TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS (THB) IS NOT A STAND-ALONE PHENOMENON BUT A A VERY COMPLEX/WICKED PROBLEM. IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS CRIME AND GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION I SEE TWELVE CHALLENGES THAT TOGETHER SHOW THIS COMPLEXITY. THIS OUTLINE GIVES HINTS TO THE RELEVANT ISSUES, KEYWORDS TO THE SOURCES WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE ABOUT THIS AREA, THE SPECIFIC APPROACH OR MODEL IN FIGHTING THB IT REPRESENTS AND WITH WHOM YOU SHOULD PARTNER/WORK TOGETHER IN FIGHTING THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGE. THIS IS A SUMMARY OF THE FRAMEWORK WE ARE USING OUR UNIVERSITY, POST-GRADUATION AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION ON THB AND IN OUR JOURNALISTIC WORK, DOCUMENTARIES ON THB.
It is our conviction that in fighting THB we need to work together and learn from each other, on local, national and international level, across different professions and fields. We need to see the future challenges and tackle them as we work together. There is no other way to stop is crime called modern slavery.
Challenge 1: Law Enforcement.
Issues: Rule of Law, Security vs. Privacy
Sources: EU Directive 2011/36, Europol & National Police Reports
THB: Law Law enforcement approach, Crime centered approach
Collaboration: Police, Prosecution, Judges, Government
Challenge 2: Human Rights
Issues: Implementing Human Rights
Sources: United Nations, European Court of Human Rights THB: Human rights approach, Victim centered approach
Collaboration: NGO’s, Government, Human rights movement.
Challenge 3: Gender
Issues: Gender inequality, Discrimination, Cultural differences
Sources: EU Gender publication 2016
THB: Vulnerable people, women, Lesbian Gay Bisexuals, Transgenders Collaboration: Feminist Movement, LGBT movement, NGO’s.
Challenge 4: Migration
Issues: Borders, Vulnerable migrants and refugees
Sources: Targeting Vulnerabilities. GAATW report exploring trafficking and migration
THB: Exploitable men, woman, children
Collaboration: Asylum seekers’ Centre’s, border control, NGO’s
Challenge 5: Politics
Issues: Differences in legislation, Populism, culture and value’s
Sources: GRETA reports EU
THB: Waterbed theory
Collaboration: Government at all levels.
Challenge 6: Economics
Issues: Corruption, Supply and Demand, Poverty
Sources: OCSE Reports, Transparency International
THB: Business model of THB, Demand Reduction
Collaboration: Financial institutions, government, business community.
Challenge 7: Technology
Issues: Technological Utopianism, Bitcoins, Criminals as early adaptors Sources: TRACE project, USC reports on THB and online world THB: THB 3.0 (online) , Mobile and geolocation, non-local.
Collaboration: Tech corporations, police, government, NGO’s
Challenge 8: Corporate Law
Issues: Corporate transparency, Lack of commitment to codes of conduct
Sources: UK Modern Slavery Act, §6
THB: Labour exploitation
Collaboration: Trade Unions, government, politics, business community
Challenge 9: Health Care
Issues: Shortage of organ donors, ethical dilemmas.
Sources: HOTT project
THB: Organ trade, forced organ donation, very profitable Collaboration: Healthcare professionals, hospitals, doctors.
Challenge 10: Media
Issues: Superficial, sensationalism, dark numbers, false testimonies
Sources: Thomas Reuters Foundation
THB: Media framing of THB, mistrust of victims’ stories
Collaboration: media, victim support, police, government, education.
Challenge 11: Multi-disciplinary approach
Issues: narrow-mindedness, professionals distrusting each-other.
Sources: Rantsev trial. EHCR
THB: Barrier model, Trafficking signals, Multi-disciplinary approach Collaboration: all sectors and professionals.
Challenge 12: Education
Issues: raising awareness, lack of knowledge professionals, complexity THB.
Sources: Scientific research, EU Toolkits
THB: Prevention, Long term partnerships, Sustainable Collaboration: Universities, schools, NGO’s
Copyright: Tamme de Leur, CHE and MetaStory Productions, The Netherlands. May 2016.
More info at: http://www.metastoryproductions.com/english/
Contact: tamme@metastoryproductions.com or tjadleur@che.nl