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482 Travaux préparatoires: United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime“Option 2 19“5. States Parties that have not yet done so shall adopt the necessary legislationor other measures to establish as an aggravating circumstance the smuggling <strong>of</strong>migrants in circumstances:“(a) That endanger, or are likely to endanger, the life or safety <strong>of</strong> persons whoseillegal entry is procured or intended; or“(b) That entail inhuman or degrading treatment <strong>of</strong> such persons.“Option 1“7. A person whose illegal entry and/or illegal residence is procured or intendedby the smuggling <strong>of</strong> migrants shall not become punishable under <strong>this</strong> Protocol. 20“Option 2 21“7. A person whose illegal entry and/or illegal residence is procured or intendedby the smuggling <strong>of</strong> migrants shall not become punishable under [<strong>this</strong> Protocol]. 22“7 bis. Nothing in <strong>this</strong> Protocol shall prevent a State Party from taking actionagainst a person whose conduct constitutes an <strong>of</strong>fence under [its domestic law or] 23any other provision on criminalization <strong>of</strong> <strong>this</strong> Protocol.”Fifth session: 4-15 October 1999Canada and United States <strong>of</strong> America (A/AC.254/L.76)Canada and the United States proposed that option 2 for paragraph 1 <strong>of</strong> article4 <strong>of</strong> the draft migrants protocol should be revised to read as follows:“1. States Parties that have not yet done so shall adopt the necessary legislativeor other measures to establish the following conduct as criminal <strong>of</strong>fences wheninvolving an organized criminal group:“(a)“(b)The smuggling <strong>of</strong> migrants; andThe intentional:“(i) Making <strong>of</strong> a fraudulent travel or identity <strong>document</strong> used for internationaltravel;19At the fourth session <strong>of</strong> the Ad Hoc Committee, Austria suggested including <strong>this</strong> wording as an option in the mainbody <strong>of</strong> the text, in order to combine paragraphs 5 and 6 <strong>of</strong> the article.20Some delegations expressed concern that <strong>this</strong> paragraph might interfere with the operation <strong>of</strong> national immigrationlaws. At the fourth session <strong>of</strong> the Ad Hoc Committee, several delegations stressed that, in their view, <strong>this</strong> provision wasimportant, and that all other provisions <strong>of</strong> the protocol should therefore be consistent with <strong>this</strong> provision. It was emphasizedthat the goal <strong>of</strong> the protocol was to function as an instrument that would enable States to prosecute smugglers effectively.In that context, it was evident that criminalization <strong>of</strong> the migrant would not be intended or desirable. However, several delegationswere apprehensive about the possibility <strong>of</strong> the protocol granting immunity to illegal migrants, especially if theyhad committed a crime, including the smuggling <strong>of</strong> other illegal migrants.21The text <strong>of</strong> <strong>this</strong> option was not discussed at the fourth session <strong>of</strong> the Ad Hoc Committee. However, there was extensivediscussion <strong>of</strong> the subject among interested delegations, the results <strong>of</strong> which were reflected in the text and the relevantfootnotes.22Some delegations thought that reference to the protocol would be inconsistent with the agreed intention <strong>of</strong> paragraph7 bis <strong>of</strong> <strong>this</strong> option, which was to permit prosecution <strong>of</strong> those migrants who participated in criminal activities, such as thesmuggling <strong>of</strong> migrants.23Some delegations considered <strong>this</strong> phrase to be inconsistent with the agreed intention <strong>of</strong> paragraph 7 <strong>of</strong> <strong>this</strong> option,in that the phrase, under their interpretation, would allow domestic legal provisions that criminalized illegal entry to overridethe protocol caveat that migrants per se should not be subject to sanction.

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