Friday 20 September 2002

Press Briefing Notes
Friday 20 September 2002
Spokesperson: Niurka Piñeiro

BELGIUM -Brussels Declaration on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings
NIGERIA - Counter Trafficking Information Campaign Gathers Momentum





BELGIUM - Brussels Declaration on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings - The European Conference on Preventing and Combating
Trafficking in Human Beings ends in Brussels later today.

The event, organised by IOM, in close cooperation with the European Commission and the European Parliament, attracted over 1,000 participants from governments, international organisations and NGOs

The final Declaration of the conference, expected in October, will provide a framework for future efforts in the fight against human trafficking in the EU and the EU- candidate countries of Central and Eastern European. A draft of the Declaration debated at the Conference is available on the IOM website (www.iom.int).

The draft Declaration aims to create a roadmap of best practices designed to generate a comprehensive and co-ordinated European approach to ending the human rights abuses associated with trafficking in human beings - coercive sexual exploitation and labour exploitation in conditions akin to slavery.

It argues that a comprehensive European policy against human trafficking needs to address the entire multi-billion dollar trafficking chain in countries of origin, transit and destination. It needs to target recruiters, transporters, exploiters, other intermediaries, clients, and beneficiaries.

The root causes of trafficking, including unemployment, poverty, gender inequalities, and social and cultural attitudes in countries of origin, also need to be addressed. Concrete measures and intensified co-operation in the fields of prevention, victim protection and assistance, and police and judicial co-operation are also needed, it says.

To tackle the problem, it calls for improved international co-ordination and information exchange between agencies involved in counter trafficking and improved funding from governments

It also proposes new mechanisms in the form of transnational bodies to co-ordinate the fight against trafficking at both national and European level, to pool information and generate the levels of expertise needed to effectively combat the sophisticated international crime rings behind the trade.

The draft also suggests the creation of a European database of missing persons and argues that organisations involved in victim assistance throughout Europe need to work together more closely to develop a set of best practices and to pool information and resources.

Measures that would lead to improved prevention of trafficking include tackling the root causes behind the problem - poverty, discrimination and under development in countries of origin.

Also needed is improved research into the trafficking phenomenon and improved training for police, IO and NGO staff involved in counter trafficking, particularly in the treatment of victims who may be able to testify against their traffickers.

The draft also pinpoints the need for greater awareness raising to warn potential victims of the dangers, and the need for information campaigns, particularly targeting young people.

More targeted awareness campaigns aimed at other groups coming into contact with trafficking, such as law enforcement officers, the medical profession and social workers, are also needed, it says.

The draft recommends better administrative controls, particularly targeting businesses often associated with trafficking such as bridal, employment, tourist, escort, au-pair or adoption agencies, which, it says should be monitored.

It goes on to recommend closer scrutiny of identity and travel documents and improved training for border officials to help them to identify fakes. Special administrative measures to protect children from becoming the victims of traffickers are also proposed.

Victim protection and assistance form a major section of the recommendations. The draft insists that victims must be given help in the form of access to shelter accommodation, physical, sexual and psychological health care and support, and independent health, legal and social counselling.

Trafficked victims, the draft argues, are victims of serious crime, and should not be criminalised, prosecuted or held in detention centres for offences that may have been committed due to their situation as victims of trafficking. The draft also looks at the issues surrounding the treatment of victims who testify against their traffickers.

The need for victim re-integration either in the country of origin or in the country of destination is also addressed, underlining the need for economic independence through training and employment.

Finally the draft Declaration looks at the need for police and judicial co-operation in the fight against trafficking. Its legislative recommendations include the rapid ratification and implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its accompanying Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children.

Other recommendations include tougher penalties for traffickers, improved co-operation between law enforcement agencies across borders, specialist counter trafficking investigation teams, and the rapid implementation of the EU Framework decision on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.

A press conference to held today at 13h00 in the European Parliament will be addressed by IOM's Director General Brunson McKinley, by the Chairman of the European Parliament's Committee of Citizens Freedoms and Rights, Jorge Hernandez Mollar, and by a representative from the European Commission. Further information from Chris Lom, IOM Brussels. Mobile Tel. +41.797451232

NIGERIA - Information Campaign Against Human Trafficking -Working with the Federal Government of Nigeria, local and national media, UNIFEM, Non Governmental Organisations and other civil associations, IOM's counter trafficking information campaign is targeting both vulnerable youths and their decision making parents. The IOM message also aims to inform the general public about trafficking and what it entails, how to avoid falling into trafficking networks and on how to seek help if trafficked.

The IOM information campaign runs in State, regional and national print and electronic media. Two TV Public Service Announcements (PSA) and four radio PSA run three times a week on national and regional networks in Pidgin and regional languages. IOM posters and flyers are being disseminated through government and non-governmental networks.

The campaign, which was launched in June was preceded by training sessions organised for journalists, officials working in the Ministry of Information to further their understanding of trafficking and enhance the quality of media coverage.

Other awareness raising activities on irregular migration, trafficking in human beings and HIV/AIDS target teachers and students in primary and secondary schools in Edo State. The schools are currently being visited by representatives of IOM, UNFPA and the Ministry of Education. The campaign is also reaching out to community-based organisations such as women's associations, religious and community-based savings and investments groups.

The purpose of IOM's programme is to assist the Nigerian Federal government, the Edo and Lagos state governments to acquire the capacity to combat trafficking in women and minors, prevent the spread of HIV/Aids in trafficking affected areas and assist People living with HIV/Aids in these areas.

The programme also helps victims of trafficking who have returned voluntary from Italy. So far, 23 women have received shelter, rehabilitation and reintegration assistance provided by IOM and local NGOs.

Nigeria remains an important country of origin for thousands of women who are trafficked yearly, manly to Europe. Edo State in the South West of Nigeria is the main region of origin for Nigerian women who are lured abroad on false promises of jobs abroad. In Europe, the main receiving countries are Italy, followed by France and Belgium.

IOM's Counter Trafficking activities in Nigeria are funded by the Italian, Belgian and American governments.