NCJ Number
213704
Date Published
November 2002
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This report of the Expert Group Meeting of the United Nations, in Glen Cove, NY, November 18-22, 2002, presents an overview of the problem of trafficking in women and girls and offers recommendations toward its prevention, suppression, and punishment.
Abstract
Trafficking in humans, particularly in women and girls, has been a key concern of the international community and the United Nations. This report of the Expert Group Meeting offers a number of recommendations toward eradicating human trafficking. The recommendations fall into the following domains: general recommendations, prevention, victim support and empowerment, legal framework, and national mechanisms and international cooperation. Specifically, general recommendations include the advice to treat trafficking as a development concern that should be high on the national, regional, and international agenda. Under the area of prevention, the Expert Group recommends expanding women’s economic and educational opportunities while adopting measures to discourage all forms of human trafficking demand. Under the domain of victim support and empowerment, it is recommended that governments develop a referral system to appropriately handle victim services and that governments ensure the safe and voluntary return of trafficked persons or provide them with viable and safe alternatives. Within the legal framework, the Expert Group makes recommendations pertaining to criminal law, investigation and proceedings, human rights, and corruption. In particular, governments are asked to ensure protective measures for the families of victims in countries of origin through the development of bilateral agreements. The last series of recommendations fall under the domain of national mechanisms and international cooperation and underscore the importance of international cooperation among governments, non-governmental organizations, and inter-governmental organizations, as well as civil society to combat human trafficking. International organizations are called upon to facilitate internationally coordinated anti-trafficking programs. The report also presents an overview of the human trafficking problem, including an examination of the key issues and strategies to prevent and combat trafficking in women and girls. The annex offers descriptions of good practices in anti-trafficking programs from around the world. Footnotes, annex