OSCE/ODIHR handbook emphasizes human rights of trafficking victims
(Teun Voeten/Hollandse Hoogte, 1999)Trafficked women in the Balkans, victims of modern-day slavery. (Teun Voeten/Hollandse Hoogte, 1999) Photo details
WARSAW, 14 May 2004 - A new handbook published by a leading European human rights organization, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, focuses on improving protection of the human rights of trafficking victims.
It also provides guidance on how to develop sustainable structures and mechanisms to combat trafficking and support victims.
"The aim is to strengthen legislation and practical structures to ensure that laws are effective and that the needs of victims are taken care of," says Ambassador Christian Strohal, Director of the ODIHR.
"This handbook attempts to provide answers to the question of what happens after a presumed victim of trafficking ends up in the hands of the police. It looks at countries of destination, where the victims should receive shelter and support, not face detention, as well as at their home countries, where they often have nothing to return to except prejudice and where they may even face renewed enslavement."
The publication, National Referral Mechanisms: Joining Efforts to Protect the Rights of Trafficked Persons, provides practical tools for countries of origin, transit, and destination to meet the challenges connected to trafficking. The focus is on protecting the human rights of trafficked persons and pursuing the prosecution of the perpetrators.
The handbook calls for the creation of legislative and other structures that can be practical tools for countries, including both governments and non-governmental organizations, to meet the challenges connected with human trafficking. This responds to the OSCE Action Plan to combat trafficking in human beings, which calls for increased co-operation between governments and civil society.
It suggests roles for governmental institutions and civil society, highlighting the key issues and describing the type of programmes and services that should ideally be available to trafficked persons. The handbook also examines the experiences gained so far in those countries in which National Referral Mechanisms have already been established.
The publication of the handbook was made possible with the support of the German Foreign Ministry.
To download a copy of the handbook, or request a printed copy, please visit the ODIHR website.
It also provides guidance on how to develop sustainable structures and mechanisms to combat trafficking and support victims.
"The aim is to strengthen legislation and practical structures to ensure that laws are effective and that the needs of victims are taken care of," says Ambassador Christian Strohal, Director of the ODIHR.
"This handbook attempts to provide answers to the question of what happens after a presumed victim of trafficking ends up in the hands of the police. It looks at countries of destination, where the victims should receive shelter and support, not face detention, as well as at their home countries, where they often have nothing to return to except prejudice and where they may even face renewed enslavement."
The publication, National Referral Mechanisms: Joining Efforts to Protect the Rights of Trafficked Persons, provides practical tools for countries of origin, transit, and destination to meet the challenges connected to trafficking. The focus is on protecting the human rights of trafficked persons and pursuing the prosecution of the perpetrators.
The handbook calls for the creation of legislative and other structures that can be practical tools for countries, including both governments and non-governmental organizations, to meet the challenges connected with human trafficking. This responds to the OSCE Action Plan to combat trafficking in human beings, which calls for increased co-operation between governments and civil society.
It suggests roles for governmental institutions and civil society, highlighting the key issues and describing the type of programmes and services that should ideally be available to trafficked persons. The handbook also examines the experiences gained so far in those countries in which National Referral Mechanisms have already been established.
The publication of the handbook was made possible with the support of the German Foreign Ministry.
To download a copy of the handbook, or request a printed copy, please visit the ODIHR website.