Special Rapporteur Reports to UN

Challenges in Developing Rights-based Responses to Trafficking

UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, has presented a report on her activities for the period 1st March 2013 to 1st March 2014 to the UN Human Rights Council. In the report she once again affirms “first, that the human rights of trafficked persons must be at the centre of all efforts to combat trafficking and to protect, assist and provide redress to those affected by trafficking; and second, that anti-trafficking measures should not adversely affect the human rights and dignity of the persons concerned.”  Once again she stated the rights of victims to access remedies for the harm committed against them.  “In substance, trafficked persons should be provided with adequate reparations for the harms suffered, which may include restitution, compensation, recovery, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition.” Compensation is of critical importance to victims of trafficking who are likely to have suffered significant harm and lost valuable opportunities.  The Special Rapporteur further notes that a strong response from the criminal justice system is an integral part of dealing effectively with trafficking…. there should not be a conflict between the rights of victims and the responses of the criminal justice system, provided that the latter explicitly set out both to challenge the culture of impunity enjoyed by traffickers and to secure justice for the victims.”  Read more…