An Introduction to Human Trafficking: Vulnerability ...

1 Vienna International Centre, PO Box 500, 1400 Vienna, Austria Tel: +(43-1) 26060-0, Fax: +(43-1) 26060-5866, An Introduction to Human trafficking : Vulnerability , Impact and Action Printed in Austria January 2008 1,500 BACKGROUND PAPER. UNITED NATIONS OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME. Vienna An Introduction to Human trafficking : Vulnerability , Impact and Action UNITED NATIONS. New York, 2008. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Acknowledgements This document was prepared by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

2 The effort was led by Kristiina Kangaspunta of the UNODC Anti- Human trafficking Unit, with the key papers researched and drafted by Mich le Clark, Judith Dixon and Mike Dottridge. Valuable contributions were also made by Martin Fowke, Silke Albert, Riikka Puttonen, Troels Vester, Jonathan Eischen and Kerstin Uebel. The report was prepared under the overall leadership and supervision of Doris Buddenberg. For further information regarding the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human trafficking ( ), please go to its website at The UNODC Anti- Human trafficking Unit can be contacted at telephone (+43-1) 26060-5687. For further information regarding UNODC's work to combat trafficking in persons and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, please go to iii CONTENTS.

3 Page Introduction .. 1. Summaries of the papers .. 7. 1. Vulnerability .. 7. 2. Impact .. 8. 3. Action .. 11. Summaries of the papers (French) .. 15. 1. Vulnerability .. 15. 2. Impact .. 17. 3. Action .. 19. Summaries of the papers (Spanish) .. 23. 1. Vulnerability .. 23. 2. Impact .. 25. 3. Action .. 27. Summaries of the papers (Chinese) .. 33. 1. Vulnerability .. 33. 2. Impact .. 34. 3. Action .. 36. Summaries of the papers (Russian) .. 39. 1. Vulnerability .. 39. 2. Impact .. 41. 3. Action .. 44. Summaries of the papers (Arabic) .. 56. 1. Vulnerability .. 56. 2. Impact .. 55. 3. Action .. 52. PART ONE. Vulnerability .. 59. Vulnerability , preventions and Human trafficking : the need for a new paradigm I. Introduction .. 59. II. The current framework for prevention of trafficking .

4 62. III. The purpose of a discussion on Vulnerability .. 67. IV. Vulnerability : a definition .. 68. A. Vulnerability and Human trafficking .. 68. B. Conditions of Vulnerability .. 71. v V. Practical implications for a Vulnerability -based programme for the prevention of trafficking .. 76. VI. Conclusion .. 78. PART TWO. IMPACT .. 79. The impact of trafficking in persons .. 81. I. Introduction .. 81. II. The consequences of trafficking upon individuals .. 82. A. The physical impact of trafficking .. 82. B. HIV/AIDS .. 83. C. Mental health impact .. 84. D. Child victims .. 84. E. Substance abuse .. 85. F. Impact on behaviour .. 85. G. Stigma .. 86. H. Recovery .. 87. III. The political implications of trafficking in persons .. 88. A. Shaping migration policies.

5 88. B. Border control .. 89. C. Human rights .. 89. D. Regular migration: countries of destination .. 90. E. Regular migration: source countries .. 91. F. Management of the status of trafficked persons .. 92. IV. The economic impact of trafficking in persons .. 93. A. The costs of trafficking .. 93. B. Lost resources .. 94. C. Remittances .. 94. D. The profits of organized crime .. 96. V. The impact on the rule of law .. 98. VI. Post-conflict situations .. 98. VII. Global security .. 99. VIII. Conclusion .. 100. PART THREE. ACTION .. 101. Responses to trafficking in persons: international norms translated into action at the national and regional levels .. 103. I. Translating international instruments into action .. 103. A. Legislation .. 103. B. Institutions to combat trafficking .

6 105. C. Learning what works: good practice .. 105. vi II. Working together .. 106. A. At the national level .. 106. B. At the bilateral level between two States .. 106. C. At the regional level, involving several States .. 107. D. At the international level .. 108. III. Prosecution and law enforcement activities .. 110. A. Identifying trafficked persons .. 111. B. Interceptions at frontiers .. 111. C. Increasing the effectiveness of prosecutions by using victim-friendly techniques .. 112. D. Mutual legal assistance to facilitate prosecutions .. 113. IV. Prevention .. 114. A. Prevention in areas of origin .. 114. B. Interceptions of those in transit .. 116. C. Prevention in areas where trafficked persons are exploited .. 117. V. Protection and assistance .. 120.

7 A. International standards on protection and assistance .. 120. B. Emergency assistance and medical care .. 121. C. Assessment of cases of trafficked adults and children, including risk assessments .. 122. D. Enabling victims of traffickers to recover and restart their lives .. 123. VI. The role of research .. 123. A. Research reports on regional patterns and specific countries .. 123. B. Research about those already trafficked, identifying the circumstances in which they were vulnerable to traffickers .. 124. C. Research about traffickers and the techniques they use .. 124. D. Research on the numbers of trafficked persons .. 125. E. Research to monitor, evaluate and assess the impact of prevention and rehabilitation efforts .. 126. F. Research standards: The World Health Organization.

8 126. VII. Conclusion .. 127. vii Introduction The Global Initiative to Fight Human trafficking The United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human trafficking ( ) aims to mobi- lize state and non-state actors to eradicate Human trafficking by: (a) reducing both the vulner- ability of potential victims and the demand for exploitation in all its forms; (b) ensuring adequate protection and support to those who fall victim; and (c) supporting the efficient prosecution of the criminals involved while respecting the fundamental Human rights of all persons. In carrying out its mission, will increase knowledge and awareness on Human traf- ficking; promote effective rights-based responses; build capacity of state and non-state actors, and foster partnerships for joint action against Human trafficking .

9 ( mission statement). Overview The widespread contemporary exploitation of men, women and children is unacceptable to people of conscience the world over. Traditional approaches to preventing trafficking in Human beings, to protect and assist trafficked persons and bring criminals to justice have had some small impact on the global phenomenon, but not enough. That even one young person be denied the benefits of childhood, that one young woman be subjected to the brutal humiliation of sexual exploitation and that one man become the slave of a cruel taskmaster in another country are clear signals that we must renew both our resolve as well as our initiatives to protect those who are vulnerable. The United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human trafficking ( ) was born out of a renewed commitment by world leaders in the battle against Human trafficking to end this crime, one of the most egregious violations of Human rights in the world today.

10 Formally launched in March 2007 by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and made possible by a generous grant from the United Arab Emirates, is a call to action, reminding Governments, civil society actors, the media, the business community and concerned individuals of their common commitments to fight trafficking in persons, and that this battle can not be fought, or won, alone. As at 4. December 2007, 116 nations had ratified the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, thereby providing a common framework for international efforts. Only by joining forces, pooling knowledge, expand- ing the scope and number of stakeholders and cooperating across borders can we hope to eradicate Human trafficking .