Trafficking in human beings: human rights and ... - unesdoc - Unesco

lack of equipment, inadequate legal structures and application of the law, lack of trained
staff and expertise, and inadequate victim/witness support and protection are all factors
contributing to a low rate of processes. However, until now no systematic research has
been done on the reasons for the low rate of convictions. It is clear, however, that the
most pressing problem is not so much lack of adequate laws, but lack of implementation
of those laws. 416
Many National Action Plans 417 (NAP) still focus exclusively on women and children
but there is an increasing trend also to address labour traffi cking, which tends to affect
men as well as women and children. Another trend relates to the strategy of NAPs.
While most of the earlier NAPs emphasized prosecution and the role of law enforcement
authorities, more recently adopted plans have a broader vision on prevention and demand
reduction that includes improvement of migration management as an important tool.
with traffi ckers, accepting bribes for the passage of undocumented travellers. UNESCO: Human
Traffi cking in Mozambique, p. 34 and UNESCO: Human Traffi cking in South Africa, p. 34.
416 OSCE: Human Traffi cking for Labour Exploitation/Forced and Bonded Labour: Prosecution of
Offenders, Justice for Victims. Report of the 5th Alliance against Traffi cking in Persons Conferences
on Human Traffi cking for:
Labour Exploitation/Forced and Bonded Labour Vienna, 16 and 17 November 2006. p. 5
417 The Government of Norway issued the action plan for the period 2006-2009, to stop traffi cking
in persons, both nationally and internationally. The plan contains 37 measures aimed at facilitating
coordinated, coherent efforts to stop traffi cking and assist and protect victims. The measures include
extending the refl ection period so that presumed victims may be granted a temporary work permit for
up to six months, expanding the free legal counsel scheme and increasing the provision of free legal aid
for victims of traffi cking, providing assistance to ensure safe repatriation and resettlement for victims
who wish to return to their country of origin.
In March 2007, the Government of Myanmar, with the assistance of UNIAP, convened a national
workshop of Government agencies, law enforcement offi cials, United Nations agencies, international
and national non-governmental organizations and other anti-traffi cking stakeholders to review the
country’s draft national plan of action. The proposed national plan of action (2007-2011), drafted
in accordance with the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Traffi cking (COMMIT)
Subregional Plan of Action, requires Myanmar: 1. To implement effectively prevention, prosecution,
protection and rehabilitation activities; 2. To strengthen activities among relevant ministries,
organizations, national and international non-governmental organizations and the private sector;
3. To strengthen cooperation with regional and international agencies in combatting trans-national
traffi cking. In response to these requirements, the proposed national plan of action contains fi ve
substantive areas: policy and cooperation; prevention; prosecution; protection; and capacity-building.
The highly collaborative approach to the drafting of the national plan of action hopefully signifi es that
a similarly collaborative approach will be taken towards its implementation.
In 2007, the State of Israel elaborated two national action plans against traffi cking. One, dated August
2007, is entitled “National Plan regarding the Battle against Traffi cking in Persons for the Purpose
of Prostitution”. The other, dated April 2007, is entitled “National Plan regarding the Battle against
Slavery and Traffi cking in Persons for the Purposes of Slavery or Forced Labour”. The former (and more
elaborated of the two) is based on recommendations of a subcommittee appointed by the Committee
of Directors General regarding the Battle against Traffi cking in Persons. This plan is commendable for
addressing both cross-border and internal traffi cking, and for its prioritization of specifi c goals. Its fi ve
highest priorities are strengthening of the border with Egypt, awareness-raising with regard to criminal
activities, the creation of a victim identifi cation toolkit, promotion of safe return of victims to their
country of origin and provision of adequate medical treatment to victims with legal status in Israel.
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