| Anti-Slavery International's
Trafficking Programme comprises three elements: campaigning to end
human trafficking, lobbying for victim protection, and research on
measures governments take to protect victims of trafficking, especially
those who act as witnesses.
Lobbying -- Trafficking laws need a human rights focus
Anti-Slavery International lobbies at local, European and international
levels for better human rights protection for victims of trafficking.
Among our activities at the European level,
Anti-Slavery International has prepared recommendations on the proposed
European Union Directive on short-term residence permits for victims
of trafficking, urging the inclusion of adequate measures to protect
victims of trafficking. Internationally, Anti-Slavery International
continues to press relevant agencies of the United Nations, such
as the Commission on Human Rights and the Working Group on Contemporary
Forms of Slavery, to make the issue of trafficking a priority and
ensure that the rights of the person trafficked are central to any
anti-trafficking measure.
European Union (EU) member States
are currently discussing a new EU law (Directive) (available
as a  )
on short-term residency permits for victims of trafficking or smuggling.
Although the Directive proposes a reflection period and short-term
permits for victims of trafficking, it specifically states that
"it is not concerned with protection of either witnesses or
victims". The Directive contatins a number of worrying proposals
that do not put the interests of the person who was trafficked first.
The Directive is currently being considered by the Council and
Parliament, and this may be the last opportunity to ensure the EU
establishes good standards for the protection and support of victims
of trafficking. Anti-Slavery International and End Child Prostitution
Pornography and Trafficking (ECPAT) UK are urging the law include
measures that will protect and support victims of trafficking
(available as a
).
Anti-Slavery International encourages all interested organisations
and individuals to contact their respective government representatives
and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to make them aware
of any concerns you have regarding the Directive.
Protecting trafficking victims' human rights must be central to
any anti-trafficking strategy. Victim protection was excluded from
the recent EU Framework Decision on trafficking and must be included
in this Directive if it is going to be effective in combatting trafficking.
Research
Over two years, Anti-Slavery International conducted research
on how governments treat people who have been trafficked. The resulting
report, Human Traffic, Human Rights: Redefining victim protection
was published in October 2002. The report examines
measures taken to protect victims of trafficking in 10 countries:
Belgium, Colombia, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Thailand,
the United Kingdom, Ukraine and the United States. It includes case
studies of people who have been trafficked, documents good and bad
treatment by the authorities and makes recommendations on such areas
as investigation and prosecution, residency status, protection from
reprisals, in-court evidentiary protection, support and assistance,
and legal redress and compensation.
Further reading:
The Need for Effective Witness Protection
in the Prosecution of Traffickers: A human rights framework for
witness protection By Elaine Pearson (also
available in Spanish)
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