UN GIFT Announces 12 Recipients Of Financial Grants

04 October 2010

UN GIFT (United Nations) – The United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking’s (UN GIFT) Small Grants Facility Programme chose 12 civil service organizations (CSOs) to get financial aid for their victim support plans. The chosen CSO’s focus on victim support, empowerment for the vulnerable, cooperation with NGO’s, and evidence collection. The CSO’s financial aid distribution and selection were prioritized by the income level of the CSO’s nation of operation. The CSO’s are based in Afghanistan, Albania, Brazil, India, Ireland, Laos, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand, Togo, Ukraine, and Macedonia and all have begun to use the funds in their victim support plans.

Source:

http://www.ungift.org/knowledgehub/stories/october2010/the-final-12-small-grants.html

(Reliability: 9/10)

Comment: (Source Reliability: No inaccuracy visible in this source. The 9 score for this source was given for a potential bias in the report. As the source of this information is the UN, a certain level of politics may have been involved in a potential suppression of information. The source does not mention any other criteria (such as UN policy urgency, diplomatic relations, etc.) for grant selection. The possibility exists that the fund may have utilized other non-disclosed criteria in its selection process since some of the nations listed (Afghanistan, Laos, Thailand, and Ukraine) are all hot spots for trafficking activity. The selection of CSO's in these nations may have been, as mentioned, out an attempt to quickly improve anti-trafficking efforts or establish better UN relations. In order to prevent a sense of preference among nations, the UN may have suppressed such criteria in its public statements. However, as this contention can not be proven, the contention must be relegated as a possibility, must not greatly impact the reliability of the source, and be slightly considered in future analysis.) 

UN Finds Laotian Trafficking Is Under Reported

06 October 2010

Integrated Regional Information Networks (Vientiane) – Xoukiet Panyanouvong, UN Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP) coordinator in Laos, reported that internal trafficking is under reported in Laos due to poor government action and public knowledge of the crime. Thanaporn Michaud, a representative of the International Organization of Migration, echoes Panyanouvong’s report by citing underfunded law enforcement/social services and the lack of a national plan for fighting trafficking and creating a definition for victim protection. UNICEF maintains that Laotians are unaware of the difference between trafficking and migrant work. Victoria Juat, UNICEF’s chief of child protection in Laos, maintains the growth of transportation and communication infrastructure in rural areas, utilized by migrant workers, has increased internal trafficking through worker exploitation.

Source:

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportID=90684

(Reliability: 9/10)

Comment: (Source Reliability: No bias or inaccuracy issues involved with this source. The source's reliability score fails to achieve a perfect score on the basis that no mention is made of alternative sources for Laos poor law enforcement and social service performance. The possibility of lack of motivation by the Laotian government is not mentioned. Information on Laos level of motivation for improvement or current state of action would affect the direction of analysis with respect to UN efforts in Laos and human trafficking in general.)

Comment: The need for accurate reports on human trafficking activity has proven to be very useful for several nations with respect to prosecutions and law enforcement strategy. The information provided by trafficking victims can be essential in the location of traffickers and in understanding their tactics and strategy (movement, networks, methodology in transportation/victim capture, etc.). While not mentioned in the UNIAP report, the assistance provided to trafficking victims can motivate victims to provide cooperation and information to authorities about traffickers. Moreover, the information provided by victims can be essential in the development of public education about human trafficking. Considering the potential for public and government gain from reports on trafficking activity, a clear motivation for the UN desire to conduct and demand national, regional, and international studies on trafficking becomes apparent and useful in later analysis. 


Source for Consideration:


http://www.humantrafficking.org/combat_trafficking/prosecution

UN Rights Expert Advises Kurdistan To Prevent Trafficking Of IDPs

Walter Kalin (left) meeting with Nuri al-Maliki, Iraqi Prime Minister on September 29, 2010 (Source: Reuters)

03 October 2010

UN News Centre (United Nations) – Walter Kalin, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), called on Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to reduce human trafficking risks by making administrative changes and giving financial aid to about 30,000 IDP Kurds to ensure stable settlement. Kalin believes the poor economy and violence in the KRG place Kurdish IDPs in risk of trafficking during the search for a home and higher income. Kalin maintains the KRG should give financial aid to poor Kurds in search of a home in the region. Kalin also maintains the KRG make administrative changes that ensure land and housing exist for Kurdish refugees unwilling/unable to return, strengthen reception areas for new outside IDPs and regulation of social services for returning IDPs. 

Source:

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=36325&Cr=Iraq&Cr1=

(Reliability: 9/10)

Comment: (Source Reliability: No bias or inaccuracy apparent in source or information. However, the 9 score rating reflects a lack of detail in what specific administrative changes are needed in administrative changes. Moreover, there is no mention to the time line needed to accomplish these reforms. Consequently, aside from the quantitative measure of urgency [30,000 IDPs], there is no qualitative or policy sense of urgency apparent.)


Analysis: Mr. Kalin's report seems to be the latest echo of the UN strategy against human trafficking. There appears to be a faint to moderate resemblance to Mr. Mahiga's recommendations to the international navies in the Africa. Two forces of human trafficking identified so far have been poor economic conditions, as expressed by Mr. Mahiga, and infrastructure, which has also been identified by both Mr. Mahiga and the UN Office of Drugs and Crime director Yuri Fedotov. Thus, one can conclude that economics and infrastructure are highly likely to be determining factor in the existence and growth of human trafficking activities. 

     A third potential force may exist in the form of national legislation and policy. The September 24th UN Asia-Pacific Forum identified the current state of immigration laws and policies as a contributing factor on human trafficking. Mr. Kalin's report echo's this policy concern with respect to housing and aid. However, one can not yet determine one specific area of policy and legislation, with respect to reform or addition, has a greater effect than another. In this specific case, I can not make the determination if housing law reform has a greater or lesser affect on human trafficking than immigration reform. Moreover, I can not determine which legislative reform has a greater UN priority for reform. Continued activity from the UN will provide more insight.    

UN Envoy Advises Coordination Against Trafficking Pirates

Augustine Mahiga briefing reporters about Somalia on August 8, 2010 (Source: Associated Press)

28 September 2010

UN News Centre (United Nations) – Augustine Mahiga, the General-Secretary’s Special Representative for Somalia, advised the International Contact Group on Somalia (ICG) that the fight against African pirates should depend on a balance of government infrastructure building and military action in Somalia. Mahiga maintains that the restoration of Somalian government infrastructure needs international naval forces fighting pirates to aid Somalia's and relevant UN program's political and humanitarian needs. Mahiga adds that international naval forces must consult and work with the African Union’s Somalian peacekeeper’s (AMISOM), Transitional Federal Government (TFG), and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) land-based campaign against pirates and fight to control key ports and the coast. Mahiga maintains that the long term solution to fighting piracy growth is offering economic development and alternatives to pirates and potential pirates in pirate controlled areas.

Source:

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=36244&Cr=somali&Cr1=

(Reliability: 9/10)

Comment: (Source Reliability: The source shows no signs of bias or inaccuracies. However, no detail is provided with respect to which specific UN programs require assistance or consultation with the international navies. This specific detail would allow for a much more accurate prediction as one could see what specific infrastructure or UN efforts require assistance and are considered priorities for the General Secretary's office.)


Analysis:While Mr. Mahiga's UN reinforcement/consultation suggestion is vague with respect to which agencies, the overall report seems to fall in line with the September 23rd Kenyan plan suggested  by the UNODC Exec. Dir. While the plan suggested by Dir. Fedotov is focused on legal infrastructure, the fact that Mr. Mahiga's plan to support infrastructure in general would indicate that the UN, in general, has a common strategy against trafficking through infrastructure rebuilding. As the representative of the Office of the Secretary General, it follows that Mr. Mahiga's recommendations fall in step with the general plan against human trafficking held by the Secretary General. Consequently, it is highly likely that any stated plan proposed by UNODC with the regards to anti-trafficking efforts reflects a wider UN strategy against human trafficking. However, because no detail was given as to the priority held by the Secretary General's office to specific efforts or if this recommendation extends beyond this particular region of Africa, one can not label this prediction to all regions of the world and all specific anti-trafficking efforts. 

UNODC Praises Gabon’s Entry Into UN Treaties On Trafficking

Gabon's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paul Toungui (Left) officially recognizes Gabon's Accession to Anti-Trafficking Protocol (Source: UN Treaty Collection)

25 September 2010

The Mail (United Nations) - Gabon’s government signed 2 UN treaties designed to fight and deter human and arms trafficking. The 2 treaties are part of the 2000 UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and falls under the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) authority. The human trafficking treaty provides an internationally accepted and binding definition for the crime and recognizes the human rights of victims. Yuri Fedotov, UNODC Executive Director, believes that Gabon’s treaty signing will provide stability to Central Africa by Gabon’s pledge to deter and fight the expansion of both crimes.

Source:

http://accra-mail.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24297:un-anti-crime-body-lauds-gabons-accession-to-trafficking-treaties&catid=70:africa&Itemid=219

(Reliability: 6/10)

Comment: (Source Reliability: The source receives a 6 rating because of the fact that no information is provided into Gabon's motivation for entry into the protocol or detail into Director Fedotov's contention into why this entry equates to a safer Africa. The lack of detail into Gabon's motivation limits the ability to deduce forces responsible into the entry (diplomatic pressure, domestic demand, leadership agenda, etc.) or the effectiveness of  UN efforts in or around Gabon and its government. Director Fedotov's statement of a safer Africa from this entry proves to be vague. One can not determine if this statement means an increased UN role or influence in Gabon or a stronger Gabon policy on trafficking. A rationale for this statement not provided in this source as well.)


Comment: A June 2010 report from the US State Department listed Gabon within the Tier 2 watch list of nations with respect to human trafficking. Consistent with the Tier 2 watch list definition, Gabon has been making reforms to improve anti-trafficking policies, trafficker prosecution, and victim protection as of 2009. Gabon remains a Tier 2 watch list nation due to the fact that little has been done to curb trafficking and little has been done to study the scope of Gabon human trafficking activity. Progress which has been made in prosecution has been seen in policy and legislation yet there has been little activity in prosecution. However, Gabon has made progress in victim protection and prevention. 
     
     As international diplomacy in terms of aid or economic relations in part is based on a nation's actions against trafficking, it is possible that Gabon's entry into the UN convention could be an attempt to gain positive attention and eventual contact with the international community. The statement made by Director Fedotov maybe evidence to that possibility. However, because of the lack of detail into Director Fedotov's statement and lack of statements from the international community to that respect, no level of confidence can be given to this prediction. Consequently, this predicted motivation is a hypothesis with very little evidence which does not give any level of likelihood which disproves or approves it.  

UN Asian Forum Calls For Reform In Migrant Rights And Victim Aid

(Source: UNODC)

24 September 2010

UN News Centre (Bangkok) – The Asian-Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Global Forum on Migration and Development 2010 called on the international community to create laws which give legal protection and social services to migrants vulnerable to or affected by human trafficking. The Asian forum called for nations to provide legal protections to both foreign and domestic migrant workers from human trafficking while also providing health and education services to these workers. The forum maintains that most susceptible migrant worker to human trafficking is the undocumented worker. The forum believes migrants deserve rights and aid to reinforce human rights precedent and ensure economic contribution by migrants. The Asian forum’s statement will be presented to the entire Global Forum on Migration and Development in November.

Source:

  

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=36133&Cr=MIGRATION&Cr1=

(Reliability: 7/10)

Comment: (Source Reliability: The source contains no bias or inaccuracy. The 7 rating comes from the fact that the source does not provide detail into which Asian nations do the least to provide services and rights to trafficked migrants. Nor does the source provide detail into how victim services and right recognition entails stronger economic performance.)

Comment: As the recommendations will be presented to the Global Forum on Migration and Development in November, its is not possible at the moment to predict what type or what level of operational impact these recommendations and conclusions will have on Asian or Global anti-trafficking efforts. Statements made by participants at the Global Forum on Migration will provide clues as to what level of commitment individual regions or nations will take with respect to these recommendations and conclusions.  

UNODC Executive Director Creates Plan To Fight African Trafficking

UNODC Exec. Dir. Yuri Fedotov (left) meeting with Thuita Mwangi, Kenya's Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary (Source: Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

23 September 2010

The Standard (Nairobi) - Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the UN’s Office on Drugs and Crime, created a plan to fight African human trafficking by increasing the prosecution of trafficking pirates by way of strengthened African courts. Fedetov’s plan continues the UN’s study of the current performance and operation of Kenyan courts while starting a legal technical assistance pilot program in 3 provinces. The pilot program requires a Kenyan created anti-corruption strategy within 2 years of the pilot program’s end. Fedetov’s plan also calls for legal infrastructure building for Somalia and any African nation willing to prosecute pirates in order to reduce Kenya’s prosecution burden.

Source:

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000018975&cid=4

(Reliability: 9/10)

Comment: (Source Reliability:  No issues of bias or inaccuracy in the source. However, the source does not indicate a Director Fedotov's level of focus on a purely African response to piracy and human trafficking.)

Analysis: In June of 2010, the German ambassador to Kenya released analysis into Kenya's motivation for combating pirates. The primary reason Kenya has tackled piracy off its is to resolve economic impacts from piracy in various Kenyan industries and protect citizens. Kenya has begun to cooperate with international navies and taken the lead among the international community in prosecuting pirates. However, Kenya's  increased demand for assistance and responsibility from the the international community in prosecution will likely mean that UNODC assistance will be accepted but not satisfy the Kenyan government. More over, this acceptance of UNODC assistance means Kenya is targeting human trafficking as means to disrupt Somali pirates. However, as Kenya's burden of Somali refugees and piracy continues to grow and exceed the proportion endured by other nations, Kenya will likely decrease refugee or piracy efforts and expect more action against piracy from the international community. 
     
     Should Kenya decrease piracy prosecutions and/or refugee efforts, the UNODC will have to reevaluate its strategy and potentially restructure its strategy to either continue to support the Kenyan legal infrastructure or target international responsibility for pirate prosecution. However, considering the desire and strategy of Director Fedotov to build a purely or majority African and self-sustained response to piracy and human trafficking, the latter strategy rather than the former strategy would be adopted. However, the degree of likelihood can not be determined from this source since no statement is made as to the UNODC's level of desire for a purely or majority African response. Additionally, Director Fedotov's recent installation as Executive Director this month has not given enough time to determine how committed he is to a purely or majority African response to piracy and human trafficking.


Comment Continued: Background into the Existence of Kenya's Pirate Courts (Source: NTVKeyna/Youtube)