Need for an integrated approach to promote and protect the human rights of trafficked persons and all migrant workers

Joint written statement submitted by Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW), La Strada International, and Anti-Slavery International submitted for the 8th session of the Human Rights Council (2 - 18 June 2008).

Appointment of the new Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons
1. The undersigned organisations welcome the appointment of the new Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children. We look forward to working with the new Special Rapporteur and supporting her efforts to promote the human rights of trafficked persons.

2. We look forward to strong recommendations for anti-trafficking policies based on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Recommended Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and Human Trafficking.¹  We expect that the new Special Rapporteur will adopt a comprehensive human rights approach that will ensure social, economic, cultural, civil and political rights of trafficked persons and affected groups.

Collateral Damage: Unintended Human Rights Consequences
3. The human rights concerns associated with trafficking are now more pressing than ever before. The numbers of individuals moving for work in informal sectors is increasing, often as a consequence of human rights violations in their own country. Trafficked persons, particularly women, have frequently experienced rights violations prior to being trafficked, exposing them more to the risk of exploitation and abuse. It is widely acknowledged that discrimination, poverty, unemployment, gender based violence, armed conflict and oppressive social structures are among the most important causes of trafficking.²  As the UN Rapporteur on Violence against Women noted “by failing to protect and promote women’s civil, economic and social rights, governments create situations in which trafficking flourishes.”³ We hope that the new Special Rapporteur will challenge the international debate on trafficking by addressing the above mentioned human rights violations and by doing so stress the need for preventing trafficking.