Post by Sher on Jan 25, 2006 10:10:33 GMT -5
Trafficking in Persons Report -Report Home Page
Released by the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
June 3, 2005
II. International Best Practices
2005 TIP REPORT INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES
Children throughout the world are highly vulnerable to exploitation for labor and sex. [Kay Chernush photo]
The Republic of Korea (R.O.K.): Cracking Down on Prostitution and Trafficking. In response to a petition by a million Korean women, the R.O.K. passed two significant anti-prostitution and anti-trafficking laws in 2004 aimed at combating the commercial sexual exploitation of women and girls. The laws not only stiffened penalties for trafficking and prostitution, established support mechanisms and facilities for victims, and provided for public awareness and education campaigns, but also reflected the input of the NGO community and the government agencies charged with responsibility for enforcement. The Government of the Republic of Korea backed its new laws with both political will and resources. The new legislation has resulted in the rescue of over 200 victims and the arrests of over 500 traffickers and sex-buyers. The government’s efforts have also produced a visible reduction in the commercial sexual exploitation of women and girls and markedly raised public awareness of trafficking and prostitution.
Mali/Senegal/Burkina Faso: Implementing Bilateral Anti-Trafficking Accords. In 2004, the Government of Mali signed bilateral accords with the Governments of Senegal and Burkina Faso to fight child trafficking. As a result, Senegal repatriated 54 Malian children and Mali repatriated 20 children to Burkina Faso.
Malawi: Creatively Combating the Prostitution of Children. People Serving Girls at Risk (PSGR), a local Malawian NGO, takes an innovative approach to help girls leave prostitution through social reintegration and building support networks. Male and female staff, "peer educators," go undercover where girls solicit customers and pretend to be prostitutes or clients to establish relationships of trust. The girls in prostitution are offered social and medical services and legal advice. PSGR helps form "watchdog groups" that are vigilant against girls joining or being lured into the commercial sex industry. These groups visit families and offer counseling to vulnerable girls.
Indonesia: Involving Local Muslim Leaders. Many young girls from impoverished families are educated in Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). The Asia Foundation supports the Fahmina Institute to provided anti-trafficking training materials to pesantren teachers, and to male and female preachers. In January 2005, The Asia Foundation helped organize a meeting of pesantren leaders, resulting in 32 schools forming the Pesantren-Based Alliance for Eliminating Trafficking in Persons in East Java.
Philippines: Public-Private Partnership. NGO Visayan Forum Foundation (VFF) operates four shelters for victims at major Philippine ports, including Manila and Davao. The Philippine Port Authority, police, and shipping companies, including the country’s largest passenger shipping company, identify victims, mainly children, transiting the port and turn them over to VFF, which provides housing and protection. VFF then works with police to facilitate investigations and with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to repatriate and counsel victims. At the Davao shelter alone, VFF serves up to 45 victims a week.
Portugal: Raising Public Awareness. In October and November 2004, an anti -trafficking movie, Dark Night was released for commercial viewing in Portuguese theaters. With a popular, well-known Portuguese cast, it ran alongside first-run American movies at mainstream cinemas. Dark Night, which was awarded the Portuguese 2005 Best Film and Best Actress awards, raised public awareness. Portuguese filmmaker Joao Canijo collaborated with police and NGOs to better understand trafficking and to portray it as distinct from illegal immigration in the film.
Czech Republic: Establishing Screening and Identification Procedures. In cooperation with NGOs, the Government of the Czech Republic has formalized its victim screening process by creating a list of ten questions for police to use. Detailed questions are often essential for law enforcement to discover a human trafficking case. With EU support, the Czech Government also established an intranet site for police on how to identify and assist victims. The site, used on a daily basis, includes definitions of human trafficking, ways to identify trafficking victims, how to proceed with trafficking cases, and which NGOs to contact for victim assistance. A portion of the site is under development and will allow officers to refresh training independently.
Estonia: Raising Awareness. To raise public awareness about trafficking in persons among students, the Estonian Government sponsored two essay competitions in spring 2004 for young people to write on the issues of prostitution and human trafficking. The subject was, "How could I fall into the hands of traffickers?"
GLOBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DATA
The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2003 added to the original law a new requirement that foreign governments provide the Department of State with data on trafficking-related investigations, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences in order to be considered in full compliance with the TVPA’s minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking (Tier 1). Last year’s TIP Report collected this data for the first time. The chart below compares data collected for this and last year’s Reports:
YEAR-- PROSECUTIONS-- CONVICTIONS
2003-- 7,992 -- 2,815
2004 -- 6,885 -- 3,025
NEW OR AMENDED
LEGISLATION
2003- 24
2004- 39
Although reported prosecution totals decreased, the number of convictions increased, and more countries now have legal tools with which to combat trafficking. Data collection on prosecutions is not easy. Many sources commingle trafficking and alien smuggling data while others omit trafficking-related data because it is captured in other categories such as kidnapping.
Starting this year, for reporting in the 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report, governments must collect and provide full law enforcement data in order to qualify for Tier 1.
Slovenia: Protecting The Most Vulnerable. The Project Against Trafficking and Sex and Gender Based Violence (PATS) provides trafficking awareness information and assistance to asylum-seekers most at risk, especially single females and children separated from their parents. Key elements of the project include: One-on-one information sessions with a social worker for those at risk; information on warning signs and the dangers of falling victim; information about where potential victims can access assistance; access to specialized assistance and protection for victims identified in the asylum procedures; and access to asylum procedures for identified trafficking victims. All at-risk asylum-seekers receive a small book, the purpose of which is disguised, that contains trafficking information and assistance contacts throughout Europe. The project is jointly administered by the Ministry of Interior’s Asylum Section, two local NGOs (Kljuc and Slovenksa Filantropija), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Slovenia. Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs actively promotes the project regionally with other governments.
Global: Fighting International Child Sex Tourism. The World Tourism Organization, End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography, and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT), and Nordic tour operators created a global Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism in 1999 (www.thecode.org). This code requires signatories to: 1) Establish a corporate ethical policy repudiating the commercial sexual exploitation of children and introduce such clauses in suppliers’ contracts; 2) Train tourism personnel; 3) Provide information to travelers; and 4) Report annually on their progress. As of March 2005, 100 travel companies from 18 countries had signed the Code. The world’s largest tour operator, JTB, along with the Japanese Association of Travel Agents, signed this spring.
Several governments, including Sweden, Italy, Brazil, and Thailand, deserve special credit. Queen Silvia of Sweden has been an especially committed, effective advocate. Italian law requires tour operators to highlight Italy’s laws against child sex tourism in advertising materials. The Italian tourism institute and ECPAT-Italy established a training program for travel industry teachers, students, and law enforcement officers. Brazil has been a leader on the Code’s International Steering Committee. The Tourism Authority of Thailand distributes literature on the issue at their tourism offices and airports.
Singapore: Preventing Abuse of Foreign Domestic Workers. During 2004, the newly created Foreign Manpower Management Division (FMMD) of Singapore's Ministry of Manpower sought to address abusive conditions faced by foreign domestic workers in Singapore, including conditions of involuntary servitude. It expanded educational programs for Singaporean employers, increased investigative resources and mediation services to address complaints of foreign workers, and mounted public awareness campaigns to sensitize the public on the problem of exploitation facing some foreign workers. FMMD carried out these efforts through a network of partnerships within the government and with local NGOs, unions, and civic groups. The Ministry of Manpower's efforts have led to a substantial drop in abuse cases, a rise in prosecutions, and what one activist called "an awakening in Singapore society." Prosecutions have been made more effective because Singapore applies one and a half times the normal penalty in cases where the victim is a foreign domestic worker.
Released by the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
June 3, 2005
II. International Best Practices
2005 TIP REPORT INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES
Children throughout the world are highly vulnerable to exploitation for labor and sex. [Kay Chernush photo]
The Republic of Korea (R.O.K.): Cracking Down on Prostitution and Trafficking. In response to a petition by a million Korean women, the R.O.K. passed two significant anti-prostitution and anti-trafficking laws in 2004 aimed at combating the commercial sexual exploitation of women and girls. The laws not only stiffened penalties for trafficking and prostitution, established support mechanisms and facilities for victims, and provided for public awareness and education campaigns, but also reflected the input of the NGO community and the government agencies charged with responsibility for enforcement. The Government of the Republic of Korea backed its new laws with both political will and resources. The new legislation has resulted in the rescue of over 200 victims and the arrests of over 500 traffickers and sex-buyers. The government’s efforts have also produced a visible reduction in the commercial sexual exploitation of women and girls and markedly raised public awareness of trafficking and prostitution.
Mali/Senegal/Burkina Faso: Implementing Bilateral Anti-Trafficking Accords. In 2004, the Government of Mali signed bilateral accords with the Governments of Senegal and Burkina Faso to fight child trafficking. As a result, Senegal repatriated 54 Malian children and Mali repatriated 20 children to Burkina Faso.
Malawi: Creatively Combating the Prostitution of Children. People Serving Girls at Risk (PSGR), a local Malawian NGO, takes an innovative approach to help girls leave prostitution through social reintegration and building support networks. Male and female staff, "peer educators," go undercover where girls solicit customers and pretend to be prostitutes or clients to establish relationships of trust. The girls in prostitution are offered social and medical services and legal advice. PSGR helps form "watchdog groups" that are vigilant against girls joining or being lured into the commercial sex industry. These groups visit families and offer counseling to vulnerable girls.
Indonesia: Involving Local Muslim Leaders. Many young girls from impoverished families are educated in Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). The Asia Foundation supports the Fahmina Institute to provided anti-trafficking training materials to pesantren teachers, and to male and female preachers. In January 2005, The Asia Foundation helped organize a meeting of pesantren leaders, resulting in 32 schools forming the Pesantren-Based Alliance for Eliminating Trafficking in Persons in East Java.
Philippines: Public-Private Partnership. NGO Visayan Forum Foundation (VFF) operates four shelters for victims at major Philippine ports, including Manila and Davao. The Philippine Port Authority, police, and shipping companies, including the country’s largest passenger shipping company, identify victims, mainly children, transiting the port and turn them over to VFF, which provides housing and protection. VFF then works with police to facilitate investigations and with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to repatriate and counsel victims. At the Davao shelter alone, VFF serves up to 45 victims a week.
Portugal: Raising Public Awareness. In October and November 2004, an anti -trafficking movie, Dark Night was released for commercial viewing in Portuguese theaters. With a popular, well-known Portuguese cast, it ran alongside first-run American movies at mainstream cinemas. Dark Night, which was awarded the Portuguese 2005 Best Film and Best Actress awards, raised public awareness. Portuguese filmmaker Joao Canijo collaborated with police and NGOs to better understand trafficking and to portray it as distinct from illegal immigration in the film.
Czech Republic: Establishing Screening and Identification Procedures. In cooperation with NGOs, the Government of the Czech Republic has formalized its victim screening process by creating a list of ten questions for police to use. Detailed questions are often essential for law enforcement to discover a human trafficking case. With EU support, the Czech Government also established an intranet site for police on how to identify and assist victims. The site, used on a daily basis, includes definitions of human trafficking, ways to identify trafficking victims, how to proceed with trafficking cases, and which NGOs to contact for victim assistance. A portion of the site is under development and will allow officers to refresh training independently.
Estonia: Raising Awareness. To raise public awareness about trafficking in persons among students, the Estonian Government sponsored two essay competitions in spring 2004 for young people to write on the issues of prostitution and human trafficking. The subject was, "How could I fall into the hands of traffickers?"
GLOBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DATA
The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2003 added to the original law a new requirement that foreign governments provide the Department of State with data on trafficking-related investigations, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences in order to be considered in full compliance with the TVPA’s minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking (Tier 1). Last year’s TIP Report collected this data for the first time. The chart below compares data collected for this and last year’s Reports:
YEAR-- PROSECUTIONS-- CONVICTIONS
2003-- 7,992 -- 2,815
2004 -- 6,885 -- 3,025
NEW OR AMENDED
LEGISLATION
2003- 24
2004- 39
Although reported prosecution totals decreased, the number of convictions increased, and more countries now have legal tools with which to combat trafficking. Data collection on prosecutions is not easy. Many sources commingle trafficking and alien smuggling data while others omit trafficking-related data because it is captured in other categories such as kidnapping.
Starting this year, for reporting in the 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report, governments must collect and provide full law enforcement data in order to qualify for Tier 1.
Slovenia: Protecting The Most Vulnerable. The Project Against Trafficking and Sex and Gender Based Violence (PATS) provides trafficking awareness information and assistance to asylum-seekers most at risk, especially single females and children separated from their parents. Key elements of the project include: One-on-one information sessions with a social worker for those at risk; information on warning signs and the dangers of falling victim; information about where potential victims can access assistance; access to specialized assistance and protection for victims identified in the asylum procedures; and access to asylum procedures for identified trafficking victims. All at-risk asylum-seekers receive a small book, the purpose of which is disguised, that contains trafficking information and assistance contacts throughout Europe. The project is jointly administered by the Ministry of Interior’s Asylum Section, two local NGOs (Kljuc and Slovenksa Filantropija), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Slovenia. Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs actively promotes the project regionally with other governments.
Global: Fighting International Child Sex Tourism. The World Tourism Organization, End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography, and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT), and Nordic tour operators created a global Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism in 1999 (www.thecode.org). This code requires signatories to: 1) Establish a corporate ethical policy repudiating the commercial sexual exploitation of children and introduce such clauses in suppliers’ contracts; 2) Train tourism personnel; 3) Provide information to travelers; and 4) Report annually on their progress. As of March 2005, 100 travel companies from 18 countries had signed the Code. The world’s largest tour operator, JTB, along with the Japanese Association of Travel Agents, signed this spring.
Several governments, including Sweden, Italy, Brazil, and Thailand, deserve special credit. Queen Silvia of Sweden has been an especially committed, effective advocate. Italian law requires tour operators to highlight Italy’s laws against child sex tourism in advertising materials. The Italian tourism institute and ECPAT-Italy established a training program for travel industry teachers, students, and law enforcement officers. Brazil has been a leader on the Code’s International Steering Committee. The Tourism Authority of Thailand distributes literature on the issue at their tourism offices and airports.
Singapore: Preventing Abuse of Foreign Domestic Workers. During 2004, the newly created Foreign Manpower Management Division (FMMD) of Singapore's Ministry of Manpower sought to address abusive conditions faced by foreign domestic workers in Singapore, including conditions of involuntary servitude. It expanded educational programs for Singaporean employers, increased investigative resources and mediation services to address complaints of foreign workers, and mounted public awareness campaigns to sensitize the public on the problem of exploitation facing some foreign workers. FMMD carried out these efforts through a network of partnerships within the government and with local NGOs, unions, and civic groups. The Ministry of Manpower's efforts have led to a substantial drop in abuse cases, a rise in prosecutions, and what one activist called "an awakening in Singapore society." Prosecutions have been made more effective because Singapore applies one and a half times the normal penalty in cases where the victim is a foreign domestic worker.