu, 03 May 2018 20:36:04 +0000

Many guardians and lawyers working with children do not have the experience and training to identify when these children may have been trafficked or are at risk of trafficking, according to Better support, better protection: Steps lawyers and guardians can take to better identify and protect trafficked children, provides, a ReACT Project (Reinforcing Assistance to Child Victims of Trafficking) report based on research in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism (SECTT)

rsdadmin — Thu, 03 May 2018 20:38:55 +0000

ECPAT's recommendations for action help protect children from sexual exploitation in travel and tourism (SECTT).

Remediation Guidelines for Victims of Human Trafficking in Mineral Supply Chains

rsdadmin — Tue, 08 May 2018 18:07:21 +0000

Global supply chains in the electronics sector are complex and involve a wide range of actors, working in multiple sites, with goods and workers crossing multiple borders. In particular, mineral supply chains are highly globalized, and responsible sourcing of minerals, including tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (3TG), is high on the agenda of many leading downstream companies. While the mining industry, including artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), supports the livelihoods of millions of people globally and plays an important role in poverty alleviation and development, it can also have a negative environmental impact and contribute to human rights and labour rights abuses. Reports of human trafficking, forced labour, and child labour, have raised serious concerns for downstream companies about the social cost of doing business with the mining industry, especially within ASM. As outlined in the United Nations’ Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, businesses not only have a responsibility to prevent human rights abuses, but also to provide remedies to victims where harm has occurred. While the electronic industry has made meaningful progress to prevent human rights abuses through greater due diligence, the development of guidance and best practices to help businesses remediate adverse human rights impacts when they do occur has been limited.

Climate Change and Human Trafficking After the Paris Agreement

rsdadmin — Wed, 09 May 2018 18:00:41 +0000

At least 21 million people globally are victims of human trafficking, typically involving either sexual exploitation or forced labor. This form of modern-day slavery tends to increase after natural disasters or conflicts where large numbers of people are displaced from their homes and become highly vulnerable. In the decades to come, climate change will very likely lead to a large increase in the number of people who are displaced and thus vulnerable to trafficking. The Paris Climate Agreement of 2015 established objectives to limit global temperature increases, but the voluntary pledges made by nearly every country fall far short of what is needed to meet these objectives. Several international agreements and domestic laws are aimed at combating human trafficking, but it is highly uncertain whether they will be adequate to cope with the scale of the problem that is likely to occur as a result of climate change.

A Foster Parent's Guide: Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) or Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Thu, 10 May 2018 15:21:44 +0000

Produced by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families and My Life My Choice, this training video provides foster parents with information about commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), human trafficking, and how to identify the signs. See attached support guide for more details. 40 minutes. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=H2fJYqOzZWY[/embed]

Human Trafficking in Brazil Final Assessment Report (Portuguese & English)

rsdadmin — Thu, 10 May 2018 18:02:24 +0000

According to the Global Slavery Index 2016, there are an estimated 161,100 individuals in conditions of modern slavery in Brazil. Many are forced to work in the same industries that have fueled deforestation, the exploitation of indigenous land and of traditional groups, and violated protected areas of the Amazon. Slave labour in Brazil is being used for logging of precious woods and in deforestation for agriculture. Labourers involved in this work are predominantly men and boys aged 15 to 40 from low-income families. Commonly recruited from communities characterised by extreme poverty, illiteracy and rural unemployment, these workers are highly vulnerable to being exploited and enslaved, especially through debt bondage. Living conditions often lack basic sanitation and housing, offer no access to medical care, and leave workers susceptible to tropical diseases or other illness. Threats and physical abuse are common. In 2016, with support from Humanity United, the Freedom Fund commissioned FSG to refine its strategy for Brazil. The recommendations are attached in English and can be found in Portuguese here.

The Nature and Scale of Labour Exploitation across all sectors within the United Kingdom

rsdadmin — Thu, 10 May 2018 18:05:54 +0000

Our latest in-depth report on the nature and scale of labour exploitation in the UK has just been published. The report provides an update to our original 2016 report and looks at the risks, threats and general trends identified during 2017 and forward into 2018. It summarises the intelligence picture across a number of key sectors, including transportation, agriculture, nail bars, car washes, food processing / packaging, shellfish gathering, manufacturing, cleaning and construction.

Thailand Hotspot: 2017 Annual Report

rsdadmin — Thu, 10 May 2018 18:10:58 +0000

Thailand is the world’s fourth-largest seafood exporter, reaping over $6.5 billion in revenues a year. But the profitable industry supplying Americans and Europeans with cheap seafood comes at a high cost to both the environment and to hundreds of thousands of migrant workers. Overfishing and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing has led to the depletion of resources pushing fishing efforts further off-shore, increasing the likelihood of IUU fishing, and compromising the sustainability of environmental resources. The increased effort for reduced catch as a result of overfishing/IUU fishing drives up costs, incentivising the use of forced labour. The fishing and seafood labour force in Thailand is by a large majority composed of migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. Labour brokers recruit from vulnerable communities, promising favourable employment in the construction, manufacturing, or agriculture industries. Migrants often incur debt from labour brokers, costs ostensibly associated with transportation and securing employment in Thailand. This ‘debt’ is often transferred by labour brokers to owners of seafood processing factories or fishing boats, resulting in bonded labour. Research conducted by the Raks Thai Foundation indicates that up to 200,000 migrants working on fishing vessels are prone to exploitation, and even more are susceptible to unethical labour practices in the seafood processing sector. According to the UN, more than 130,000 migrant workers from Myanmar are victims of forced labour in Samut Sakhon, Thailand’s leading seafood processing region. A 2009 survey of Cambodian long-haul fishermen found nearly all those surveyed reported beatings to the head and body, inhumane working hours, and sleep and nutritional deprivation. Over half had witnessed the murder of a crew member by the boat’s captain. For those who are rescued, inadequate after-care services and financial barriers prevent migrants from remaining in Thailand to testify against their former employers. The Freedom Fund strategy to significantly reduce slavery in the Thai seafood industry is organised around three objectives: 1. To incentivise and support the private sector to improve transparency and adopt ethical labour practices leading to an eradication of forced labour in the seafood supply chain. 2. To strengthen civil society organisations to monitor the situation on the ground and to empower migrant workers. Migrants workers will be better able to access relevant services and those who escape forced labour will be more likely to seek and access compensation and redress. 3. Increase pressure on the Thai government to reform the regulatory framework, uphold migrant rights, and challenge the impunity of traffickers.

South-eastern Nepal Hotspot: 2017 Annual Report

rsdadmin — Thu, 10 May 2018 18:13:30 +0000

In south-eastern Nepal, a recent survey found that 97,000 adults and 13,000 children are in forced labour, through a system called harawa-charawa. Within these families, men work growing crops, and women, children, and the elderly work as cattle herders or as domestic servants. Two-thirds of these households are from “dalit” castes, traditionally considered “untouchables”. Most have no assets or land, so when they face financial emergencies their only option for a loan is from a landlord. Once a loan is taken, lenders expect families to provide labour to pay off the debt – often indefinitely. In another recent study, nearly a quarter of harawa-charawa respondents interviewed said that they worked 13-17 hours a day and nearly all families interviewed had experienced violence of various forms. If the families were to refuse to work, they would be likely to be expelled from their homes. In addition, bonded labour of these families feeds directly into child trafficking and unsafe adult migration. The South-Eastern Nepal hotspot is a comprehensive community-based program, currently supporting 9 local NGOs’ and 4 specialist NGOs’, and aims to contribute significantly to the eradication of this form of bonded labour.

Northern India Hotspot Strategy 2018-2019

rsdadmin — Thu, 10 May 2018 18:16:29 +0000

Despite India’s strong laws, high levels of bonded labour are still documented in a range of industries including brick kilns, stone quarries, agriculture, construction, domestic work and sexual exploitation. Debt bondage is the main mechanism, in which workers take out loans or they inherit inter-generational debts at extortionate rates from local landowners – and then they are forced to work for that same employer. The vast majority of bonded labourers face severe discrimination because they are dalits (castes that have been treated as “untouchables”). Of the 28 states in India, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh rank among the poorest on a variety of human development indicators, and in addition, they have large populations of dalits and adivasi (India’s indigenous minority groups). Combined in some cases with poor enforcement of the relevant laws, these issues result in a concentration of bonded labour and trafficking affecting the poorest communities. In many places, there is a culture of fear and silence around bonded labour, sexual exploitation and trafficking that increases the vulnerability of each family, as they face these issues on their own.

Ethiopia Hotspot: 2017 Annual Report

rsdadmin — Thu, 10 May 2018 18:19:46 +0000

Ethiopia is experiencing unprecedented and increasing levels of migration of women and girls to the Middle East for domestic work. In transit and on arrival, these women are at high risk of abuse, exploitation and of falling into situations of slavery. At the same time, high numbers of women are returning from situations of servitude in the Middle East in dire need of mental and other support. The hotspot interventions will enable a measurable reduction in risky migration through replicable and scalable interventions. It also provides support to returnees through projects that aim to increase wellbeing and economic prosperity leading to reduced vulnerability to further risky migration. The hotspot has been launched in Addis Ababa and in the Amhara region. In Addis, interventions focus on Addis Ketema, one of the capital’s ten sub-cities. It is home to the largest open market in Africa as well as the main bus station in Ethiopia, making it a central transit point for women and girls migrating to the Middle East. The Amhara region has amongst the highest prevalence of trafficking in Ethiopia and is one of the main source areas for women and girls going to the Middle East.

Central Nepal Hotspot: 2017 Annual Report

rsdadmin — Thu, 10 May 2018 18:22:27 +0000

In the past 10 years, there has been a dramatic growth of massage parlours, dance bars, cabin restaurants, and guesthouses in Kathmandu. Working in this sector is generally hazardous for children, and in addition, many of these workplaces have become a front for commercial sex. At least half of the sector’s workers are under 18, and the vast majority – as many as 68% – entered the sector as children. A 2010 report by the international NGO Terre des Hommes estimated that 13,000 girls and women were working in the sector, while other sources suggest more than double this figure. Yet, till now, very limited resources and coordinated attention have been given to the situation of adolescents in the industry. Many of the workers are trapped in bondage to employers through loans, lacking the freedom to change where they work. Also, the girls and women are under strong pressure from employers to please the male customers, in order to persuade them to buy more alcohol and food. This often leads to having to provide sexual services. Many of the girls entering the work are unaware of this requirement. The Freedom Fund hotspot aims to radically reduce the number of minors at risk of or victims of exploitation in the sector. This comprehensive strategy will work to prevent commercial sexual exploitation of children, assist minors to leave the sector, and reject the recruitment of minors by employers and use of minors by customers. Further, the hotspot will aim to prove effective approaches that have the potential to massively reduce the commercial sexual exploitation of children in Nepal. Through increased investments over the next 10 years, the hotspot collaboration will aim to at least halve the number of children exploited in the sector. Over the next 2.5 years, the current program will develop and implement a strategy alongside approximately 10 local NGOs, cooperating with women workers in the sector, and ensuring a deepening, committed partnership with government bodies.

CHILDREN IN THE PLANTATIONS OF SABAH: Stakeholder Consultation Workshop Report

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 May 2018 16:52:03 +0000

In 2017, 152 million children aged 5 to 17 were subject to child labour. They are often living in poverty, with no way of getting an education. The Forest Trust (TFT) is a member-based non-profit organisation that works to promote environmental and social sustainability in commodity supply chains. Earlier this year they brought together palm oil plantation owners, along with Nestlé and Wilmar, one of the world's biggest palm oil companies, to support businesses to make a commitment to “no child labour”, and to pave the way for greater collaboration with civil society and expert organizations. The main objective of the consultation was to hear from businesses about the reality of children and young people working in plantations, challenges faced by employers to address the issue and root causes, as well as to discuss possible solutions and ways forward. About 50 participants from small, medium and large palm oil companies attended, most of whom operate in the east coast of Sabah.

UNBOXING: The REAL Price of SNEAKERS (video)

rsdadmin — Tue, 15 May 2018 18:44:53 +0000

Jacques @Kustoo Slade is a guy that loves sneakers and creates Youtube videos about them as well as other things. This channel has sneaker collections from Nike, Jordan, adidas, Yeezy, Reebok, Under Armour and more. He also does sneaker reviews, sneaker shopping, performance reviews, and sneaker history. He also loves technology, music, and pop culture and often mixes the three with sneaker to create one of the few "sneaker" channels that bridges the gap. This episode focuses on the real price of sneakers - labor exploitation and modern-day slavery. 10.5 minutes [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CBTMHyutQU&feature=youtu.be[/embed]

The Empower Youth Program

rsdadmin — Thu, 17 May 2018 19:37:18 +0000

The Empower Youth Program is a five-module curriculum designed for youth aged 12 and up. This innovative resource can be used by anyone who provides services directly to youth, such as teachers, youth program directors, social workers, counselors, mentors, therapists, and more. It has two chief objectives: to equip youth with personal safety strategies, and to nurture their empathy for others. By inspiring students to develop empathy for those around them, our curriculum distinguishes itself both as an exploitation prevention tool as well as a character education program with far-reaching transformative potential for your school, classroom, or youth program. Available in English and in Spanish, the curriculum includes five lessons complete with original teaching media, activities, discussion questions, handouts, and more.

The Apathy Effect Exhibit

rsdadmin — Wed, 16 May 2018 20:39:47 +0000

The Apathy Effect immerses its audience in international stories of resilient young survivors of human trafficking and the response of everyday people who were ignited with empathy when confronted by exploitation and the apathy that fuels it. This educational exhibit and empowerment program ignites empathy and empowers participants with a response to issues of exploitation. The multimedia journey is told through original film, photography, and genuine artifacts with either self-guided or interactive tours available. Learn how and why this is happening, what iEmpathize is doing to help, and how you too can engage to end it.

Policy brief on anti-trafficking laws, policies and practices

rsdadmin — Wed, 16 May 2018 19:22:28 +0000

Donors, Governments, international organizations, unions, employers and other civil actors often seek solutions to prevent human trafficking. This is a list of the ten most common misperceptions among policy makers, related facts and recommended laws, policies and practices drawing on the experience of the Work in Freedom Programme.

Human Trafficking and Exploitation: Teacher's Book (English & Armenian)

rsdadmin — Wed, 16 May 2018 20:43:06 +0000

The manual was prepared with the aim to inform the secondary school teachers and students about human trafficking and exploitation. This third edition was updated by IOM taking into account the changes in the legal and institutional frameworks to combat human trafficking in the Republic of Armenia. The manual incorporates three parts: theory studies that will enable an effective use of teaching materials on trafficking; eight lessons of the basic course on human trafficking and exploitation; modern strategies and techniques used in education to initiate a constructive and interactive teaching, discussion and assessment of human trafficking issues. For English click here.

Taking Stock: Labor Exploitation, Illegal Fishing and Brand Responsibility in the Seafood Industry

rsdadmin — Thu, 17 May 2018 13:28:31 +0000

ILRF launched the Independent Monitoring at Sea (IM@Sea) project to address some of the vulnerabilities of migrant workers in the Thai fishing fleet by enabling worker connectivity while at sea, improving forced labor risk assessments, and developing a worker-driven grievance mechanism. THe project set out to better inform government industry leaders, and civil society on actions needed: utilizing technology platforms to systematically collect, analyze and report on work at sea and connecting workers to worker organizations to implement such systems and remediate abuses identified. The project was a first step toward enabling fishing crews to use their voice to prevent and remediate forced labor and human trafficking on fishing vessels. This report lays out four “Essential Elements of Effective Social Responsibility in the Seafood Sector” to build an effective human rights compliance program. It also explains how ILRF attempted to incorporate the Elements in the design and implementation of the project. Findings and lessons learned are shared to help improve future iterations of this project or efforts with similar goals.

My stolen childhood: understanding the trokosi system (video)

rsdadmin — Thu, 17 May 2018 13:48:05 +0000

Thousands of women across West Africa have been enslaved by a centuries old practice called “trokosi”. Girls are forced to live and work with priests in religious shrines, for the rest of their lives, to “pay” for the sins of family members. Although the practice has officially been banned in Ghana, it’s still happening there and in other parts of West Africa but on a smaller scale. Twenty years after she was freed from this practice, Brigitte Sossou Perenyi goes on a journey to understand what trokosi really is and why her family gave her away. 25 minutes. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AnwkixlhxM[/embed]

Child Sex Trafficking on the Internet - "Selling the Girl Next Door" (Video)

rsdadmin — Wed, 23 May 2018 16:48:05 +0000

CNN's Amber Lyon Investigates Internet Child Sex Trafficking in America Selling the Girl Next Door takes viewers into the world of underage American girls caught up in the violent sex trade. Thousands of girls under the age of 18 are ensnared into lives of prostitution annually, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Many are runaways or "throwaways" trapped in "the oldest profession" by pimps who sell them using modern sales and marketing techniques, including the online classified website Backpage.com. In a statement dated December 28, 2011 Backpage.com said it is "committed to preventing those who are intent on misusing the site for illegal purposes." In a year-long investigation, CNN correspondent Amber Lyon reveals the devastating realities of the business of underage sex -- speaking to a young teen runaway sold online from a Las Vegas hotel, the men that obsessively seek Internet sex connections, and women long into careers as sex workers who were trafficked as teens or children. Along the way, Lyon interviews well-known brothel owner Dennis Hof. Hof's sex workers describe their own dark pasts and the frightening underworld of underage sex trafficking. Lyon also goes undercover herself, posting an online ad, and taking calls from solicitors -- and Internet pimps -- to understand more about how girls are victimized by traffickers. An interactive map on CNN.com shares Lyon's coast-to-coast journey -- from Maryland, Missouri, Tennessee and Nevada -- trailing runaways, finding their families, meeting sex workers, and visiting a "Johns' school" where convicted solicitors are forced to face the social and criminal consequences of their actions. 43 minutes. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFRZ1NDR0Rc[/embed]

Exploitation and Lawlessness: The Dark Side of Taiwan’s Fishing Fleet (video)

rsdadmin — Thu, 24 May 2018 14:18:34 +0000

Beatings at gunpoint, slavery, dangerous working conditions and squalid living conditions. These are just a few of the findings from a new investigative film by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) telling the harrowing stories of migrant fishermen working aboard Taiwanese-owned fishing vessels. The film shows that although some new rules have been introduced in Taipei, out at sea human rights abuses and illegal fishing practices continue. 11 minutes.

The Reality of Modern Slavery (video)

rsdadmin — Thu, 24 May 2018 16:50:09 +0000

Panelists discuss the extent of the problem, factors contributing to it, and possible solutions for helping those trapped in dire situations. Speakers: Mark P. Lagon Chief Policy Officer, Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; Former Ambassador-At-Large and Director, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, U.S. Department of State Gayle Tzemach Lemmon Adjunct Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy, Council on Foreign Relations (via videoconference) E. Benjamin Skinner Founder and Principal, Transparentem Presider Kira Kay Ferris Professor of Journalism, Princeton University 1 hr 10 minutes. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=DoJPDfH667k[/embed]

Survivor-led and Survivor-informed Human Trafficking Research (Webinar)

rsdadmin — Thu, 31 May 2018 15:32:00 +0000

In its recently published human trafficking resolution, the APA (2017) strongly encourages that research initiatives and program development efforts include the participation of persons directly affected by human trafficking. Two presenters experienced in survivor-led and survivor-informed research in the United States, Thema Bryant-Davis, PhD and Alexandra Pierce, PhD share lessons learned from their human trafficking research experiences. The American Psychological Association is the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States, with more than 115,700 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members. 1 hr 2 mins. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uryK5mAUyKw&feature=youtu.be[/embed]

The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act: A Resource Guide

rsdadmin — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 14:08:05 +0000

The California Transparency In Supply Chains Act was enacted in 2010 by Arnold Schwarzenegger (the Governor of CA at the time). The act requires that large retailers provide customers with transparency about their supply chains and their efforts to eradicate human trafficking. Click here to access the resource-guide

Executive Summary

An estimated 21 million people – 11.4 million women and girls and 9.5 million men and boys – are victims of forced labor around the globe.1 These victims work in virtually every industry and across sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, construction, entertainment and domestic service. California, which boasts the world’s seventh-largest economy and the country’s largest consumer base, is unique in its ability to address this issue, and as a result, to help eradicate human trafficking and slavery worldwide. In recent years, California consumers have demanded that producers provide greater transparency about goods brought to market. Consumers utilize this additional information to drive their purchasing decisions, and various indicators suggest that Californians are not alone. A recent survey of western consumers revealed that people would be willing to pay extra for products they could identify as being made under good working conditions.2 A recent law in California is poised to help California consumers make better and more informed purchasing choices. The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act (Steinberg, 2010) (the “Act”3) provides consumers with critical information about the efforts that companies are undertaking to prevent and root out human trafficking and slavery in their product supply chains – whether here or overseas. This Act requires large retailers and manufacturers doing business in California to disclose on their websites their “efforts to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from [their] direct supply chain for tangible goods offered for sale.”4 The law applies to any company doing business in California that has annual worldwide gross receipts of more than $100 million and that identifies itself as a retail seller or manufacturer on its California tax return. Companies subject to the Act must post disclosures on their Internet websites related to five specific areas: verification, audits, certification, internal accountability, and training. The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act does not mandate that businesses implement new measures to ensure that their product supply chains are free from human trafficking and slavery. Instead, the law only requires that covered businesses make the required disclosures – even if they do little or nothing at all to safeguard their supply chains. Companies subject to the Act must therefore disclose particular information within each disclosure category, and the Act offers companies discretion in how to do so. This Resource Guide is intended to help covered companies by offering recommendations about model disclosures and best practices for developing such disclosures. In each disclosure category, the Guide discusses how a company can provide disclosures that comply with the law, as well as enhance consumers’ understanding of its anti-trafficking and anti-slavery efforts.

Slave Free Buying Guide

rsdadmin — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 14:27:40 +0000

Click here to access the entire slave-free-guide The End Slavery Now Slave Free Buying Guide is meant to introduce consumers to companies, brands and social enterprises that address slavery, forced labor and human trafficking in their supply chains. End Slavery Now researched antislavery policies; supply chains; third-party certifications; prevalence studies in specific industries; and companies’ engagement surrounding slavery, forced labor and human trafficking in order to develop a list of products that you can begin purchasing in lieu of other options. At End Slavery Now we recognize that the best companies are those that put ethical concerns and social responsibility at the top of their agendas. Fortunately, more and more companies care about broader social issues, including the environment and poverty. For this guide, we’ve narrowed our focus to companies, brands and products that specifically address forced labor, slavery and/or human trafficking. In addition to recommending innovative brands that clearly lead the way when it comes to prioritizing slavery-free goods, we’ve also included traditional companies that are beginning to produce specific goods or product lines without the use of child labor, forced labor or other forms of slave labor. Importantly, much of this recent antislavery effort by traditional companies is a direct response to consumer demands for such products. By highlighting some of the best brands and the positive changes towards slavery-free products, this guide is a tool for those wanting to choose better products. The End Slavery Now Slave Free Buying Guide is divided into sections based on product type. Most sections include: • A brief explanation of slavery in that particular industry or product chain • Individual product recommendations, so you know which products you can purchase • Company rankings in Good, Better and Best categories based on their antislavery policies, supply chain transparency, third-party certifications and engagement One of the most impactful ways normal, everyday people can get involved in the fight against modern-day slavery and human trafficking is to begin purchasing slavery-free goods. When scaled, these purchases create demand for goods produced with audited, slavery-free labor; simultaneously, this shift also shrinks the market for goods produced with forced or slave labor and/or by trafficked humans.

Survivor Insights; The Role of Technology in Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking

rsdadmin — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 14:44:13 +0000

Click Here to Access Full Report: Thorn_Survivor_Insights

Executive Summary

In an effort to strategically inform technology initiatives for combating domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST), Thorn partnered with Dr. Vanessa Bouché at Texas Christian University to survey survivors about their experiences. The survey focused on understanding what role technology played in a victim’s recruitment into, time while in, and exit from DMST. Two hundred and sixty survivors of DMST, through 24 survivor organizations, spanning 14 states, completed the survey. The majority of participants identified as female (98%), 2% as male, and 1% as “other”.1 Sixty-seven percent identified as heterosexual, 25% bisexual, 5% homosexual, 2% “other”, and 1% “don’t know”. Among those identifying race (n=243), 45% reported African American, 27% Caucasian, 21% Hispanic, and 8% “other”

Two central themes emerged from survey responses:

Technology is playing an increasing role in grooming and controlling victims of DMST. Less familiar forms of DMST, including those trafficked by family members or without a clear trafficker, emerged in the DMST landscape. However, consistent in all types of DMST observed are common experiences of childhood abuse and neglect These themes suggest an important understanding about the nature of DMST and the role of technology. The need for human connection, and the vulnerabilities that arise in the absence thereof, are central to the recruitment, control, and recovery of DMST survivors. Use of technology is likely to continue to increase; however, technology is unlikely to extinguish the human element of DMST.

THORN; Spotlight Impact

rsdadmin — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 15:02:29 +0000

THONRN's Spotlight Technology

Latest Impact

Our web-based tool is now used by over 5,000 officers in all 50 states and Canada. According to our most recent survey, it is helping find more human trafficking victims, faster. Spotlight has been used in 21,044 cases — identifying 12,328 adults, 5,791 children, and 6,553 traffickers in the past two years. With only a 25% response rate, we’re confident these numbers represent the low end of our impact. Over the past year, reports show that we are identifying on average 8 kids per day and that law enforcement who use Spotlight daily see a 65% time savings in their process. This combination of streamlining workflows and increasing successful victim identification is what has propelled Spotlight to its large user base. Empowering law enforcement to collaborate beyond jurisdictions or national borders, is a key to success in identifying victims who are moved frequently, or are broadcast in P2P on the dark web from a hidden location.

THORN; Digital Defenders of Children

rsdadmin — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 15:14:51 +0000

Survivors, issue experts, the tech community, and law enforcement join Thorn co-founders Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore to discuss the issue in-depth. [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://humantraffickingsearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/THORN-Digital-Defenders-of-Children.mp4"][/video]

The most vulnerable children

rsdadmin — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 15:22:44 +0000

Child sex trafficking is a cycle of abuse.

The most vulnerable children

The commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is another term for what we often call child sex trafficking. While anyone can be a victim, we know that kids who are homeless or runaways, LGBTQ, African American or Latino, and youth interacting with the child welfare system are more vulnerable to this type of exploitation. We’ve highlighted specific vulnerabilities below, but we know that they are not mutually exclusive categories. To wrap our heads around who is affected by this crime, we dissect complicated experiences into isolated ones and create a series of valuable data points to direct our work.

African American & Latino Youth

91%

African American & Latino youth are overrepresented in child sex trafficking cases. According to the FBI, 52% of all juvenile prostitution arrests are African-American children [Source]. Over 91% of the girls participating in Los Angeles’ STAR Court, a court for child sex trafficking victims, are African American or Latino [Source].

Child Welfare Involvement

50%

Studies consistently report that 50-90% of child sex trafficking victims have been involved in the child welfare system [Source]. Instability creates opportunities for traffickers to reach out and bond with vulnerable children. These relationships are then used against the child to initiate sexual activity.

Refugee & Migrant Children

76%

Domestic data is limited. When refugees and migrants find themselves in a hostile country, their likelihood of seeking legal support to protect their children is less likely. Looking internationally, 76% of refugees surveyed in the Mediterranean indicate they had been trafficked or exploited [Source].

LGBTQ Youth

50%

40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ, although they are 7% of the population [Source]. A New York City study estimated that more than one in four homeless LGBTQ children, and nearly half of gay or bisexual boys, are CSEC victims [Source].

Homeless Youth

20%

Homelessness is a clear risk factor that increases the chances of exploitation. A study conducted by Covenant House New York, a shelter and service provider for youth, found that 1/5 of the homeless youth they surveyed in the U.S. and Canada were victims of human trafficking [Source].

Runaway Youth

14%

In 2017, an estimated 1 out of 7 endangered runaways reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children were likely child sex trafficking victims. 88% of these likely sex trafficking victims were in the care of social services or foster care when they went missing [Source].

Production and Active Trading of Child Sexual Exploitation Images Depicting Identified Victims

rsdadmin — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 15:35:16 +0000

Production and Active Trading of Child Sexual Exploitation Images Depicting Identified Victims

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL REPORT: Production and Active Trading of CSAM

Executive Summary

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) has access to unique data about child exploitation images, particularly those involving identified victims and offenders and reported by multiple law enforcement agencies. WE WERE ABLE TO EXAMINE THE FOLLOWING RESEARCH QUESTIONS: 1. From data about all identified, actively traded cases (involving 5 or more reports to NCMEC) from 2002 to 2013, are there longer-term trends in the nature of the content analyzed by NCMEC, in terms of the age, gender, or sexual activity involving depicted children? From data involving identified child victims between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2014, whether actively traded or not, we examined the following research questions, first by focusing on data from cases involving a single offender and a single victim, and then including cases involving multiple offenders and/or victims: 2. Was actively traded status (5 or more reports to NCMEC) associated with victim age or gender, offender age or gender, sexual activity level, or relationship between offender and victim? 3. Given some offenders were family members of victims, was familial relationship associated with victim age or gender, offender gender, or sexual activity level? Online child sexual exploitation is an international problem, because these production and distribution technologies transcend national borders. There is also wide variation in child pornography laws around the globe, according to a recent review by the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (2016). There are growing concerns about the sexual exploitation and abuse of children as new technologies create more opportunities for perpetrators (Seto, 2013). Although the total number of children who have been sexually exploited or abused and photographed is unknown, the number of arrests for adult-produced child pornography in the U.S. practically doubled between 2000 and 2009, resulting in more than 1/3 of arrested producers of child pornography in 2009 being adults who created the images of the children themselves (37%) (Wolak, Finkelhor, & Mitchell, 2012). There is limited scientific understanding of the characteristics of these children who are victimized in child pornography images/videos and their relationship with those who have sexually abused them. It is not known how these factors may change over time or vary across sociocultural contexts such as ethnicity or poverty. Existing research has provided some insight about cohorts of identified children, or of images seized from the computers of offenders, but there are many unaddressed questions. More is known about perpetrators than victims at this time (e.g., Long et al., 2016; Quayle & Jones, 2011; Seto, 2013; Seto & Eke, 2015, in press; Seto, Wood, Babchishin & Flynn, 2012; Taylor & Quayle, 2003). Knowledge gained from this research can lead to a better understanding of online victimization and offending, thereby supporting more effective and efficient prevention and law enforcement initiatives to protect children. The results of this research could have international impact given the professional networks the researchers have in their respective countries and the relationships NCMEC has with the international law enforcement community. For example, there are many questions about longer-term trends in the production of child exploitation content, and whether more actively traded content differs from non-traded content in victim or offender characteristics.

SEXTORTION: FINDINGS FROM A SURVEY OF 1,631 VICTIMS

rsdadmin — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 15:43:18 +0000

Click Here To Read The Full "Sextortion Report"

INTRODUCTION

THE SURVEY AND SURVEY GOALS

Thorn and the Crimes against Children Research Center of the University of New Hampshire conducted an online survey of persons ages 18 to 25 who have been targets of threats to expose sexual images, or “sextortion” (n=1631). Respondents were recruited mainly through ads on Facebook and asked to complete anonymous surveys if they had been targets of sextortion. Our goal was to inform strategies to reduce these incidents by: • Educating the public and practitioners about sextortion; • Improving mechanisms for reporting to websites, apps and other technology programs that are being used for sextortion; promoting reporting to technology companies by targets of sextortion and increasing effective responses to such reports; • Equipping technology companies with more knowledge and information about how their platforms are being used in sextortion so they can create preventive strategies to combat the problem; and • Encouraging help-seeking by targets of sextortion and providing them with resources. Details about how the survey was conducted can be found at the end of this report.

SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS

Sextortion is defined as threats to expose a sexual image in order to make a person do something or for other reasons, such as revenge or humiliation. Persons who completed the online survey are referred to as “respondents” and those who threatened them as “perpetrators.” The respondents in our sample were primarily female (83%) and teenagers (ages 18 and 19); about 40% were in their early 20s. The sextortion episodes they reported were diverse, but incidents broadly fell into two groups: a) In the wake of face-to-face romantic or sexual relationships during which sexual images were taken or shared, an aggrieved partner threatened to disseminate images either to force reconciliation or to embarrass or humiliate the respondent. b) A perpetrator who met a respondent online used a sexual image obtained from the respondent or some other source to demand more images or sexual interactions. There was notable diversity in these episodes, however. Some respondents were male; demands were not always sexual in nature; and some perpetrators used elaborate deceptions to acquire images and threaten respondents. The more serious cases involved stalking and physical and sexual assault in addition to sextortion and threats that lasted for 6 months or more. Perpetrators carried out threats or otherwise harmed respondents in about 45% of cases, more frequently in the face-to-face relationship group than in the online encounter group, and disseminated sexual images in about 30% of cases. The personal and psychological toll on respondents could be quite intense, with 24% seeing a medical or mental health practitioner and 12% having to move as a result. Shame, embarrassment and self-blame were common feelings that kept many respondents from seeking help from friends and family or from reporting to technology companies that ran websites or apps used for sextortion. Only 1 in 5 respondents sought help from or reported the episode to a website or app. Respondents were more likely to make reports when perpetrators posted images online. Of those who did not report incidents, about half reported skepticism that a website or app could help. More than 40% of those who did report to websites or apps said that the responses that they received were not helpful. Complaints about unhelpful responses from technology companies included complicated documentation requirements, unsympathetic attitudes, lengthy delays, lack of follow-up about what was being done, and responses that did not fully address the problem. Only 16% of respondents reported episodes to police, but police involvement was considerably more common among those who disclosed sextortion incidents to family or friends, were victims of violence or threats of violence in addition to the sextortion, or who saw a doctor or mental health professional as a result of the incident. Respondents described a variety of barriers to police assistance, including lack of criminal laws addressing sextortion, lack of jurisdiction when perpetrators lived in other states or countries, and difficulties proving the identity of perpetrators. Some reported being shamed or blamed by police and some who were minors during incidents were threatened with prosecution for producing child pornography. The report includes recommendations to: • Increase public awareness of sextortion in order to promote disclosure and improve support networks for victims • Mobilize the education system to implement prevention curricula and provide support resources • Mobilize bystanders to stop perpetrators and support victims • Encourage the technology industry to develop proactive interventions, improve the experience of victims who report incidents, adopt practices and policies that prohibit sextortion, and increase collaboration across the industry • Increase law enforcement’s capacity to respond to sextortion cases and improve sensitivity to victims Many respondents described the sextortion they endured in detail and with feeling. They speak for themselves in much of this report All quotations in the report are from responses to the online survey. Some quotations have been altered slightly for clarity and to delete possibly identifying details. With each quotation, we list the gender of the respondent, their age at the time the threats began and whether they knew the perpetrator face-toface or online. Limitations of the survey When reading this report, please keep in mind that the characteristics and experiences of respondents reflect how recruitment was conducted. Nine out of 10 respondents were recruited by ads on Facebook, and Facebook users may differ from other persons who have been threatened with exposure of sexual images. Also, respondents were age 18 to 25. This survey does not reflect the experiences of persons age 26 or older. Some respondents provided retrospective accounts of episodes that occurred when they were minors, but if we had gathered more contemporaneous data from minors they might have described such incidents differently. Overall, the respondents do not constitute a representative sample of persons who have been the targets of sextortion, so our findings cannot be generalized beyond this group. For example, we cannot say who is mostly targeted for sextortion and how it mostly occurs; we can only report the experiences of those who responded to the survey.

THORN; SOUND PRACTICES GUIDE To Fight Child Sexual Exploitation Online

rsdadmin — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 15:56:55 +0000

Click Here To Read The Full Report

OVERVIEW

THE GOAL OF THE THORN SOUND PRACTICES GUIDE IS TO HELP TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES IDENTIFY TOOLS AND PRACTICES THAT CAN HELP PREVENT THEIR PLATFORMS FROM BEING USED FOR CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. Specifically, this document outlines sound practices that are voluntarily being deployed across the industry in order to prevent, identify, report and remove child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation content. Companies can use this document as a resource to learn what others are doing, to identify new tools to implement and, as this will be an ever-changing document, to suggest new and improved tools for the industry to use. This document is not reflective of all contributing partners’ practices. This guide should be seen as informational, not prescriptive – companies can implement some, but not necessarily all of the suggestions below.

METHODOLOGY

THORN DEVELOPED THE SOUND PRACTICES GUIDE WITH INPUT AND COLLABORATION FROM MICROSOFT, TWITTER, GOOGLE, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, WEPAY, and other technology companies with experience combating child sexual exploitation on their platforms, as well as NGOs who have worked in this space. The input of these contributing partners was critical to developing a comprehensive set of tools, resources and suggested policies.

SCOPE

CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AS DEFINED HERE INCLUDES PRODUCTION, SOLICITATION, DISTRIBUTION, RECEIPT, AND POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY (ALSO CALLED CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL); ONLINE ENTICEMENT OF CHILDREN FOR SEXUAL ACTS; CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING; AND CHILD SEX TOURISM, ALL OF WHICH ARE ILLEGAL UNDER US LAW. A minor is defined as a person under the age of 18 for the purposes of this report. Complete legal definitions and associated laws are referenced in the appendix. Note that tools outlined here are more focused on addressing child sexual abuse material rather than other forms of child sexual exploitation, due to the fact that more tools focused on identifying and removing child sexual abuse material exist. However, at the end of this document, we outline proposed concepts for helping to more thoroughly address the issues of online enticement, child sex trafficking and child sex tourism. CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IS ILLEGAL UNDER FEDERAL LAW AND IS DEFINED AS the visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. (See 18 U.S.C. § 2256.) The definition includes images depicting lascivious exhibition of children’s genitalia. Many court cases use “Dost factors” (named after the case of U.S. v. Dost from 1986, at 636 F. Supp. 82 (S.D. Cal. 1986)) to determine whether an image constitutes lascivious exhibition. Dost factors are outlined in the Appendix. It is illegal to produce, solicit, distribute, receive, or possess child pornography. (See 18 U.S.C. § 2251, 2252, 2252A.) ONLINE ENTICEMENT OF CHILDREN FOR SEXUAL ACTS IS ILLEGAL UNDER FEDERAL LAW and includes inducing, enticing, or coercing a minor to engage in sexual activity. (See 18 U.S.C. § 2422.) CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING IS ILLEGAL UNDER FEDERAL LAW and is defined as knowingly recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, providing, obtaining, or maintaining a minor, knowing that the minor would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act. (See 18 U.S.C. § 1591.) CHILD SEX TOURISM IS ILLEGAL UNDER FEDERAL LAW and is defined as traveling to another state or country to engage in illicit sexual conduct (including sex acts with minors). (See 18 U.S.C. § 2423.)

Survivor Story: On New Beginnings

rsdadmin — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 16:51:24 +0000

When victims are finally able to escape their traffickers, it’s important to remember that their stories are just beginning. Natalie* is one such young woman. Natalie was being kept in a hotel against her will and forced into prostitution. Her captor had threatened with her violence and death if she attempted to leave him, and she was truly terrified. Natalie felt trapped -- she was imprisoned by her fear and was cut off from any help. Natalie finally reached a place where she knew she had no choice but to call the Polaris-operated National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline. It took tremendous courage to make the call that would eventually change her life. The call specialist who answered her call remembers how much her voice was shaking. Our call specialist kept Natalie on the line while we arranged her safe rescue. When local officers arrived to escort Natalie from the hotel to a shelter, the call specialist could hear the profound relief in her voice. Today, Natalie is recovering from her trauma. But most importantly, Natalie’s story is just beginning. While Natalie no longer directly endures the terrible conditions of her trafficking situation, she is recovering from her trauma, and her potential to live the life she chooses is now possible. It is up to all of us to continue the fight against slavery and exploitation, including the work to assist survivors in reconstructing the lives they wish for. Polaris tells the stories of survivors with the hope that it will help people who are in need of immediate assistance find the courage to seek it out, and to inspire you to get involved. Learn more information about the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline, at www.traffickingresourcecenter.org. Or support our work so we can answer more calls like Natalie’s at www.polarisproject.org/give. *Names, identifying information, and case details have been changed or omitted to protect the confidentiality of the individuals we serve. Categories: Survivor Stories

Survivor Story: A Global Journey to Help Her Family

rsdadmin — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 16:58:08 +0000

Lynette grew up in a very impoverished country. From a young age, she was expected to work in the house while taking care of her younger siblings. Once she finished school, she began looking for work abroad so that she could better support her family. She secured a job in Qatar which promised a salary and housing. But after a few days in the country, Lynette was offered a new opportunity, this time to come to the United States for a childcare position with a wealthy family. Excited and eager to help her family, she jumped at the chance.

But when Lynette arrived in the U.S., her dreams were crushed. Her employers forced her to take care of their medically ill child day and night. And while she had been promised free room and board, Lynette and others working for the family were denied access to proper clothing, food, and medical care. The workers were subjected to emotional and physical threats, and their identification was confiscated so they couldn’t leave.

One day, Lynette and another housemate managed to escape, eventually managing to get all of her coworkers out. Local law enforcement connected Lynette to Polaris, and our Client Services’ crisis response team helped her find shelter and immediate medical care. Once her health and safety was ensured, she was matched with a case manager for legal counseling and emotional support.

She began working at an early education school as a substitute teacher and was eventually offered a permanent teaching position. She started taking classes at community college to receive her certification in child development and plans to continue working towards a degree in teaching, as she loves working and spending time with children. Polaris continues to support her as she adjusts to life in the United States and works to become a permanent resident.

Lynette has dealt with many unforeseeable obstacles since leaving her trafficking situation. But in a survivor expression exercise, she wrote: “I am very grateful that I have been given a second chance.” In honor of #GivingTuesday, please support Polaris so we can continue to help survivors like Lynette. *Name changed and model used to protect the identity of our clients.

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Survivor Stories

Survivor Story: Abandoned by a Traveling Sales Crew

rsdadmin — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 17:05:34 +0000

Kevin was recruited by a crew member who came to his door selling magazines. When Kevin revealed that he was experiencing financial difficulties, the worker offered Kevin a job and a signing bonus. The crew that Kevin joined was under the control of several managers, all of whom openly boasted about their arrest warrants. These managers would frequently compel the crew members to work from eight in the morning until after midnight, would require them to reimburse the business for lodging and gas costs, and would only pay members if they met their daily quotas. Members who performed particularly well were typically paid in drugs instead of cash, and Kevin never saw the signing bonus he had been promised. Kevin reported to the NHTRC that all the workers he interacted with while on the crew said that they wanted to leave. However, they were afraid to do so because of their managers’ reputations. Workers who did try to leave were often beaten severely and in some cases were sexually assaulted by either the manager or the senior salespeople. When Kevin himself tried to leave, one of the managers threatened to kill him and confiscated his identification documents. Eventually the managers decided that Kevin was not making enough sales, so they abandoned him without returning his identification. Kevin was able to contact the NHTRC for assistance, and NHTRC specialists were able to put Kevin in contact with an emergency service provider. The provider was able to arrange temporary housing and a local job for him. This story is representative of the types of calls received by the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC), operated by Polaris. Names have been changed and personally identifying information has been omitted to preserve the confidentiality of the people served. Names, identifying information, and case details may have been changed to respect confidentiality and protect the individuals we serve. Photo credit: Flickr / Sean Winters

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Survivor Stories

Survivor Story: Promised an Education, Forced to Work Instead

rsdadmin — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 17:13:41 +0000

Born and raised in a small village in Ghana, Natalia’s family was struggling to pay the school fees for their children’s education and welcomed the opportunity for Natalia to receive an education in the United States. Shortly after she arrived in the U.S., the father she was living with began to physically and sexually abuse the young girl, creating a constant environment of fear for Natalia. For the next six years she was forced to clean the house, wash clothes, cook, and care for their three children, often working 18 hours a day while receiving no form of payment. She was never allowed to enroll in school as the family had promised, go outside, or even use the phone. One day, after she was severely beaten, Natalia saw an opportunity to run away from the home and a neighbor called the police. She was then taken to a local hospital for medical care. The nurse assisting Natalia was aware of the National Human Trafficking Resource Center and referred her to Polaris New Jersey. The Polaris New Jersey team met Natalia at the local hospital and immediately coordinated emergency services including clothing, a safe shelter, counseling, emotional support, and case management. Within a month, Natalia was enrolled in school as she had always dreamed, living in transitional housing and beginning to feel like herself again. Now, nearly a year later, she is volunteering at a local animal rescue shelter, participating in a weekly poetry workshop and is pursuing her education to become a nurse. Natalia is one of the many examples of the reliance and courage of survivors who have redefined their future and are working towards achieving their long-term goals. Names, identifying information, and case details may have been changed to respect confidentiality and protect the individuals we serve.

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Survivor Stories

Survivor Story: Four Children and a 16-Year Relationship

rsdadmin — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 17:18:21 +0000

Mari is a 37-year-old African American woman who had been in a relationship with Darrell for 16 years. During that time Mari and Darrell had four children. Over the course of the relationship, Darrell had been verbally, physically, and sexually abusive of Mari. Additionally, when Darrell wanted extra money, he called friends of his and forced Mari into commercial sex. She had tried to leave Darrell in the past; however, he either threatened to hurt their children, or convinced Mari that she had no other options other than staying with him. He controlled all of her money, did not allow her to keep her own bank account, and forbade her from getting her driver’s license. Mari could not see any alternatives for leaving. One evening, Darrell, Mari, and an 18 year-old, Janice, who Darrell was also forcing into prostitution, were pulled over by a patrol officer for a traffic violation. The officer noticed that when Darrell pulled out his identification he had Mari’s ID and the other girls’ ID in his wallet. The officer was suspicious and asked to speak to them all privately. During his conversation the officer realized both women were being forced and coerced into prostitution. He referred both women to Polaris for emergency services. Polaris helped find temporary housing and provided food and clothing for both women. Janice immediately left Darrell and found a job in a restaurant. Mari relocated out of state with her children, but still struggles daily with her decision to leave Darrell. She understands that it is best for her and her children, and believes that more and more every day. Names, identifying information, and case details may have been changed to respect confidentiality and protect the individuals we serve.

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Survivor Stories

Survivor Story: Boyfriend Turned Trafficker

rsdadmin — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 17:22:00 +0000

Sarah is a 17-year-old Caucasian female who grew up in rural Ohio. Sarah ran away from home a few times because her mom and stepfather drank a lot and did not pay attention to her. A few months ago Sarah was walking to the store alone and a 30-year-old male drove up beside her and told her how pretty she was and asked why she looked so sad. Sarah told him that she was angry with her mom and just needed to take a walk. He asked if he could take her to get her nails done down the street to cheer her up, and she agreed. He paid right away while giving compliments and telling her he wanted to meet again the next day. For the next two months he picked Sarah up and took her to eat, to get her nails done and continued to act like a loving boyfriend. They both began calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend. They spent a lot of time together and he asked Sarah to move in with him, but after another month of living together he told her he couldn’t make the rent payment and needed help. He asked her to go on dates with older men and engage in commercial sex. Sarah felt uncomfortable but agreed because she would do anything not to return home, and wanted to make him happy. Her boyfriend praised her and told her he didn’t mind that Sarah helped them get money for rent this way. This continued until one night when Sarah was out on the street and was raped by a stranger who initially solicited her for sex. She immediately called the police and was taken to the hospital for an exam. Once at the hospital, the responding detectives called Polaris client services and two staff members reported to the hospital. Polaris provided emergency housing and emotional support for Sarah as she considered some of her options. She decided to leave her boyfriend and move into a shelter. During her month at the shelter, Polaris found long-term housing for her and helped her secure a part-time job. Within four months, Sarah saved enough money to move into her own apartment. She continues to work part-time and attend classes in the evenings. She hopes to attend college next year and eventually own her own business. Names, identifying information, and case details may have been changed to respect confidentiality and protect the individuals we serve.

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Survivor Stories

Survivor Story: From Foster Care to Sex Trafficking

rsdadmin — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 17:26:43 +0000

Keisha is a 16-year-old African American female originally from Florida. She was raised by an aunt until she was 10 years old and then placed in the foster care system. At the age of 14, Keisha first ran away from her foster family to avoid sexual harassment from one of her foster family's relatives. During that time, she met "Mastur D," a 26-year-old man who offered to help her get back to her biological family. He said he would be able to pay for some of the expenses to get them there, but that she needed to help support them financially by engaging in commercial sex with some of his friends. With no money or other options, Keisha took him up on his offer. He drove her back to Florida but insisted when they arrived that she had not earned enough money to cover their hotel and gas costs. He physically assaulted her and told her she would never see anyone else in her family if she did not engage in sex with other men of his choosing. She felt she had no other choice and continued to earn money for Mastur D to pay him back for the money he paid for her to get back to Florida. Keisha was arrested for solicitation in Florida and after serving time in a juvenile detention center was returned to her foster family and was therefore returned to sexual harassment by her foster family's relative. Keisha ran away again a year later and called Mastur D to help her get back to Florida. He agreed to help again. She was arrested again. While participating in an outreach group at a detention center, Keisha reached out to a Polaris social worker and told her parts of her story. Polaris immediately stepped in to provide emotional support and additional social services. The social worker helped Keisha talk to her case manager at the detention center about what happened and helped Keisha's probation officer understand other options for support instead of a detention center and returning to her foster family. Keisha now has an order of protection against Mastur D and was able to leave the detention center and go to an out-of-state residential program for young girls who were victims of sex trafficking. Keisha is doing well in her program and is almost finished with her GED. Names, identifying information, and case details may have been changed to respect confidentiality and protect the individuals we serve.

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Survivor Stories

Survivor Story: Forced at Gunpoint

rsdadmin — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 17:29:53 +0000

A man approached Brittany at a mall in her hometown, asked if she was looking for a job, and gave her a business card for a local restaurant he owned. When Brittany called the number on the card, the man confirmed that he was looking for waitresses to start working immediately. Brittany needed the job and asked for the restaurant’s address, but the man told her he would pick her up at the mall where they first met. Instead of going to the restaurant, the man drove her to a nearby hotel and told her that she was going to be a prostitute instead of a waitress. At gunpoint, Brittany was force to drink bottles of vodka and take blue pills that made her dizzy and disoriented. Brittany tried to look for help but was locked in the hotel room without access to a phone. After three days of being beaten, drugged, and forced to have sex with at least 60 men, Brittany managed to escape and asked the first car she saw to call the police. Polaris provided case management services to Brittany, and with time and a strong support system she was able to enroll in school. Names, identifying information, and case details may have been changed to respect confidentiality and protect the individuals we serve.

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Survivor Stories

Survivor Story: Genocide Survivor to Labor Trafficking Victim

rsdadmin — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 17:41:47 +0000

Sabine was the only member of her family to survive the genocide in Rwanda, so she agreed when a wealthy family offered her a chance to move to America with them. Shortly after arrival, however, she was imprisoned in their home; forced to work around the clock and made to sleep on the kitchen floor. Finally, after six months of servitude, Sabine was allowed to go to church for an hour each Sunday. On one visit, she was approached by a kind Rwandan man who learned of her situation and helped her escape. He took Sabine to one of our partner agencies and who immediately referred her to Polaris. Before participating in the Transitional Housing program, Sabine was afraid of everything. She did not want to leave the apartment after 4:00 p.m. because it was too dark, and was afraid to walk to the Polaris office by herself. She had never been independent in the U.S., so even going to the grocery store or using a gift card terrified her. Her Polaris Case Manager not only accompanied her when shopping, but also conducted case management sessions in her transitional housing home, where she felt safe and secure. Because of her attentive Case Manager, after only three months, she was able to visit the office on her own. She also began shopping on her own and familiarizing herself with the neighborhood. When she came to Polaris she spoke no English, but after taking English lessons she is now conversational. She became the most enthusiastic and eager student in our Job Training program, and continued to visit the center to practice the computer skills. Names, identifying information, and case details may have been changed to respect confidentiality and protect the individuals we serve.

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Survivor Stories

Survivor Story: Tricked by a Man She Trusted

rsdadmin — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 18:19:48 +0000

Several years ago, Gabriella lived in Colombia with her family and worked at a grocery store. As the eldest child, she had to provide for her mother and sisters after her father committed suicide. A childhood friend of Gabriella’s moved to the United States some years before, and he offered to help her move to America every time he visited Colombia. He promised he would help her to find work in a restaurant so she could better support her family. After a year, she agreed. The next thing she knew, Gabriella was taken to the U.S. and forced into prostitution. Not only was she held in debt bondage for $10,000, but she was told that if she tried to escape, her family would be harmed. For five long years, Gabriella lived as the property of her traffickers. She was moved to a different brothel almost every week, never knew where she was, and wasn't able to seek outside help. Unfortunately, Gabriella’s story is not unique. Polaris regularly assists victims of human trafficking who are left without homes, employment, family, or friends. Fortunately for Gabriella, Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) caught her trafficker. Gabriella was rescued through a raid that ICE did on the brothel where she was held. ICE referred her to Polaris for services. Gabriella met with one of our case managers at least once a week for much needed emotional support and comprehensive care. Polaris assisted Gabriella in finding an apartment for her and her 2-year-old daughter, helped her enroll in ESL classes, and provided her with employment assistance. Names, identifying information, and case details may have been changed to respect confidentiality and protect the individuals we serve.

Survivor Story: He Dreamed of Working in the United States

rsdadmin — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 18:22:51 +0000

Cristopher was thrilled to be fulfilling his lifelong dream to work in the United States. After his labor recruiter in the Philippines showed him a signed job offer at a resort in the Appalachian mountains, he paid them nearly $5,000 for the opportunity. But when he arrived in the U.S., he was told the job didn’t exist. He was told to get on a bus to a Gulf state and traveled for 3 days with no money for food or water. When he arrived, he had to clean hotel rooms for 15-18 hours per day at a significantly lower wage, was constantly monitored, and threatened with deportation. Cristopher was worried for his family and unsure how he would repay his debt to his recruiter. Cristopher is a client of Polaris and wanted to share his story. Names, identifying information, and case details may have been changed to respect confidentiality and protect the individuals we serve.

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Survivor Stories

Survivor Story: Samantha Shares Her Story

rsdadmin — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 18:39:51 +0000

LINK TO VIDEO Transcript: Thank you so much. Good afternoon everyone. It's my pleasure to be here, to be a part of this event. My name is Samantha, I'm a trafficking survivor. I'm here to express my gratitude and appreciation to the human trafficking hotline for give me a response and for taking quick action to help me right away. They helped me to be able to face what I have been through and now leads me to see a bright tomorrow. From my first call, I am now in the process of healing after I suffered a horrific situation. It was very hard to come forward, to tell the story of what was happening But I knew, no one else will knew what I was going through except me. I remember the pamphlets that was given to me at the embassy that had the hotline phone number on it. I couldn't understand everything on the pamphlets but I knew the number was for help if I needed. When I called the hotline, and explained my situation they made me feel so comfortable, knowing that someone was willing to help right away. They provided me an interpreter, so I could freely express myself. I told them what happened to me, and they keep the confidentiality of my identity, until I said I was ready to get help. They helped me to stand against the people who gave me an extreme hardship here in the U.S. They gave me the courage to fight for my right as a human being, and let me realize that I am also important even though I am less fortunate. To the people who are still out there in the bad situation like I was, like you I was so afraid. But the moment I talked to them on the hotline, I felt relieved. Because I felt they were ready to listen and support me. Now that I am free from the bondage of slavery I would like to share this with you. To be honest, I am not confident to speaking English because English was my second language. But while I'm working with the speech, I realized that my listeners do not need a lesson in English grammar, my listeners need to know there is hope beyond their circumstances. To people out there, you're not alone on this journey. I hope and pray that you all will be able to face this challenge bravely with the help from the people on the human trafficking hotline. When I was in the dark situation, they gave me hope. When I was so hopeless, they helped me to stand and speak up for the truth, and gave me comfort that things will get better. Through the hotline, I discovered that there are so many peoples around who that are willing to reach me with their arms open wide and continue to motivate and help me to improve. Thank you.

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Survivor Stories

[HEALTH CARE] On-Ramps, Intersections, and Exit Routes: A Roadmap for Systems and Industries to Prevent and Disrupt Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 20:03:25 +0000

Click Here to Read Full Report

Introduction

Harold D’Souza hardly seemed like an obvious candidate for a five-figure bank loan. He had only just arrived from India, with a wife, two young boys, and a job offer that turned out to be fraudulent. Yet somehow, with just a few signatures on a few dotted lines, Harold walked out the door of a bank with what would have been a small fortune had he been allowed to access it. Of course, he wasn’t. Every dime of that money went to the man who actually arranged for the loan – the trafficker. This was the same man who brought Harold to the United States with the promise of a high-paying professional job and instead forced him to work in a restaurant and live in a virtual prison of debt and desperation. Exactly how the trafficker managed to secure a loan of tens of thousands of dollars in the name of a newly arrived migrant worker with no verifiable source of income remains a mystery to Harold. Clearly though, it was not dumb luck. The trafficker knew exactly how to work within and around a highly regulated and legitimate industry – banking – to maximize the profit he made on Harold and his family. It was all part of his business plan. The man whose lies and manipulations robbed Harold of his freedom was not unique to his field. A successful trafficker, like any successful entrepreneur, begins with a business plan built on a platform of established business models and best practices. Over time, that plan is chiseled to perfection as the trafficker learns new skills and tests out innovative new ways to monetize the exploitation of human beings. As with any enterprise, the business plan of a human trafficking venture is not built in a vacuum but rather exists within an ecosystem or matrix, depending on and intersecting with a range of legitimate industries and systems – cultural, governmental, environmental. Examples are abundant. Traffickers use banks to store their earnings and buses to move their victims around; hotel rooms are integral to the operations of some sex traffickers, social media is a vital recruitment trawling ground for others. This report takes a magnifying glass to such private-sector intersections. The details matter. The more that is known about the business plans of human trafficking, the more possible it becomes to prevent and disrupt the crime and help survivors find freedom. The insights here are gleaned from those in a position to understand the nuances of each business intersection point – the survivors who lived the experience. They are not definitive scientific conclusions but rather valuable baseline narratives that can spark further exploration and collaboration from other sectors. Each set of insights is followed by detailed recommendations for turning them into action, industry by industry. Like the insights and information that precede them, these recommendations are also not intended to be definitive. They are a beginning; an invitation. What we have learned is only as valuable as the partners who join us in making the recommendations a reality – and by offering more of their own. This report builds upon Polaris’s 2017 report, The Typology of Modern Slavery, which analyzed data, gleaned from nearly 10 years of operating the National Human Trafficking Hotline, to show that human trafficking in the United States consists of 25 distinct business models. For each, the Typology report illuminated the basic operational plan - the demographics of both victims and traffickers, and how victims are recruited and controlled. The sectors explored in this report – the financial services industry, social media, transportation industry, hotels & motels, housing & homelessness systems, and health care – are not the only private businesses that intersect with human trafficking. Nor are they “to blame” in some way for human trafficking. Indeed, as you will read, many stakeholders in each of these systems and industries are already doing innovative work or making powerful commitments to becoming part of the solution. Clearly, engagement from the private sector alone is not enough. Child welfare agencies, schools and teachers, the criminal justice system, and local, state, and federal government actors are the proverbial tip of the spear, essential to the fight against human trafficking. But human trafficking is a $150 billion global industry that robs 25 million people around the world of their freedom. This report focuses on the private and public-private sector because fighting human trafficking will require participation by business and industry partners with resources at a comparable scale to the size of the problem. Participation, in this context, is not a euphemism for making donations to groups that fight human trafficking. The fight against human trafficking requires not just passive support but actual, active commitment and effort on the part of businesses that unwittingly, but regularly intersect with traffickers, victims, and survivors. The information about how each of these systems and industries are exploited by traffickers as part of their business plans comes from extensive surveys of, and focus groups with, survivors of all types of human trafficking, as well as from the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Those who participated in this work, and in the sometimes painful process of sharing their own stories, did so not to point fingers, but rather to point out opportunities. We are grateful beyond measure to those with the strength to voluntarily speak their truth, again and again, in hopes of keeping others from suffering. They did so because they know it is possible. Tanya Street lived it. As a recent high-school graduate, Tanya was vulnerable to the machinations of a pimp who showered her with love and attention, then turned her out on the street programmed to believe she was worthless, invisible, unlovable, without him. Most of the doctors at her local health care clinic simply reinforced his brainwashing. Repeatedly, she showed up with urinary tract infections that had her literally doubled over in pain. She felt frowned upon, disapproved of. No one in the emergency room asked her why this kept happening, if maybe she would like some help beyond antibiotics. She wonders what would have happened if just once during those visits, someone had asked her the right question, or offered her information about getting help or getting out. She wonders how much sooner she would have found her voice, started her life. She wonders what pain she might have avoided. Harold too knows that if someone at that bank, long ago, had done something a little differently, perhaps everything else would have been different and his family could have avoided some of the pain, fear, and trauma they live with to this day. Today, Harold and Tanya have been honorably appointed to the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. They share their experiences because they believe others truly can learn from them, and systemic change can be achieved. But they cannot be everywhere, talking to everyone, in every hospital emergency room, bus terminal, at every hotel front desk, truck stop parking lot, or monitoring the millions of social media conversations that fly through the ether at any given time. What Harold, Tanya, and all the survivors who contributed to this project have done is recognize the value of mapping the intersections where human trafficking meets legitimate businesses and systems. In doing so, they have staked out new territory, recognizing that if human trafficking is a business, requiring intense planning and depending on other businesses and partners to flourish, so too must the fight against trafficking be a collective undertaking that is painstakingly plotted and thoughtfully implemented, in partnership with the businesses that unwittingly make it possible.

[SOCIAL MEDIA] On-Ramps, Intersections, and Exit Routes: A Roadmap for Systems and Industries to Prevent and Disrupt Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 20:18:21 +0000

Click here to read full report

Introduction

Harold D’Souza hardly seemed like an obvious candidate for a five-figure bank loan. He had only just arrived from India, with a wife, two young boys, and a job offer that turned out to be fraudulent. Yet somehow, with just a few signatures on a few dotted lines, Harold walked out the door of a bank with what would have been a small fortune had he been allowed to access it. Of course, he wasn’t. Every dime of that money went to the man who actually arranged for the loan – the trafficker. This was the same man who brought Harold to the United States with the promise of a high-paying professional job and instead forced him to work in a restaurant and live in a virtual prison of debt and desperation. Exactly how the trafficker managed to secure a loan of tens of thousands of dollars in the name of a newly arrived migrant worker with no verifiable source of income remains a mystery to Harold. Clearly though, it was not dumb luck. The trafficker knew exactly how to work within and around a highly regulated and legitimate industry – banking – to maximize the profit he made on Harold and his family. It was all part of his business plan. The man whose lies and manipulations robbed Harold of his freedom was not unique to his field. A successful trafficker, like any successful entrepreneur, begins with a business plan built on a platform of established business models and best practices. Over time, that plan is chiseled to perfection as the trafficker learns new skills and tests out innovative new ways to monetize the exploitation of human beings. As with any enterprise, the business plan of a human trafficking venture is not built in a vacuum but rather exists within an ecosystem or matrix, depending on and intersecting with a range of legitimate industries and systems – cultural, governmental, environmental. Examples are abundant. Traffickers use banks to store their earnings and buses to move their victims around; hotel rooms are integral to the operations of some sex traffickers, social media is a vital recruitment trawling ground for others. This report takes a magnifying glass to such private-sector intersections. The details matter. The more that is known about the business plans of human trafficking, the more possible it becomes to prevent and disrupt the crime and help survivors find freedom. The insights here are gleaned from those in a position to understand the nuances of each business intersection point – the survivors who lived the experience. They are not definitive scientific conclusions but rather valuable baseline narratives that can spark further exploration and collaboration from other sectors. Each set of insights is followed by detailed recommendations for turning them into action, industry by industry. Like the insights and information that precede them, these recommendations are also not intended to be definitive. They are a beginning; an invitation. What we have learned is only as valuable as the partners who join us in making the recommendations a reality – and by offering more of their own. This report builds upon Polaris’s 2017 report, The Typology of Modern Slavery, which analyzed data, gleaned from nearly 10 years of operating the National Human Trafficking Hotline, to show that human trafficking in the United States consists of 25 distinct business models. For each, the Typology report illuminated the basic operational plan - the demographics of both victims and traffickers, and how victims are recruited and controlled. The sectors explored in this report – the financial services industry, social media, transportation industry, hotels & motels, housing & homelessness systems, and health care – are not the only private businesses that intersect with human trafficking. Nor are they “to blame” in some way for human trafficking. Indeed, as you will read, many stakeholders in each of these systems and industries are already doing innovative work or making powerful commitments to becoming part of the solution. Clearly, engagement from the private sector alone is not enough. Child welfare agencies, schools and teachers, the criminal justice system, and local, state, and federal government actors are the proverbial tip of the spear, essential to the fight against human trafficking. But human trafficking is a $150 billion global industry that robs 25 million people around the world of their freedom. This report focuses on the private and public-private sector because fighting human trafficking will require participation by business and industry partners with resources at a comparable scale to the size of the problem. Participation, in this context, is not a euphemism for making donations to groups that fight human trafficking. The fight against human trafficking requires not just passive support but actual, active commitment and effort on the part of businesses that unwittingly, but regularly intersect with traffickers, victims, and survivors. The information about how each of these systems and industries are exploited by traffickers as part of their business plans comes from extensive surveys of, and focus groups with, survivors of all types of human trafficking, as well as from the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Those who participated in this work, and in the sometimes painful process of sharing their own stories, did so not to point fingers, but rather to point out opportunities. We are grateful beyond measure to those with the strength to voluntarily speak their truth, again and again, in hopes of keeping others from suffering. They did so because they know it is possible. Tanya Street lived it. As a recent high-school graduate, Tanya was vulnerable to the machinations of a pimp who showered her with love and attention, then turned her out on the street programmed to believe she was worthless, invisible, unlovable, without him. Most of the doctors at her local health care clinic simply reinforced his brainwashing. Repeatedly, she showed up with urinary tract infections that had her literally doubled over in pain. She felt frowned upon, disapproved of. No one in the emergency room asked her why this kept happening, if maybe she would like some help beyond antibiotics. She wonders what would have happened if just once during those visits, someone had asked her the right question, or offered her information about getting help or getting out. She wonders how much sooner she would have found her voice, started her life. She wonders what pain she might have avoided. Harold too knows that if someone at that bank, long ago, had done something a little differently, perhaps everything else would have been different and his family could have avoided some of the pain, fear, and trauma they live with to this day.Today, Harold and Tanya have been honorably appointed to the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. They share their experiences because they believe others truly can learn from them, and systemic change can be achieved. But they cannot be everywhere, talking to everyone, in every hospital emergency room, bus terminal, at every hotel front desk, truck stop parking lot, or monitoring the millions of social media conversations that fly through the ether at any given time. What Harold, Tanya, and all the survivors who contributed to this project have done is recognize the value of mapping the intersections where human trafficking meets legitimate businesses and systems. In doing so, they have staked out new territory, recognizing that if human trafficking is a business, requiring intense planning and depending on other businesses and partners to flourish, so too must the fight against trafficking be a collective undertaking that is painstakingly plotted and thoughtfully implemented, in partnership with the businesses that unwittingly make it possible.

[Hotels & Motels] On-Ramps, Intersections, and Exit Routes: A Roadmap for Systems and Industries to Prevent and Disrupt Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 15:06:43 +0000

Click Here To Read Full Report

Introduction

Harold D’Souza hardly seemed like an obvious candidate for a five-figure bank loan. He had only just arrived from India, with a wife, two young boys, and a job offer that turned out to be fraudulent. Yet somehow, with just a few signatures on a few dotted lines, Harold walked out the door of a bank with what would have been a small fortune had he been allowed to access it. Of course, he wasn’t. Every dime of that money went to the man who actually arranged for the loan – the trafficker. This was the same man who brought Harold to the United States with the promise of a high-paying professional job and instead forced him to work in a restaurant and live in a virtual prison of debt and desperation. Exactly how the trafficker managed to secure a loan of tens of thousands of dollars in the name of a newly arrived migrant worker with no verifiable source of income remains a mystery to Harold. Clearly though, it was not dumb luck. The trafficker knew exactly how to work within and around a highly regulated and legitimate industry – banking – to maximize the profit he made on Harold and his family. It was all part of his business plan. The man whose lies and manipulations robbed Harold of his freedom was not unique to his field. A successful trafficker, like any successful entrepreneur, begins with a business plan built on a platform of established business models and best practices. Over time, that plan is chiseled to perfection as the trafficker learns new skills and tests out innovative new ways to monetize the exploitation of human beings. As with any enterprise, the business plan of a human trafficking venture is not built in a vacuum but rather exists within an ecosystem or matrix, depending on and intersecting with a range of legitimate industries and systems – cultural, governmental, environmental. Examples are abundant. Traffickers use banks to store their earnings and buses to move their victims around; hotel rooms are integral to the operations of some sex traffickers, social media is a vital recruitment trawling ground for others. This report takes a magnifying glass to such private-sector intersections. The details matter. The more that is known about the business plans of human trafficking, the more possible it becomes to prevent and disrupt the crime and help survivors find freedom. The insights here are gleaned from those in a position to understand the nuances of each business intersection point – the survivors who lived the experience. They are not definitive scientific conclusions but rather valuable baseline narratives that can spark further exploration and collaboration from other sectors. Each set of insights is followed by detailed recommendations for turning them into action, industry by industry. Like the insights and information that precede them, these recommendations are also not intended to be definitive. They are a beginning; an invitation. What we have learned is only as valuable as the partners who join us in making the recommendations a reality – and by offering more of their own. This report builds upon Polaris’s 2017 report, The Typology of Modern Slavery, which analyzed data, gleaned from nearly 10 years of operating the National Human Trafficking Hotline, to show that human trafficking in the United States consists of 25 distinct business models. For each, the Typology report illuminated the basic operational plan - the demographics of both victims and traffickers, and how victims are recruited and controlled. The sectors explored in this report – the financial services industry, social media, transportation industry, hotels & motels, housing & homelessness systems, and health care – are not the only private businesses that intersect with human trafficking. Nor are they “to blame” in some way for human trafficking. Indeed, as you will read, many stakeholders in each of these systems and industries are already doing innovative work or making powerful commitments to becoming part of the solution. Clearly, engagement from the private sector alone is not enough. Child welfare agencies, schools and teachers, the criminal justice system, and local, state, and federal government actors are the proverbial tip of the spear, essential to the fight against human trafficking. But human trafficking is a $150 billion global industry that robs 25 million people around the world of their freedom. This report focuses on the private and public-private sector because fighting human trafficking will require participation by business and industry partners with resources at a comparable scale to the size of the problem. Participation, in this context, is not a euphemism for making donations to groups that fight human trafficking. The fight against human trafficking requires not just passive support but actual, active commitment and effort on the part of businesses that unwittingly, but regularly intersect with traffickers, victims, and survivors. The information about how each of these systems and industries are exploited by traffickers as part of their business plans comes from extensive surveys of, and focus groups with, survivors of all types of human trafficking, as well as from the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Those who participated in this work, and in the sometimes painful process of sharing their own stories, did so not to point fingers, but rather to point out opportunities. We are grateful beyond measure to those with the strength to voluntarily speak their truth, again and again, in hopes of keeping others from suffering. They did so because they know it is possible. Tanya Street lived it. As a recent high-school graduate, Tanya was vulnerable to the machinations of a pimp who showered her with love and attention, then turned her out on the street programmed to believe she was worthless, invisible, unlovable, without him. Most of the doctors at her local health care clinic simply reinforced his brainwashing. Repeatedly, she showed up with urinary tract infections that had her literally doubled over in pain. She felt frowned upon, disapproved of. No one in the emergency room asked her why this kept happening, if maybe she would like some help beyond antibiotics. She wonders what would have happened if just once during those visits, someone had asked her the right question, or offered her information about getting help or getting out. She wonders how much sooner she would have found her voice, started her life. She wonders what pain she might have avoided. Harold too knows that if someone at that bank, long ago, had done something a little differently, perhaps everything else would have been different and his family could have avoided some of the pain, fear, and trauma they live with to this day.Today, Harold and Tanya have been honorably appointed to the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. They share their experiences because they believe others truly can learn from them, and systemic change can be achieved. But they cannot be everywhere, talking to everyone, in every hospital emergency room, bus terminal, at every hotel front desk, truck stop parking lot, or monitoring the millions of social media conversations that fly through the ether at any given time. What Harold, Tanya, and all the survivors who contributed to this project have done is recognize the value of mapping the intersections where human trafficking meets legitimate businesses and systems. In doing so, they have staked out new territory, recognizing that if human trafficking is a business, requiring intense planning and depending on other businesses and partners to flourish, so too must the fight against trafficking be a collective undertaking that is painstakingly plotted and thoughtfully implemented, in partnership with the businesses that unwittingly make it possible.

[Financial Services Industry] On-Ramps, Intersections, and Exit Routes: A Roadmap for Systems and Industries to Prevent and Disrupt Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 15:50:41 +0000

Click Here To Read Full Report

Introduction

Harold D’Souza hardly seemed like an obvious candidate for a five-figure bank loan. He had only just arrived from India, with a wife, two young boys, and a job offer that turned out to be fraudulent. Yet somehow, with just a few signatures on a few dotted lines, Harold walked out the door of a bank with what would have been a small fortune had he been allowed to access it. Of course, he wasn’t. Every dime of that money went to the man who actually arranged for the loan – the trafficker. This was the same man who brought Harold to the United States with the promise of a high-paying professional job and instead forced him to work in a restaurant and live in a virtual prison of debt and desperation. Exactly how the trafficker managed to secure a loan of tens of thousands of dollars in the name of a newly arrived migrant worker with no verifiable source of income remains a mystery to Harold. Clearly though, it was not dumb luck. The trafficker knew exactly how to work within and around a highly regulated and legitimate industry – banking – to maximize the profit he made on Harold and his family. It was all part of his business plan. The man whose lies and manipulations robbed Harold of his freedom was not unique to his field. A successful trafficker, like any successful entrepreneur, begins with a business plan built on a platform of established business models and best practices. Over time, that plan is chiseled to perfection as the trafficker learns new skills and tests out innovative new ways to monetize the exploitation of human beings. As with any enterprise, the business plan of a human trafficking venture is not built in a vacuum but rather exists within an ecosystem or matrix, depending on and intersecting with a range of legitimate industries and systems – cultural, governmental, environmental. Examples are abundant. Traffickers use banks to store their earnings and buses to move their victims around; hotel rooms are integral to the operations of some sex traffickers, social media is a vital recruitment trawling ground for others. This report takes a magnifying glass to such private-sector intersections. The details matter. The more that is known about the business plans of human trafficking, the more possible it becomes to prevent and disrupt the crime and help survivors find freedom. The insights here are gleaned from those in a position to understand the nuances of each business intersection point – the survivors who lived the experience. They are not definitive scientific conclusions but rather valuable baseline narratives that can spark further exploration and collaboration from other sectors. Each set of insights is followed by detailed recommendations for turning them into action, industry by industry. Like the insights and information that precede them, these recommendations are also not intended to be definitive. They are a beginning; an invitation. What we have learned is only as valuable as the partners who join us in making the recommendations a reality – and by offering more of their own. This report builds upon Polaris’s 2017 report, The Typology of Modern Slavery, which analyzed data, gleaned from nearly 10 years of operating the National Human Trafficking Hotline, to show that human trafficking in the United States consists of 25 distinct business models. For each, the Typology report illuminated the basic operational plan - the demographics of both victims and traffickers, and how victims are recruited and controlled. The sectors explored in this report – the financial services industry, social media, transportation industry, hotels & motels, housing & homelessness systems, and health care – are not the only private businesses that intersect with human trafficking. Nor are they “to blame” in some way for human trafficking. Indeed, as you will read, many stakeholders in each of these systems and industries are already doing innovative work or making powerful commitments to becoming part of the solution. Clearly, engagement from the private sector alone is not enough. Child welfare agencies, schools and teachers, the criminal justice system, and local, state, and federal government actors are the proverbial tip of the spear, essential to the fight against human trafficking. But human trafficking is a $150 billion global industry that robs 25 million people around the world of their freedom. This report focuses on the private and public-private sector because fighting human trafficking will require participation by business and industry partners with resources at a comparable scale to the size of the problem. Participation, in this context, is not a euphemism for making donations to groups that fight human trafficking. The fight against human trafficking requires not just passive support but actual, active commitment and effort on the part of businesses that unwittingly, but regularly intersect with traffickers, victims, and survivors. The information about how each of these systems and industries are exploited by traffickers as part of their business plans comes from extensive surveys of, and focus groups with, survivors of all types of human trafficking, as well as from the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Those who participated in this work, and in the sometimes painful process of sharing their own stories, did so not to point fingers, but rather to point out opportunities. We are grateful beyond measure to those with the strength to voluntarily speak their truth, again and again, in hopes of keeping others from suffering. They did so because they know it is possible. Tanya Street lived it. As a recent high-school graduate, Tanya was vulnerable to the machinations of a pimp who showered her with love and attention, then turned her out on the street programmed to believe she was worthless, invisible, unlovable, without him. Most of the doctors at her local health care clinic simply reinforced his brainwashing. Repeatedly, she showed up with urinary tract infections that had her literally doubled over in pain. She felt frowned upon, disapproved of. No one in the emergency room asked her why this kept happening, if maybe she would like some help beyond antibiotics. She wonders what would have happened if just once during those visits, someone had asked her the right question, or offered her information about getting help or getting out. She wonders how much sooner she would have found her voice, started her life. She wonders what pain she might have avoided. Harold too knows that if someone at that bank, long ago, had done something a little differently, perhaps everything else would have been different and his family could have avoided some of the pain, fear, and trauma they live with to this day.Today, Harold and Tanya have been honorably appointed to the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. They share their experiences because they believe others truly can learn from them, and systemic change can be achieved. But they cannot be everywhere, talking to everyone, in every hospital emergency room, bus terminal, at every hotel front desk, truck stop parking lot, or monitoring the millions of social media conversations that fly through the ether at any given time. What Harold, Tanya, and all the survivors who contributed to this project have done is recognize the value of mapping the intersections where human trafficking meets legitimate businesses and systems. In doing so, they have staked out new territory, recognizing that if human trafficking is a business, requiring intense planning and depending on other businesses and partners to flourish, so too must the fight against trafficking be a collective undertaking that is painstakingly plotted and thoughtfully implemented, in partnership with the businesses that unwittingly make it possible.

[Housing & Homelessness Systems] On-Ramps, Intersections, and Exit Routes: A Roadmap for Systems and Industries to Prevent and Disrupt Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 20:14:08 +0000

Click Here to Read the Whole Report

Introduction

Harold D’Souza hardly seemed like an obvious candidate for a five-figure bank loan. He had only just arrived from India, with a wife, two young boys, and a job offer that turned out to be fraudulent. Yet somehow, with just a few signatures on a few dotted lines, Harold walked out the door of a bank with what would have been a small fortune had he been allowed to access it. Of course, he wasn’t. Every dime of that money went to the man who actually arranged for the loan – the trafficker. This was the same man who brought Harold to the United States with the promise of a high-paying professional job and instead forced him to work in a restaurant and live in a virtual prison of debt and desperation. Exactly how the trafficker managed to secure a loan of tens of thousands of dollars in the name of a newly arrived migrant worker with no verifiable source of income remains a mystery to Harold. Clearly though, it was not dumb luck. The trafficker knew exactly how to work within and around a highly regulated and legitimate industry – banking – to maximize the profit he made on Harold and his family. It was all part of his business plan. The man whose lies and manipulations robbed Harold of his freedom was not unique to his field. A successful trafficker, like any successful entrepreneur, begins with a business plan built on a platform of established business models and best practices. Over time, that plan is chiseled to perfection as the trafficker learns new skills and tests out innovative new ways to monetize the exploitation of human beings. As with any enterprise, the business plan of a human trafficking venture is not built in a vacuum but rather exists within an ecosystem or matrix, depending on and intersecting with a range of legitimate industries and systems – cultural, governmental, environmental. Examples are abundant. Traffickers use banks to store their earnings and buses to move their victims around; hotel rooms are integral to the operations of some sex traffickers, social media is a vital recruitment trawling ground for others. This report takes a magnifying glass to such private-sector intersections. The details matter. The more that is known about the business plans of human trafficking, the more possible it becomes to prevent and disrupt the crime and help survivors find freedom. The insights here are gleaned from those in a position to understand the nuances of each business intersection point – the survivors who lived the experience. They are not definitive scientific conclusions but rather valuable baseline narratives that can spark further exploration and collaboration from other sectors. Each set of insights is followed by detailed recommendations for turning them into action, industry by industry. Like the insights and information that precede them, these recommendations are also not intended to be definitive. They are a beginning; an invitation. What we have learned is only as valuable as the partners who join us in making the recommendations a reality – and by offering more of their own. This report builds upon Polaris’s 2017 report, The Typology of Modern Slavery, which analyzed data, gleaned from nearly 10 years of operating the National Human Trafficking Hotline, to show that human trafficking in the United States consists of 25 distinct business models. For each, the Typology report illuminated the basic operational plan - the demographics of both victims and traffickers, and how victims are recruited and controlled. The sectors explored in this report – the financial services industry, social media, transportation industry, hotels & motels, housing & homelessness systems, and health care – are not the only private businesses that intersect with human trafficking. Nor are they “to blame” in some way for human trafficking. Indeed, as you will read, many stakeholders in each of these systems and industries are already doing innovative work or making powerful commitments to becoming part of the solution. Clearly, engagement from the private sector alone is not enough. Child welfare agencies, schools and teachers, the criminal justice system, and local, state, and federal government actors are the proverbial tip of the spear, essential to the fight against human trafficking. But human trafficking is a $150 billion global industry that robs 25 million people around the world of their freedom. This report focuses on the private and public-private sector because fighting human trafficking will require participation by business and industry partners with resources at a comparable scale to the size of the problem. Participation, in this context, is not a euphemism for making donations to groups that fight human trafficking. The fight against human trafficking requires not just passive support but actual, active commitment and effort on the part of businesses that unwittingly, but regularly intersect with traffickers, victims, and survivors. The information about how each of these systems and industries are exploited by traffickers as part of their business plans comes from extensive surveys of, and focus groups with, survivors of all types of human trafficking, as well as from the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Those who participated in this work, and in the sometimes painful process of sharing their own stories, did so not to point fingers, but rather to point out opportunities. We are grateful beyond measure to those with the strength to voluntarily speak their truth, again and again, in hopes of keeping others from suffering. They did so because they know it is possible. Tanya Street lived it. As a recent high-school graduate, Tanya was vulnerable to the machinations of a pimp who showered her with love and attention, then turned her out on the street programmed to believe she was worthless, invisible, unlovable, without him. Most of the doctors at her local health care clinic simply reinforced his brainwashing. Repeatedly, she showed up with urinary tract infections that had her literally doubled over in pain. She felt frowned upon, disapproved of. No one in the emergency room asked her why this kept happening, if maybe she would like some help beyond antibiotics. She wonders what would have happened if just once during those visits, someone had asked her the right question, or offered her information about getting help or getting out. She wonders how much sooner she would have found her voice, started her life. She wonders what pain she might have avoided. Harold too knows that if someone at that bank, long ago, had done something a little differently, perhaps everything else would have been different and his family could have avoided some of the pain, fear, and trauma they live with to this day.Today, Harold and Tanya have been honorably appointed to the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. They share their experiences because they believe others truly can learn from them, and systemic change can be achieved. But they cannot be everywhere, talking to everyone, in every hospital emergency room, bus terminal, at every hotel front desk, truck stop parking lot, or monitoring the millions of social media conversations that fly through the ether at any given time. What Harold, Tanya, and all the survivors who contributed to this project have done is recognize the value of mapping the intersections where human trafficking meets legitimate businesses and systems. In doing so, they have staked out new territory, recognizing that if human trafficking is a business, requiring intense planning and depending on other businesses and partners to flourish, so too must the fight against trafficking be a collective undertaking that is painstakingly plotted and thoughtfully implemented, in partnership with the businesses that unwittingly make it possible.

[Transportation Industry] On-Ramps, Intersections, and Exit Routes: A Roadmap for Systems and Industries to Prevent and Disrupt Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 20:21:06 +0000

Click Here to Read Full Report

Introduction

Harold D’Souza hardly seemed like an obvious candidate for a five-figure bank loan. He had only just arrived from India, with a wife, two young boys, and a job offer that turned out to be fraudulent. Yet somehow, with just a few signatures on a few dotted lines, Harold walked out the door of a bank with what would have been a small fortune had he been allowed to access it. Of course, he wasn’t. Every dime of that money went to the man who actually arranged for the loan – the trafficker. This was the same man who brought Harold to the United States with the promise of a high-paying professional job and instead forced him to work in a restaurant and live in a virtual prison of debt and desperation. Exactly how the trafficker managed to secure a loan of tens of thousands of dollars in the name of a newly arrived migrant worker with no verifiable source of income remains a mystery to Harold. Clearly though, it was not dumb luck. The trafficker knew exactly how to work within and around a highly regulated and legitimate industry – banking – to maximize the profit he made on Harold and his family. It was all part of his business plan. The man whose lies and manipulations robbed Harold of his freedom was not unique to his field. A successful trafficker, like any successful entrepreneur, begins with a business plan built on a platform of established business models and best practices. Over time, that plan is chiseled to perfection as the trafficker learns new skills and tests out innovative new ways to monetize the exploitation of human beings. As with any enterprise, the business plan of a human trafficking venture is not built in a vacuum but rather exists within an ecosystem or matrix, depending on and intersecting with a range of legitimate industries and systems – cultural, governmental, environmental. Examples are abundant. Traffickers use banks to store their earnings and buses to move their victims around; hotel rooms are integral to the operations of some sex traffickers, social media is a vital recruitment trawling ground for others. This report takes a magnifying glass to such private-sector intersections. The details matter. The more that is known about the business plans of human trafficking, the more possible it becomes to prevent and disrupt the crime and help survivors find freedom. The insights here are gleaned from those in a position to understand the nuances of each business intersection point – the survivors who lived the experience. They are not definitive scientific conclusions but rather valuable baseline narratives that can spark further exploration and collaboration from other sectors. Each set of insights is followed by detailed recommendations for turning them into action, industry by industry. Like the insights and information that precede them, these recommendations are also not intended to be definitive. They are a beginning; an invitation. What we have learned is only as valuable as the partners who join us in making the recommendations a reality – and by offering more of their own. This report builds upon Polaris’s 2017 report, The Typology of Modern Slavery, which analyzed data, gleaned from nearly 10 years of operating the National Human Trafficking Hotline, to show that human trafficking in the United States consists of 25 distinct business models. For each, the Typology report illuminated the basic operational plan - the demographics of both victims and traffickers, and how victims are recruited and controlled. The sectors explored in this report – the financial services industry, social media, transportation industry, hotels & motels, housing & homelessness systems, and health care – are not the only private businesses that intersect with human trafficking. Nor are they “to blame” in some way for human trafficking. Indeed, as you will read, many stakeholders in each of these systems and industries are already doing innovative work or making powerful commitments to becoming part of the solution. Clearly, engagement from the private sector alone is not enough. Child welfare agencies, schools and teachers, the criminal justice system, and local, state, and federal government actors are the proverbial tip of the spear, essential to the fight against human trafficking. But human trafficking is a $150 billion global industry that robs 25 million people around the world of their freedom. This report focuses on the private and public-private sector because fighting human trafficking will require participation by business and industry partners with resources at a comparable scale to the size of the problem. Participation, in this context, is not a euphemism for making donations to groups that fight human trafficking. The fight against human trafficking requires not just passive support but actual, active commitment and effort on the part of businesses that unwittingly, but regularly intersect with traffickers, victims, and survivors. The information about how each of these systems and industries are exploited by traffickers as part of their business plans comes from extensive surveys of, and focus groups with, survivors of all types of human trafficking, as well as from the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Those who participated in this work, and in the sometimes painful process of sharing their own stories, did so not to point fingers, but rather to point out opportunities. We are grateful beyond measure to those with the strength to voluntarily speak their truth, again and again, in hopes of keeping others from suffering. They did so because they know it is possible. Tanya Street lived it. As a recent high-school graduate, Tanya was vulnerable to the machinations of a pimp who showered her with love and attention, then turned her out on the street programmed to believe she was worthless, invisible, unlovable, without him. Most of the doctors at her local health care clinic simply reinforced his brainwashing. Repeatedly, she showed up with urinary tract infections that had her literally doubled over in pain. She felt frowned upon, disapproved of. No one in the emergency room asked her why this kept happening, if maybe she would like some help beyond antibiotics. She wonders what would have happened if just once during those visits, someone had asked her the right question, or offered her information about getting help or getting out. She wonders how much sooner she would have found her voice, started her life. She wonders what pain she might have avoided. Harold too knows that if someone at that bank, long ago, had done something a little differently, perhaps everything else would have been different and his family could have avoided some of the pain, fear, and trauma they live with to this day.Today, Harold and Tanya have been honorably appointed to the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. They share their experiences because they believe others truly can learn from them, and systemic change can be achieved. But they cannot be everywhere, talking to everyone, in every hospital emergency room, bus terminal, at every hotel front desk, truck stop parking lot, or monitoring the millions of social media conversations that fly through the ether at any given time. What Harold, Tanya, and all the survivors who contributed to this project have done is recognize the value of mapping the intersections where human trafficking meets legitimate businesses and systems. In doing so, they have staked out new territory, recognizing that if human trafficking is a business, requiring intense planning and depending on other businesses and partners to flourish, so too must the fight against trafficking be a collective undertaking that is painstakingly plotted and thoughtfully implemented, in partnership with the businesses that unwittingly make it possible.

Polaris Project: Human Trafficking Statistics

rsdadmin — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 14:32:51 +0000

The Facts

Although slavery is commonly thought to be a thing of the past, human traffickers generate hundreds of billions of dollars in profits by trapping millions of people in horrific situations around the world, including here in the U.S. Traffickers use violence, threats, deception, debt bondage, and other manipulative tactics to force people to engage in commercial sex or to provide labor or services against their will. While more research is needed on the scope of human trafficking, below are a few key statistics:

The International Labour Organization estimates that there are 40.3 million victims of human trafficking globally.
- 81% of them are trapped in forced labor.
- 25% of them are children.
- 75% are women and girls.
The International Labor Organization estimates that forced labor and human trafficking is a $150 billion industry worldwide.
The U.S. Department of Labor has identified 139 goods from 75 countries made by forced and child labor.
In 2016, an estimated 1 out of 6 endangered runaways reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children were likely child sex trafficking victims.
- Of those, 86% were in the care of social services or foster care when they ran.
There is no official estimate of the total number of human trafficking victims in the U.S. Polaris estimates that the total number of victims nationally reaches into the hundreds of thousands when estimates of both adults and minors and sex trafficking and labor trafficking are aggregated.

Statistics from the National Human Trafficking Hotline and Polaris BeFree Textline

More than 40,000 total cases of human trafficking have been reported to the Hotline in the last 10 years.
The Hotline annually receives multiple reports of human trafficking cases in each of the 50 states and D.C. Read more Hotline statistics here.
The number of human trafficking cases that Polaris learns about in the U.S. increases every year. Review our 2017 statistics fact sheet here.
20% of texting conversations on the Polaris BeFree Textline were from survivors of human trafficking compared to 13% of phone calls on the Hotline. Read Polaris BeFree Textline statistics here.
The Hotline receives an average of 90 calls per day. Read stories of survivors who called the hotline for help.

Human Trafficking on Temporary Work Visas: A Data Analysis 2015-2017

rsdadmin — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 14:45:41 +0000

Click here to read the full report

Introduction

This report analyzes data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline and spotlights how human traffickers are weaponizing structural flaws within the temporary work visa system. A total of 797 individual victims of human trafficking holding guest worker visas were identified through the Hotline from 2015 to 2017. In fact, nearly half of all the victims of labor trafficking reported to the National Hotline during this period whose immigration status was identified were foreign nationals holding legal visas.

The report details with new data how human traffickers are exploiting workers on the H-2A, H-2B, and other popular temporary work visas largely through tactics that are built into the structure of the visa programs. Specifically, the threat of deportation is one of the most powerful weapons for traffickers to control victims. The vast majority of temporary visas are “tied” to a single employer, meaning that the worker is immediately deportable if he or she leaves the job with that employer. The practice of foreign labor recruiters charging workers recruitment fees for everything from filing paperwork to travel services can to lead to unmanageable debts that become the foundation for economic control.

Hidden in Plain Sight: How Corporate Secrecy Facilitates Human Trafficking in Illicit Massage Parlors

rsdadmin — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 15:56:45 +0000

Click Here to Read the Full Report

Introduction

Illicit massage businesses, commonly known as “massage parlors,” have been ubiquitous in the American landscape for decades. Today, new research finds an estimated 9,000-plus of these businesses are operating in every state in the country, with earnings totaling nearly $2.5 billion a year across the industry. What is unique about this form of trafficking is that massage parlor traffickers actually go through the process of registering their businesses as if they were legitimate. Conceivably then, it should be relatively simple to determine the basics about these businesses — such as what products or services they provide and who ultimately controls and makes money from the business. The actual or “beneficial” owner would then in most cases be the trafficker and could be prosecuted as such. In reality, the laws governing business registration are almost tailor-made for massage parlor traffickers to hide behind.

NO VACANCY FOR CHILD SEX TRAFFICKERS IMPACT REPORT

rsdadmin — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 15:46:05 +0000

Introduction

Child sex trafficking is a problem across the United States. Children as young as 12 and 13 are integrated into the sex industry and are bought and sold alongside adults. While the hospitality industry is not responsible for the exploitation, it does have an important role to play in helping to stop it. Thirteen years ago ECPATUSA set out to engage the United States travel and tourism industry in protecting children from sex trafficking. This report shows the results of that effort. An evaluation study conducted by the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service has collected data demonstrating the results of this work. We now know that half of all hotels in the U.S. have training about how to prevent and disrupt child sex trafficking and at least 35% of those have ECPAT-USA training. Additionally, most hotel properties received training from their parent companies, which reinforces the efficacy of partnering with hospitality brands to reach properties on the ground level. This impact report described has four sections. The first is a discussion about why and how ECPATUSA works with the hospitality industry. The second section is a description of the resources and tools that are now available to the hospitality industry throughout the United States. These have been made possible because of the industry’s willingness to invest resources into creating and disseminating them. The third section is a description of the extent and impact of training now available to the hospitality industry in the U.S. The fourth and final section contains recommendations for how to continue and expand the success that has been achieved Read the full report here

Ending Child Marriage Meeting the Global Development Goals’ Promise to Girls

rsdadmin — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 19:03:32 +0000

Sharon J.’s marriage at age 14 in Tanzania dashed her hopes for the future: “My dream was to study to be a journalist. Until today, when I watch news or listen to the radio and someone is reading news, it causes me a lot of pain because I wish it were me.” Around the world, marriage is often idealized as ushering in love, happiness, and security. But for Sharon and other girls, getting married is often one of the worst things that can happen. Roughly one in three girls in the developing world marries before age 18; one in nine marries before turning 15. Human Rights Watch investigations in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Malawi, Nepal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Yemen, and Zimbabwe have found that early marriage has dire life-long consequences—often completely halting or crippling a girl’s ability to realize a wide range of human rights. Leaving school early both contributes to, and results from, marrying young. Other impacts include marital rape, heightened risk of domestic violence, poor access to decent work, exploitation doing unpaid labor, risk of HIV transmission, and a range of health problems due to early childbearing. At present, unprecedented attention is being paid to child marriage globally. Prominent voices in and out of government—including those of Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister of Bangladesh, and Joyce Banda, the former president of Malawi—have publicly committed to fight child marriage in their countries. But change is often incremental, and promises do not always lead to effective action. Despite setting a goal of ending child marriage in Bangladesh by 2041, Sheikh Hasina has also proposed legislation that would lower the age of marriage for girls to 16 from the current age of 18. In April 2015, Malawi adopted a new law setting the minimum age of marriage at 18; however, it does not override the constitution, which does not explicitly prohibit child marriage under 15, and allows 15- to 18-year-olds to marry with parental consent. International donors, United Nations agencies, and civil society groups, including Girls Not Brides, a coalition of more than 500 organizations worldwide, have also rallied behind the cause. The challenges are formidable. Child marriage—fueled by poverty and deeply rooted norms that undervalue and discriminate against girls—will not disappear if the concerted attention it now enjoys subsides in favor of the next hot-button issue. A recent development may help sustain attention: the UN Sustainable Development Goals adopted in September 2015 include eliminating child marriage as a key target by 2030 for advancing gender equality. Meeting this target requires a combination of approaches that have proved difficult to achieve for other women’s rights issues: a commitment of political will and resources over many years; willingness to acknowledge adolescent girls’ sexuality and empower them with information and choices; and true coordination across various sectors, including education, health, justice, and economic development. Tackling the Roots of Child Marriage I faced a lot of problems in marriage. I was young and did not know how to be a wife. I was pregnant, had to look after my husband, do housework, deal with in-laws, and work on the farm. My worst time was when I was pregnant; I had to do all this and deal with a pregnancy while I was just a child myself. —Elina V., married at age 15, Malawi The main causes of child marriage vary across regions and communities but often center around control over girls’ sexuality. In some countries, such as Tanzania, Human Rights Watch interviewed many girls who said they felt forced to marry after becoming pregnant. In other countries, such as Bangladesh, parents hasten a daughter’s marriage to avoid the risk that she will be sexually harassed, romantically involved, or simply perceived as romantically involved, prior to marriage. A common thread is that most girls—economically dependent, with little autonomy or support, and pressured by social norms—feel they had no choice but to comply with their parents’ wishes. Discriminatory gender norms in many places, including traditions that dictate that a girl live with her husband’s family, while a boy remains with and financially supports his parents, contributes to perceptions that daughters are an economic burden while sons are a long-term investment. Poor access to quality education is another contributing factor. When schools are too far away, too expensive, or the journey too dangerous, families often pull out their girls or they drop out on their own and are subsequently much more likely to be married off. Even when schools are accessible, teacher absenteeism and poor quality education can mean that neither girls nor their parents feel it is worth the time or expense. Girls may also be kept out of school because they are expected to work instead—either in the home, or sometimes as paid labor from young ages. These same drawbacks, combined with lack of support from school administrators or from husbands and in-laws, often prevent married girls from continuing their education. Many girls and their families cite poverty and dowry as another factor for marriage. The stress of “another mouth to feed” hastens some parents’ decisions to marry off their daughters early. In Bangladesh, where a girl’s parents pay dowry to the groom, the younger the girl, the lower the dowry—meaning that some poor families believe that if they don’t marry their daughters early they will not be able to marry them at all. In contrast, in South Sudan, the girl’s family will receive dowry from the groom, either in the form of cattle, an important economic asset, or money. For example, Ayen C., from Bor County, said, “My husband paid 75 cows as dowry for me. We never talked or courted before we got married. When I learned about the marriage, I felt very bitter. I told my father, ‘I don’t want to go to this man.’ He said, ‘I have loved the cattle that this man has, you will marry him.’” Many girls have miserably little access to sexual and reproductive health information and services—whether on how one gets pregnant, reliable contraception methods, protection against sexually transmitted infections, prenatal services, or emergency obstetric care. As a result, child marriage is closely linked to early—and risky—childbearing. The consequences can be fatal: complications from pregnancy and childbirth are the secondleading cause of death for girls ages 15 to 19 globally. In other cases, the stress of delivery in physically immature bodies can cause obstetric fistulas, a tear between a girl’s vagina and rectum that results in constant leaking of urine and feces. Girls suffering this condition are often ostracized and abandoned by their families and communities. According to 2013 data, 74 percent of new HIV infections among African adolescents are in girls, many of them in the context of marriage where limited agency in the relationship and pressure to have children contribute to lack of condom use. Domestic violence is another risk of marriage, perpetrated by a girl’s husband or in-laws, including psychological, physical, and sexual violence, such as marital rape. While not all child marriages are marked by domestic violence, the risk increases when there are large age gaps between a girl and her husband. Many countries fail to criminalize marital rape, and even when it is a crime, child brides have little ability to seek help. And in general, limited information about their rights, lack of access to services especially legal assistance and emergency shelters, discriminatory divorce, inheritance, and custody laws, and rejection from their own families, can leave many trapped in abusive marriages with no means of escape. Armed conflict heightens girls’ risk of child marriage and other abuses. For example, forced marriage of girls is a devastating tactic of war used by extremist groups such as Islamic State (also known as ISIS) and Nigeria’s Boko Haram. Human Rights Watch interviewed Yezidi girls in Iraq who gave harrowing accounts of being captured, separated from their families, and bought and sold into sexual slavery. One young woman who escaped described being taken to a wedding hall with 60 girls and women where ISIS fighters told them to “forget about your relatives, from now on you will marry us, bear our children.” Environmental factors also play a role. Poor families living in areas at high risk of natural disaster, including as a result of climate change, such as in Bangladesh, have cited the resulting insecurity as a factor pushing them to marry their daughters early. For example, flooding of crops or the loss of land can deepen a family’s poverty, and parents said they felt pressure to hasten a young daughter’s marriage in the wake of a natural disaster or in anticipation of one. The Way Forward While the harms caused by child marriage are grim, the benefits of ending the practice are transformative and far-reaching. Tackling child marriage is a strategic way to advance women’s rights and empowerment in several areas, ranging from health, education, work, freedom from violence, and participation in public life. But child marriage is complex and varies widely around the world. Governments committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals target of ending child marriage by 2030 will need to employ a holistic, comprehensive approach that is tailored to local contexts and diverse communities. And while the rate of child marriage has begun to drop in some places, it has increased in others. For example, civil society groups report a growing incidence of child marriage among Syrian refugees in Jordan. Adopting and implementing cohesive national legal frameworks that uphold international human rights standards is key. This includes making 18 the minimum marriage age, avoiding loopholes such as exceptions for parental consent, ensuring the laws require free and full consent of both spouses, requiring proof of age before marriage licenses are issued, and imposing penalties on anyone who threatens or harms anyone who refuses to marry. Governments should ensure these protections are not undermined by religious or customary laws and traditions, and should regularly engage with religious and community leaders. Learning about what types of interventions work—and for whom—is key. Only some of the proliferation of interventions have been adequately monitored or evaluated to know which deserve to be replicated and expanded. In a 2013 review, the Washington DC-based International Center for Research on Women found that only 11 of 51 countries with a prevalence of child marriage greater than 25 percent had evaluated initiatives that fight child marriage. An assessment of 23 programs out of 150 found evidence supporting the effectiveness of: 1) empowering girls with information and support networks; 2) ensuring girls’ access to quality education; 3) engaging and educating parents and community members about child marriage; 4) providing economic incentives and support to girls’ families; and 5) establishing and implementing a strong legal framework, such as a minimum age of marriage. The Population Council, an international action-research organization, conducted a rigorous, multi-year study that found offering families in Tanzania and Ethiopia economic incentives, such as livestock, to keep their daughters unmarried and in school led to girls ages 15 to 17 being significantly (two-thirds and 50 percent respectively) less likely to be married compared to those in a community not participating in the program. In Ethiopia, in communities where girls 12 to 14 were provided free school supplies, they were 94 percent less likely to be married than a comparison group. Communities that engaged in sensitization programs about the value of educating girls and the harms of child marriage also had fewer married girls. A particularly powerful message that communities and parents respond to is information about the harms of early childbearing. Correspondingly, access to information about reproductive and sexual health is key for adolescents to understand their bodies, promote respect and consensual conduct in relationships, and prevent unwanted pregnancies. However, while governments have little problem promoting interventions that generally garner broad public support such as providing school supplies, many remain reluctant to introduce programs that might trigger a backlash. They avoid offering comprehensive sexuality education in schools or through other community mechanisms, and ensuring that adolescents, as well as adult women, get full information about contraception and affordable access to health services, including safe and legal abortion. The effort to end child marriage cannot succeed without greater acceptance of adolescent girls’ sexuality and their rights to make their own informed choices about their bodies, their relationships, and their sexual activity. Governments and donors can rally around the idea that a 12-year-old girl should be in school rather than a marriage. Countries such as Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States have been lead donors in combatting child marriage. But the challenge will be whether they can make sure child marriage interventions are not standalone efforts disconnected from other undertakings to empower women and poor communities and promote education and health. Governments, whether as donors or as implementers, need to address some tough questions if they are going to make genuine progress. Do their education programs include special outreach to married girls? Do national plans of action on gender-based violence and “women, peace, and security” include efforts/steps to end child marriage? Do their police training programs on gender-based violence include policing methods to fight child marriage, such as prosecuting local officials who sign marriage certificates for underage girls? Such coordination is crucial to ensuring that critical opportunities are not missed when allocating resources and programming that will be dedicated across the expansive Sustainable Development Goals agenda. Efforts to end child marriage also mean the donors should press governments to meet their obligations under international law to eliminate the practice. Key international human rights treaties include the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. While there is growing evidence of the effectiveness of a number of community-level approaches, government cooperation, law enforcement, and national-level initiatives are key to scale and sustainability. Too often, nongovernmental organizations and donors support innovative programs, but local government officials undermine their impact by ignoring or even facilitating child marriage (for example, by changing the age on a birth or marriage certificate in return for bribes) or local police fail to enforce laws that make child marriage a crime. Similarly, critical opportunities are missed when government health workers cannot talk to adolescents about sexuality and contraception, or government school teachers and principals are not mandated or encouraged to reach out to girls dropping out of school to marry. One of the most striking parallels across Human Rights Watch’s research on child marriage is how girls who married young desperately long for a better future for their daughters. Kalpana T., interviewed by Human Rights Watch in southern Nepal, is not sure of her age but said she married after she had three or four menstrual periods, and now has three daughters ages 5 and under. She never went to school. “My sisters and I all had to work in the fields for the landlords for money from as soon as we were old enough to know about work,” she said. “I had to marry because my parents wanted me to. I don’t want this for my daughter. I am uneducated and I don’t know how the world works…. I can’t count money. I want my daughter to be educated and have a better life than what I have right now.” The Sustainable Development Goals target on ending child marriage could bolster Kalpana T.’s daughters’ chances of having more opportunities than their mother. But a huge amount of coordination, willingness to tackle socially sensitive issues, and sustained commitment and resources is needed before this lofty goal can lead to meaningful change—both for girls in Kalpana T.’s village and elsewhere around the world. Nisha Varia is advocacy director for the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch

Unprotected Work, Invisible Exploitation: Trafficking for the Purpose of Domestic Servitude

rsdadmin — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 19:33:31 +0000

Introduction

Click here to read full report The 2008 OSCE Ministerial Council Decision No. 5/08 encourages participating States to ensure that all forms of trafficking in human beings as defined in the OSCE Action Plan are criminalized in their national legislation. Political will and action at the national level are the prerequisites to preventing and combating the exploitation of individuals in slavery-like conditions and to meeting these commitments, as underscored in the UN Trafficking Protocol1 and in the OSCE Action Plan2 . First and foremost, governments bear responsibility for developing comprehensive national anti-trafficking responses, which acknowledge that a wide variety of persons can be bought and sold, abused, deceived threatened or coerced into a broad range of exploitative situations. These include sexual exploitation and labour exploitation in various sectors such as agriculture, construction, textiles, restaurants, food processing, cleaning, hospitality and entertainment. In order to raise the visibility of trafficking for labour exploitation based on the OSCE Action Plan and other anti-trafficking commitments, the Office of the Special Representative hosted a high-level conference in November 2005 under the auspices of the Alliance against Trafficking in Persons. The conference had three major objectives: (i) to mobilize greater political will to eradicate trafficking for labour exploitation; (ii) to provide a forum for the exchange of concrete experiences as a tool to advance the implementation of anti-trafficking commitments; and (iii) to increase the understanding of the need to involve a range of new additional stakeholders in the design and implementation of responses to this form of trafficking in human beings. In recognition of the importance of the issue, and building upon the awareness developed during the first event, a second high-level conference was organized in November 2006. This was entitled “Human Trafficking for Labour Exploitation/Forced and Bonded Labour: Prosecution of Offenders, Justice for Victims”. The event provided an opportunity to focus in greater depth on two of the major challenges facing participating States: how to bring perpetrators to justice and how to ensure legal redress for the victims. Overall, these two events made a concrete contribution to two of the core tasks of the Special Representative: (i) to assist participating States in the development and implementation of national anti-trafficking policy in compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations; and (ii) to assume “responsibility within the OSCE for hosting and facilitating meetings for the exchange of information and experiences between national co-ordinators, representatives designated by the participating States and experts on combating THB”. Moreover, results from these two conferences increased the interest of the participating States and improved dialogue between them about the need to strengthen their efforts to combat trafficking for labour exploitation, thus contributing to additional OSCE commitments by governments through the 2006 Brussels and 2007 Madrid Ministerial Decisions on trafficking for labour exploitation.3 The Office of the Special Representative believes that the study of trafficking for labour exploitation by economic sector provides an important contribution to the participating States’ and other relevant stakeholders’ deeper understanding of this largely hidden problem, as well as to informing the design of shared policies to tackle it. The various economic sectors where trafficking can occur have a range of structural features that may cause or exacerbate worker vulnerability. They are regulated under different legal systems and call for different approaches to identifying and assisting victims. A thorough sectoral analysis should therefore lead to more effective interventions. An Occasional Paper, focusing on the agricultural sector, was published in 2009. It presented A Summary of Challenges on Addressing Human Trafficking for Labour Exploitation in the Agricultural Sector in the OSCE Region, as well as the conclusions of the Technical Seminar on Trafficking for Labour Exploitation focusing on the Agricultural Sector. Building on this approach and experience, this fourth Occasional Paper focuses on labour trafficking in another specific economic sector, namely domestic work. This Occasional Paper is the result of the Alliance High-level Conference on “Unprotected Work, Invisible Exploitation: Trafficking for the Purpose of Domestic Servitude” hosted by the Special Representative in Vienna on 17 and 18 June 2010 and the Background Paper which informed the dialogue and exchange at the Conference. The Paper is meant to provide a policy tool for decision makers and practitioners dealing with trafficking in human beings on the ground. It is based on desk research, field work and case study analyses in order to shed light on one of the most invisible forms of modern-day slavery. The Paper also benefits from the comments, inputs and expertise of specialized NGOs. Furthermore, it is enriched by the valuable contributions and direct experience of policymakers and public officials (including law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, diplomats), as well as trade unions, international organizations and academics who participated in the Alliance Conference. The Alliance Conference, which aimed at advancing the implementation of OSCE anti-trafficking commitments and mobilizing greater political will, highlighted the specific features of this form of trafficking in human beings, as well as the experiences and challenges that participating States, civil society and international organizations encounter in prevention of trafficking for domestic servitude. It provided an excellent forum to gather expertise, exchange good practices and develop recommendations on what more can be done to eradicate trafficking in human beings for domestic servitude.

Formalizing Domestic Work

rsdadmin — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 19:39:20 +0000

Formalizing Domestic Work

Click Here to Read Full Report Nearly half the world’s workforce is engaged in the informal economy. In its Preamble, the ILO Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy Recommendation, 2015 (No. 204) recognizes that the high incidence of the informal economy poses a major challenge for the rights of workers, and has a negative impact on public revenues and governments’ scope of action, among others. This is the first international labour standard to focus on the informal economy in its entirety and diversity and to point clearly in the direction of transition to the formal economy as the means for realizing decent work for all and for achieving inclusive development. For these reasons, addressing the informal economy has become a significant area of focus for countries around the world. Recommendation No. 204, of universal relevance, acknowledges the broad diversity of situations of informality including specific national contexts and priorities for the transition to the formal economy and provides practical guidance to address these priorities. It clearly defines a broad and detailed scope of application to all workers and economic units - including enterprises, entrepreneurs and households - in the informal economy. While informality and many of its causes affect sectors across national economies, informal employment may be concentrated in particular sectors where sector-specific forms and drivers. In this case, a sector-based approach may be more effective than a general approach. Domestic work is one such sector: it is characterised by high incidence of informal arrangements and contributes significantly to informality, especially among women. It is distinct from the rest of the informal economy for three principal reasons: the employment relationship takes place within the private sphere, the household; it can be blurred or disguised by social norms and highly personalised contexts; and it falls outside the conventional regulatory frameworks of many countries. In designing coherent and integrated strategies to facilitate the transition from the informal to the formal economy, Recommendation No. 204 calls on Member States to pay special attention to domestic workers, as one group that is especially vulnerable to the most serious decent work deficits in the informal economy (para 7i). Recommendation No. 204 provides thorough guidance to facilitate the transition from the informal to the formal economy; yet, achieving the transition remains complex. This policy paper aims to provide a framework for understanding and assessing informality in employment relationships in the domestic work sector, and presents approaches to formalizing the sector. It clarifies the various manifestations, indicators and drivers of informality and formality in the sector. It presents strategies and instruments that have been implemented in different countries in order to reduce informality and promote formalization in domestic work, based on available information regarding national experiences and outcomes.1 Finally, it highlights emerging lessons. Recommendation No. 204 is built on a shared understanding and experience of ILO constituents that transitions to the formal economy are best facilitated through the adoption of integrated policy frameworks, which should include a broad range of approaches, implemented through institutional coordination (para 11). Rather than cover the full range of possible strategies, this policy paper will focus on a subset of these, namely, the establishment of an appropriate legislative and regulatory framework, the promotion of sectoral policies, the extension of social security coverage, and efficient and effective labour inspections. It is clear that governments take into account factors much broader than those covered in this report in order to assess the costs and benefits of particular approaches to formalization. While these were taken into account in selecting country examples, the paper does not engage in a discussion about the rationale and financing of particular formalization strategies, but rather focuses on describing the approaches and highlighting the ways in which they drive formalization. The Recommendation also calls on Members to ensure coordination across different levels of government and cooperation between the relevant bodies and authorities, such as tax authorities, social security institutions, labour inspectorates, customs authorities, migration bodies and employment services, among others, depending on national circumstances (para 12). Such coordination mechanisms are covered in more depth in two existing ILO publications on social security and labour inspections in domestic work, and so will not be further elaborated in this paper.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS OF HUMAN SEX TRAFFICKING

rsdadmin — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 13:22:09 +0000

Human sex trafficking is the fastest growing enterprise in the world making an estimated $99 billion a year. It occurs in a range of venues including hotels and motels, at fake massage businesses, via online ads and escort services, in residential brothels, on the streets and at truck stops. Human sex traffickers use threats, lies, fraud and other forms of coercion to compel individuals to participate in commercial sex acts against their will. These victims are often isolated, intimidated, sold into bondage and prone to physical and sexual assault by their traffickers. Physical force, drugs, emotional tactics and financial methods are all used to control their victims. Most live under constant mental and physical threat and many will suffer severe emotional trauma. What do traffickers look like? Perpetrators (traffickers, johns, pimps) don’t fit any single stereotype. They can be U.S. citizens or foreign nationals, male or female, adult or minor, and of every social, ethnic and racial group. Some victims are even forced into recruiting new victims. Who is at risk of sexual exploitation? Homelessness, poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental or physical disability or lack of legal immigration status are all common reasons that individuals become vulnerable to human sex trafficking. Although no one is exempt from the deception and manipulation tactics used by traffickers, pre-teen girls are most susceptible. Runaways are also targets for recruiters. A young person is likely to be sold for commercial sexual exploitation after running away from home. In 2016, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimated that one in six endangered runaways reported to them were likely sex trafficking victims. Runaways are picked up by traffickers who promise them shelter, food, clothing and employment. Recruiting methods Lies, feigned affection, deception, threats, and violence are all tactics used by human sex traffickers when recruiting new victims for sexual exploitation. Recruiters pose as friendly people as they attempt to befriend vulnerable looking girls and boys at malls, arcades, parks, movie theaters and frightfully even schools. Many times recruiters will form a strong bond with young girls promising a lifestyle they have never experienced. They will claim to love the victim and manipulate them into thinking sex acts are for their future together. Some sex trafficking victims have not had a positive male role model in their life and the traffickers use this to their advantage. They force the victims to refer to them as “daddy,” and further manipulate their mental state. Other tactics used by human sex traffickers are violence and gang rape to force victims to do what is asked of them. They drug the victims in order to continue having control. Human sex trafficking warning signs Human sex traffickers are able to keep their victims in the web of exploitation simply because sex trafficking can be hard to pinpoint. It is important to understand the growing tragedy of sex trafficking and to have an idea on how to spot potential red flags and indicators to be able to help victims who are caught up in this crime and find the assistance they very much need. Warning signs that someone is a victim of human sex trafficking include but are not limited to: Signs of physical abuse including burns, bruises or cuts Less appropriately dressed than before Sexualized behavior Overly tired Lacks healthcare Withdrawn, depressed or checked out Brags about making lots of money New tattoo (pimps use tattoos as a way to brand victims) Older friends with a different lifestyle Appears malnourished Has few or no personal possessions Is not in control of his or her money Loss of sense of time Inability to clarify where he or she is staying Avoids eye contact Is fearful, anxious, tense, or nervous They don’t have any type of identification (traffickers will often take the victims birth certificates, passports, and driver’s licenses) Not all victims believe they are a victim There are instances where victims don’t want help. You may have recognized a few human sex trafficking warning signs but the victim is not aware or understands that he or she is being exploited. Many times, they are involved in an unhealthy relationship with their traffickers involving deep levels of psychological conditioning based on either fear or misplaced feelings of love. In other cases, the victims feel they are in debt to their trafficker because they have provided them with shelter and food. Feeling ashamed and helpless may also be reasons why a victim turns away help. They don’t want to talk about what they have been through or are going through. They may also fear what will happen to their families if they discuss the truth due to previous threats from their trafficker. Other factors that cause victims to be reluctant to, report or seek help because they: Don’t know who to trust due to the unfamiliar surroundings Don’t know help is available, how to access it or where to go for it Are unfamiliar with the cultures and language of the country they are being held in Fear law enforcement Are addicted to drugs and alcohol Reach out for support and resources If you are a victim of human sex trafficking or have suspicions of human sex trafficking occurring in your community, we suggest you call the Polaris Project. They are a non-profit organization with a team of professionals that guide victims and survivors of human trafficking. You may also contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 if you are a victim or suspect human trafficking is happening in your community. They are trained professionals who respond to victims with assistance including shelter, security, food, medical treatment, clothing and other assistance. How The Carlson Law Firm can help If you are a victim of human sex trafficking or are aware of a situation involving sexual exploitation, please contact our human sex trafficking lawyers immediately. Our compassionate human sex trafficking lawyers can help victims obtain the needed help to recover from tragedy, assist in rebuilding their lives and navigate the legal system. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Remember we will keep your information confidential. Contact us today. We care, we can help.

Thousands of Unaccompanied Migrant Minors, Unaccounted for

rsdadmin — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 01:49:25 +0000

On August 16, 2018, the Senate Homeland Security’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations found that 1,488 unaccompanied border crossing minors who were transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) between April 1 and June 30, 2018, and subsequently placed with sponsors are now unaccounted for. This accounts for roughly 13% of the 11,254 immigrant children that were placed under the care of HHS during this time period. The majority of these unaccompanied border-crossing minors (83%) are over 12, while 17% are children under 12. This comes after HHS’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Steven Wagner, testified to the Senate subcommittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on May 2018 that another 1,475 unaccompanied minors, transferred to the custody of HHS’s Department of Refugee Resettlement and placed with sponsors throughout the United States from October-December 2017, could not be accounted for. In all of the 2017 fiscal year, HHS processed a total of 40,810 unaccompanied border-crossing minors. Wagner testified that of the 7,635 children placed with sponsors between October and December of 2017 — 6,075 remained where they were placed, 52 had moved, 28 had run away, and five were deported. The remaining 1,475 migrant children were unaccounted for; this amounts to almost 20% of the children placed in their custody. The process of accounting for children by HHS’s Office of Refugee Resettlement comes in the form of a voluntary phone call thirty days after a minor is placed with a sponsor. The sponsor can choose whether or not to pick up the call. Thus, while nobody wants to hear that such a large number of children are unaccounted for, it does not necessarily mean all these children are missing. As of now, HHS assumes no responsibility for these migrant children after they have left HHS’s custody and been placed with a sponsor. Rob Portman, (R-OH), a member on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, asks why there is no mandatory follow up, stating that this is a major flaw in the system. In the wake of this second report of another almost 1,500 unaccounted for minors within less than a year, Rob Portman is leading his subcommittee in drafting legislation that would place more responsibility on HHS over minors after they are released to a sponsor’s custody. There are many reasons why a sponsor might not answer the voluntary follow up call. First, many of these children are placed with parents or relatives who may also be undocumented and do not want to have anything to do with the federal government after the children have been placed with them. However, with a lack of follow up, there is no way for HHS to know if the children have run away or potentially fallen under the control of a trafficker. Some immigration experts note that sponsors must feel safe enough to pick up the phone and let the authorities know if the child is safe. Otherwise, there is no way to know when to follow up or which children are truly missing. Still, other experts claim that the lack of follow up is a good thing for children, as they can live without the constant fear of deportation. Migrant minors of all ages are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking as they are new to the country, do not yet have a good support system, often do not speak the language or have money, and are at risk of being deported. Traffickers prey on these vulnerabilities, making victims think they have no option other than to submit to the control of their trafficker. Traffickers may threaten to report them to ICE, get victims hooked on drugs, manipulate them into thinking they have no chance at a life outside their trafficker, threaten to physically harm them, or convince victims they owe some debt to the traffickers. While it is impossible to know how many minors have fallen under the control of traffickers, there is evidence that this happens. In 2014 there was a case in which overwhelmed HHS staff placed eight Guatemalan teens directly into the hands of traffickers. They were then sold into slavery at an egg farm in Ohio. It was this case that sparked senator Rob Portman’s interest in this issue. Further, in 2016, an Associated Press investigation found more than two dozen children were victims of trafficking, sexual assault, and abuse in the homes where HHS placed them. Children who risk their lives to cross the border are often running from extremely unsafe conditions in their home countries. To take these children who are running from unsafe conditions and allow them to fall victim to human trafficking or be drafted into violent gangs is a serious violation of trust.

Safe Harbor: Does Your State Arrest Minors for Prostitution?

rsdadmin — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 01:58:58 +0000

What is “Safe Harbor?”

Although no state allows for a child to consent to sex under the age of 16, the majority of states still criminalize child prostitution. Statutory rape laws criminalize adults for having sex with underage minors. These laws, however, do not always apply to adults who have purchased sex. Safe Harbor laws are meant to ensure that (1) minors are not criminalized for prostitution and that (2) victim services are provided to all sexually exploited youth. However, the definition of sexually exploited youth changes from state to state; making this issue particularly complicated. Further, few states (as we will explore in this post) have fully implemented safe harbor laws. Any minor (under the age of 18) who is lured into the sex industry is a victim of sex trafficking and should be treated as such. The Department of Justice defines child sex trafficking as the “recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a minor for the purpose of a commercial sex act.” However, a child who should be classified as a victim under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) could still be arrested for prostitution as a result of varying state laws on the issue. A victim who is arrested for prostitution may carry that charge on their criminal record throughout their lives. While victim services are a critically important part of the Safe Harbor laws in many states, today we focus on the first part of Safe Harbor: the application of prostitution laws to minors. This is because the scope of victim services is complicated and varies greatly from state to state, while the application of prostitution laws to minors is slightly more cut and dry.

Why is this issue so complicated?

Safe Harbor laws are complicated. As previously mentioned, each state defines sexually exploited youth differently. This is important because state laws treat “sexually exploited youth” differently than those who do not fall under this category. In many states, to gain victim status a minor must be categorized as a “sexually exploited youth.” The barriers to being considered a victim differ from state to state. Some states, such as Maryland, require that there be an identified trafficker for a child to be considered a victim of trafficking. Other states (such as Alaska) require that even when there is an identified trafficker, victims must prove that they were forced or coerced to gain victim status.

The breakdown

In order to provide an accessible yet slightly more nuanced analysis of this complicated issue, each state was ranked on one of three levels of safe harbor protection for minors. This chart below is an analysis of data provided by Shared Hope International’s state by state report cards on anti-child trafficking laws. Key:

0= No significant Safe Harbor laws protecting minors from being arrested for prostitution
0.5= Significant protection for “commercially sexually exploited children,” but do not automatically consider all prostituted minors to be trafficked. Some provisions exist to help minors gain “victim” status. However, MINORS CAN STILL BE CRIMINALIZED FOR PROSTITUTION
1= Minors cannot be arrested for prostitution
Some states have Safe Harbor laws, but minors only qualify below a certain age. These states are listed below the following table.

Level of Safe Harbor Law application	States
1	Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington D.C., West Virginia,
0.5	Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
0	Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Maine, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia

Safe Habor laws, keeping minors from being arrested for prostitution, only apply to minors under the age of 16 in Michigan and South Dakota.
Safe Harbor laws, keeping minors from being arrested for prostitution, only apply to minors under the age of 14 in Texas.

Minors are completely protected from being arrested for prostitution only in states ranked in the (1) category. In all other states, minors may find themselves with a criminal record as a result of being trafficked.

A final note on victims of labor trafficking.

We are investigating the portion of Safe Harbor laws that protect child victims from being convicted of prostitution. Thus, protections for victims of labor trafficking are not covered in this post. The second portion of Safe Harbor laws, victim services (which are mentioned, but not investigated in this post), protects victims of both labor and sex trafficking. Services may include counseling, trained advocates, support groups, shelter or safe housing, and more. Image Source

INTERVIEWING SURVIVORS: GETTING TO THE TRUTH

rsdadmin — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 02:19:25 +0000

Whether they voluntarily seek help or are swept up into an ongoing investigation, trafficking survivors who come into contact with police, attorneys and social workers inevitably are asked to provide information about themselves and their circumstances. Conducting interviews can be extremely challenging for all involved. There are many forces at play that prevent interviewers from reaching a clear and coherent understanding of the trafficking dynamics and the issues faced by survivors. Take the hypothetical example of a boy trafficked to the United States and forced into prostitution. He was rescued in a raid and is being interviewed by a detective who is trying to build a multi-victim case against a powerful trafficking ring. Pressed for time and frustrated, the detective calls the victim advocate aside and says: “Listen, this is not going well. He needs to tell me exactly what happened if I’m going to help him and get a warrant for these guys. I know I’m pressing him hard, and I hate doing it, but he has to understand that if he doesn’t cooperate he’s going to get sent back home. That’s not a threat, it’s just the truth. And I hate to say it, but right now it looks like he’s lying. First, he tells me he came straight from Guatemala to the U.S on a plane, then he tells me, no actually he came by truck and spent six weeks in Mexico first. Then he tells me he services 15 clients a day, then he says it’s 7, then 30. He says he is locked in but then he’s telling me about times when he went out with his friends. He tells me he is 17 years old, and then he tells me he’s 20. It just doesn’t add up.”

Excerpted from Assisting Survivors of Human Trafficking:

Multicultural Case Studies Why is it so difficult to get a straight story from this boy? There could be many reasons. Trauma, for one, can blur and confuse memory. Many people who are severely traumatized will initially have difficulty telling a coherent story. Memory serves to protect the victims and some images are clear and crisp, while others may be completely blocked out. But aside from trauma, there can be other cultural and linguistic impediments to a straightforward interview. In the dominant culture in the United States, the sense of time is very linear and stories are usually told in chronological order. In many other cultures, time is event-focused rather than linear. People may tell stories in a circular pattern, linking events and circumstances in a non-chronological order. Sometimes this form of storytelling is like drawing in negative space. The difficult things are never named. Rather everything around those things is described, inviting the listener to infer the worst. For example, someone talking about abuse in a factory might say, “At first things were fine. But in the third week at the factory things got worse. There was a new supervisor who was kind in the day but at night, he starting coming to the girls and raping them. He raped me 7 times in 3 months. If you complained, you would be fired. Finally, I ran away.” Someone telling this story in a circular or indirect way might say only. “Life at work was ok. The supervisor spoke with kind words. But sometimes it was difficult. Especially at night, when they turned the lights off.” This poses a particular difficulty for an attorney or detective who is building a case in a court of law, in which a circular mode of storytelling can give the mistaken impression of lying and deception. Some cultures are very direct in their communication, relying primarily on words to relay meaning. Other cultures, however, are indirect with communication, relying more on symbols, metaphors, inference and surrounding context to relay meaning. This tendency to indirect communication can be particularly strong when the conversation is about a difficult and painful topic. Working through an interpreter can further confuse the story. Just because the client is from Guatemala does not guarantee that his first language is Spanish. Thus, vocabulary, tenses and tense conjugation can often be confused, thus further distorting the chronology and clarity of the story. Aside from these cultural and linguistic obstacles, the boy, of course, is likely to be operating in a climate of fear – fear of repercussions from the traffickers and distrust of law enforcement which could be based on experiences in his home country and in transit. The pressure and hints of threats and coercion present in the interview echo uncomfortably the dynamics of the trafficking situation. Given these dynamics, it is not surprising that the boy is slow to trust. So what is the best approach for a detective or victim advocate to take in such a situation? First, the client has to decide whether he wants to tell his story to the police. In order to make that decision, he needs to understand why he is being asked to do so and what the outcomes will most likely be. It is always his choice whether he talks or not. If the boy decides to share his story with police, then a counselor or advocate can work with him to reconstruct his narrative so that he can tell it more clearly to police. A variety of culturally competent interventions exist to help, including a mapping process in which the client literally draws his story like a river or road. Ultimately, a fruitful interview is based on the relationships in the room. If they are relationships built on respect and transparency, they are more likely to lead to positive outcomes for all. Laura Shipler Chico is a freelance writer and author of Assisting Survivors of Human Trafficking: Multicultural Case Studies. She lives in London.

Truckers Against Trafficking: Theory of change

rsdadmin — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 20:45:58 +0000

Truckers Against Trafficking:

Using network leadership to mobilize the trucking community as the eyes and ears of the nation’s highways to end sex trafficking

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS REPORT IN ITS ORIGINAL FORMAT WITH GRAPHICS

Domestic Sex Trafficking

Around the world, there are an estimated 20.9 million slaves. Human trafficking has been reported in all 50 states, and the number of victims in the United States is estimated in the hundreds of thousands. Victims are lured, kidnapped, or otherwise coerced into forced labor or commercial sex. Traffickers recruit out of schools, online, in shopping malls, as well as the streets and other locations. A large percentage of the people trafficked are women and children. Many of them are used in the sex industry. In fact, what we might have once observed and called “prostitution,” could in fact be forced commercial sexual activity. The victims are trafficked at a variety of venues such as on the street, in private homes, and in legitimate business such as restaurants, truck stops, and motels. Human trafficking intersects with several industries, including hospitality, tourism, oil and gas, entertainment, and transportation, amongst others. ! The Need: Victims need to be identified, rescued, and supported in becoming thriving survivors.

The Big Idea

When the founders of Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) first learned about human trafficking in 2007 and that federal investigations were underway at truck stops to identify traffickers, they had a revolutionary idea: ! The Big Idea: What if truckers were educated and equipped to spot and report potential signs of human trafficking to the National Hotline? “There are over three million truck drivers across the United States, driving day and night to move the commercial goods that help sustain our nation’s economy,” said Kendis Paris, executive director of TAT. “Who better to spot potential signs of trafficking on the roads and at public rest stops, travel plazas, restaurants, and hotels?” Founded initially in 2009 as a ministry initiative, Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) became a 501c3 in 2011. TAT’s mission is to educate, equip, empower, and mobilize members of the trucking and travel plaza industry to combat domestic sex trafficking. Yet, TAT is more than an organization. Through the power of network leadership, TAT is a vibrant community across trucking and law enforcement of “truckers against trafficking” who are innovating, advocating, and partnering to end domestic sex trafficking. The Problem Redefined & Solution Reimagined The idea may be simple, but it is revolutionary. Traditionally, our society has been conditioned to see the problem as “prostitution.” And frankly, too often the response has been to ignore it. But, as TAT encourages, it is critical to consider, “What’s her story?” It is quite possible that a person engaged in commercial sexual activity has not chosen to be there, but has been forced or coerced. TAT Wallet Card 2 So, instead of seeing “prostitution” as the problem, TAT has redefined the problem and reimagined the solution: ! The Problem: Central to TAT’s approach is the belief that “traffickers,” or those who force or coerce victims into sexual activities, are the problem. ! The Solution: And, as or more importantly, truckers, as the eyes and ears of the nation’s highways, are critical to the solution. Core Theory of Change Central to TAT’s theory of change, then, is the belief that equipping members of the trucking industry to spot and report potential signs of sex trafficking can lead to the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of traffickers and freedom for victims. And ultimately, this will expose the hidden crime, remove traffickers’ power, and close loopholes to traffickers. ! The Theory of Change: Educate and equip trucking community ! truckers and travel plaza employees report potential cases ! law enforcement investigates, arrests, and prosecutes! survivors are empowered Strategies for Engaging & Scaling However, with over three million truck drivers across America, spreading ideas and new practices to scale the industry is no small task. To do this, TAT offers a number of ways for organizations across the entire industry to engage—e.g., trucking companies train their drivers, state trucking associations advocate amongst their member companies, and law enforcement partner with travel plazas and trucking companies to form local coalitions. In so doing, they are engaging organizations and individuals across the trucking community and law enforcement as a network of “truckers against trafficking”. Critical to their uptake is helping people understand the reality of the issue, providing simple actions people can take, and communicating positively about the potential and real impact the trucking industry is having in ending slavery. ! The App 3 Network Leadership Network leadership is core to TAT’s scaling approach. TAT is not about scaling its organization, but rather equipping and mobilizing partners to use their expertise, resources, and power to fuel the movement. “We come alongside members of the trucking and law enforcement communities to provide resources that equip and empower them. More importantly, as they learn about the issue of trafficking, we learn from and partner with them in discovering new ways of engaging the trucking community and supporting truckers in the effort to end trafficking,” said Paris. “They are the experts in their sector and have the power to identify the resources at their disposal, create new ways of engaging in anti-trafficking, and influence their peers.” This powerful approach fosters change leaders who develop ideas and approaches in their organization, region, or spheres of influence. If it is successful and there is potential for broader application, TAT partners with them to write about their work. And as applicable, together they advocate across the industry to spread the innovative approaches. ! Network Leadership Approach: TAT educates, equips and empowers trucking and law enforcement members ! they partner to innovate and test new approaches ! TAT documents the success stories and examples others can follow ! they leverage each others’ power and resources to advocate and diffuse across the trucking community Programs So, what does this look like in practice? TAT has a number of programs through which trucking and law enforcement members can partner: • The Freedom Drivers Project is a first-of-its-kind, mobile exhibit serving as a remarkable tool to educate members of the trucking industry, law enforcement, and general public about domestic sex trafficking and how the trucking industry is combating it. From the compelling exterior imagery on this 48-foot trailer to the interior’s video monitors and actual trafficking artifacts from women and children who had been enslaved by traffickers, this trailer serves as a powerful education tool. • The Industry Training Program is TAT’s core program that drives the biggest impact by training hundreds of thousands of industry members about the realities of domestic sex trafficking and how the trucking industry can combat it. TAT training has resulted in a significant increase of reports of possible trafficking to the national hotline from truck drivers, which has resulted in victim recoveries and the arrest of criminals. • The Shipping Partners Program engages major purchasers of shipping to encourage their carriers to implement TAT materials as a regular part of training and orientation. Building on the corporate social responsibility movement, and leveraging purchasing power, TAT is utilizing pre-existing relationships between shippers and their carriers to train even more drivers. 4 • Coalition Builds bring law enforcement agencies at all levels of government together with the general managers of truck stops, representatives of trucking companies and state trucking associations to provide extensive training resulting in a significant increase in antitrafficking activity in a local area. • State-Based Initiatives build on the groundbreaking work done by the Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement (Iowa MVE) agency with TAT materials, by activating the appropriate government agencies in outreach work to the trucking industry. The Iowa MVE Model organizes the state patrol and other law enforcement entities to utilize entry points into the trucking industry to spread the TAT anti-trafficking message. • The TAT Dealership Partner Program provides a specific pathway for manufacturers from all corners of the industry to not only support TAT financially, but also raise awareness about the realities of domestic sex trafficking and TAT’s innovative work by becoming a distribution point for materials. In addition, TAT is in initial stages of working to assist survivors in getting their drivers licenses. TAT is currently surveying survivors to learn more about their needs and the potential support desired, and efforts are also underway to work in collaboration with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators and Departments of Motor Vehicles across the nation. Practices Together, TAT’s programs are working to cover the many touch-points that members of the trucking community and law enforcement may have with trafficking. By leveraging the power of the truck drivers’ mobility and communication systems, together with local coalitions of travel plazas and law enforcement, the real truckers against trafficking are closing loopholes to traffickers. 5 Structural Social Change Together, the truckers against trafficking community is facilitating true structural change in social systems. That is, they are creating: ! Values, Meanings, & Training: awareness of human trafficking, empathy for victims, training around anti-trafficking actions, and efforts to stop the objectification of women and children ! Power, Resources, & Influence: shifts of power from traffickers to the trucking and law enforcement community who are leveraging organizational and individual resources and relationships in anti-trafficking efforts ! Policies, Processes, & Social Practices: adoption of new policies, processes, and social practices across the trucking and law enforcement communities to close loopholes to traffickers Social Impact As illustrated below, TAT’s impact in mobilizing the trucking community to stop trafficking can be seen in the number of calls placed to the National Hotline, and as or more importantly, the number of likely cases of human trafficking identified. It is also evidenced in stories such as that of Con-way Truckload driver Kevin Kimmel. In January 2015, Kimmel caught a glimpse of a distraught-looking young girl in the darkened window of an RV, which had pulled into the truck stop where Kimmel had stopped to sleep. He decided things did not look right and called the police. When police responded, they found an Iowa couple in the RV, along with a 20-year-old malnourished and frightened young woman, who said the couple had kidnapped her two weeks earlier in Iowa and forced her into prostitution. The couple was arrested and charged with sex trafficking. TAT named Kimmel the 2015 Harriet Tubman Award winner for his actions which saved a woman from torture and modern-day slavery. As Paris said, “Kevin Kimmel recognized, ‘You know what, there’s something not right.’ And he had the courage to make a call and get involved. And now, he’s helped unlock her pathway back to freedom.” And in 2016, TAT presented its Harriet Tubman Award to two TA/Petro employees in Jessup, Maryland, whose observations, quick thinking, and follow-up call to police last year helped law enforcement in Howard County arrest three “As a driver and advocate for truckers, it has always been important to stand for justice, respect, and fair treatment. No other organization has inspired us and so many others to recognize and do more for the exploited and suffering of our society. As TAT’s passion, dedication and commitment protect the weakest and most vulnerable in life from the atrocities and abuse of slavery, they have been able to do something that few can fathom… rally and unite the entire trucking industry together!” -- said Allen S. 6 traffickers and recover six of the 12 women they were forcibly prostituting. TAT’s impact has been fueled and made possible by an entire fleet of partners. Since its inception, TAT has successfully: Partnered to Advocate & Adopt New Practices • Partnered with hundreds of trucking companies, public and private trucking schools, major truck stops, all state trucking associations, and every major national trucking association • Registered over 298,000 as TAT trained • 28 states have adopted the Iowa MVE Model in part or whole • State of Ohio requires TAT training to secure an entry-level Commercial Driver’s License Distributed • Over 1 million Wallet Cards • Over 50,000 training DVDs And these successes are being noticed. In addition to being recognized by Congress twice, TAT was awarded the Suzanne McDaniel Memorial Award for Public Awareness in April 2015 as part of the annual Congressional Victims’ Rights Caucus Awards at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. Bill Brady, an over-the-road truck driver for Lodestar, and driver of the Freedom Drivers Project, accepted the award on behalf of TAT. And while TAT is focused on domestic sex trafficking, its approach is being replicated internationally. A Model Ready for Replication While TAT continues to build the anti-trafficking infrastructure with the trucking community, it is clear it has created a model that can be replicated across other transportation sectors—such as buses and taxis. “We are currently creating a webinar designed specifically for the bus industry to forge inroads with that sector, given their intersection with potential victims, as well as our commercial vehicle enforcement partners,” said Paris. “Yet, ultimately, we hope to see champions rise up in both the nonprofit world, as well as within the bus industry itself, in order to create a network of leaders in and for that sector. We stand ready to share more about this approach and our lessons learned and to partner with them as together we cover the transportation community.” Yet, TAT’s model could equally be transferred to other industries to catalyze partnerships and new social practices that will end trafficking. As TAT has learned in its work with agencies often overlooked in developing strategies to combat human trafficking (such as Departments of Motor Vehicles and Revenue), central to this will be uncovering change leaders and creative ways to engage the industry while providing resources and a network to inspire and propel their efforts.

rsdadmin — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 20:57:02 +0000

TAT_BUS_WALLET_CARD_2018_UPDATE_(421)_FINAL_(REV)

Use the above link to print the wallet card or view it with graphics

Immediately: If you’re watching a crime in progress, call 911 and then call the hotline. If you’re at a truck stop/travel plaza or any other place of business, please notify the manager-on-duty of the suspicious activity; she/he needs to be aware of what is taking place on the lot and assist in ending it. Warning: Please do not approach traffickers. Allow law enforcement to deal with traffickers and recover victims. Approaching traffickers is not only dangerous for you and their victims but could lead to problems in the eventual prosecution of traffickers. Note: There is now a lifetime ban on a CDL for any individual who uses their CMV to commit a felony involving a severe form of human trafficking. All 50 states and DC have a law criminalizing sex trafficking. Some states punish sex purchasers the same as sex traffickers, generally with felony level crimes, and 31 states have a buyer-applicable trafficking law that prohibits a mistake-of-age defense in prosecutions for buying a commercial sex act with any minor under 18. Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. Traffickers use force, fraud and coercion to control their victims. Any minor being sold for sex is a victim of human traffick- ing. Trafficking can occur in many locations, including bus terminals, restaurants, hotels/motels, strip clubs, casinos, private homes, truck stops, etc. Moreover, traffickers utilize bus terminals to recruit victims out of, as well as the bus itself to transport their victims. Whether you work behind a ticket counter, conduct bus maintenance, or are a professional driver, members of the bus industry are in a position to spot potential human trafficking situations and save a life. To report a tip or to help a victim access services, call the National Hotline at: 1-888-3737-888 (US)  1-800-222-TIPS (Canada) 01800-5533-000 (Mexico)  Text INFO or HELP to BeFree (233733) For law enforcement to open an investigation on your tip, they need “action- able information,” and as many details as you can provide. Specific tips helpful when reporting to the hotline would include:  Descriptions of cars (make, model, color, license plate number, etc.) and people (height, weight, hair color, eye color, age, etc.) Take a picture if you can.  Specific times and dates (When did you see the event in question take place? What day was it?)  Addresses and locations where suspicious activity took place Questions to Ask:  Do you know the person who is picking you up?  Do you feel safe with the person you’re traveling with?  Do your parents/siblings/relatives know where you are? If not, why not?  Are you free to come and go as you please?  Are you or your family being threatened? What is the nature of the threats? Trafficking Red Flags to Look For:  Restricted or controlled communication—not allowed to speak for self  Disheveled appearance, unkempt, alone, scared/crying  Offers to exchange sex for a ride, meal, etc.  Does not know the person who is picking them up  Any acknowledgement that she/he has a pimp and is making a quota  Signs of branding or tattooing (often of trafficker’s name)

Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism: A Commentary on the Global Realities

rsdadmin — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 19:34:26 +0000

Abstract

The extent of organ sales from commercial living donors (CLDs) or vendors has now become evident. At the Second Global Consultation on Human Transplantation of the World Health Organization's (WHO) in March 2007, it was estimated that organ trafficking accounts for 5–10% of the kidney transplants performed annually throughout the world. Patients with sufficient resources in need of organs may travel from one country to another to purchase a kidney (or liver) mainly from a poor person. Transplant centers in ‘destination’ countries have been well known to encourage the sale of organs to ‘tourist’ recipients from the ‘client’ countries.

Organ trafficking brings little regard for the well being of the donor. Who cares for the donor in the early period following transplantation or in the long term, especially if complications arise? This report will describe the organ trafficking known to the authors by their visits to many countries on behalf of The Transplantation Society (TTS) and the World Health Organization and by the field research and advocacy work with commercial living donors (CLDs) of the Coalition for Organ‐Failure Solutions (COFS). It introduces alternative approaches that must be addressed by each country to combat organ trafficking. The buying and selling of organs in the global markets has become an ethical issue for transplant clinicians everywhere in the world. Even physicians who would have no part in the organ trade now bear a responsibility for the medical care of those recipients who return to their home countries having undergone organ transplantation from an unknown vendor. These recipients arrive at physician offices in widespread locations such as Tel Aviv, Toronto and Trinidad. Some patients return home with inadequate reports of operative events and unknown risks of donor‐transmitted infection (such as hepatitis or tuberculosis) or a donor‐transmitted malignancy. The source of their allografts is mainly from the poor and vulnerable in the developing world. These vendors or commercial living donors resort to an organ sale because they have virtually no other means to provide support for themselves or their families. Selling kidneys may be a consideration of ‘autonomy’ in academic debate but it is not the coercive reality of experience when a kidney sale is a desperate alternative available to the poor (1). This report describes the characteristics and extent of the global trafficking in human organs. It includes the experience of the authors' personal visits to numerous countries on behalf of TTS and WHO. This report is also fashioned by the extensive field research of COFS. Finally, this commentary proposes an alternative approach that must be addressed by each country to alleviate the shortage of organs for transplantation and combat the exploitative practices of organ trafficking.

Definition of Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism

The discourse on the market of organs has used various terms to describe the commercialism at the core of organ trafficking. The seller of a kidney is not only the donor source of an organ but a vendor whose motivation is monetary gain. The following definition of organ trafficking is derived from the United Nations Trafficking in Persons (2). Organ trafficking entails the recruitment, transport, transfer, harboring 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, of a position of vulnerability, 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 by the removal of organs, tissues or cells for transplantation. The reason to oppose organ trafficking is the global injustice of using a vulnerable segment of a country or population as a source of organs (vulnerable defined by social status, ethnicity, gender or age). This definition of organ trafficking captures the various exploitative measures used in the processes of soliciting a donor in a commercial transplant. Exploitation is the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or position of vulnerability. The commercial transaction is a central aspect of organ trafficking; the organ becomes a commodity and financial considerations become the priority for the involved parties instead of the health and well‐being of the donors and recipients. Transplant Tourism has become a connotation for organ trafficking. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), recently defined transplant tourism as ‘the purchase of a transplant organ abroad that includes access to an organ while bypassing laws, rules, or processes of any or all countries involved’ (3). However, not all medical tourism that entails the travel of transplant recipients or donors across national borders is organ trafficking. Transplant tourism may be legal and appropriate. Examples include, when travel of a related donor and recipient pair is from countries without transplant services to countries where organ transplantation is performed or if an individual travels across borders to donate or receive a transplant via a relative. Any official regulated bilateral or multi‐lateral organ sharing program is not considered transplant tourism if it is based on a reciprocated organ sharing programs among jurisdictions. The modes of illicit transplant tourism were recently illustrated by Yosuke Shimazono at the Second Global Consultation on Human Transplantation at the WHO headquarters in Geneva in 2007 (Figure 1) and capture the various ways recipients, CLDs, and transplant centers may be coordinated for such a transplant (4). In addition to these modes that occur across national borders, organ trafficking may also occur at transplant centers within the same country of residence of the CLD and recipient.

In this figure, Shimazono (2007) illustrates four modes of transplant tourism. Mode 1 entails a recipient traveling from Country B to Country A where the donor and transplant center are located, Mode 2 entails a donor from Country A traveling to Country B where the recipient and transplant center are located, Mode 3 entails a donor and recipient from Country A traveling to Country B where the transplant center is located, and Mode 4 entails a donor from Country A and a recipient from Country B traveling to Country C where the transplant center is located.

The Extent of Organ Trafficking

Countries that have facilitated organ trafficking such as Pakistan and the Philippines do not release precise data (not surprisingly) regarding the numbers of foreign patients that travel to these countries for transplants. In the Philippines, a quota of foreign nationals was intended but there has been no report of data to indicate that such a stipulation has been fulfilled. Despite its clandestine nature and the difficulties in obtaining national data, the extent of organ trafficking has become evident by our visits to many countries around the world and by reports prepared for presentation at the WHO. According to data from the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), at least 2000 kidney transplants have been performed in Pakistan to transplant tourists (source: Delmonico visit to Karachi Pakistan January 2007). The widespread dimension of these practices becomes particularly evident, when a highly regarded nephrologist in Port of Spain Trinidad reports that a series of 80 patients had gone from Trinidad to Pakistan to buy organs (source: Delmonico visit with Dr. Leslie Ann Roberts in Trinidad). In the Philippines, a February 2007 newspaper account of the number of kidney sales reveals over 3000 have been performed (5). The WHO held a regional consultation in Manila to call attention to its objection to the rampant commercialism (source: Delmonico participation). The Cebu Province of the Philippines is now reported to be seeking transplant tourists to increase Philippine commercial transplants (6). It is estimated by Egyptian transplant professionals that we both have visited (source: Egyptian Society of Nephrology, Cairo June 2007) that Egypt performs at least 500 kidney transplants annually (7). A majority of these transplants are performed from CLDs. Scott Carney reports (source: conversations with Delmonico and by Carney publications) that transplant tourists have undergone kidney transplantation from tsunami victims in Chennai, India (8). At the WHO regional consultation in Slovenia, the representative from Moldova reported the request of Israeli physicians to set up a transplantation practice in that country. The request was denied but there is no current penalty being imposed upon the insurance companies that are systematically enabling these transplants to occur outside of Israel. As many as 20 patients from Israel may currently undergo kidney transplantation in the Philippines each month. The consequence for Israel is that the expertise in performing organ transplantation within Israel may be lost (9). Hopefully, the pending legislation in the Knesset on organ transplantation will address this issue (see below). At the Second Global Consultation on Human Transplantation at the WHO headquarters in Geneva in 2007, Shimazono also assembled a sampling of the trafficking by an analysis of databases such as Lexis/Nexis, MEDLINE and Pubmed academic journal articles, and Google searches that included media sources, transplant tourism websites, renal and transplant registries and reports from health authorities. Shimazono estimated that 5–10% of kidney transplants performed annually around the globe are currently via organ trade. The credibility of this estimate is given by the following data: at least 100 nationals from countries such as Saudi Arabia (700 in 2005), Taiwan (450 in 2005), Malaysia (131 in 2004) and South Korea (124 in the first 8 months of 2004) went abroad annually for a commercial kidney transplant. At least 20 nationals from other countries such as the Australia, Japan, Oman, Morocco, India, Canada and the United States traveled as transplant tourists for trafficked organs. But the more striking observation comes from the revelation of data in a visit to China in the summer of 2007. In 2006, 11 000 transplants were performed in China from executed prisoners. There were 8000 kidney transplants, 3000 liver transplants and approximately 200 hundred heart transplants. The 8000 kidney transplants alone in China in 2006 would account for at least 10% of the total number of annual organ transplants done in programs of organ trafficking. It should be noted that since China's recently adopted Human Transplantation Act that bans commercialism was adopted in May 2007, China has reduced the number of transplants to foreign patients by 50% in 2007. Nevertheless, the reduction in Chinese activity has presumably been supplanted by an increase in Philippine organ trafficking. Merion et al. have reported the initial US experience that includes some patients whose transplants were not obtained from CLDs (10). One hundred nineteen US citizens and resident aliens from 55 transplant centers in 26 states were recorded as having received kidney transplants in 18 foreign countries after a median of 1.5 years (range 21 days to 8.5 years) on the US waiting list. HRSA officials who collaborated with Dr. Merion are now aware of this practice and should be following it closely. There is a public hazard for patients to return from out of country was potential transmissible infection such as avian flu, tuberculosis, Schistosomiasis, acute hepatitis and/or HIV infection. Recipients of commercial transplants abroad should not be denied the provision of follow‐up care; yet there is no justification to condone illegal transplants outside United States if the purchase of a kidney (that could result in Medicare benefits to be received for immunosuppressive medications) is illegal within the borders of the United States. The legislation that is being considered by the Knesset in Israel would prohibit the insurance reimbursement of transplant costs for Israelis that undergo a purchased organ transplant in countries where the buying and selling of organs is illegal. Insurance companies may be influencing practices: for example, Bramstedt and Xu reveal ‘US medical insurance programs are taking steps to address the problems of organ availability, long waiting times, and high medical and surgical costs by promoting transplant tourism’ (11).

The Consequence to the Vendors

What then of this emerging worldwide population of live kidney vendors? In Pakistan, the SIUT group has carefully detailed a sample cohort of (n = 239) vendors in a follow‐up—the outcome all very troubling (12). The majority of these CLDs (93%) who sold a kidney to repay a debt and (85%) reported no economic improvement in their lives, as they were either still in debt or were unable to achieve their objective in selling the kidney. The disturbing report by the SIUT group becomes not only an accounting of the Pakistani experience but an indictment of the international transplant community because it overlooks the plight of the donor whose interests are just as valid as the recipients. Egypt is one of the few countries that prohibits organ donation from deceased donors. In the absence of an entity to govern allocation or standards for transplants, the market has become the distribution mechanism. Egypt is also one of the countries in which COFS has conducted extensive field research and long‐term outreach service programs for victims of the organ trade. In‐depth longitudinal interviews conducted by Budiani reveal that 78% of the CLDs (n = 50) reported a deterioration in their health condition. This is likely a result of factors such as insufficient donor medical screening for a donation, pre‐existing compromised health conditions of CLD groups and that the majority of employed CLDs reported working in labor‐intensive jobs. A kidney sale does not solve the most frequently given reason for being a CLD, 81% spent the money within 5 months of the nephrectomy, mostly to pay off financial debts rather than investing in quality of life enhancements. CLDs are not eager to reveal their identity; 91% expressed social isolation about their donation and 85% were unwilling to be known publicly as an organ vendor. Ninety‐four percent regretted their donation (13). The studies in Pakistan and Egypt are consistent with findings in India (14), Iran (15) and the Philippines (16) that revealed deterioration in the health condition of the CLDs. A long‐term financial disadvantage is evident following nephrectomy from a compromised ability to generate a prior income level. The common experience also entails a social rejection and regret about their commercial donation. These reports are consistent with the COFS experience in the CLD interviews; a cash payment does not solve the destitution of the vendor.

What Are the Alternatives?

As an international community we need to fulfill the goals of the Amsterdam Forum and provide ethical protocols for donor selection and longitudinal care for the live kidney donor (17). We collectively need to dispel the unrealistic notion that these cash payments can be regulated without the influence of brokers. The cash payment system targets the poor, privileges those who can afford the purchase, undermines altruistic donation and it has escaped governmental regulation. The Iranians are to be commended for their candor at a recent Transplantation Society Key Opinion Leader meeting in Turkey in which Professor Ahad Ghods and his colleague Dr. Shokoufeh Savaj acknowledged limitations of the Iranian Model, which included the lack of medical coverage for the donor beyond one year following transplantation. But it is also widely known that unregulated payments may be imposed upon the recipient. Transplants conducted in countries with loose or no legal frameworks such as that of Pakistan, the Philippines and Egypt accommodate the organ market and the transplant tourists that drive the demand. Engaging governments to play a central role in establishing laws on transplants and for the Ministry of Health to carry out oversight of transplant practices is an essential component to improve the global situation of organ trafficking/transplant tourism. This has been the gratifying experience of TTS interaction with the Chinese Ministry of Health, but it remains to be determined if MOH regulatory oversight will be sustained after the 2008 Beijing Olympics. An alliance of TTS and the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and other professional societies, all working with the WHO to influence health authorities at the World Health Assembly is now needed to combat organ trafficking. Each country should establish a system of deceased organ donation. At a WHO Regional Consultation on Developing Organ Donation from deceased donors, held in Kuwait City last year, transplant professionals from Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen supported the development and expansion of organ and tissue donation from deceased donors. They opposed commercialism and transplant tourism, including brokerage and medical professionals seeking monetary profit as a result of the vendor sale or coerced donation of an organ or tissue. The Kuwait Statement was crafted with an eye towards the following goals:

Each country must develop a legal framework and national self‐sufficiency in organ donation and transplantation;
Each country must have a transparency of transplantation practice that is accountable to the health authorities and whose authority is derived from national legislation;
Countries in which the buying and selling of organs is outlawed must not permit their citizens to travel to destination countries and return for insured health care in the client country and
Insurance companies should not support illegal practices as they are doing preferentially in some countries.

This list is not exhaustive of approaches that can improve the care of the live donor consistent with the recommendations of the Amsterdam Forum. Proposals are now being made to address additional measures to improve donor safety (18). These aims of the Kuwait Statement are also elaborated in the drafted and updated WHO Guiding Principles. This document is a product of the recommendations from global experts who participated in several WHO regional consultations hosted in diverse locations such as Khartoum, Manila, Slovenia and Geneva. The WHO guiding principles emphasize that ‘organs, tissues and cells should only be donated freely and without monetary reward. The sale of organs, tissues and cells for transplantation by living persons, or by the next of kin for deceased persons, should be banned. However, the prohibition of sale or purchase of cells, tissue and organs does not affect reimbursing for reasonable expenses incurred by the donor, including loss of income, or the payment of other expenses relating to the costs of recovering, processing, preserving and supplying human cells, tissues or organs for transplantation’. Additionally, corporations such as pharmaceutical companies involved in transplants and insurance companies should also be made accountable for their engagement in processes, which prioritize profit generation at the disregard of social justice. TTS has addressed each of the major pharmaceutical representatives involved in transplantation (Delmonico Sydney Australia August 2007) to solicit support for its global mission to combat organ trafficking. Further, various insurance programs (both public and private) in countries as diverse in resources as the US, Israel, Yemen and Saudi Arabia, should not encourage patients to seek a transplant abroad without regard to the source of the organ (11, 19). These countries cannot overlook the plight of the donor and condemn organ sales within the country and condone the commercialism outside its borders. There is precedent in international law to prohibit illegal practices irrespective of national borders, for example, in the bribery of public officials (20). The international transplant community must deliver a concerted message that organ markets that exploit the poor and vulnerable are not acceptable, but programs must be developed alternatively that assure donor safety and provide social benefits that address donor needs. These needs are the legitimate consequences of living organ donation and must be addressed in each country with Ministry of Health oversight, authorized by national legislation and guided by the World Health Assembly resolution.

Global Slavery Index: China

rsdadmin — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 19:43:51 +0000

2018FindingsCountry StudiesChina

CHINA-ECONOMY-TRADE This photo taken on March 7, 2017 shows Chinese employees working on micro and special motors for mobile phones at a factory in Huaibei, east China's Anhui province. Among China’s many manufacturing industries, the electronics sector has been under particular scrutiny since the “Foxconn suicide”’ linked to exploitative working conditions at “Foxconn City”, one of the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturers, which supplied global electronics brands, such as Apple and Hewlett-Packard.

Photo credit: STR/AFP/Getty Images

Prevalence

The Global Slavery Index estimates that on any given day in 2016 there were over 3.8 million people living in conditions of modern slavery in China, a prevalence of 2.8 victims for every thousand people in the country. This estimate does not include figures on organ trafficking. The Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) publishes some data on trafficking-related investigations and convictions. In 2016, MPS reported investigating 1,004 cases of human trafficking and arresting 2,036 suspects. Of those cases, 45 were suspected cases of forced labour, involving the arrest of 74 suspects. In one investigation, the Chinese government reportedly arrested 464 suspects who were involved in labour trafficking of disabled victims. The government convicted 435 individuals for sex trafficking, 19 individuals for labour trafficking, and 1,302 individuals were convicted in cases in which the type of exploitation was unclear.1

Forced labour

China’s meteoric economic rise over the past half century is a striking example of the transformative power of the market economy. China is now the second largest economy2 as well as the second largest importer3 in the world. Much of its rapid economic development has been the result of a domestic economy specialising in the production of labour-intensive, cheap goods for export.4 Forced labour mainly occurs in the production of these goods, including in the manufacturing and construction sectors, as well as in more informal industries, such as brick kilns. Although there are indications of a larger-scale problem, forced labour remains underreported in the local media.5 In 2016, cases of forced child labour were detected in a garment factory in Changshu, Jiangsu Province, where underage workers were forced to work overtime and beaten if they refused. They also had their passports and mobile phones confiscated if they attempted to run away.6 Also in 2016, police rescued six disabled people from forced labour in a brick factory in Yunnan, where they had been forced to do physically hard work without pay.7 Among the many manufacturing industries, the electronics sector has been under particular scrutiny since it was revealed that employees of Chinese electronics manufacturing giant Foxconn, which produced parts for Apple’s iPhone, were allegedly subjected to exploitative working conditions.8 Students from vocational courses are reportedly forced to work in the electronics manufacturing sector under the threat of failing to graduate if they decline. These jobs are disguised as “internships” but are usually simple production line jobs.9 Such cases of forced labour have been documented in electronics factories supplying major brands such as Apple, Acer, HP, and Sony, among many others.10 The construction sector in China is known for the common practice of paying workers in arrears, with wages sometimes being withheld for up to a one year.11 Construction workers are reportedly subjected to other exploitative practices such as withheld wages and non-payment, excessive and illegal overtime, and widespread lack of employment contracts – all of which are indicators of forced labour.12 Amid a recent slowing of economic growth in China after decades of robust growth, in 2015 nearly three million Chinese workers reported not being paid on time, with workers in construction being most at risk of underpayment.13 Other labour-intensive industries in China are also creating a demand for low-paid foreign labour. The sugarcane industry in China’s southern Guangxi province attracts an estimated 50,000 illegal Vietnamese workers.14 Factory towns in Southern China have been found to employ illegal workers from Vietnam on a widespread basis. These workers are often smuggled into the country by Chinese human smuggling syndicates who work together with Vietnamese gangs. The syndicates make their profits by claiming a portion of the workers’ monthly wages while also charging factory owners a fee.15 Another case in May 2017 revealed that seven Filipino women were deceived by Chinese human traffickers and forced to work on farms in China.16 The women were promised marriages to local Chinese men and better lives but found themselves in conditions of exploitation.17

State-imposed forced labour

The Chinese government officially announced in November 2013 that it would abolish the Re-education through Labour (RTL) System, in which inmates were held and routinely subjected to forced labour for up to four years.18 However, a 2017 report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission alleges that China still maintains a network of state detention facilities that use forced labour. Some former RTL camps have apparently been converted into drug rehabilitation centres or so-called “custody and education centres” which people are generally sent to without charge or trial. Detention length is generally shorter (between six months and two years) than in the former RTL camps.19 State-imposed forced labour allegedly continues to occur in these facilities.20 Chinese activist lawyer Chen Guangchen also supports this claim, citing the example of Christmas decorations that are produced through a system of forced labour in many detention facilities and prisons across China.21

Forced sexual exploitation of adults and children

Traffickers reportedly use fraudulent job opportunities to lure foreign women to come to China.22 In some cases, women may be coerced,23 drugged,24 and abducted25 by traffickers. Both Chinese women and women from neighbouring countries such as North Korea,26 Vietnam,27 Cambodia,28 Laos, and Myanmar,29 as well as those from further afield in the Americas and Africa,30 are at risk of trafficking for forced sexual exploitation and also forced marriage. Large numbers of North Korean women leave North Korea to go to China every year, with brokers often facilitating the women’s travel to China with the intention of selling them against their will to Chinese households or forcing them into sex work once they have arrived.31 A recent UN Commission of Inquiry report lists various instances where North Korean women were sold or trafficked into forced marriages and subjected to sexual exploitation by their “husbands” or other male family members.32 Although less is known about forced sexual exploitation of children in China, it has been noted that Chinese children, including those “left-behind” children, who are in the care of relatives in their rural home towns, and girls from neighbouring countries, such as Vietnam, Russia, and Mongolia, are trafficked into sexual exploitation and forced marriage.33

Forced marriage

The gender imbalance in China generates a demand for brides for Chinese men,34 particularly in rural areas,35 but also cities and smaller towns on the eastern seaboard,36 where the issue is most pronounced. Some parts of China still have cultural traditions that expect men to pay a dowry to the bride’s family. Due to the lack of women at a marriageable age, local dowry prices have skyrocketed, which means that “buying” a foreign wife is sometimes a cheaper option than marrying a local woman.37 Another factor exacerbating this situation is the newfound financial independence of many Chinese women who grew up under the now-abolished one child policy. Whereas these women would have traditionally been overlooked in favour of a son, many of them benefitted from high-quality education that has led them to good jobs.38 The fact that many of these women choose their career over marriage further fuels demand for foreign wives.39 This situation has given rise to a thriving industry of professional marriage brokers who operate through “mail-order bride” websites. The cost of such arranged marriages, which typically includes broker payments, a dowry, and legal fees, can amount to tens of thousands of dollars.40 However, the profitable foreign bride trade has also attracted human traffickers.41 While some women may agree to marry voluntarily, they are often deceived as to the conditions of their future marriage or the nature and situation of their husbands-to-be.42 The most frequent destinations for marriage migrants (including those that were trafficked for forced marriage) are provinces such as Jiangxi, Henan, Anhui, Hainan,43 and Yunnan,44 where the gender ratio is particularly imbalanced.

Organ trafficking

Although the Chinese government announced in December 2014 that it would end the harvesting of organs from executed prisoners and instead accept only organs for transplants that citizens have donated voluntarily,45 reports suggest that state-sanctioned organ harvesting still occurs across China.46 Practitioners of Falun Gong, a traditional Chinese spiritual practice that is persecuted by the Chinese government, are particularly vulnerable to forced organ transplanting. There are also members of other groups who are held as prisoners of conscience, including Uyghur Muslims, Tibetans, and house church Christians, who are potentially at risk of organ harvesting.47 A 2016 research report by former Canadian politician David Kilgour, human rights lawyer David Matas, and journalist Ethan Gutmann highlights that the scale of organ harvesting is much higher than previously assumed. The report concludes that an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 organ transplants are done in China every year, although the government officially claims that only about 10,000 transplants are undertaken every year.48 This discrepancy, together with the extraordinarily short waiting times for an organ transplant in China, reinforces public suspicions that organs are taken from prisoners of conscience.49 It is alleged that the organ transplant industry is a highly profitable enterprise that is largely run by the Chinese military.50 However, critics have challenged the allegations by Kilgour, Matas, and Gutman, claiming that their numbers are unrealistically high and that it is unlikely China could be conducting such large amounts of transplants without them being uncovered.51

Imported products at risk of modern slavery

While China is affected by modern slavery within its own borders, the realities of global trade and business make it inevitable that China, like many other countries globally, will be exposed to the risk of modern slavery through the products it imports. Policymakers, businesses, and consumers must become aware of this risk and take responsibility for it. Table 1 below highlights the top five products (according to US$ value, per annum) imported by China that are at risk of being produced under conditions of modern slavery.52

Table 1Imports of products at risk of modern slavery to China

Product at risk of modern slavery	Import value (in thousands of US$)	Source countries
Laptops, computers, and mobile phones	1,602,835	Malaysia
Fish	1,457,973	Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand
Coal	954,000	North Korea
Apparel and clothing accessories	821,835	Argentina, Brazil, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam
Sugarcane	755,999	Brazil

Laptops, computers, and mobile phones are the top product category at risk of modern slavery imported by China. In 2015, China imported a total value of US$1.6 billion of these electronic products from Malaysia, which has been found to use forced labour to produce them.53 Fish imports from various countries considered at-risk amounted to nearly US$1.5 billion. China also engages in coal trade with North Korea, which allegedly uses state-imposed forced labour to sustain many of its economic sectors, including the coal industry.54 In total, China imported US$954 million worth of coal from North Korea. China sources about US$820 million worth of clothing and accessories from four Asian countries (India,55 Malaysia,56 Thailand,57 and Vietnam58) as well as two South American countries (Brazil,59 Argentina60) which are suspected of subjecting workers to forced labour in this industry. China receives more than 50 percent of its overall sugarcane imports from Brazil, which is suspected of using modern slavery in its production (worth US$756 million).

Vulnerability

Within China, there are extreme disparities in income levels by region, along with an enormous income gap between rural and urban areas. In comparison to the eastern region, which has the highest income per capita, the western region of China is much less developed.61 Poverty is the main driver for the migration of rural Chinese, whose levels of education and income is generally lower relative to the urban Chinese population.62 Unable to find work in their hometowns, these individuals become part of China’s “floating population” of migrant workers moving from rural to urban areas in search of work. An official government estimate from 2015 places the number of migrant workers at 277.47 million and the number of people employed in urban areas at 404.10 million.63 Accordingly, migrant workers account for about 67 percent of the urban workforce.64 Research on internal trafficking in China has identified trafficking flows to more economically developed provinces in the East, such as Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangsu, and Shandong. In contrast, the source provinces are largely less developed, namely Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Xinjiang.65 Another factor contributing to the vulnerability of Chinese internal migrants is China’s hukou(household registration) system, which limits citizens’ access to public services to their official city of residence. As a result, migrant workers are unable to receive the same social benefits as local urban residents. Despite reforms to the hukou system to allow access to basic services for migrant workers (that is, those living outside their place of household registration),66 they still have reduced access to public health insurance,67 family planning services, and education for their children compared with city residents.68 Chinese internal migrant workers in urban areas are more likely to be employed in sectors where employment is informal69 and where there are no written contracts,70 such as in construction.71 One survey conducted on urban employees across six cities found that informal employment comprised 33 percent of the workforce.72 A 2014 survey by China’s National Bureau of Statistics found that 62 percent of China’s then 274 million migrant workers lacked contracts.73 A flow-on effect of the large-scale migration of rural Chinese to urban areas are the “left-behind” children as a result of their parents’ absence. While it was previously estimated that there are 61 million of these children in rural areas,74 the Chinese authorities officially revised the definition of “left-behind” children, resulting in a stark decrease in their numbers to 9 million in 2016. The former definition included any child with one migrant worker parent, but the new definition includes only children whose parents are both migrant workers. Additionally, the age range was narrowed from children under 18 years to children under 16 years of age.75 While the neglect of their parents may cause a whole range of issues such as mental health problems,76 they may also be at risk of abduction, child labour, and commercial sexual exploitation. China has the third largest diaspora in the world. As of 2011, there were more than 40.3 million overseas Chinese residing in 148 countries, with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States as the main host countries for Chinese immigrants.77 In some cases, human smuggling syndicates, such as the infamous Snakeheads, use their personal networks in source, transit, and destination countries78 to facilitate the voluntary transport of Chinese people, particularly from Fujian and Zhejiang provinces,79 to neighbouring Asian countries, such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Vietnam, and Western countries, such as the US,80 the UK,81 and Australia.82 Research did not conclude that trafficking or forced labour was an element in this activity. However, its illegal nature, in addition to the possibility of defaulting on the high fees charged for this transportation, may render migrants vulnerable to labour exploitation once they are in the destination country83 – either at the hands of the smugglers84 or other parties. Fees for transnational smuggling can range from US$ 1,000 to US$ 70,000 (median of US$ 50,000)85 per person, with lower prices for potential migrants who have a personal connection with the smuggler.86 The United Kingdom has a substantial undocumented Chinese diaspora. Many of these Chinese individuals, once they are successfully smuggled into the country, are desperate to pay off their smuggling fees and are thus more likely to end up in exploitative living arrangements. This has created a profitable and mostly locally operated industry in the UK that provides illegal Chinese migrants with services that in turn generate further profits for employers in the legal and illegal economy.87 Of the 3,805 potential trafficking victims referred to the UK Government’s National Referral Mechanism in 2016, 241 victims were Chinese nationals. The most commonly reported exploitation type among these potential Chinese victims was labour exploitation (139 reported cases).88 North Korean refugees can become vulnerable to trafficking,89 commercial sexual exploitation,90 cyber pornography,91 and forced marriage92 when they arrive in China. The illegal transit of North Korean refugees travelling to and via China is a multi-million dollar industry facilitated by a network of brokers.93 These brokers bribe North Korean and Chinese border guards to allow passage94 – for which the border guards are demanding increasingly high prices (around US$8,00095) as a result of the intensifying crackdown on illegal transit from North Korea to China.96 The vast majority of these victims are women97 and the possibility of ending up in slavery-like situations in China is sometimes seen as a better alternative to staying in North Korea.98

Response to modern slavery

Forced labour is a criminal offense as laid out by section 244 in the Chinese criminal code,99 stating that “’whoever forces any other person to work by violence, threat or restriction of personal freedom will be criminally liable.”100 This includes not only employers but recruiters, transporters, and people playing any other role in subjecting another to forced labour.101 Victims of forced labour are able to obtain compensation for their ordeals. The government has made efforts to improve and develop the victim assistance system, which includes a compensation fund for victims of forced labour.102 Additionally, article 96 of the Chinese labour law prohibits forced labour.103 Human trafficking of women and children up to the age of 14 is currently criminalised under Article 240, but this does not extend to men, and to that effect to boys over the age of 14.104 Article 241 on human trafficking was tightened through the ninth amendment to the penal code in 2015. Previously a “buyer” of a trafficking victim would be immune from prosecution if that person had not disrupted the victim’s rescue. The amendment modified article 241 so that the buyer is now subject to criminal liability, though the court may exercise a discretion to reduce the sentence. Closing this legislative loophole is hoped to deter more potential buyers from engaging in human trafficking.105 The Supreme People’s Court issued a new judicial interpretation on trafficking in women and children that entered into effect on 1 January 2017. It defines as illegal, trafficking matchmaking that involves subtle coercive measures such as withholding of passports, restriction of freedom of movement, and taking advantage of vulnerabilities such as language barriers, or unfamiliarity with the destination in order to sell the victims against their will.106 It also stipulates that buying abducted women and children to organise or force them to engage in prostitution or begging, in violation of the administrative laws, shall result in combined punishment for several crimes.107 In 2008, China enacted a Labour Contract Law in an effort to formalise all employment relations.108 This gave workers robust protection (including higher severance pay and guaranteed social benefit contributions) and made contracts compulsory for all workers.109 An amendment made to the law in 2013 allows for greater protection of workers who are employed indirectly via a recruitment agency. These workers – sometimes referred to as dispatch workers – are reportedly more vulnerable to exploitation, such as forced overtime110 and underpayment of wages.111 The amendment guarantees contract workers the same rights as their directly-employed counterparts, such as the rights to social benefits (including pensions, health insurance, and unemployment benefits)112 and payment of their full wage.113 Reportedly, however, the law is not effectively enforced.114 A government-run arbitration pathway is available for victims of forced labour through Labour Dispute Arbitration Committees (LDAC).115 A 2008 law, entitled the Labour Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Law, sets out the procedures and responsibilities for these committees,116 which are contained within some unionised industries in China.117 Alternatively, workers may approach their local communist party organs or local People’s Congress committee to lodge their complaints or pursue legal arbitration.118 Free legal services are available for foreign and Chinese victims of forced labour.119 In March 2017, the Chinese government succeeded in identifying 10 cases of unpaid wages and took remedial action.120 The discovery came as a result of a series of investigations in the construction sector. These were conducted across several government-sponsored projects in provinces including Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, Hunan, Zhejiang, and Shanxi. However, various factors deter victims from seeking help, such as the possibility that they will be punished for crimes committed while enslaved. The government’s National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking states that the penalties for victims who are deceived or coerced into engaging in criminal activity are to be reduced or exempted. However, victims of commercial sexual exploitation are reportedly punished for engaging in prostitution, an activity that is illegal in China.121 Another deterrent is the lack of protection afforded to victims and their families during the court process. A media report from 2015 described a case where a victim’s father was intimidated into silence by police officers.122 Access to shelters and other support services for foreign trafficking victims is inconsistent; individuals and volunteer organisations have provided help to foreign female victims, but anecdotal evidence suggests that government shelters are ill-equipped for foreigners, with reports of victims being turned away.123 Fearing deportation, North Korean women victims in China also do not approach the local authorities for assistance and the only support services available to them are NGOs operating unofficially.124 While the Chinese government is making progress on reforming the hukou system to help solve the migrant worker problem, it is a complex undertaking. For example, it is impossible for the Chinese government to suddenly be able to provide social services to people in already heavily overpopulated cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. Therefore, the Chinese government has introduced regulations that are designed to channel migrants to lower-tier cities where they can obtain an urban hukou more easily compared to China’s largest cities.125 It is currently unclear to which extent state-imposed forced labour has been fully abolished.126 The system, known as “Re-education Through Labour,” was formally abolished in 2013, but the government has stated that extrajudicial forced labour may still occur in prisons.127 This is facilitated by complicit government officials and prison guards who force inmates – including some who have not undergone a trial and are thus not confirmed criminals128 – to work and may even subject them to torture as punishment.129 The Chinese government’s announcement in 2014 proclaiming to end the harvesting of organs from executed prisoners and instead accept only organs for transplant that citizens have donated voluntarily130 failed to specifically include the ending of organ procurement from prisoners of conscience, such as Falun Gong practitioners. A 1984 provisional regulation that allowed the practice of organ procurement from executed prisoners was also never officially replaced, meaning that the practice of organ harvesting from prisoners is still permitted by the legal framework.131 The Chinese government classifies North Koreans as economic migrants rather than refugees,132 thus making their residency status illegal in China. A bilateral agreement between the two countries obliges Chinese authorities to forcibly repatriate any North Korean national who is found to be residing in China.133 Upon return, these individuals face public execution, torture, removal to labour camps,134 or sexual violence135 as punishment for unauthorised international travel.136 The clandestine nature of the activity makes it extremely difficult to measure, but one 2012 study places the number of North Koreans living in China at 15,000.137 Other NGOs estimate that the number may be as high as 100,000138 or 200,000.139

Response to modern slavery in supply chains

Public procurement

China’s Public Procurement Law lists a number of requirements that must be fulfilled by all suppliers whose goods or services the government is seeking to purchase. Article 22 of the law states that the enterprise must have a good business reputation, a good history of paying social security funds, and no “significant illegal record in business activities” in recent years.140 The law also states that projects should contribute to the national social development policy objectives141 and that information on these activities should be made publicly available.142 Article 50 states that a contract may be amended or cancelled should it cause any damage to social public interests.143 However, the guidelines do not specifically focus on minimising the risk of modern slavery in Chinese government supply chains. There is no requirement for officials to conduct due diligence to ensure that projects are free of forced labour. Officials do not appear to be given any training on how to identify assets that are likely to contain slavery in their supply chains. Procurement training is provided but it is unclear if the curriculum includes modern slavery.144

Impact of the UK Modern Slavery Act in China

In 2016, the Walk Free Foundation and WikiRate145 partnered to develop a UK Modern Slavery Act Research project that would contribute to transparency on corporate action on modern slavery by enabling members of the public to view and assess modern slavery statements produced under Section 54 of the UK Modern Slavery Act.146 Section 54 requires businesses either headquartered or conducting business in the UK and with an annual turnover of over GBP36 million per annum to release an annual statement on the actions they are taking to respond to modern slavery.147 There are an estimated 12,000 to 17,000 statements that will be produced under this reporting requirement, many of which are housed on the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) Modern Slavery Registry.148 The UK Modern Slavery Act Research project employs a crowdsourcing approach to reviewing and assessing the statements housed on the BHRRC platform, recognising the value of having a fully transparent platform, but also the enormous amount of time and resources it would take to conduct this analysis. The Wikirate platform enables university students and the general public to access the statements and answer a series of questions assessing whether the statements meet the requirements of the Act (signed by a board member, approved by the board and hosted on the company homepage) and if they detail policies that enable the business to better respond to modern slavery. To date, over 400 statements have been assessed by university students at Columbia University, ESCP Europe Business School, Johns Hopkins University, University of Nottingham, and the University of Western Australia. Four modern slavery statements have been released by four Chinese companies to date: Dongguan City Liang Tai Industries, Foctec Photonics, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), and SGW Global. Three of these companies are in the technology hardware and equipment sector and one company is in the banking sector.149 The statements analysed by the Modern Slavery Act Project were the most recently available statements at the time the research was conducted – in most cases, this would be the 2016 statement. All statements analysed by the project can be found on the relevant business page at https://wikirate.org/UK_Modern_Slavery_Act_Research. Some businesses have subsequently updated and improved their statements, and the updated statement will be included in the next iteration of the research. The statements by the four companies vary widely in quality, but none provide any details on the business' supply chains risks. Foctek Photonics states its awareness and compliance with the UK Modern Slavery Act on its website, without providing any further information.150 ICBC’s statement is equally short, but includes more detail regarding an assessment of its suppliers and it is signed by the CEO on behalf of the board.151 SGW Global’s statement includes details on due diligence and risk assessment measures, such as the adoption of a code of conduct and onsite supplier audits. The statement is approved by the board but not signed by the CEO or a Director.152 Similarly, the statement by Dongguan City Liang Tai outlines the company’s due diligence and risk assessment policies, such as a supplier code of conduct, unannounced inspections and audits, and direct employee training. The statement is signed by the company’s Managing Director.153

Business supply chains

In early 2017, the Chinese government made a positive step towards reducing forced labour in both foreign- and locally-owned enterprises.154 The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) announced and began the implementation of two new measures to punish and prevent labour violations. Under a new grading system which measures employers’ compliance with labour regulations, known as the Measures for Publicising Material Violations of Labour Security, employer misconduct will be publicised on the MOHRSS website and in local news outlets; offending employers will also be subject to more frequent labour inspections.155 Violations that could attract such a penalty include non-payment of wages and forced overtime.156 A second set of measures, called the Measures for the Credit Rating Evaluation of Enterprises in Labour Security Compliance, state that the credit ratings of these offending employers may also be downgraded.157 In China, there is no legal requirement for businesses to disclose cases of modern slavery that they identify in their supply chain. However, some businesses, particularly in the construction sector,158 voluntarily publish written statements on their websites advertising their commitment to eradicating forced labour in their conduct. Such publications may include declarations that the employer will not collect any collateral from employees (such as identity documents or deposits from workers as conditions of employment),159 utilise prison labour,160 or force workers to work overtime.161 Corporate social responsibility (CSR) more generally, has grown in importance in recent years, with 1,027 Chinese companies publishing CSR reports in 2016. Six hundred of these were from state-owned enterprises,162 which have become more observant of CSR in recent years possibly as a result of a set of CSR guidelines published in 2008163 by the central government’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC).164 However, CSR efforts in China tend not to focus on human rights because of political sensitivity165 and the perception that they are not relevant to business activities.166 Labour conditions are among the most well-reported in Chinese CSR reports, covering such topics as work safety and wages.167 Observers note that businesses headquartered in the more economically-advantaged first-tier cities may be more likely to engage in CSR activities.168 Businesses in export-oriented sectors such as textiles, electronics, and manufacturing are also considered leaders in CSR as a result of the pressure they receive from their international suppliers to perform ethically.169 The textiles industry has demonstrated initiative in improving CSR practices. For example, the China National Textile and Apparel Council, a major industry body, introduced a management system for businesses called the China Social Compliance 9000 for Textile and Apparel Industry.170

Recommendations

The government of China should:

Strengthen legislation

Expand the human trafficking law (Criminal Code Article 240) to include men, including boys over the age of 14, as possible victims.
Introduce laws that stop the prosecution of victims for crimes committed as a direct result of being trafficked.
Pass legislation to criminalise the charging of recruitment fees to the employee.
Reform the custody and education system in line with the Chinese Constitution and Legislation Law and ensure that forced labour is fully abolished in all state detention facilities.

Improve victim support

Encourage existence of labour-focused NGOs and support their capacity in victim assistance and remediation.
Establish specialised and coordinated units within key authorities, such as the Ministry of Public Security, with necessary skills and proper resources to identify and assist domestic and foreign victims.
Improve the coordination between nongovernmental organisations and key government agencies for modern slavery initiatives, focusing on the recovery and repatriation process of slavery victims.

Strengthen coordination and transparency

Introduce an independent government body to oversee China’s response to modern slavery.

Address risk factors

Undertake efforts to improve conditions for rural populations by affording them access to education, medical services, and social insurance, especially pensions.
Find alternative ways to support the reform of the hukou system, for example by involving civil society organisations to provide support services in urban areas.
Prosecute government officials for corruption and complicity in trafficking cases and especially forced labour in detention facilities.
Stop forcibly repatriating North Korean citizens.

Eradicate modern slavery from the economy

Support trade unions to strengthen their capacity to help establish enterprise grievance mechanisms.
Conduct labour inspections in informal, high-risk sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and agriculture.
- Expand current voluntary corporate social responsibility initiatives by passing legislation mandating modern slavery annual reporting by large companies.

Footnotes

1Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons 2017, Trafficking in Persons Report: China Country Narrative, United States Department of State, p. 127. Available from: https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/271341.pdf. [11 July 2017].

2World Economic Forum 2017, The world’s 10 biggest economies in 2017. Available from: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/03/worlds-biggest-economies-in-2017/. [14 August 2017].

3Observatory of Economic Complexity 2015, China. Available from: http://atlas.media.mit.edu/en/profile/country/chn/. [14 August 2017].

4World Economic Forum 2016, 8 things you need to know about China’s economy. Available from: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/06/8-facts-about-chinas-economy/. [14 August 2017].

5Bengtsen, P 2018, ‘China’s Forced Labor Problem,’ The Diplomat, 21 March. Available from: https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/chinas-forced-labor-problem/. [6 April 2018]. Personal communication.

6Xiaoli, C 2016, ‘Undercover Video Reveals Child Labor in Changshu,’ Shanghai Daily, 24 November. Available from: https://www.shine.cn/archive/viral/omg/Undercover-Video-Reveals-Child-Labor-in-Changshu/shdaily.shtml. [6 April 2018].

7Xiaoci, D 2016, ‘6 disabled people freed from forced labor,’ Global Times, 19 September. Available from: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1006945.shtml. [6 April 2018].

8See for example: Merchant, B 2017, ‘Life and death in Apple’s forbidden city,’ The Guardian , 18 June. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jun/18/foxconn-life-death-forbidden-city-longhua-suicide-apple-iphone-brian-merchant-one-device-extract. [27 September 2017]. Grant, S 2012, ‘Inside story of Foxconn shrouded in secrecy,’ CNN, 6 February. Available from: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/06/world/asia/foxconn-worker-difficulties/index.html. [22 September 2017]. Barboza, D & Duhigg, C 2012, ‘China Contractor Again Faces Labor Issue on iPhones,’ The New York Times, 10 September. Available from: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/technology/foxconn-said-to-use-forced-student-labor-to-make-iphones.html?mcubz=0. [22 September 2017].

9Bengtsen, P 2018, ‘China’s Forced Labor Problem,’ The Diplomat, 21 March. Available from: https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/chinas-forced-labor-problem/ [6 April], 'China’s Secret to Keeping Labor Costs Low: Student Workers' 2014. The Wall Street Journal, 25 September. Available from: https://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/09/25/chinas-secret-to-keeping-labor-costs-low-student-workers/ [6 April 2018].

10Hodal, K & Bengtsen, P 2017, ‘Modern-day slavery in focus: Chinese factory supplying major laptop brands accused of student labour abuses,’ The Guardian, 6 October. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/oct/06/laptop-firms-accused-of-labour-abuses-against-chinese-students-sony-hp-acer. [6 April 2018].

11Bengtsen, P 2018, ‘China’s Forced Labor Problem,’ The Diplomat, 21 March. Available from: https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/chinas-forced-labor-problem/. [6 April 2018].

12Bengtsen, P 2018, ‘Chinese New Year, but where’s the money?,’ Le Monde diplomatique, 12 February. Available from: https://mondediplo.com/outsidein/chinese-new-year-but-where-s-the-money. [6 April 2018]. Bengtsen, P 2018, ‘Hidden in plain sight: forced labour constructing China,’ Open Democracy, 22 March. Available from: https://www.opendemocracy.net/beyondslavery/peter-bengsten/hidden-in-plain-sight-forced-labour-constructing-china. [6 April 2018].

13Huang, Z 2016, ‘Charted: China’s migrant workers are the ones suffering in a slowing economy,’ Quartz Media, 28 April. Available from: https://qz.com/672194/charted-chinas-migrant-workers-are-the-ones-suffering-in-a-slowing-economy/ [6 April 2018].

14‘Waiting to make their move: Asia’s looming labour shortage,’ The Economist, 11 February 2017. Available from: https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21716584-there-obvious-solution-asias-looming-labour-shortage. [31 July 2017].

15Pomfret, J 2015, ‘Special Report: How smuggled workers power ‘Made in China’,’ Reuters, 6 August. Available from: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-labour-illegal-special-report-idUSKCN0QB00H20150806. [14 July 2017].

16‘6 Chinese arrested for human trafficking,’ ABS-CBN, 23 May 2017. Available from: http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/23/17/6-chinese-arrested-for-human-trafficking. [14 August 2017].

17As above.

18Amnesty International 2013, China’s 'Re-education Through Labour' camps: Replacing one system of repression with another?, Amnesty International. Available from: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2013/12/china-s-re-education-through-labour-camps-replacing-one-system-repression-another/. [7 November 2017].

19'Education without trial,' Global Times, 4 April 2014. Available from: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/863879.shtml. [6 April 2018]. Huang, C 2014, ‘Huang Haibo's case sheds light on the detention of prostitutes and clients,’ South China Morning Post, 15 June. Available from: http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1532889/huang-haibos-case-sheds-light-detention-prostitutes-and. [6 April 2018].

20Bowe, A 2017, U.S. Exposure to Forced Labor Exports from China: Developments since the U.S. Trasde Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Available from: https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/Research/Forced%20Labor%20Report.pdf. [7 November 2017].

21Guangcheng, C 2016, ‘Prison laborers in China endure unimaginable suffering to produce holiday lights,’ The Washington Post, 21 December. Available from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2016/12/21/prison-laborers-in-china-endure-unimaginable-suffering-to-produce-holiday-lights/?utm_term=.c062d410ca2c. [5 April 2018].

22UN-ACT 2014, National Trafficking Trends, UN-ACT. Available from: http://un-act.org/countries/china/ [1 June 2016].

23United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 2014, Report of the detailed findings of the commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Human Rights Council, pp. 134. Available from: https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/108/71/PDF/G1410871.pdf?OpenElement. [13 October 2017]. UN-ACT 2014, National Trafficking Trends, UN-ACT. Available from: http://un-act.org/countries/china/. [19 June 2016].

24Boykoff, P & Field, A 2016, ‘Vietnamese girls smuggled into China and sold as child brides,’ CNN, April 19. Available from: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/17/asia/vietnamese-girls-child-brides-china/index.html. [19 June 2017].

25Kagan, S 2013, ‘Labour trafficking in China: analysis and recommendations,’ International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations, vol. 29, no. 3, p. 264. Available from: Kluwer Law International. [31 July 2017].

26United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 2014, Report of the detailed findings of the commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Human Rights Council, pp. 132-144. Available from: https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/108/71/PDF/G1410871.pdf?OpenElement. [13 October 2017]. Field source.

27‘Vietnam-China alliance to cut cross-border crime – officials,’ BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, 22 March 2016. Available from: Proquest. [6 June 2017].

28UN-ACT 2016, Human Trafficking Vulnerabilities in Asia: A Study on Forced Marriage between China and Cambodia, UN-ACT. Available from: http://un-act.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Final_UN-ACT_Forced_Marriage_Report.pdf. [15 June 2017].

29‘Demand for wives in China endangers women who live on its borders,’ The Economist, 4 November 2017. Available from: https://www.economist.com/news/china/21730920-local-residents-often-turn-blind-eye-trafficking-demand-wives-china-endangers-women-who. [22 January 2018].

30Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons 2017, Trafficking in Persons Report: China Country Narrative, United States Department of State, p. 129. Available from: https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/271341.pdf. [11 July 2017].

31United Nations Human Rights Council 2014, Report of the detailed findings of the commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Twenty-fifth session, p. 133. Available from: https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/108/71/PDF/G1410871.pdf?OpenElement. [7 November 2017].

32As above, p. 138.

33ECPAT International 2015, Global Study on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism: Country-specific report China. Available from: http://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/3.-SECTT-CHINA.pdf. [25 May 2018].

34Kim, E, Yun, M, Park, M & Williams, H 2009, ‘Cross border North Korean Women Trafficking and Victimization between North Korea and China: An ethnographic Study,’ International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, vol. 37, no. 4, p. 162. Available from: ScienceDirect. [1 June 2017].

35UN-ACT 2016, Human Trafficking Vulnerabilities in Asia: A Study on Forced Marriage between China and Cambodia, UN-ACT, p. 1. Available from: http://un-act.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Final_UN-ACT_Forced_Marriage_Report.pdf. [15 June 2017].

36Personal communication.

37Murayama, H, 2017, ‘Chinese men turn to human traffickers for foreign brides,’ Nikkei Asian Review, 28 May. Available from: http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Chinese-men-turn-to-human-traffickers-for-foreign-brides. [15 June 2017].

38In 2007, the Chinese authorities defined (and consequently stigmatized) this group of unmarried women over the age of 27 as ‘leftover women’ (sheng nu).

39Li, X 2016, China’s marriage rate is plummeting – and it’s because of gender inequality, The Conversation, 11 October. Available from: https://theconversation.com/chinas-marriage-rate-is-plummeting-and-its-because-of-gender-inequality-66027. [22 January 2018].

40Scobey-Thal, J 2015, ‘Decoder: Asia’s Bride Market,’ Foreign Policy, March 26. Available from: http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/03/26/decoder-asias-bride-market-wives-south-korea-singapore-china-vietnam/. [15 August 2017].

41Boykoff, P & Field, A 2016, ‘Vietnamese girls smuggled into China and sold as child brides,’ CNN, April 19. Available from: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/17/asia/vietnamese-girls-child-brides-china/index.html. [15 August 2017].

42Skobey-Thal, J 2015, ‘Decoder: Asia’s Bride Market,’ Foreign Policy, 26 March. Available from: http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/03/26/decoder-asias-bride-market-wives-south-korea-singapore-china-vietnam/. [22 January 2018].

43Zhang, LT & Xing, Y 2009, ‘Ratio of males to females in China,’ British Medical Journal, vol. 338, no. 7700. Available from: Proquest. [27 April 2017].

44Zhang, Y 2017, ‘China, Vietnam fight human trafficking,’ China Daily, 22 May. Available from: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2017-05/22/content_29437325.htm. [6 June 2016].

45‘China to scrap organ harvesting from executed prisoners,’ China Daily, 4 December 2014. Available from: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2014-12/04/content_19025683.htm. [10 October 2017].

46Kirchgaesser, S 2017, ‘China may still be using executed prisoner’s organs, official admits,’ The Guardian, 8 February. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/07/china-still-using-executed-prisoners-organs-transplants-vatican. [10 October 2017]. Kilgour, D, Gutmann, E & Matas, D 2016, Bloody Harvest / The Slaughter: An Update. Available from: http://endorganpillaging.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Bloody_Harvest-The_Slaughter-2016-Update-V3-and-Addendum-20170430.pdf. [10 October 2017].

47Robertson, M & Lavee, J 2017, ‘China’s Organ Transplant Problem,’ The Diplomat, 29 March. Available from: https://thediplomat.com/2017/03/chinas-organ-transplant-problem/. [12 October 2017].

48Kilgour, D, Gutmann, E & Matas, D 2016, Bloody Harvest / The Slaughter: An Update. Available from: http://endorganpillaging.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Bloody_Harvest-The_Slaughter-2016-Update-V3-and-Addendum-20170430.pdf [10 October 2017].

49Rogers, B 2016, ‘Organ Harvesting in China,’ The Diplomat, 29 June. Available from: https://thediplomat.com/2016/06/organ-harvesting-in-china/. [10 October 2017].

50Rogers, W 2016, ‘Here’s what Australia can do to help end the Chinese organ trade,’ The Conversation, 9 August. Available from: https://theconversation.com/heres-what-australia-can-do-to-help-end-the-chinese-organ-trade-63701. [11 October 2017].

51Denyer, S 2017, ‘China used to harvest organs from prisoners. Under pressure, that practice is finally ending,’ The Washington Post, 15 September. Available from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/in-the-face-of-criticism-china-has-been-cleaning-up-its-organ-transplant-industry/2017/09/14/d689444e-e1a2-11e6-a419-eefe8eff0835_story.html?utm_term=.35cdae7cabd3. [23 January 2018].

52The top five imported products at risk of modern slavery were identified from an original list of 15 products considered at risk of modern slavery. For a detailed methodology of how these products were identified, please refer to Appendix 3 in the 2018 GSI report. The data is taken from the BACI 2015 dataset (available from: http://www.cepii.fr/cepii/en/bdd_modele/presentation.asp?id=1).

53Verité 2014, Forced Labor in the Production of Electronic Goods in Malaysia: A Comprehensive Study of Scope and Characteristics. Available from: http://www.verite.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ElectronicsMalaysia_MigrantWorkers_WhitePaperFINAL3.pdf. [15 December 2017].

54Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 2014, Report of the Detailed Findings of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, United Nations Human Rights Council. Available from: https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G14/108/71/PDF/G1410871.pdf?OpenElement. [15 December 2017].

55Theuws, M & Overeem, P 2014, Flawed Fabrics: The abuse of girls and women workers in the South Indian textile industry, Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations and India Committee of the Netherlands. Available from: http://www.indianet.nl/pdf/FlawedFabrics.pdf. [15 December 2017].

56Harima, R 2012, Migrant women workers in Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia, War on Want. Available from: http://www.waronwant.org/sites/default/files/Restricted%20Rights.pdf. [15 December 2017].

57Clean Clothes Campaign and MAP Foundation 2014, Migrant Workers in Thailand’s Garment Factories. Available from: https://cleanclothes.org/resources/publications/migrant-workers-in-thailands-garment-factories/view. [15 December 2017].

58Brown, M 2013, ‘Vietnam's lost children in labyrinth of slave labour,’ BBC News, 27 August. Available from: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-23631923. [15 December 2017].

59McGrath, S 2012, ‘Many Chains to Break: The Multi-dimensional Concept of Slave Labour in Brazil,’ Antipode, vol. 45, no. 4, pp. 1005-1028.

60Schweimler, D 2015, ‘No action as Argentina's illegal sweatshops flourish,’ Al Jazeera, 19 May. Available from: http://www.aljazeera.com/blogs/americas/2015/05/action-argentina-illegal-sweatshops-boys-killed-150518200950128.html. [15 December 2017].

61Shi, L 2008, Rural Migrant Workers in China: Scenario, Challenges and Public Policy, International Labour Organization, p. 6. Available from: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---integration/documents/publication/wcms_097744.pdf [13 May 2017].

62As above.

63Statistical Communique of the People’s Republic of China on the 2015 National Economic and Social Development, 9 February 2016, National Bureau of Statistics of China. Available from: http://www.stats.gov.cn/english/pressrelease/201602/t20160229_1324019.html. [28 July 2017].

64Lee, CK 2016, ‘Precarization or Empowerment: Reflections on Recent Labor Unrest in China,’ The Journal of Asian Studies, vol. 75, no. 2, p. 320. Available from: http://www.sociology.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/u281/jas_2016_752.pdf. [7 August 2017].

65Wang, J 2005, ‘A case study on receiving regions of trafficking in women and children in the five Eastern Provinces of China,’ Zhejiang Academic Journal, vol. 4, pp. 200–215.

66World Health Organization 2015, Success Factors for Women and Children’s Heath, WHO, p. 16. Available from: http://www.who.int/pmnch/knowledge/publications/china_country_report.pdf?ua=1. [6 June 2017].

67Friedman, E 2017, Made in China: A Quarterly on Chinese Labour, Civil Society, and Rights, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 15. Available from: http://www.chinoiresie.info/PDF/MIC_2017_1.pdf. [31 July 2017].

68Field source. Branigan, T 2014, ‘China reforms hukou system to improve migrant workers’ rights,’ The Guardian, 31 July. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/31/china-reform-hukou-migrant-workers. [13 October 2017].

69International Labour Organization 2013, Women and Men in the Informal Economy: A Statistical Picture, ILO, p. xi. Available from: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---stat/documents/publication/wcms_234413.pdf. [1 June 2017].

70Swider, S 2015, ‘Building China: precarious employment among migrant construction workers,’ Work, Employment & Society, vol. 29, no. 1, p. 4. Available from: Sage Journals. [7 August 2017].

71As above.

72International Labour Organization 2013, Women and Men in the Informal Economy: A Statistical Picture, ILO, p. xi. Available from: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---stat/documents/publication/wcms_234413.pdf. [1 June 2017].

73Lee, CK 2016, ‘Precarization or Empowerment: Reflections on Recent Labor Unrest in China,’ The Journal of Asian Studies, vol. 75, no. 2, p. 320. Available from: http://www.sociology.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/u281/jas_2016_752.pdf. [7 August 2017].

74All-China Women’s Federation 2013, Current Status of Migrant and Left-behind Children in China (in Chinese). Available from: http://acwf.people.com.cn/n/2013/0510/c99013-21437965.html. [6 June 2017].

75Yiwen, C & Lianzhang, W 2016, ‘How Accurate Is China’s 2016 Figure for Left-Behind Children?,’ Sixth Tone, 10 November. Available from: http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1540/how-accurate-china%20s-2016-figure-left-behind-children. [6 April 2018].

76Branigan, T 2014, ‘China struggles with mental health problems of ‘left-behind’ children,’ The Guardian, 31 August. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/30/china-left-behind-children-mental-health. [15 August 2017].

77Poston, DL Jr & Wong JH 2016, ‘The Chinese Diaspora: The current distribution of the overseas Chinese population,’ Chinese Journal of Sociology, vol. 2, no. 3, p. 369. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/2057150X16655077. [15 August 2017].

78United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2012, Migrant Smuggling in Asia: A Thematic Review of Literature, UNODC, Bangkok, p. 54.

79United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2012, Migrant Smuggling in Asia: A Thematic Review of Literature, UNODC, Bangkok, p. 93.

80Bernasco, W 2011, Offenders on Offending: Learning about crime from criminals, Willan Publishing, Abingdon, pp. 189-196. Available from: Google Books. [7 August 2017].

81Silverstone, D 2011, ‘From triads to snakeheads: organised crime and illegal migration within Britain’s Chinese community,’ Global Crime, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 93-111. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17440572.2011.567831. [7 August 2017].

82United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2012, Migrant Smuggling in Asia: A Thematic Review of Literature, UNODC, Bangkok, p. 21.

83United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2012, Migrant Smuggling in Asia: A Thematic Review of Literature, UNODC, Bangkok, p. 10.

84McKenzie, D 2014, ‘Chinese ‘snakehead’ gangs offer only escape for North Korea’s defectors,’ CNN, November 19. Available from: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/19/world/asia/china-north-korea-defector-escape-mckenzie/index.html. [14 August 2017].

85United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2012, Migrant Smuggling in Asia: A Thematic Review of Literature, UNODC, Bangkok, p. 57.

86United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2012, Migrant Smuggling in Asia: A Thematic Review of Literature, UNODC, Bangkok, p. 22.

87Silverstone, D 2011, ‘From triads to snakeheads: organised crime and illegal migration within Britain’s Chinese community,’ Global Crime, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 93-111. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17440572.2011.567831. [7 August 2017].

88National Crime Agency 2017, National Referral Mechanism Statistics – End of Year Summary 2016, Government of the United Kingdom, p. 5. Available from: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/national-referral-mechanism-statistics/2016-nrm-statistics/788-national-referral-mechanism-statistics-end-of-year-summary-2016/file. [15 August 2017].

89Chow, JT 2017, ‘North Korea’s participation in the Universal Period Review of Human Rights,’ Australian Journal of International Affairs, vol. 71, no. 2, p. 155. Available from: Taylor & Francis Online. [28 July 2017].

90As above.

91Yu, S 2017, ‘From seeking refuge to slavery: how North Koreans become victims of human trafficking,’ South China Morning Post, 2 July. Available from: http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2100944/seeking-refuge-slavery-how-north-koreans-become-victims. [28 July 2017].

92Chow, JT 2017, ‘North Korea’s participation in the Universal Period Review of Human Rights,’ Australian Journal of International Affairs, vol. 71, no. 2, p. 155. Available from: Taylor & Francis Online. [28 July 2017].

93Harris, B & Peel, M 2017, ‘Escape route from North Korea grows ever more perilous,’ The Financial Times, 23 June. Available from: https://www.ft.com/content/8e0ba354-5229-11e7-bfb8-997009366969. [28 July 2017].

94Padden, B 2017, ‘North Korean Defector Children Escape ‘Stateless’ Status’,’ VOA News, 11 July. Available from: https://www.voanews.com/a/north-korea-defector-children-escape-stateless-status/3413096.html. [28 July 2017].

95Harris, B & Peel, M 2017, ‘Escape route from North Korea grows ever more perilous,’ The Financial Times, 23 June. Available from: https://www.ft.com/content/8e0ba354-5229-11e7-bfb8-997009366969. [28 July 2017].

96Kim, J & Park, J 2017, ‘China Expels 32 South Korea missionaries amid missile defense tension,’ Thomson Reuters, 11 February. Available from: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-china-idUSKBN15Q042/. [28 July 2017]

97Harris, B & Peel, M 2017, ‘Escape route from North Korea grows ever more perilous,’ The Financial Times, 23 June. Available from: https://www.ft.com/content/8e0ba354-5229-11e7-bfb8-997009366969. [28 July 2017].

98Harris, B & Peel, M 2017, ‘Escape route from North Korea grows ever more perilous,’ The Financial Times, 23 June. Available from: https://www.ft.com/content/8e0ba354-5229-11e7-bfb8-997009366969. [28 July 2017].

99Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons 2017, Trafficking in Persons Report: China Country Narrative, United States Department of State, p. 127. Available from: https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/271341.pdf. [11 July 2017].

100Kagan, S 2013, ‘Labour trafficking in China: analysis and recommendations,’ International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations, vol. 29, no. 3, p. 271. Available from: Kluwer Law International. [31 July 2017].

101Kagan, S 2013, ‘Labour trafficking in China: analysis and recommendations,’ International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations, vol. 29, no. 3, p. 271. Available from: Kluwer Law International. [31 July 2017].

102Yao, C & Liang, J 2013, ‘China establishes state compensation system: white paper,’ News of the Communist Party of China, April 17. Available from: http://english.cpc.people.com.cn/206972/206981/8211568.html. [11 May 2017].

103National People’s Congress n.d., Labour Law of the People's Republic of China, Article 96, Government of China. Available from: http://www.npc.gov.cn/englishnpc/Law/2007-12/12/content_1383754.htm. [6 April 2018].

104Asian Legal Information Institute, Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China 1997. Available from: http://www.asianlii.org/cn/legis/cen/laws/clotproc361/. [7 November 2017].

105Wenying, S 2015, How the Ninth Amendment to the Penal Code affects child protection in China, UNICEF, 1 October. Available from: https://blogs.unicef.org/blog/how-the-ninth-amendment-to-the-penal-code-affects-child-protection-in-china/. [22 January 2017].

106Personal communication. The judicial interpretation in Chinese is also available from: http://www.court.gov.cn/zixun-xiangqing-33641.html. [6 April 2018].

107Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons 2017, Trafficking in Persons Report: China Country Narrative, United States Department of State, p. 127. Available from: https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/271341.pdf. [11 July 2017].

108Lee, CK 2016, ‘Precarization or Empowerment: Reflections on Recent Labor Unrest in China,’ The Journal of Asian Studies, vol. 75, no. 2, p. 320. Available from: Proquest. [7 August 2017].

109As above. Park, A, Wu, Y W & Du, Y 2012, Informal Employment in Urban China: Measurement and Implications, World Bank, pp. 3-4. Available from: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/07/17718498/informal-employment-urbanchina-measurement-implications. [11 May 2017].

110Melnicoe, M 2016, ‘China: Companies Must Shed ‘Dispatch Workers’’, Bloomberg BNA, April 6. Available from: https://www.bna.com/china-companies-shed-n57982069503/ [28 July 2017]

111China Briefing 2013, China Revises Labor Contract Law, 18 March. Available from: http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2013/03/18/china-revises-labor-contract-law.html. [28 July 2017].

112Lee, CK 2016, ‘Precarization or Empowerment? Reflections on Recent Labour Unrest in China,’ The Journal of Asian Studies, vol. 75, no. 2, p. 319. Available from: Proquest. [7 August 2017].

113‘China Revises Labor Contract Law,’ China Briefing, 18 March 2013. Available from: http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2013/03/18/china-revises-labor-contract-law.html. [11 July 2017].

114Park, A, Wu, Y W & Du, Y 2012, Informal Employment in Urban China: Measurement and Implications, World Bank, pp. 4. Available from: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/07/17718498/informal-employment-urbanchina-measurement-implications. [11 May 2017].

115Shen, J 2007, Labour Disputes and their Resolution in China, Chandos Publishing, p. 109. Available from: https://books.google.com.au/books?id=sfOiAgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Labour+Disputes+and+their+Resolution+in+China&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=snippet&q=ldac&f=false. [14 August 2017].

116China Labour Bulletin n.d., China’s Labour Dispute Resolution System. Available from: http://www.clb.org.hk/content/china%E2%80%99s-labour-dispute-resolution-system. [14 August 2017].

117Shen, J 2007, Labour Disputes and their Resolution in China, Chandos Publishing, p. 109. Available from: https://books.google.com.au/books?id=sfOiAgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Labour+Disputes+and+their+Resolution+in+China&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=snippet&q=ldac&f=false. [14 August 2017].

118Shen, J 2007, Labour Disputes and their Resolution in China, Chandos Publishing, p. 110. Available from: https://books.google.com.au/books?id=sfOiAgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Labour+Disputes+and+their+Resolution+in+China&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=snippet&q=ldac&f=false. [14 August 2017].Thireau, I & Hua, LS 2003, ‘The Moral Universe of Aggrieved Chinese Workers: Workers’ Appeals to Arbitration Committees and Letters and Visits Offices,’ The China Journal, vol. 50. Available from: University of Chicago Press Journals.

119Field source.

120Ministry of Human Resources and Social Services 2017, The General Office of the State Council exposes 10 cases of arrears of migrant workers' wages and plans to carry out a comprehensive self-examination work, March 2, (in Chinese). Available from: http://www.mohrss.gov.cn/ldjcj/LDJCJgongzuodongtai/201703/t20170302_267164.html. [20 June 2017].

121Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons 2017, Trafficking in Persons Report: China Country Narrative, United States Department of State, p. 127. Available from: https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/271341.pdf. [11 July 2017].

122Li, J 2015, ‘In China, Victims of Pedophiles are Called ‘Underage Prostitutes,’ The Epoch Times, May 25. Available from: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1368697-in-china-victims-of-pedophiles-are-called-underage-prostitutes/. [19 June 2017].

123UN-ACT 2016, Human Trafficking Vulnerabilities in Asia: A Study on Forced Marriage between China and Cambodia, UN-ACT, p. 23. Available from: http://un-act.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Final_UN-ACT_Forced_Marriage_Report.pdf. [15 June 2017].

124Song J 2015, ‘Twenty Years’ Evolution of North Korean Migration 1994-2014: A Human Security Perspective,’ Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, vol. 2, no. 2, p. 402. Available from: Political Science Complete. [20 June 2017].

125Sheehan, S 2017, ‘China's Hukou Reforms and the Urbanization Challenge,’ The Diplomat, 22 February. Available from: https://thediplomat.com/2017/02/chinas-hukou-reforms-and-the-urbanization-challenge/. [23 January 2018].

126Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons 2017, Trafficking in Persons Report: China Country Narrative, United States Department of State, p. 128. Available from: https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/271341.pdf. [11 July 2017].

127As above.

128Palin, M 2016, ‘Extreme torture: inside China’s correctional facilities,’ News.com, 19 September. Available from: http://www.news.com.au/world/asia/extreme-torture-inside-chinas-correctional-facilities/news-story/7e4a796bc1401d593f5cc58d7fd32ecb. [7 August 2017].

129Chen, GC 2016, ‘Prison laborers in China endure unimaginable suffering to produce holiday lights,’ The Washington Post, 21 December. Available from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2016/12/21/prison-laborers-in-china-endure-unimaginable-suffering-to-produce-holiday-lights/?utm_term=.897b72876ce0. [7 August 2017].

130‘China to scrap organ harvesting from executed prisoners,’ China Daily, 4 December 2014. Available from: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2014-12/04/content_19025683.htm. [10 October 2017].

131Trey, T, Sharif, A, Schwarz, A, Fiatrone Singh, M & Lavee, J 2016, ‘Transplant Medicine in China: Need for Transparency and International Scrutiny Remains,’ American Journal of Transplantation, 16, pp. 3115-3120.

132Database Centre for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB) 2017, Global Slavery Index – government response interview.

133‘China: Don’t Return 5 Refugees to North Korea,’ Human Rights Watch, 24 June 2017. Available from: https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/06/24/china-dont-return-5-refugees-north-korea. [17 July 2017].

134Database Centre for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB) 2017, Global Slavery Index – government response interview.

135‘China: Don’t Return 5 Refugees to North Korea,’ Human Rights Watch, 24 June 2017. Available from: https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/06/24/china-dont-return-5-refugees-north-korea. [17 July 2017].

136Kim, E, Yun, M, Park, M & Williams, H 2009, ‘Cross border North Korean Women Trafficking and Victimization between North Korea and China: An ethnographic Study,’ International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, vol. 37, no. 4, p. 162. Available from: ScienceDirect. [1 June 2017].

137Kirk, D 2012, ‘North Korean Women Sold into ‘Slavery’ in China,’ The Christian Science Monitor, May 11. Available from: https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2012/0511/North-Korean-women-sold-into-slavery-in-China. [15 June 2017].

138Database Centre for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB) 2017, Global Slavery Index – government response interview.

139Harris, B & Peel, M 2017, ‘Escape route from North Korea grows ever more perilous,’ The Financial Times, 23 June. Available from: https://www.ft.com/content/8e0ba354-5229-11e7-bfb8-997009366969. [28 July 2017].

140Government Procurement Law of the People 's Republic of China 2002, article 22, section 5, June 29, (in Chinese). Available from: http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2002/content_61590.htm. [19 June 2017].

141Government Procurement Law of the People 's Republic of China 2002, article 9, 29 June, (in Chinese). Available from: http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2002/content_61590.htm. [19 June 2017].

142Government Procurement Law of the People 's Republic of China 2002, article 11, 29 June, (in Chinese). Available from: http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2002/content_61590.htm. [19 June 2017].

143Government Procurement Law of the People 's Republic of China 2002, 29 June, (in Chinese). Available from: http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2002/content_61590.htm. [19 June 2017].

144Government Procurement Law of the People 's Republic of China 2002, article 62, 29 June, (in Chinese). Available from: http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2002/content_61590.htm. [19 June 2017].

145WikiRate has developed an open access research platform that allows anyone to systematically gather and report publicly available information on corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. By making corporate responsibility data accessible, comparable and free for all, the organisation aims to provide society with the tools it needs to encourage companies to respond to social and environmental challenges. See www.wikirate.org.

146Wikirate & Walk Free Foundation 2018, UK Modern Slavery Act Research Project, Wikirate. Available from: https://wikirate.org/UK_Modern_Slavery_Act_Research. [24 May 2018].

147Government of the United Kingdom 2015, Modern Slavery Act 2015, The National Archives. Available from: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/30/contents/enacted. [15 November 2017].

148Business and Human Rights Resource Centre 2018, Modern Slavery Registry, BHRRC. Available from: http://www.modernslaveryregistry.org/. [12 April 2018].

149See: Business & Human Right’s Centre, Modern Slavery Registry. Available from: https://www.modernslaveryregistry.org/explore?countries%5B%5D=1505&company_name=&legislation_UK+Modern+Slavery+Act=yes. [13 April 2018].

150Available from: https://www.modernslaveryregistry.org/companies/10273-foctek-photonics-inc/statements/12194. [13 April 2018].

151Available from: http://v.icbc.com.cn/userfiles/Resources/ICBC/haiwai/ICBCLondon/download/2017/2017StatementICBC_London_plc.pdf. [13 April 2018].

152Available from: http://www.sgwglobal.com/about-us. [13 April 2018].

153Available from: https://www.modernslaveryregistry.org/companies/7328-dongguan-city-liang-tai-industries-co-ltd/statements/9156. [13 April 2018].

154Hoffman, R 2017, New Grading System for Labor Protection in China, Ecovis Beijing, 13 January. Available from: http://www.ecovis-beijing.com/en/blog-en/articles/792-new-grading-system-for-labor-protection-in-china. [17 July 2017].

155Field source. Hoffman, R 2017, New Grading System for Labor Protection in China, Ecovis Beijing, 13 January. Available from: http://www.ecovis-beijing.com/en/blog-en/articles/792-new-grading-system-for-labor-protection-in-china. [29 September 2017].

156As above. [17 July 2017].

157Field source.

158ADIDAS audits prohibit forced labour management regulations, Kenda Xin Enterprise Management Consultants Ltd., 1 July 2014, (in Chinese). Available from: http://www.china-ser.org/Article_show.aspx?A_sn=17834176-8dbd-4695-b9c3-7120aeb4f75b. [19 June 2017].Labour Management Rules and Regulations, Guangdong Dongjie Industries. Co., Ltd., 2013, (in Chinese). Available from: https://wenku.baidu.com/view/01c4825877232f60ddcca1b3.html. [11 May 2017].

159BSCI Audits Forced Labour, Yu Chan Consulting, 7 November 2016, in Chinese. Available from: http://www.wrap.net.cn/BSCI/6377.html. [31 July 2017].

160As above.

161BSCI Forced Labour Managment Control Procedures, 2017, (in Chinese). Available from: http://www.docin.com/p-1963678560.html&dpage=1&key=%E5%BC%BA%E8%BF%AB%E6%80%8E%E4%B9%88%E6%B2%BB. [31 July 2017].

162Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China 2016, White Paper on China Corporate Social Responsibility, 14 January. Available from:http://csr2.mofcom.gov.cn/article/ckts/sr/201603/20160301275443.shtml. [14 July 2017].

163Policies, Laws and Regulations, Guidelines to the State-owned Enterprises Directly under the Central Government on Fulfilling Corporate Social Responsibility, State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC), the People’s Republic of China, n.d. Available from: http://en.sasac.gov.cn/n1408035/c1477196/content.html. [31 July 2017].

1642015, A Study on Corporate Social Responsibility Development and Trends in China, CSR Asia, p. 13. Available from: http://www.csr-asia.com/report/CSR-development-and-trends-in-China-FINAL-hires.pdf. [31 July 2017].

165Hanlon, RJ 2014, Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Rights in Asia, Routledge, Abingdon, pp. 36-37. Available from: https://books.google.com.au/books?id=IABgAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA36&lpg=PA36&dq=corporate+social+responsibility+china+environment+human+rights+neglected&source=bl&ots=1cvkLSvWF_&sig=vb1kmKhPIz5mdXShZK0NMh4GSE0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwib7qfQtLLVAhUIe7wKHc7xCGwQ6AEIQTAD#v=onepage&q=corporate%20social%20responsibility%20china%20environment%20human%20rights%20neglected&f=false. [31 July 2017]., A Study on Corporate Social Responsibility Development and Trends in China, CSR Asia, 2015, p. 5. Available from: http://www.csr-asia.com/report/CSR-development-and-trends-in-China-FINAL-hires.pdf. [31 July 2017].

166Hanlon, RJ 2014, Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Rights in Asia, Routledge, Abingdon, pp. 36. Available from: https://books.google.com.au/books?id=IABgAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA36&lpg=PA36&dq=corporate+social+responsibility+china+environment+human+rights+neglected&source=bl&ots=1cvkLSvWF_&sig=vb1kmKhPIz5mdXShZK0NMh4GSE0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwib7qfQtLLVAhUIe7wKHc7xCGwQ6AEIQTAD#v=onepage&q=corporate%20social%20responsibility%20china%20environment%20human%20rights%20neglected&f=false [31 July 2017]., A Study on Corporate Social Responsibility Development and Trends in China, CSR Asia, 2015, p. 11. Available from: http://www.csr-asia.com/report/CSR-development-and-trends-in-China-FINAL-hires.pdf. [31 July 2017].

167A Study on Corporate Social Responsibility Development and Trends in China, CSR Asia, 2015, p. 25. Available from: http://www.csr-asia.com/report/CSR-development-and-trends-in-China-FINAL-hires.pdf. [31 July 2017].

168As above, p. 26.

169As above, p. 14.

170Tian, XW & Slocum JW 2016, ‘Managing corporate social responsibility in China,’ Organizational Dynamics, vol. 45, no. 1, p. 43. Available from: ScienceDirect. [7 August 2017].

China Is Among Worst Human Trafficking Offenders, State Dept. Says

rsdadmin — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 19:47:52 +0000

WASHINGTON — China is among the world’s worst offenders for allowing modern slavery to thrive within its borders, according to a strongly worded State Department report released Tuesday.

In its annual assessment of global efforts to end human trafficking — with an estimated 20 million people remaining in bondage around the world — the State Department dropped China to the lowest tier of its ranking this year, as it did with the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo.

Those three nations joined 20 others already in that lowest designation, including Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela.

The report found that prosecutions for various forms of human trafficking — which include sex trafficking, including of children; forced and bonded labor; domestic servitude; and the unlawful use of child soldiers — dropped by nearly a quarter between 2015 and 2016, the first time the world had seen such a significant drop in recent years.

“Ending human trafficking is among the top priorities of the Trump administration,” Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and a key adviser, said in an event held Tuesday morning at the State Department to formally release the 17th annual report on the issue.

Ms. Trump singled out child sex trafficking. “On a personal level, as a mother, this is much more than a policy priority,” she said.

She joined Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson to release the report, and he spoke with a passion rarely displayed during his early tenure in public office.

“It is our hope that the 21st century will be the last century of human trafficking,” he said.

Mr. Tillerson had previously cautioned that values cannot be an obstacle to national security or economic interests. But, on Tuesday, he linked the problem of human trafficking to his top priority, ending North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile program.

Between 50,000 and 80,000 North Koreans are forced to work overseas, mostly in China and Russia, he said, and their wages are used by the North Korean government to fund its illicit weapons programs.

“Supply chains creating many products that Americans enjoy may be utilizing forced labor,” Mr. Tillerson said while Ms. Trump sat nearby. Ms. Trump’s shoe brand has come under criticism for its use of Chinese labor as well as the disappearance of three labor activists investigating conditions at the plants making her shoes.

Mr. Tillerson was criticized in March for failing to attend the release of the department’s annual human rights report, in what was considered a rare breach of a longstanding tradition by secretaries of state.

The report released Tuesday noted significant improvements in efforts to combat trafficking in 26 countries, including Afghanistan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Ukraine.

Mr. Tillerson noted that Afghanistan was upgraded in part for its efforts to crack down on powerful male leaders sexually abusing boys. Malaysia was upgraded because of a significant increase in prosecutions for such offenses as employers who impound workers’ passports.

Qatar also earned an upgrade despite continuing concerns about migrant labor used to construct facilities for the 2022 World Cup.

Some human rights activists were critical of the report.

David Abramowitz, managing director of Humanity United, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending human trafficking, described “serious concerns” about this year’s report, which he said “included unjustified upgrades to Burma, Malaysia and Qatar and a failure to downgrade Thailand.”

Among the other reasons China was dropped to the lowest tier was forced labor among drug addicts and ethnic minorities, as well as reports that the country continued to forcibly repatriate North Koreans despite threats that Pyongyang would punish such returnees with prison and forced labor.

The fierce criticism of China promises to accelerate a rapid worsening of relations with the Asian nation that had briefly benefited from good feelings generated by an April summit meeting between President Trump and President Xi Jinping at Mr. Trump’s Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago.

Mr. Trump decided to brush aside his fierce campaign criticisms of China’s currency and trade practices in hopes that the country would rein in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. But Mr. Trump acknowledged last week that China had done little to pressure the government in Pyongyang, marking a failure of one of the administration’s top foreign policy priorities.

The Commerce Department is expected this week to announce that for national security reasons, the domestic steel industry must be saved from imports, beginning a process that could lead to significant tariffs being placed on imported steel. That action would likely infuriate the Chinese.

Thus, the designation of China as one of the world’s worst offenders in human trafficking is part of a cascade of signals from Washington that relations between the United States and China could soon slide steeply downhill, just as relations between the United States and Russia are reaching depths not seen since the Cold War.

Iceland was downgraded to the second tier of countries for failing to prosecute any suspected traffickers for the sixth consecutive year while also decreasing the number of investigations into suspected trafficking. The rankings of Bangladesh, Guatemala, Hungary, Iraq, Liberia and Nicaragua were also downgraded.

Why Beijing Fails to Fight Human Trafficking

rsdadmin — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 19:51:41 +0000

The latest U.S. State Department report on human trafficking was notable for its harsh assessment of China’s performance and the country’s downgrade to the world’s lowest tier of ranking. This change in tone regarding human rights in China by President Donald J. Trump’s administration could complicate relations, says Margaret K. Lewis, professor of law at Seton Hall University, in a written interview. Lewis says human trafficking and forced labor are likely to remain significant problems in a society where overall human rights are under steady assault by the Chinese government. China’s leadership, she says, has chosen to decisively silence voices who advocate for the protection of human rights, which are perceived as threats to the ruling communist party.

What is the state of human trafficking, including forced labor, in China?

How does China respond to such naming-and-shaming reports?

The current Chinese leadership has vigorously refuted all international criticism of its human rights record. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson responded to the 2017 TIP Report by stating that China is “firmly opposed to the irresponsible remarks made by the United States based on its domestic law about others’ efforts against human trafficking.”

[The United States] is calling on China to live up to international standards.

The U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), which Congress first passed into law in 2000, mandates the tiered classifications and is a domestic law. But the fundamental standards by which China is being judged are those of international law to which China, as a sovereign state, has largely voluntarily committed itself. China is a party to critical international agreements concerning human trafficking. The United States is not asking China to adopt its domestic laws. It is calling on China to live up to international standards.

Why does trafficking persist in China?

Combating human trafficking is extremely challenging. Even countries that are resolute in the fight against trafficking encounter daunting obstacles. The types of work that victims do are often legal (e.g., agricultural and janitorial), so the illicit nature is not readily apparent. Victims often experience threats to themselves and/or family members, leading them to remain silent and not reach out for help. For cross-border trafficking, the need for transnational cooperation, including evidence sharing across different legal systems, impedes legal enforcement. The innovative nature of the complex criminal enterprises that conduct human trafficking also creates a cat-and-mouse game in which government authorities need to be equally innovative in their investigative techniques. But the 2017 TIP report’s criticism of China is not that the government is making its best effort possible and yet trafficking persists. Rather, the report forcefully states that China does not meet the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking and “is not making significant efforts [PDF] to do so.” This phrasing is important to highlight the lack of political will to take trafficking, and human rights more broadly, seriously. We can expect a significant level of trafficking to persist as long as the Chinese government fails to make a concerted effort to address the roots of the problem.

It is a dismal time for human rights in China.

China convicted fewer sex and labor traffickers in 2016 compared to the previous year [1,756 convicted traffickers compared to 2,076]. This is troubling. For criminal law to be a credible deterrent, potential wrongdoers need to see both that there is a high likelihood of conviction and that they will face serious penalties if convicted. Available statistics indicate that China needs to devote greater resources to investigating and prosecuting trafficking cases. President Xi Jinping’s sustained anti-corruption campaign demonstrates that when the leadership makes an issue a priority, it can make headway. This same type of resolve should be directed toward trafficking. With respect to purely domestic trafficking, revisions to the hukou (household registration) would be a concrete step in reducing the vulnerability of Chinese citizens who are working illegally outside of their registered address. People working in the shadow of the law are less likely to seek help when subject to coercive labor practices. Allowing a greater role for civil society would be another welcome step to countering trafficking, but this is unlikely given the current climate that is highly suspicious of civil society. With respect to state-sponsored forced labor, the government should allow independent observers access to drug rehabilitation facilities and administrative detention centers so that they can verify whether, as reports indicate, forced labor is occurring. For so-called “administrative” facilities that are in reality criminal in nature, people sent to such facilities should be granted protections that meet international standards for the rights of the accused.

In theory, China’s downgrade to the Tier 3 ranking would mean that the country will be subject to new sanctions and restrictions. What kinds of penalties might Beijing face?

Tier 3 status can subject countries to restrictions on assistance, such as curtailing non-humanitarian, non-trade-related foreign assistance, as well as withholding funding for educational and cultural exchange programs. These consequences, however, are not mandatory. Nor is the prospect of losing these discrete funds particularly concerning to China. What is important is the broader message that the Trump administration sends with this report. The administration had until now been relatively quiet with respect to criticizing China’s human rights record by, for instance, breaking from past practice and removing a dedicated human rights dialogue from the announced list of U.S.-China bilateral dialogues. The 2017 TIP Report is a shift in tone from the relatively chummy rhetoric following Xi’s April visit to [Trump’s estate at] Mar-a-Lago that basically relegated human rights to the sidelines. A tenser atmosphere is expected as criticism of China’s anti-trafficking efforts combines with other recent irritants to the bilateral relationship. The U.S. government imposed sanctions on a Chinese bank because of alleged money laundering for North Korea, approved an arms sale to Taiwan that includes advanced missiles and torpedoes, and continues to carry out freedom of navigation operations in disputed waters in the South China Sea. These moves will escalate friction with Beijing.

What other human rights challenges do individuals face in China?

It is a dismal time for human rights in China. The Chinese leadership has pursued a strategy of silencing any voices that even vaguely threaten the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) lock on power. Under Xi’s leadership, we’ve seen increasing intolerance of independent voices that do not have clear political agendas, including the detention of women’s rights activists who seek to draw attention to sexual harassment and of labor activists who seek to protect workers’ rights. This intolerance toward freedoms of expression and assembly, and other fundamental human rights, is likely to intensify in the run up to the crucial Nineteenth Party Congress this fall, which will mark the beginning of Xi’s second five-year term as CCP general secretary. There is no indication that the current repressive climate is a mere short-term strategy that Xi will abandon when he begins his next term. Tough times lie ahead.

What are the legal means available to protect human rights?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides that everyone has the right to an effective remedy by competent national tribunals for acts violating their fundamental rights. Although the Chinese government has in recent years increasingly demonstrated that a right without a remedy is no right at all. There are numerous laws on the books that protect human rights, but Chinese citizens encounter an array of challenges when attempting to uphold their rights.

Washington should continue to speak out when there are egregious human rights abuses

The Chinese constitution itself does not provide actionable rights: a person cannot walk into court and invoke the constitution as a basis for legal relief. People who try to defend rights specified in laws that can be invoked in court face formidable hurdles. For instance, China is a party to the UN Convention Against Torture and has criminalized torture in domestic laws. Yet the UN Committee Against Torture has noted numerous examples of torture and a lack of protection by Chinese courts, in part because the courts are relatively weak actors vis-à-vis the police. Sustained attacks on lawyers and other human rights activists have further hampered efforts to protect human rights. In the nearly two years since the infamous “709 Crackdown”—named for the July 9, 2015, nationwide roundup of hundreds of activist lawyers—the Chinese government has intimidated, physically mistreated, disbarred, and criminally sanctioned a string of lawyers. Not only have these lawyers themselves had their human rights violated, they are also no longer able to assist other citizens who seek to vindicate their own rights.

Where do human rights fit into U.S.-China relations?

The Trump administration has largely taken a subdued posture when it comes to human rights in China. There has been quiet diplomacy with respect to human rights, such as facilitating the return of U.S. citizen Sandy Phan-Gillis after her prolonged arbitrary detention by the Chinese government over charges of spying. In large part, however, the Trump administration has opted to emphasize security, trade, and other aspects of the bilateral relationship. That said, it will be interesting to watch how the United States’ response to news of Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo’s terminal cancer unfolds. As Liu’s condition worsens, Washington must decide how firmly it will stand behind core human rights principles by continuing to publicly and unequivocally call for his release. An important step for the executive branch to take—and this would be true under any president—is to not just state that human rights matter, as is often done, but also to articulate an integrated, executive branch-wide plan [PDF] for how human rights will be raised. The U.S. government should work to identify issues with embedded human rights concerns for which the Chinese government has strong incentives to engage with the United States, such as bilateral law enforcement. At the same time, Washington should continue to speak out when there are egregious human rights abuses. First, because it is the right thing to do. Second, taking a principled stance signals to the world that the United States is indeed standing behind core human rights values. This has reputational value. Third, public statements by the United States can have a direct, meaningful impact on individuals who have suffered human rights violations at the hands of the Chinese government. This interview has been edited and condensed.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN EASTERN AFRICA: Research Assessment and Baseline Information in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Burundi

rsdadmin — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 16:42:07 +0000

For Full Report: http://kenya.iom.int/sites/default/files/Human_Trafficking_in_Eastern_Africa.pdf

Executive Summary

Trafficking in persons has been a reported problem in Eastern Africa for several years, but at the.time.we.began.our.research,.few.primary.research.studies.that.systematically.investigate. and.describe.the.phenomenon.had.been.published..IOM’s.research.efforts.have.focused.on. investigating the factors that may be facilitating human trafficking in Eastern Africa; developing profiles of both traffickers and their victims, exploring the activities, means and purposes of trafficking in the region; and the health conditions of trafficked people in Eastern Africa. A.review.of.existing.literature.indicates.that.individual.characteristics.such.as.gender,.socioeconomic.status,.education,.employment,.and.personal.aspirations.may.be.related.to.an.individual’s likelihood of being trafficked. Family factors such as family size, death of one or both.parents,.and.divorce.are.considered.to.be.potentially.relevant.factors,.as.are.community. characteristics.such.as.access.to.services,.employment,.or.education.and.training.opportunities. The demand for trafficked labour has been documented in Eastern Africa in the following sectors.and.industries:.agriculture,.mining,.services,.domestic.work,.and.prostitution..People. have also reportedly been trafficked for military service, forced marriage, and ritual purposes. That Eastern Africa is affected by both internal and international trafficking is also mentioned in a number of reports, but the understanding of effects of trafficking on individuals and their communities.in.Eastern.Africa.is.limited.. A number of factors that may have a broad impact on trafficking were examined. These included.migration,.labour.forces.such.as.levels.of.income.and.employment,.aspirations.to. certain livelihoods, conflict, governance and law enforcement, and gender roles and genderbased.violence..Internal.and.regional.migration.is.common.and.entrenched.in.the.region... While.the.majority.of.surveyed.respondents.reported.that.labour.migration.is.common.in.their. home areas, in Tanzania this was more true for trafficked than non-trafficked respondents. This indicates an association either between being trafficked and coming from an area where labour migration is common or between being trafficked and perceiving labour migration to be.a.common.practice.in.one’s.home.area,.though.it.was.less.true.in.Kenya..With.regards. to.source.communities,.we.found.that.in.Uganda,.those.who.came.from.source.areas.were. more likely to be unemployed, confirming our hypothesis that these communities may have on average higher rates of unemployment. In Tanzania, however, lower income levels in home areas, rather than lower levels of employment, were found to be associated with trafficking, confirming our hypothesis that source communities may have lower income levels, pushing trafficking victims out. In destination areas, we found that in Kenya, those from destination areas.were.more.likely.to.be.unemployed.than.those.from.non-destination.areas,.contrary.to. our expectations. In Tanzania we found that those from destination areas were more likely to have a higher income, confirming our hypothesis that destination communities may have on average higher income levels, pulling trafficking victims in. Traffickers were also found to exploit.their.victims’.aspirations.to.certain.types.of.employment.during.the.recruitment.process.. Conflict, insufficient government policies, legislation, programmes, and law enforcement may also be contributing to an environment in which traffickers act with impunity while attitudes and values regarding women and children may contribute to their vulnerability to being trafficked. People’s perceptions of trafficking in each country were also investigated. In Kenya 83 percent of survey respondents agreed that people in their area know what human trafficking is. In Tanzania this fell to 56 per cent, in Uganda to 34 per cent, and in Burundi to 12 per cent (these findings apply only to our samples, not to the general populations of those countries). However, most respondents in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania agreed that human trafficking is occurring.in.their.region..A.minority.of.respondents.in.each.country.also.reported.having.heard. or seen things related to trafficking in human organs. The.impact.of.a.number.of.individual,.family,.and.community.characteristics.on.one’s.likelihood of being trafficked was likewise examined. There was no statistically significant association between either age or gender and the likelihood of being trafficked found in any of our samples. In Kenya, residing outside one’s country of birth or citizenship was associated with being trafficked, but there was insufficient variation in our Uganda and Tanzania samples to perform similar analysis. A higher percentage of trafficked girls and women in our Tanzania sample.had.lower.levels.of.education.while.a.lower.percentage.had.higher.levels.of.education,. but.the.same.association.was.not.found.for.men.and.boys.nor.for.the.Kenya.or.Uganda. sample. In Kenya and Tanzania, trafficked respondents were more likely to come from a family that practices fostering. Overall, and particularly in Kenya and Tanzania, death of either the father or mother was found to increase one’s likelihood of being trafficked, as was death of both.parents.in.the.same.two.samples.. . Most trafficked respondents reported having met their trafficker on their own, or through introductions.by.family.members.and.friends. Almost all victims surveyed stated that their traffickers lured them by making promises, but very.few.said.they.were.threatened.or.forced..The.most.frequently.made.promises.were.of.jobs. and.good.salaries,.followed.by.education,.and.the.most.commonly.promised.jobs.were.jobs.in. hospitality,.the.service.sector.industry,.or.domestic.work,.although.23.per.cent.of.the.Uganda. sample reported being lured with promises of food and shelter. A majority of trafficked persons did.get.the.type.of.job.they.were.promised,.suggesting.that.it.is.the.conditions.of.work,.rather. than.the.type.of.work,.that.those.in.our.sample.were.most.commonly.deceived.about..A.large. majority of trafficked respondents reported that their transport was arranged for them, with most.reporting.that.they.were.transported.by.public.means..Of.those.who.did.not.get.the.jobs. promised,.many.ended.up.with.domestic.work,.prostitution,.street.work,.and.informal/illegal. work..With.the.exception.of.Burundi,.a.large.majority.of.victims.did.not.receive.the.salary.they. were promised. In Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania a sizeable minority were not allowed to keep their earnings. In all four of our samples, a majority of trafficked persons reported having their.freedom.of.movement.and.freedom.of.choice.restricted.at.some.point.and.in.some.way. during the trafficking process. A majority also reported having worked an excessive amount of hours per day. In the Kenya and Tanzania samples, slightly more than half reported having been forced into activities against their will. Many trafficked respondents said they were forced into.prostitution.and.domestic.work.against.their.will..A.number.of.Kenyan.and.Ugandan.respondents reported having been forced to have sex (not necessarily transactional sex), while a number of Tanzanian respondents reported having been forced to do informal/illegal activities..Threats.were.the.most.common.type.of.force.used.and.the.use.of.physical.violence.was. reported by a minority of victims in the Kenya, Tanzanian, and Uganda samples. Information about traffickers was gathered from a variety of sources. These included the survey respondents who had been trafficked and had answered questions about their traffickers, interviews with actual traffickers, and interviews with persons close to them. Victims identified family members, friends, people living in their area, employers, and employment agencies as their traffickers, and that both men and women were found to be involved in trafficking, although male traffickers tend to work together with other men, and female traffickers with.other.women,.rather.than.in.mixed.groups..The.average.number.of.persons.involved.in. a trafficking incident, to their victims’ knowledge, was two. Victims of trafficking suffered from a.variety.of.mental.and.physical.ailments,.although.we.were.unable.to.establish.if.these.were. linked to their trafficking experience. When asked about their current circumstances, more of the trafficked than the non-trafficked were not working at the time of interview in Kenya sample and, to a lesser extent, the Tanzania sample. No significant differences were found between trafficked and non-trafficked respondents in either Kenya and Tanzania with regards to their current income levels, although trafficked persons in Uganda were more likely to report higher levels of income than were the non-trafficked respondents. In general, very few trafficked persons.were.enrolled.in.rehabilitative.programmes..

Child Trafficking Fast Facts

rsdadmin — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 16:48:36 +0000

Click here to access the UNICEF child trafficking fast facts guide.

Conscious Consumerism and You [One Pager]

rsdadmin — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 16:52:14 +0000

Click here to access UNICEF's one-pager on conscious consumerism.

Interfaith Toolkit to End Trafficking

rsdadmin — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 16:58:09 +0000

Dear Friends, When I consider the individuals and advocates who have some of the most powerful impact on the protection, well-being and survival of the world’s children, I think of faith communities. Across religious traditions, communities of faith often share common values, such as the motivation to end injustice, promote peace and serve the needs of vulnerable groups. These common values unite faith communities across the United States and encourage collaboration to end all forms of violence against children — including child trafficking. Child trafficking has been likened to modern-day slavery. This form of abuse and exploitation is not only a grave violation of child rights, but an issue that affects entire communities in the United States and abroad. Faith communities have a unique capacity to be on the front lines of defense for children who are most vulnerable to trafficking and other forms of violence. Your commitment to serving the needs of children and other vulnerable groups is essential in effecting change to prevent and end child trafficking. Within this toolkit, you will find strategies for action we have developed to help protect the dignity of every child. Therefore, I invite you to share this resource with your friends and fellow community members and work together to take collective action. In the spirit of unity, let us embrace the common values we share and use them to create a better, safer future for the world’s children. On behalf of UNICEF USA, I am grateful for all that you do to put children first. Shalom, Caryl M. Stern

Introduction

A belief in human dignity, a dedication to end injustice, and a commitment to care for the marginalized are core principles that unite all communities of faith. These principles are also essential in effecting change to end violence, exploitation and human trafficking. Faith-based organizations and religious groups are important partners in UNICEF’s work to protect children across the globe. UNICEF works very closely with religious communities whose tenets include an interest in the safety and well-being of all people, especially of children. Communities of faith are important advocates for the rights and protection of vulnerable groups, and key players in preventing and ending the exploitation of children. The End Trafficking Project at UNICEF USA aims to raise awareness about child trafficking and mobilize communities to take meaningful action to help protect children. Individuals across faith traditions are vocal to assert the injustice of exploitation, the importance of hospitality and the imperative to respond to the needs of the vulnerable. That is why the End Trafficking Project views faith communities as especially powerful allies in the fight to end child trafficking. The purpose of this toolkit is to educate faith leaders, faith-based organizations and houses of worship on the issue of human trafficking, and equip them with the tools and resources to take action against it. The toolkit contains resources from several faith traditions, including scriptural examples from major religious texts, and offers ideas for local faith communities to combat human trafficking. The faith values highlighted in this toolkit are based on the understanding, interpretation, and guidance of our interfaith partners and do not necessarily encompass the full breadth of views within each major religious tradition. In addition, while UNICEF works very closely with religious communities around the globe, the faith values in this toolkit do not represent the views of UNICEF or UNICEF USA. For Full Report Click Here

UN GLOBAL REPORT ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS: Southern Africa

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The following countries are covered in this section: Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Any missing information concerning the region was either unavailable or not accessed by UNODC. Angola Angola Institutional framework: Angola does not have a specific provision criminalizing human trafficking. The General Labour Law prohibits compulsory work and includes provisions on the prohibition of forced labour. Criminal justice response: The country has an inter-ministerial committee to combat child labour. Because of the absence of a specific provision on human trafficking, no prosecutions or convictions were recorded for trafficking in persons during the reporting period. Services provided to victims: NGOs and international organizations provide legal protections, medical assistance, and housing and shelter for persons in need, including trafficking victims. One victim trafficked for sexual exploitation was repatriated by IOM from South Africa in 2005. Additional information: According to the Southern African Police Chiefs Organization (SARPCCO), no cases of trafficking in persons were detected in Angola in the past few years. Botswana Institutional framework: Botswana does not have a specific provision criminalizing human trafficking. The Botswana Penal Code of 1964 prohibits abduction, kidnapping, slave trafficking and the buying of women and girls for commercial sex. Criminal justice response: Because of the absence of a specific provision on human trafficking, no prosecutions or convictions were recorded for trafficking in persons during the reporting period. Services provided to victims : There is no information on services provided to victims of trafficking. Additional information: There are two shelters for abused women and children, including trafficking victims. Democratic Republic of the Congo Institutional framework: The Democratic Republic of the Congo does not have a specific provision criminalizing human trafficking. The sexual violence statute prohibits child and forced prostitution, pimping and sexual exploitation. The new constitution forbids child soldiering. Criminal justice response: Because of the absence of a specific provision on human trafficking, no prosecutions or convictions were recorded for trafficking in persons during the reporting period. Arrests and convictions related to trafficking in persons were recorded for “unlawful recruitment of child soldiers” and for war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the recruitment of child soldiers and sexual slavery. In the latter case, these episodes are under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. Services provided to victims: NGOs and international organizations provide legal protection and medical assistance for trafficking victims. The Ministry of Social Affairs supports local NGO efforts to combat trafficking in persons. Lesotho Institutional framework: Lesotho does not have a specific provision criminalizing human trafficking. The provisions of the Child Protection and Welfare Bill of 2004 deal with the protection of children in cases such as abduction, child stealing and sexual abuse. The Sexual Offences Act No. 29 of 2003 and the provisions of the Labour Code Order No. 24 of 1992 might be applied to prosecute some forms of trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced labour. Criminal justice response: The Child and Gender Protection Unit (CGPU) was established by the Lesotho Mounted Police in November 2002. Currently, the CGPU has an office in each of the 11 police districts in Lesotho; three officers (male and female) are assigned to each office. Cases of trafficking of women and children fall within the jurisdiction of this unit. Because of the absence of a specific provision on human trafficking, no prosecutions or convictions were recorded for trafficking in persons during the reporting period. Three convictions were recorded in 2005 for sexual exploitation and one conviction in 2004 for child stealing. Services provided to victims: Local NGOs provide medical assistance and housing services for trafficking victims. The Child and Gender Protection Unit (Lesotho Royal Mounted Police) have trained staff providing psychosocial care and support and play therapy for children who have been sexually abused, as well as for other victims of abuse. Malawi Institutional framework: Malawi does not have a specific provision criminalizing human trafficking. Some provisions of the criminal code, such as abduction, procuring, maintaining a brothel, forced labour and slavery, might be used to prosecute some forms of trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced labour. The Child Care, Protection and Justice Bill, which defines child trafficking and sets a penalty of life imprisonment for traffickers, has been drafted and was awaiting approval in June 2008 by the competent authorities. Criminal justice response: Authorities report that about 400 child protection officers have been appointed to monitor trafficking and child labour. A Victim Support Unit established within the police deals with abuse cases in general, including trafficking in persons. Because of the absence of a specific provision on human trafficking, no prosecutions or convictions were recorded for trafficking in persons. Authorities reported about 10 convictions for forced child labour between 2004 and 2007. In these cases, the convicted offenders were citizens of Malawi and Zambia. Additionally, six Malawian citizens were arrested for organ removal in 2006. Services provided to victims: State authorities provide legal protection and medical assistance for abused persons, including trafficking victims. Local NGOs and international organizations provide legal protection, medical assistance, housing, and rehabilitation and reintegration services for abused and exploited children. For the 10 convictions reported above for forced child labour between 2004 and 2007, the victims were all from Malawi and were exploited in Malawi or in neighbouring Zambia. One case was reported of a Zimbabwean child exploited in Malawi. One Malawian woman, who was a victim of trafficking, was repatriated from Europe in 2006. Children have been detected as victims of organ removal for the purpose of performing rituals. Mozambique Institutional framework: Mozambique adopted specific legislation on trafficking in persons in April 2008. Before that, provisions in the criminal code concerning the violation of labour laws, abduction or kidnapping were used to prosecute some forms of trafficking in persons. A National Action Plan for Children, which considers many forms of child abuse, was adopted by the Social Welfare Ministry. Criminal justice response: Child Protection Units were established in a few police stations by the Association of Defenders of Child Rights (ADDC). The commonly known ‘gabinetes de atendimento’ are help desks stationed in most police stations where victims of trafficking and domestic violence can report their cases and get assistance. There are currently 184 gabinetes de atendimento. According to the Ministry of the Interior and the police, there were no official records of cases of trafficking in persons during the reporting period. Services provided to victims: Local NGOs and international organizations provide legal protection, medical and psychosocial assistance, housing services, repatriation and reunification with families. Four adult women were identified by State authorities as victims of trafficking in 2005, two in 2006 and one in 2007. All were citizens of Mozambique sheltered and repatriated by IOM − six were repatriated from South Africa and one from Zimbabwe – and all were victims of sexual exploitation and forced labour, with three women trafficked for forced labour, two for sexual exploitation, and the other six exposed to a mixed form of sexual and labour exploitation. Two children were repatriated from South Africa to Mozambique as victims of trafficking for forced labour. Namibia Institutional framework: Namibia does not have a specific provision criminalizing human trafficking. Kidnapping, child labour, enticing a woman to a brothel for the purpose of prostitution and other offences can be used to prosecute some forms of trafficking in persons. The Child Care and Protection Act is awaiting adoption and contains specific references to child trafficking. A draft Action Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour in Namibia, which includes proposed strategies against child trafficking, is expected to be adopted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare in 2008. Criminal justice response: The Women and Children Protection Police Unit is trained to assist victims of sexual assault. Fifteen officers are part of this unit, which was established in 2000. Because of the absence of a specific provision on human trafficking, no prosecutions or convictions were recorded for trafficking in persons during the reporting period. Services provided to victims: Local NGOs provide legal protection and medical and psychosocial assistance to persons in need and victims of abuses, including victims of trafficking in persons. There have been no (official) reports of people being trafficked to, from or within the country. South Africa Institutional framework: South Africa established specific offences to criminalize trafficking for sexual exploitation and child trafficking for a wide range of purposes. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 2007 (Act No. 32 of 2007) serves as the basis to fight the trafficking of persons for purposes of sexual exploitation, while the Children’s Act 2005 (Act No. 38 of 2005) can be used to prosecute cases of child trafficking. In addition, the South African Constitution of 1996 prohibits slavery, servitude and bonded labour. Comprehensive legislation based on the UN Trafficking Protocol has been drafted and is due to be passed by parliament in 2009. Criminal justice response: A Trafficking Desk was established within the Organized Crime Unit of the South African Police Services. The Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit belonging to the National Prosecution Service (NPS) deals with the prevention of sexual offences through effective prosecutions. Due to the absence of legislation covering the reporting period, no prosecutions and convictions were recorded up to 2007. Services provided to victims: State authorities provide legal protection, temporary stay permits, medical and psychosocial support, housing and shelter for victims of trafficking in persons. NGOs and international organizations also offer legal protection, medical and psychosocial support, and housing and shelter. IOM provides assisted voluntary return and reintegration services. Additional information: Three South African victims were repatriated from Zimbabwe and the Middle East. Although police and NGOs generally refer cases of trafficking to IOM, which is the only institution collecting data on victims of trafficking in persons in South Africa, not all cases of trafficking brought to the attention of the police are referred to IOM. South Swaziland Institutional framework: Swaziland does not have a specific provision on human trafficking. A draft law, the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Bill, which would specifically criminalize sex trafficking and mandate psychological services for victims, was due to be presented to Parliament in 2007 but was still pending as of mid-2008. Criminal justice response: The Royal Swaziland Police Service has a Domestic Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit dealing, inter alia, with trafficking cases. Because of the absence of a specific provision on human trafficking, no prosecutions or convictions were recorded for trafficking in persons Services provided to victims: There are no referral mechanisms for victims of trafficking in Swaziland or any other specific services provided by the State, NGOs or international organizations. Zambia Institutional framework: Zambia has had some provisions in place on child trafficking and human trafficking since 2005, although trafficking is not specifically defined in law. Criminal justice response: The Task Force on Human Trafficking, chaired by the Ministry of Home Affairs, was established within the Police Victims Support Unit (VSU). The VSU’s mandate is to offer victim support in cases relating to sexual violence, property grabbing and trafficking in persons and to offer legal advice to victims. Additionally, the Child Labour Unit, working under the Ministry of Labour, is composed of 50 officers and monitors the worst forms of child labour, including girls forced into prostitution. One woman was prosecuted in 2005 and two men in 2006 for trafficking in persons. No convictions were recorded prior to 2006. However, one conviction was recorded in 2005 for an episode of trafficking prosecuted through immigration offences. Services provided to victims: State authorities provide legal protection for victims of trafficking in persons. Additionally, the State supports NGOs and international organizations in providing medical and psychosocial support, and housing and shelter for victims of trafficking in persons. Additional information: The victims reported above refer to those sheltered by IOM plus victims sheltered by MAPODE. The five Zambian victims were repatriated by IOM from Angola in 2006. In 2007, two Afghani boys were returned to Afghanistan from Zambia; they were intercepted in the process of being trafficked to Europe. Zimbabwe Institutional framework: Zimbabwe does not have a specific provision on human trafficking. The Zimbabwean Criminal Code criminalizes sexual exploitation. Criminal justice response: Because of the absence of a specific provision on human trafficking, no prosecutions or convictions were recorded for trafficking in persons. One Zimbabwean citizen was convicted of sexual exploitation in 2006. Services provided to victims: NGOs and international organizations provide medical and psychosocial support and housing and shelter for victims of trafficking in persons. IOM also offers business training and income generating projects. In the last few years, victims have been sheltered by IOM and repatriated from neighbouring countries.

The sex trafficking trail from Nigeria to Europe

rsdadmin — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 15:24:00 +0000

Sandra knew there was always a chance that her clients would kill her.

For three years, she was forced to work as a prostitute on the streets of Moscow, repaying a $45,000 debt to the trafficker who brought her from Nigeria.

"There were five of them," she recalls of one occasion. "They were brutal, they beat me up, they brought out a knife and tried to stab me."

Instead, they pushed her out of the two-story window for not submitting.

Often times, there were more men -- 10, 15, 20 per call.

"They might even kill you if you try to defend yourself," she says. "That's the reason why it is very horrible. And in that process most Nigerian girls lose their life, because not every girl can withstand the pressure of 10 men."

More from the CNN Freedom Project

Sandra, not her real name, is one of tens of thousands of Nigerian women who have been trafficked into Europe for sexual exploitation. And many of those women come from a single city.

For decades, Benin City, the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria, has been tied to trafficking to Europe. Here, a potent mix of poverty and spiritualism drives thousands of young women to make the dangerous journey.

Along its often unpaved, mud-ridden streets there are houses with wide gates and high walls. These belong to the families with a relation who has "made it," says Roland Nwoha, a local NGO worker who has devoted his career to stopping the trade. "Almost every family has a contact in Europe."

Organizations like Nwoha's help educate people about the risks. But he says these few stories of success continue to be a powerful motivator in a city where so many live in desperate conditions.

And in Benin City, the push to leave comes from every direction.

Trapped by fear

Sandra says she was convinced to go by a man she met at church, who said he was an assistant pastor.

She says he told her he had a vision from God that she traveled overseas, that his sister in Russia could get a job in a hair salon. For added insurance, the man had given the items she left behind to a traditional priest.

"We always have had this belief that your future lies in the hand of God," says Nwoha. "Religious leaders, both the traditional and the Christian, are capitalizing on this."

Like so many, Sandra feared the juju -- traditional witchcraft -- as much as she trusted her friend.

Her trafficker took much more than just her passport. "My pants, my bra, the hair from my head, the armpit and my private parts," she says.

The items were for a juju oath, so powerful, a local priest said, that no one dares break it.

Read: How traffickers exploit children in Haiti's orphanages

For Sandra, it bound her to her home thousands of miles away in Benin City, and the assistant pastor that convinced her to go.

"I saw it with my own eyes. It's like a danger to weak girls, especially when it has to do with sensitive parts of your body."

She believed that her passage to Europe would cost her no more than $2,000. She ended up owing her trafficker $45,000.

The average debt for girls trafficked from Nigeria is around $25,000, but it can be as much as $60,000. None of them have any idea that they will owe these extortionate amounts. The debt, and the fear of juju, keeps them trapped.

Sea of misery

Sandra's journey took her through Lagos and then an onward flight to Europe.

But increasingly the trafficking trade is flowing through the lawlessness of Libya and across the Mediterranean where, according to the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM), over the past three years there has been a 600 percent rise in the number of potential sex trafficking victims arriving into Italy by sea.

The IOM estimates 80 percent are from Nigeria. The majority are from Benin City.

"When the Europeans started their search and rescue operations, many people in Benin said, 'the road has opened, once you get on the boats you will be rescued," says Nwoha.

But just last month, the bodies of 26 Nigerian women were recovered from the Mediterranean in a single day, bringing this year's total number of migrant deaths in that sea to at least 3,000.

Often, the journey ends in tragedy. More often, the tragedy happens in Libya.

Ede's story

Physically, 28-year-old Ede is finally free, but the pain of what she endured is still raw.

"He used to hurt me, apart from work," she says of the man who purchased her. She was sold into sexual slavery in Libya as she tried to make her way to Europe.

"That is how they do there," says Ede, "When you finish paying your money [to your captor], if you are staying with a wicked somebody, they will sell you to another people so you start all over again."

She was freed after a police raid and eventually deported to Nigeria.

Now, back in Benin City, she sits next to 18-year-old Jennifer, who is too traumatized to talk. They are recent rescues, kept in a safe house run by the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

"Especially they hate us, we Nigerians ... they don't even want to hear anything concerning Nigerians," Ede remembers. "They treated us like a slave, as if we are nothing. So we went through a lot there."

Outside, the house is a non-descript, high walled compound, just like the others in the neighborhood.

Inside, the young women sit in a dark living room, where the hum of an overhead fan, and the Nigerian soap opera on TV are the few comforts in this temporary home as they wait for their cases to be investigated and to be reunited with their families.

Reducing demand

But few cases end up in court. Fewer still end in convictions.

According the US State Department's latest Trafficking In Persons report, last year NAPTIP reported 654 investigations, with 23 convictions for trafficking offenses.

"We're prosecuting the small fries in Nigeria," says Julie Okah-Donli, director general of NAPTIP. "Absolutely the number one problem is the inability of destination countries to clamp down on their own criminal networks.

"We've looked at the root causes in Nigeria without addressing the root causes in the destination countries," she says. "What is being done to reduce the demand for this crime?"

Sandra's case is one of the rare prosecutions. Her trafficker was arrested, as was his sister, who was Sandra's "madam" in Russia, pimping her out to clients. They are both awaiting trial.

"When I was in Russia I said to myself, if I get back to Nigeria alive I will expose her," says Sandra. "She is not going to go unpunished. The wicked don't have any place here, they have to face the law."

Her former church admits her trafficker was a member of the congregation but denies that he was an assistant pastor.

The betrayal that stretched across two continents is now even closer to Sandra.

"Even my own father he said I am not his daughter," she says.

The trafficking is not Nigeria's problem to solve alone, says Okah-Donli, but it is Nigeria's tragedy.

"It's our young boys and girls who are trafficked. Many are not making it back alive and the ones that do are battered and bruised."