Transcript Slide 1

Presentation by Martijn Pluim – Member EC Expert Group
Brussels, 15 September 2010
TRANSNATIONAL EFFORTS TO ADDRESS SMUGGLING AND
TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS – GUIDING PRINCIPLES
OUTLINE
EU Expert Group
 Policy Framework
 Guiding principles
 Recommendations
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EUROPEAN COMMISSION GROUP OF EXPERTS
Advises the EC taking into account current
developments at European, national and
international level – OPINIONS;
 Assists the EC in the implementation and
development of actions envisaged in the EU
plan on combating and preventing trafficking in
human beings of December 2005;
 Special attention to the area of labour
exploitation.
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TRAFFICKING VS SMUGGLING
Element
Smuggling
Trafficking
Crime committed against ?
Crime against the State –
mostly no victim (unless
transportation inhumane)
Crime from outset against person victim
Why do we fight it?
Protect sovereignty of state –
implement migration
management system
Protect person against human
rights violation
Nature and duration of
relationship ?
One time - Commercial
Continuous - Exploitative
Rationale?
Organised movement of
persons for profit
Organised movement and
exploitation of the victim for profit
Border Crossing
Defining element
Not defining element
Consent
Migrant’s consent
Either no consent, or consent made
irrelevant
POLICY FRAMEWORK - EXAMPLES
European Council anti-trafficking action plan
(12/2005);
 Variety of directives and decisions on EU level;
 Council of Europe Convention on Action against
Trafficking in Human Beings (2005);
 EU Action Oriented Paper (12/2009): focus on
international cooperation;
 Ouagadougou Action Plan (drafted 2002,
adopted in Tripoli 2006).
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OUAGADOUGOU – BACKGROUND
Draft existing since 2002;
 Planned adoption Lisbon 2003;
 Adopted in December 2006 by Ministerial
Conference on Migration and Development
(Tripoli);
 Relatively advanced in many of its proposals;
 BUT: no budget, no time schedule, very broad
principles.
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5 GUIDING PRINCIPLES TO ADDRESS THB AND SMUGGLING
Government ownership and initiative;
 Civil society participation;
 Human rights based approach;
 Multidisciplinary approach;
 Sustainability.
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES: GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP
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Govs define objectives, activities of the response;
Active involvement of state actors at all levels:
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harmonization of procedures & facilitating co-operation
ensuring sustainability of measures
Ensure a co-ordinated approach (e.g. National
coordinator, Working Group );
Actively involve the civil society (esp. THB);
Be consulted by national and international actors;
Be consulted by, and seek to guide and coordinate the
donors.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES: CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION
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Especially relevant in THB response
Civil society: key partners National and transnational
referral mechanisms
Should be allowed to take part in meetings, and are
member of national working groups
Can play an active role in decision-making
Their views and opinions are reflected in the design
and implementation of the anti-trafficking response.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES: HUMAN RIGHTS BASED APPROACH
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Ensure protecting human rights of the victims (THB)
and of rescued/apprehended migrants (smuggling);
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Follow international human rights standards;
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Ensure availability of basic service for all and access
to relevant organisations.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES: MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
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THB and smuggling can be linked to migration,
organized crime, corruption, labour, prostitution,
human rights, poverty, gender, and security;
Counter-strategies must take this complexity into
consideration for simultaneous action;
Different measures to be used: legal instruments,
educational methods, research, economic
empowerment, psychological assistance, security
measures, border control.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES: SUSTAINABILITY
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Structure and system needs long term visions;
Creatively adapt to changing conditions and patterns;
No critical dependencies (such as on major external
donor funding), which could make the system
collapse;
Requires periodical review of the national action plan
and regular/parallel monitoring and evaluation of the
measures already implemented;
Measures taken need to integrate with, and build on,
local management structures.
ACTION PLAN 2011-2013 – INITIATIVE 3
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Initiative 3: Human Trafficking Initiative. The AUC will
assist Regional Economic Communities in developing
and implementing regional action plans [...] in human
beings, in line with the Ouagadougou Action Plan and
AU.COMMIT.
Monitoring and evaluation tool will be designed and
implemented at regional level to enable measurement
of implementation and impact as well as to assist in
the identification of best practices for the African
Continent.
RECOMMENDATIONS/WAY FORWARD
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Link between international instruments and
commitments and practices existing at national level;
Use existing channels/networks for cooperation at
different levels;
Involve origin-transit-destination countries to
operationalise international instruments;
Shared responsibility – need of integrated approach –
trust;
Develop flexible but harmonised transnational tools –
constant M&E and review;
Cross-dimensional - mainstream THB and smuggling
policies in other areas.