Trafficking in Persons and Exploitation of Migrants: Ensuring Protection of Human Rights (2009)

09-10 July 2009
International Conference Center Geneva (CICG)
17 rue de Varembé, Geneva, Switzerland

Background

The workshop on "Trafficking in Persons and Exploitation of Migrants: Ensuring Protection of Human Rights" was held in the framework of IOM’s International Dialogue on Migration (IDM) which in 2009 has an overall theme of “Human Rights and Migration: Working Together for Safe, Dignified and Secure Migration”.

Consistent with IOM’s mandate and Strategy Document (activity 7), the IDM provides a forum for IOM Member and Observer States, as well as international and non-governmental organizations and other partners, to share experiences and perspectives on migration matters with a view to identifying practical solutions and fostering greater cooperation.

Overview

The importance of the “human dimension” of migration and the need to ensure the effective protection of the human rights of migrants have attracted the attention of policy-makers and other stakeholders involved in migration issues. Increasingly, governments and civil society organizations are considering how best to incorporate human rights, welfare, safety, dignity and security of individuals and communities into migration policies, legislation and programming.

The focus of this workshop was the issue of abuse and exploitation of migrants which in some cases may have come about through trafficking in persons. This workshop examined policy and programmatic approaches to help governments meet the challenges posed by human trafficking and migrant exploitation, while assisting and protecting migrants who, through trafficking or otherwise, have become subject to exploitation and abuse.

Specifically, it aimed to:

  • Bring together governments and other relevant partners to evaluate the effectiveness of current approaches to combating human trafficking and migrant exploitation.
  • Provide the IOM membership with the opportunity to discuss how measures to protect the human rights of migrants can strengthen protection and assistance for victims of trafficking.
  • Exchange innovative ideas for multi-stakeholder partnerships at all stages of the migration process to meet the needs of vulnerable migrants and achieve the policy objectives of governments on the issue of human trafficking and migrant exploitation.

Agenda

09 July 2009 - Day I
09:00 - 10:00 Registration
10:00 - 10:15

Welcome Remarks

  • William Lacy Swing, Director General, IOM, delivered by Michele Klein Solomon, Director, Migration Policy and Research Department (Statement)
  • Valeriya, Goodwill Envoy for the International Organization for Migration in the Russian Federation (Statement / Background)
10:15 - 10:40

Keynote Address

  • Mike Dottridge, Independent Human Rights Consultant (Presentation)
10:40 - 11:00

Setting the Scene

  • Richard Danziger, Head, Assisted-Voluntary Return and Counter-Trafficking Division, IOM (Presentation)
11:00 - 13:00

Session I: The Central Role of Human Rights in Addressing Trafficking in Persons and Migrant Exploitation

Moderator: Azzouz Samri, Minister plenipotentiary, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations Office in Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland

Speakers:

  • Paulo Sérgio de Almeida, President, National Council of Immigration, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Brazil (Presentation)
  • Muhammad Babandede, Director, Investigation & Monitoring, National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons, Nigeria (Presentation)
  • Gisle Hagen, Senior Advisor, Peace, Gender and Democracy Department, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Norway (Bio / "Lessons Learned" Report)

General Discussion
13:00 - 14:00 Afternoon Break
14:00 - 15:00

Side Event: A Whole-of-Organization Approach to Fighting Migrant Exploitation and Human Trafficking

Moderator: Vijaya Souri, Programme Specialist, Migration Management Services, IOM (Presentation)

Speakers:

  • Miwa Takahashi, Legal Officer, International Migration Law and Legal Affairs Department, IOM (Presentation)
  • Sylvia Lopez-Ekra, Gender Officer, Office of the Director General, IOM (Presentation)
  • Christine Aghazarm, Research Officer, Migration Policy and Research Department, IOM (Presentation)
  • Rosilyne Borland, HIV and Health Promotion Coordinator, Migration Health Department, IOM (Presentation)
15:00 - 18:00

Session II: Trafficking in Persons and Migrant Exploitation: Towards a Needs-Based Approach to Assistance and Protection

Moderator: Mazal Renford, Director, The Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Centre, Israel (Bio)

Speakers:

  • Teguh Wardoyo, SH, Director, Directorate for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens and Legal Entities, Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Indonesia (Presentation)
  • Eloy Isabá, Executive Secretary, National Coalition against Trafficking in Persons, Ministry of the Interior, Nicaragua (Presentation)
  • Alexander Tortell, Director, Organization for the Integration and Welfare of Asylum Seekers, Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs, Malta (Presentation)
  • Neha Misra, Senior Program Officer, Human Trafficking & Migrant Worker Programs, American Centre for International Labour Solidarity (Bio)

General Discussion
10 July 2009 – Day II
10:00 - 10:30

Migrant's Voice

  • Rita Soelwin

Moderators: Qimmah Najeeullah, Director, Break the Chain Campaign (Brochure) and Mariela Guajardo, Project Assistant, Migration Management Services, IOM

General Discussion
10:30 - 13:00

Session III: Contextualizing Human Trafficking and Migrant Exploitation: Case Studies

Moderator: Beate Andrees, Senior Policy Officer, Special Action Programme to Combat Forced Labour, International Labour Organization

Speakers:

  • Ahmed Hussein, HSC, Director of Children’s Services, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development, Kenya (Presentation)
  • Glynn Rankin, Director of Legal Services, United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre, United Kingdom (Bio / Presentation)
  • Najla Chahda, Director, Migrant Centre, Caritas, Lebanon (Bio / Presentation)
  • Jennifer Moss, Community Support Worker, Kalayaan (Bio / Presentation)

General Discussion
13:00 - 15:00 Afternoon Break
15:00 - 17:50

Session IV: Fighting Trafficking in Persons and Migrant Exploitation along the Migration Cycle: The Role of Partnerships

Moderator: Michele Klein Solomon, Director, Migration Policy and Research, IOM (Bio)

Speakers:

  • José Zau, Vice Minister of Interior, Social Affairs and Human Rights, Ministry of Interior, Angola (Bio / Presentation)
  • Peter Woolcott, Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia (in his capacity as co-chair of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime) (Bio)
  • Giuseppe Forlani, Prefect, Directorate for Immigration and Asylum Services, Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration, Ministry of Interior, Italy (Presentation)
  • Ivana Schellongova, Programme Director, Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement (Presentation)
  • Anja Klug, Senior Legal Officer, Division of International Protection Services, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Jonathan Martens, Programme Specialist, Migration Management Services, IOM  (Joint Presentation)

General Discussion
17:50 - 18:00

Wrap-up and Closing Remarks

End of the Workshop