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A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 11
- Paragraph text
- International law requires States to prosecute trafficking and related offences. The Special Rapporteur notes, however, that the prosecution of anti-trafficking responses is a broad category that includes not only the investigation and adjudication of trafficking cases but also encompasses a number of related spheres of activity, including the applicable legal framework, international legal cooperation and asset confiscation. Prosecution should therefore be seen as only a part of a strategy of criminalization.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 12
- Paragraph text
- For any effective criminalization strategy, the Special Rapporteur notes the need for a rights-based approach to trafficking. Such an approach has been widely endorsed by the international community, including the General Assembly and Human Rights Council. The commentary on the Recommended Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and Human Trafficking explains that a human rights-based approach is a conceptual framework for dealing with a phenomenon such as trafficking that is normatively based on international human rights standards and that is operationally directed to promoting and protecting human rights. It affirms that such an approach requires analysis of the ways in which human rights violations arise throughout the trafficking cycle, as well as of States' obligations under international human rights law. It seeks to both identify and redress the discriminatory practices and unjust distributions of power that underlie trafficking, maintain impunity for traffickers and deny justice to victims of trafficking.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 13
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur emphasizes that all aspects of national, regional and international responses to trafficking should be anchored in the rights and obligations established by international human rights law. A human rights-based approach identifies rights-holders and their entitlements (for example, trafficked persons, individuals at risk of being trafficked, or individuals accused or convicted of trafficking-related offences), and the corresponding duty-bearers (usually States) and their obligations. This approach strengthens the capacity of rights-holders to secure their rights and of duty-bearers to meet their obligations. Core principles and standards derived from international human rights law should guide all aspects of the response at all stages.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 14
- Paragraph text
- Over the past decade, many States have made important progress in the development of effective and rights-based criminal justice responses to trafficking that are consistent with these principles and standards. It is nevertheless important to acknowledge that both commitment and capacity vary widely, and many challenges to implementing a rights-based approach remain.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 15
- Paragraph text
- In the present report, the Special Rapporteur thus seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the criminal justice response to trafficking by exploring examples of good practices and analysing some of the challenges faced by States. The Special Rapporteur will draw on the responses of States to her questionnaire (annex I). She thanks the States that submitted responses to her questionnaire (annex II) for their involvement.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 16
- Paragraph text
- The criminalization of human trafficking is an essential aspect of any programme to combat and prevent trafficking in persons. The obligation on States to criminalize trafficking is clear; it is contained in all specialist trafficking treaties and its importance has been repeatedly confirmed through international and regional policy instruments, including by the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 18
- Paragraph text
- In formulating the criminal offence of trafficking, States must not criminalize only those offences that have been committed intentionally; they must also ensure that the victim's consent does not alter the offender's criminal liability. States are further required to criminalize related offences, such as attempted trafficking offences or complicity in their commission, and ensure that criminal (and civil) liability can be extended to legal as well as natural persons. This obligation is important in ensuring the legal accountability of corporations and businesses engaging in trafficking, such as labour contractors, adoption agencies and entertainment venues.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 19
- Paragraph text
- The information received by the Special Rapporteur indicated that a significant majority of States have criminalized trafficking in persons. As the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons is not self-executing, States will need to take proactive action to ensure its implementation in domestic law. Some States already had laws that met the requirements of the Protocol: Finland, for example, has had long established laws on trafficking, and its legislation met the standard of the Protocol, even before the Convention came into force. In recent years, a number of other States, including Lesotho, Lebanon and Romania, have passed new anti-trafficking laws.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 20
- Paragraph text
- In Asia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Viet Nam have also enacted new laws on trafficking following a thorough review of relevant national legislation. Thailand, despite not having ratified the Trafficking Protocol, defines exploitation in a manner very close to its language.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 21
- Paragraph text
- The information received indicated that only a minority of States do not have laws criminalizing human trafficking. For example neither Estonia nor Panama has an anti-trafficking law, although relevant cases have reportedly been prosecuted under other criminal offences. The Special Rapporteur is pleased to learn that, a bill and an amendment to the criminal code are respectively pending adoption.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur observes, however, that legislation is not an end in itself. Even in States with strong anti-trafficking measures, laws are sometimes not enforced or there is a lack of implementing regulations. Indeed, certain countries with strong legal platforms are sometimes described as safe havens because they do not enforce their own laws.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 37
- Paragraph text
- Community-based organizations and victim support agencies are also becoming increasingly important in the identification of victims of trafficking. For example, in Australia, non-governmental organizations accounted for 13 per cent of all referrals in the period 2009-2010. In keeping with a human rights-based approach, the Special Rapporteur observes that victims identified by non-governmental organizations should only be referred to the police if they give their consent. Importantly, Government financial support for victim support agencies should not make such funding contingent on requiring them to pass on information about identified victims.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- Other mechanisms include agreements and partnerships between Government and non-government agencies, including victim service providers, to ensure that victims identified by non-State actors have access to Government support services.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 42
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur notes that other States have linked the provision of assistance and protection to cooperation with national criminal justice agencies. For example, in Norway, in accordance with measure No. 5 of its Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, permanent residency permits are available for trafficking victims who face retribution or hardship in their country of origin as long as they give a statement to police outside of court and for those victims who testify in court. In some legal systems, the issue of conditional assistance is complicated by a legal requirement on victims to cooperate in an investigation or prosecution if that cooperation is deemed necessary. The Special Rapporteur notes that, in accordance with international law, support and protection should not be made conditional on the victim's capacity or willingness to cooperate in legal proceedings.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 45
- Paragraph text
- Numerous international legal and policy instruments agree that any effective anti-trafficking effort must involve close collaboration between criminal justice agencies and victim support agencies, including non-governmental organizations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 51
- Paragraph text
- In the Netherlands, the Co-ordination Centre on Human Trafficking, La Strada (CoMensha), is an independent organization that works with the national government by preparing reports to inform the recommendations and actions of the Dutch National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings. CoMensha also registers trafficking victims, makes referrals to partner organizations or authorities, maintains regional networks to coordinate shelter, legal services, medical care and other forms of assistance for victims and provides capacity building trainings to practitioners.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- Victims of trafficking play a critical role in the criminal prosecution of traffickers and their accomplices. The Special Rapporteur is well aware that the complexity of the crime of trafficking and related evidentiary complications can make investigations and prosecutions difficult, if not impossible, without the cooperation and testimony of victims. It is, however, important to clarify that a human rights approach to trafficking does not preclude the active involvement of victims in the investigation and prosecution of their exploiters. Rather, such an approach confirms that States, through their national criminal justice agencies, should be working towards recognizing victims of trafficking as an essential resource who are provided with the protection and support they need to participate safely and effectively in criminal justice processes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 60
- Paragraph text
- Given that the complexity of the trafficking crime requires specialization and expertise, a number of States have established specialized agencies or institutions on trafficking. Many national police forces have specialized trafficking units. Some of these units operate on the national level; in other countries, such as Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Myanmar, have decentralized the specialist response to the provincial level.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 62
- Paragraph text
- In Pakistan, the Federal Investigation Agency has set up specialized anti-trafficking units. India has also developed anti-human trafficking units in a number of its police departments designed to investigate trafficking cases. While reports have indicated that many of the units lack resources, India has earmarked funding to establish new ones as part of its efforts to strengthen its national law enforcement response.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- Another important issue is the extensive backlog of trafficking cases in the courts. The establishment of specialized courts could help to remedy this; for example, Argentina and Uruguay have created specialized courts to deal exclusively with trafficking cases. More recently, the Chief Judge of Edo State in Nigeria granted approval to develop two special courts to try human trafficking cases. The United States and Mexico have each made efforts to develop specialized units to prosecute cases of trafficking in persons.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 68
- Paragraph text
- Given the transnational nature of human trafficking, acts may often take place across borders, creating jurisdictional issues. For this reason, a number of States have given their courts jurisdiction over the crime of trafficking even if the crime takes place in a foreign jurisdiction. Others have legislated that if at least one of the acts of trafficking (for example, recruitment, accommodation or exploitation) is committed on national territory, prosecution may be pursued even if the act was carried out abroad.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 73
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur was pleased to learn from the responses received that a majority of States provided training programmes to raise awareness of officials in a wide range of Government agencies, including the judiciary, the police, the health sector and within specific ministries. These programmes are sometimes arranged by specialized officials within Governments, while at other times are supported by multilateral and bilateral partnerships, including with international organizations such as IOM and UNODC.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 75
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur is pleased to learn that States have begun to create specialized law enforcement, prosecutorial and adjudicative units to combat trafficking. Funding and resource allocation remain important issues.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 77
- Paragraph text
- Based on the responses administered, the Special Rapporteur notes that foreign Government donors and also international organizations make important contributions through the design, implementation and evaluation of law enforcement development programmes.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 78
- Paragraph text
- By undermining the financial gain of traffickers, asset recovery plays an important role in the criminal justice response to trafficking. The financial information obtained in asset recovery can also serve as corroborative evidence and, by strengthening the prosecution, protect the rights of present and potential victims of trafficking.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 79
- Paragraph text
- Articles 12 to 14 of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime requires States parties to have sufficient powers to facilitate the seizure of assets, and sets out the requirements and procedures for it. Article 23, paragraph 3 of the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings states that each party to the Convention should adopt "such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to enable it to confiscate or otherwise deprive the instrumentalities and proceeds of criminal offences".
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- All
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 81
- Paragraph text
- In some States, laws explicitly provide that restitution and compensation be made to victims of trafficking out of the proceeds of assets seizure. In Cambodia, for example, articles 46 and 47 of the Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation afford victims "preference over property confiscated by the State" for the payment of damages. Other schemes have been established to allow the direct transfer of funds to victims; for example, in Nigeria, the Victim of Trafficking Trust Fund manages the proceeds of confiscated assets for the welfare and rehabilitation of the victim. In 2008, in England and Wales (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), in the matter of AT v Dulghieru, the High Court awarded compensation of £611,000 to four trafficking victims of the £786,000 that had been confiscated.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 82
- Paragraph text
- A number of States have established funds for victims in which seized assets are deposited; for example, in Egypt, article 27 of the Anti-Trafficking Law provides for the creation of a fund to assist victims of human trafficking sourced from proceeds of confiscated assets, fines and donations from foreign or national entities. Similarly, in Lesotho, the Anti-Trafficking Act 2011 provides for assets to be forfeited and confiscated, to be deposited in a trust fund for victims of trafficking.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 85
- Paragraph text
- A better alternative would be for confiscated assets to be allocated specifically to programmes supporting victims of trafficking; for example, the Government of Australia has committed funds allocated under the Proceeds of Crime Act from confiscated assets of criminals to key non-governmental anti-trafficking organizations.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph
A human rights-based approach to the administration of criminal justice in cases of trafficking in persons 2012, para. 86
- Paragraph text
- Lastly, the Special Rapporteur notes that, since traffickers often operate on an international basis, their assets may be located in another State than the one where trafficking is organized. She therefore urges States to cooperate to develop and enforce laws on international asset recovery.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2012
Paragraph