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A HANDBOOK ON

HUMAN RIGHTS AND LEGISLATIVE PRACTICES TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

The issue of human trafficking has become one of the most serious challenges facing the international human rights agenda today. As a result of its complex and clandestine nature, the exact number of victims of trafficking is difficult to ascertain. Yet it is estimated that each year innumerable individuals the overwhelming majority of which are women and minors from less developed countries are tricked, sold, forced or otherwise coerced into situations of exploitation, forced labour or slavery-like-practices. Trafficking represents the denial of the right to liberty and security of the person, the right to freedom from torture, violence, cruelty or degrading treatment, the right to freedom of movement, the right to protection of family, the right to education, health and education everything that makes for a life with dignity. On account of the many gross forms of human rights violations it embodies, trafficking has been defined as a contemporary form of slavery.

The handbook promotes an integrated use of:

• the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, 2000, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime; and

• Recommended Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and Human Trafficking, developed by The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (hereinafter OHCHR Recommended Principles and Guidelines).

 As the handbook also focuses considerable attention on women, it also refers where necessary to the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The Human Rights Commission recently appointed a Special Rapporteur on Trafficking. It is hoped that the recommendations provided in the annual reports of the new SRT will also contribute to the further development of a hum

The handbook contains examples of existing or possible concrete applications of key provisions of the above documents, with the aim of illustrating best practices and lessons learned in anti-trafficking efforts.  In particular, it aims to integrate a gender-sensitive, human rights and criminal justice approach into anti-trafficking efforts in order for these to be effective and sustainable.

The handbook is divided into three sections. The Introduction sets out some of the key concepts relating to trafficking and migration since trafficking is a harm, which occurs in the context of migration.  The second section discusses the relevance and implementation of a criminal justice, human rights and gender-sensitive approach to trafficking. It also elaborates upon how these three approaches can be applied in the area of prevention, prosecution and protection and provides concrete examples. The final section of this handbook elaborates on the prevention, prosecution and protection elements of an anti-trafficking strategy.

Suggested Contribution: Rs.270/- US$ 25 (Including postage)