Conference Summary: Countering Trafficking in Persons in Conflict Situations
by Ruth STANNETT
GLO.ACT – UNODC special event/Countering Trafficking in persons in Conflict Situations
9th December 2019
The event was planned to coincide with the International Day of Human Rights and the final day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which started on 25th November, this was linked under the framework of GLO.ACT – Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants.
The panel of speakers were addressing trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation within the context of conflict and post-conflict situations.
The host of this event, MEP Franco Roberti, opened with a short commentary, during which he emphasised the difference between Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants. But comment was also made that there is a need to identify victims of trafficking also within smuggling.
One of the speakers said ‘’we cannot hide what is there and we need to speak out. We need to focus on exploitation, but must be careful not to leave the victims behind!’’ She went on to say it is a fundamental fact that there are others willing to exploit the vulnerability of those in need. However very few of those who profit from exploitation are brought to justice.
During a video address, Deputy Minister of the Interior in Afghanistan, Hosna Jalil, spoke of the great efforts by the government of Afghanistan to try and strengthen female representation in law enforcement agencies at national and local level. She spoke of the importance, of how essential such projects as GLO.ACT Asia & Middle East are to help build capacity of agencies tasked with addressing human trafficking.
EU Anti Trafficking Coordinator Myria Vassiliadou stressed that the EU has a unique position in fighting trafficking through different mechanisms and legislation. “The existing legal standards are perfect, but the implementation is far from it”, she said.
Another speaker, an expert in law and justice, also spoke about there being many laws in place, but they are not implemented. Victims need to be acknowledged, understood and helped to understand what their rights are and how to access them. There is already a framework to be able to help victims, but they need to be able to access it. There needs to be an improvement in the interaction of ‘front line’ officials – who should be trained in this area.
It was also reiterated that victims of trafficking should not be criminalized, but those who are the perpetrators. There was a suggestion that the Commission should be pressing member states to criminalise those who use the services of a victim of crime.
Tags: Europe