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Global Programme
against Trafficking in Human Beings
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The Global Programme against Trafficking in Human Beings was designed by the Centre for International Crime Prevention (CICP), in collaboration with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), to assist Member States to combat the growing involvement of organized crime groups in what amounts to a new slave trade. |
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Programme summary
Launched in March 1999, the Programme's key components are data collection and assessment, and technical cooperation.
Its objectives include:
to develop and improve functional databases on routes, structures, and modalities used by traffickers of human beings;
to improve law enforcement functions and cooperation, including at the national and international levels;
to strengthen criminal justice responses;
to enhance inter-agency and inter-country cooperation;
to heighten awareness within the law enforcement and judicial communities and among the population at large;
to improve the protection and support system for victims and witnesses.
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What? Human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by the threat or use of force, by abduction, fraud or deception, for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labour. Organized crime groups, both local and transnational, are facilitating and/or managing smuggling and human exploitation for huge profits. Smuggling of human beings is a business that is estimated to generate gross earnings of US$ 5-7 billion annually. |
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Where?* *The programme will be expanded in 2001 to include additional countries. |
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AUSTRIA BENIN BRAZIL CZECH REPUBLIC FINLAND |
GERMANY NETHERLANDS NIGERIA PHILIPPINES POLAND TOGO |
Implementation strategy
Data collection and assessment
Assessment of the scope of trafficking of humans by organized crime groups, although difficult, is indispensable for the development of an effective counter-strategy at the international, regional and national levels. Initially, assessments of three major trafficking routes, involving two or more countries, will be undertaken. These will include: flows emanating from South-East Asia as a region of origin; flows directed towards Western Europe as a destination region; and flows directed towards North America. Assistance of documentation centres of specialized organizations and non-governmental organizations will be sought. A database of effective best practices to combat trafficking will also be established.
Technical cooperation -pilot projects
A dozen interested countries will initially be involved in projects aimed at strengthening the capacity to combat the new slave trade at the national and international levels. Technical cooperation will include preventative, enforcement/prosecutorial, and victim protection measures. Key components will be:
public awareness campaigns
training of law enforcement officials
advice on legislative reform
creation of coordinating frameworks to enhance interagency and inter-country cooperation
development of victim assistance and witness protection programmes
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Who? Assessment UNICRI, supported by CICP, international and national institutes, the academic community, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, field offices of ODDCP and other United Nations entities. Technical cooperation CICP, with support from UNICRI, other international and national institutes, member countries, non-governmental organizations and ODCCP field offices.
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How? Programme implementation depends on funding from interested Member States and other entities. To date, these include: Australia (in-kind contribution), Austria, European Union, France, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the United States of America. Interested donors are encouraged to contribute to the "Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund" of the United Nations. Contributions, earmarked for the Global Programme Against Trafficking in Human Beings, can be made directly to United Nations dollar account 0011505302 at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York. |
For additional information:
Centre for International Crime Prevention (CICP)
Vienna International Centre
P.O. Box 500
A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Tel: (43) (1) 26060-4269
Fax: (43) (1) 26060-5898
Internet: http://www.uncjin.org/CICP/cicp.html