Trafficking in Persons & Smuggling of Migrants:

UNODC's role in addressing themSteve Thurlow

Organized Crime and Illicit Trafficking Branch, Vienna

Smuggling of Migrants Protocol and Trafficking in Persons Protocolsupplementing

the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

Promote global adherence

Assist States in Implementing UNTOC + Protocols

Legislation Criminal justice response

UNODC

Evidence-based knowledge

Purpose of the Protocols

SOM Protocol(Article 2)

• Prevent and combat migrant smuggling

• Protect the rights of smuggling migrants

• Promote cooperation• Prosecute offenders

TIP Protocol(Article 2)

• Prevent and combat trafficking in persons

• Protect and assist victims of trafficking

• Promote cooperation• Prosecute offenders

Compare & ContrastCompare & ContrastSmuggling of Migrants (SoM) v. Smuggling of Migrants (SoM) v. Trafficking in Human Beings (THB)Trafficking in Human Beings (THB)

Consent Exploitation Border Crossing

SoM Required Not required Required

THB Becomes irrelevant Required Not required

Trafficking Trends

• Human trafficking affects every country of the world, as countries of origin, transit or destination;

• Sexual exploitation the most commonly identified form of human trafficking (79%) followed by forced labour (18%);

• Disproportionate number of women are involved in human trafficking both as victims and as culprits.

14,90913,127

12,12211,706

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

2003 2004 2005 2006

Num

ber o

f vic

tims

offic

ially

iden

tifie

d

Total number of victims identified by State authorities in 71 selected countries

VICTIMS DETECTED

TREND:The capacity to detect victims has increased (+27% victims detected globally)

Source: UNODC/UN.GIFT

Global Report TIP, 2009:

Prevention and Awareness-Raising

Data Collection and Research

Legislative Assistance

Strategic Planning and Policy Development

Criminal Justice System Responses

Victim Protection and Support

- TIP and SOM Model laws

- Victim centered approach (supported within all 23 TIP technical assistance projects)

- Promotion of Law enforcement – NGO cooperation

International Cooperation

• Regional workshops & Handbook on International Cooperation in TIP cases– Balkans; East Asia; Central Asia

• United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT)

• Alliance against Trafficking in Persons, OSCE• Global Migration Group • Inter-Agency Cooperation Group Against Trafficking in

Persons (ICAT)• Regional organizations• Non governmental organizations

THANK YOU!

Contact: ahtmsu@unodc.org