UN Report Shows No Influx of Trafficking During World Cup

Poster Distributed in South Africa During the 2010 Soccer World Cup (Source: Counter Trafficking in Persons Desk)

22 October 2010

Integrated Regional Information Networks (Johannesburg) – The first report on the effect of the World Cup on sex trade, done by the UN Population Fund and South Africa’s Sex Worker’s Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT), found that there was neither an influx of human trafficking or HIV infections during the 2010 World Cup. SWEAT and the South African Department of Justice found that there was no increase in human trafficking and there was a decrease in advertising of foreign sex workers. The report found that HIV prevention and anti-trafficking ad campaigns were not successful at prevention. The report found that ad prevention campaigns lacked proper research in demographics and implementation.

Source:

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportID=90855

(Reliability: 8/10)

Comment: (Source Reliability: No issue of bias or inaccuracy apparent in this source. No detail is given with respect to how pervasive the problem of human trafficking is prior to the World Cup in South Africa or if human trafficking is a problem for the World Cup at different international venues. This lack of information prevents the existence of a benchmark for South African human trafficking activity in the analysis. Subsequently, a difficulty exists in determining the level of effectiveness behind this joint UN effort.) 

Comment: In 2008, South Africa was considered a major destination nation for human trafficking in Africa. Many women and children are victimized into being trafficked into South Africa with promises of work, education, or marriage. Once brought into South Africa, victims are dispersed through the nations urban and rural centers. However, as of 2008, South Africa has begun to develop anti-trafficking legislation according to the nation's adoption of the UN's 2000 protocol against human trafficking. A 2004 report by South Africa's newspapers found that 900,000 victims are trafficked throughout Africa with 75% going into South Africa to serve as sex slave, child labor, or organ donors.  However, as the newspaper and other non profit humanitarian groups groups have stated, South Africa does not have an organized method for the study and statistical research of the number of victims entering the nation. Subsequently, the true scope or estimates of the problem in South Africa can not totally be considered as accurate or valid.


Source for Consideration:


http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/refworld/rwmain?page=country&docid=48ce1d5e1e&skip=0&coi=ZAF&rid=456d621e2&querysi=human%20trafficking&searchin=title&display=10&sort=date

 

 

UN Calls On EU For Trafficking Victims Reform

19 October 2010

OHCHR News (United Nations) – The UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN Refugee Agency, UNICEF, the International Labor Organization, and the UN Development Fund for Women collectively called upon the EU to provide greater legal services, leniency to trafficking victims, and a new policy focus. The agencies want the EU to provide victims free and quality legal aid, leniency on illegal immigration charges, respect of non-refoulement in the courts and legislatures, and a right to not be forcibly returned to their native land. The agencies also want the EU trafficking policies and definitions that include gender and children issues. Jan Jarab, OHCHR Regional Representative for Europe, believes this call will influence the development of the proposed EU directive on human trafficking.

Source:

 http://www.hrea.org/index.php?base_id=2&language_id=1&headline_id=12196

(Reliability: 9/10)

Comment: (Source Reliability: No bias or inaccuracy apparent in source. The source does not provide any information which explains how EU legal reform would combat the growth or existence of trafficking in the EU.)

Comment: The call for reform by these agencies continues to reinforce the general idea that government action is a force upon human trafficking activity. In this case, the increase of rights would deter human trafficking growth. However, as seen in the presentation by Mr Cdebaca and the September Asia Pacific Conference, no clear statement or prediction can be made as to what specific type of government action mostly influences the state of human trafficking. Yet, as this is the third such event which emphasizes legal type of solution, one could conclude that a pattern has emerged. In essence, the UN will recommend some type of legal action be taken by governments to deter human trafficking. However, no common legal action has been found in these recommendations. 

UNICEF Reports An Increase In Child Trafficking In Haiti

21 October 2010

UNICEF News (Port-Au-Prince) – UNICEF reports an influx of child trafficking from Haiti into the Dominican Republic caused by the poor economy and infrastructure caused by January’s earthquake in Haiti. UNICEF reports that child trafficking levels exceed the means of Haiti’s Brigade for the Protection of Minors (BPM) in four border sites with the Dominican Republic. UNICEF plans to financially and administratively reinforce the Ministry of Social Affairs along with a training of BPM inspectors and guiding the development of trafficking laws. UNICEF found that traffickers obtain children with promises to parents of a better life for their children.

  
Source:

http://www.unicefusa.org/news/news-from-the-field/haiti-protects-its-border.html

(Reliability: 9/10)

Comment: (Source Reliability: No issues of bias or inaccuracy apparent in the source. No reference is provided as to the extent of UN financial or administrative support will be provided to Haiti. This information may provide clues as to how pervasive the problem of child trafficking is in Haiti (subsequently providing a baseline for future comparison of UN effectiveness) or how badly damaged Haitian anti-trafficking infrastructure has been damaged.)


Comment: At present, Haitian families have been forced by the circumstances of the earthquake to find secure locations for their children. Many parents place children in the care of residential care facilities or placed in outside labor groups for family financial support. In many instances, children find themselves orphans as their parents died or been separated from the earthquake. Hospitals and orphanages attempt to care for these children yet the damage done to government infrastructure has caused traffickers to take advantage of these children. Consequently, traffickers have found ways to manipulate families and government officials into granting custody to traffickers via adoption or medical assistance. 


Source for consideration:


http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMp1001820

(New England Journal of Medicine)

Haiti's Prime Minister Discusses Child Trafficking Causes Post Earthquake (Source: CNN-January 27, 2010)

Kenya To Give Trafficked Somalis To UNHCR

Dadaab Refugee Camp as it appeared in February of 2009 (Souce: UNHCR)

19 October 2010

Xinhua News Agency (Mombasa) – Kenya’s government will hand over 32 trafficked Somalis to the UN Refugee Agency after a 3 month prison term for illegal entry into the nation. The Kwale Regional Magistrate also ruled that the trafficked Somalis may have to be returned to Somalia or the Dadaab refugee camp after being handed to the UNHCR. The 32 Somalis will join 64 other imprisoned Somalis who also were trafficked into Kenya in an attempt to escape the poor economy and violence of Somalia. Leo Nyongesa, Coast Provincial police chief, maintains that police are very close to catching the leaders of the Somali human trafficking ring.  

Source:

http://www.coastweek.com/3342_kwale.htm

(Reliability 8/10)

Comment: (Source Reliability: No issue of inaccuracy in this source. As the source, Xinhua News Agency, is under the direction of the Chinese government, the possibility exists that the information stated may be under the scrutiny or direction state policy. However, as the information stated conforms with existing information provided by non-biased sources, the influence of this potential bias can be minimized to the point of rating the source with a score of 8.)

Comment: The determination of the court to hand over the Somali prisoners to the UNHCR echos the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reinforcement conclusion reached in the September analysis of UNODC assistance in Kenya. In the September analysis, a conclusion was reached which stated that the UNODC might have to provide greater reinforcement of infrastructure in order to lessen Kenya's burden and maintain Kenyan legal action against traffickers. The fact that Kenya has chosen the UNHCR to temporarily assist the Kenyan refugee and legal system and proposed the idea of deportation indicates that Kenya may no longer want to endure the trafficking/refugee burden. Thus, the UNODC may have to increase its direct infrastructure efforts rather than encourage Kenyan progress. Future developments will confirm or reject this contention.   

Arab States Attend UN Organized Crime Conference

Arab Delegates at Fifth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime Conference on October 21, 2010. (Source: UNODC)

18 October 2010

Kuwait News Agency (Vienna) – Several Arab states plan to discuss Middle East plans to combat human trafficking and assist its victims in the region at the UN’s organized crime conference. Aside from discussing enforcement of the UN protocol against human trafficking at the regional and global level, the Arab states plan to hear a report on the financial support given to the Doha Arab Initiative by Qatar and Norway next Thursday. At the conference, the Arab states will discuss implementation of the latest scientific and administrative methods used in victim support. The Arab states also plan to create a dialogue with experts in order to raise regional awareness.

Source:

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/160892/t/Arabs-eye-initiative-to-combat-human-trafficking-in-Middle-East/Default.aspx

(Reliability: 7/10)

Comment: (Source Reliability: No issue of bias or inaccuracy apparent in this source. The largest problem with source resides in the vagueness of implementation. No reference is made as to the level of implementation the Arab states would take to combat trafficking.)


Comment: This Arab conference is the first event which reinforces the incorporation analysis made during the Lillie Conference. The statement made by representatives that recommendations and information exchanges will be incorporated into national policy reinforces the earlier conclusion that UN conferences are affective at altering the direction of anti-trafficking efforts. Unfortunately, the vagueness in the incorporation statement, specifically with respect to the level of incorporation, leaves one unanswered question: What level of incorporation will occur at the individual national level? Due to the fact that nations are limited by policy priorities and resources, conference nations may not be able to achieve a uniform level of incorporation (this may be a potential reason for a lack of stated procedures of incorporation during conferences). Subsequently, one must track the actions of individual participants in order to track the level of effectiveness of UN conferences at the individual level.

US Envoy Shows Victim’s Legal Plight At UN Conference

U.S. State Department Ambassador-at-Large, Luis Cdebaca (Source: UNODC)

19 October 2010

Associated Press (Vienna) – Luis Cdebaca, U.S. State Department Envoy, showed the legal plight faced by human trafficking victims to a UN conference against organized crime. Cdebaca explains that nations that enact anti-trafficking laws also target trafficking victims for quick deportation. Cdebaca maintains that this trend is seen with nations that have recently adopted anti-trafficking laws. Marieke Van Doorninck, Advisor for Public Affiars for La Strada International, maintains that nations adopt anti-trafficking laws as a rationale for anti-immigration laws.

Source:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jSA68e0TN37tkJ7Jx_PKFtRv8Zow?docId=4877597

(Reliability: 6/10)

Comment: (Source Reliability: No apparent issues of bias or inaccuracy in this source. The low rating of 6 for this source stems from the lack of information with regards to the geographical extent of stringent immigration law application on victims. There is also little information provided on the participants or nature of the conference. While this particular conference is more than likely an extension of the UN Organized Crime conference, information regarding the participants of this session would give clues as to reach of this immigration law problem.)


Comment: The report given by Mr. Cdebaca appears to reinforce the idea presented by the September Asian-Pacific conference which maintained that migrants are highly vulnerable targets for trafficking. Additionally, Mr. Cdebaca's identification of government regulations as a cause of trafficking echos the conclusion reached by the Asian-Pacific conference. While Mr. Cdebaca's identification of regulation contrasts the conferences identification of victim aid, the theme of government action resonates. Subsequently, future conferences must be monitored to determine if the nature and frequency of government actions can be considered a force for trafficking.

UNODC Director Shows State Of Global Human Trafficking

Exec. Dir. of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Yury Fedotov (Source: Life)

18 October 2010

Agence France-Presse (Vienna) - Yury Fedotov, Executive Director for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), showed the strength of global human trafficking activity and called for government action against organized criminal groups through policy development and cooperation. Fedotov explained that human trafficking is the second highest revenue source for organized crime at an estimated revenue of 10 billion USD. Fedotov believes the state of organized crime, including human trafficking, comes from criminal utilization of globalization. Fedotov believes the solution is in increased utilization of 2000 UN Convention Against Transnational Crime and legislation/policy, and international law enforcement and legal cooperation in areas such as extradition.

Source:

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Organized+crime+generates+billion+annually+UNOD/3688349/story.html

(Reliability: 6/10)

Comment: (Source Reliability: No issues of bias or inaccuracy in this source. The low score of this source primarily reflects the fact that the Exec. Dir. Fedotov's statements are exceedingly vague with respect to causes and solutions to human trafficking. The lack of precision and detail in solutions and causes prevents an accurate reflection of the priorities and views of the UNODC. Since there is little detail on specific issues from globalization or solutions of legislation/policy, one does not know where exactly the UNODC places specific emphasis on particular causes and solutions.) 


Comment: The presentation made by Dir. Fedotov has indicated the existence of a new force affecting human trafficking activity: globalization. The statement made by Dir. Fedotov is vague with respect to what elements of globalization (transportation, communication, finance, etc.) is being utilized by traffickers. Subsequently, it is difficult to determine what specific element, if any, of globalization the UNODC believes is a major contributing force to trafficking growth and activity. The one vague reference made to extradition as a solution gives further reinforcement to the contention that globalization is a factor in trafficking activity. Moreover, the extradition and legal/legislation recommendations further reinforce a September analysis which maintains that the UNODC will likely focus on legal infrastructure and policy to combat traffickers.