MAY 2002

  News

  Speeches

  Conferences & Meetings

  Call for Papers

  New Grants

  Publications & Reports

  Film & Video News

  Job Opportunities

  Recent Events

 News

International Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and Human Trafficking to be released by OHCHR.

The Principles and Guidelines are the product of OHCHR involvement in this issue since 1999. They have benefited from a wide consultation process involving organisations and individuals. OHCHR will be using the Principles and Guidelines as a framework for its own work and will be offering them to States, intergovernmental organisations and others as a possible tool in their fight against trafficking.

 Speeches

Mary Robinson, High Commissioner For Human Rights  OHCHR/Council of Europe

⌠It is necessary for us all to confront the uncomfortable fact that so far, we have not succeeded in eliminating this trade in people for profit. We have not even managed to stem the tide.■

Remarks at a Panel Discussion: Combating Trafficking in Human Beings - A European Convention?     9 April 2002,   www.unhchr.ch/

 ⌠I believe this Conference will be an important expression of our shared moral concern in addressing this terrible scourge of trafficking in human persons. We can aspire together to heighten awareness of this modern-day slavery, whereby so many are deprived of freedom and dignity and even their lives.■

H.E. Jim Nicholson Ambassador of the United States of America

 to the Holy See.

  Conferences

May 15-16, 2002
21st Century Slavery √The Human Rights Dimension to Trafficking in Human Beings    Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome - Italy, Piazza della Pilotta, 4

Members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See in conjunction with the Pontifical Gregorian University, the Pontifical Councils for Justice and Peace and for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, and Urbi et Orbi Communications, invite participation in this International Conference.

Contact:  Tel:+39 06 46743438,   Fax:+39 06 57300682

E-mail: stop_trafficking@hotmail.com , http://www.stoptrafficking.org/

  Call for Papers

"Globalization, Justice and the Trafficking of Women and Children" conference is accepting proposals for papers and is seeking additional panellists. Conference aims are: in-depth education on the trafficking issue; foster interactions between activists and academics, exchange of ideas between NGOs from different global regions.

It is hoped all participants will openly assess current trafficking programs and discuss strategies for future initiatives. A conference publication will be available.

October 25-26, 2002

Globalization, Justice and the Trafficking of Women and Children 
University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

Specialists from all over the world will share their expertise on the field of trafficking within Southeast Asia, South Asia, Russia, East Europe, East Asia, and Central Asia.  These experts include activists, academics, government officials, health care providers, and law enforcement agents. 

Workshops to include Forced Migration, Global Legal Systems and the Criminality of Trafficking, International Human Rights, Labour Markets and Working Conditions, Political Economy and Globalization, Public Health and Human Services, Trafficking in East Asia and Southeast Asia, Trafficking in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia, Trafficking in South Asia.

For further information, please contact:  Gabriela Villareal, Women's Center, University of Washington Cunningham Hall, Box 351380, Seattle, WA  98195-1380  USA
206-685-1090,   mglv@u.washington.edu

Call for Papers & Abstracts

The human rights challenge of globalisation in Asia-Pacific-US: The trafficking in persons, especially

women and children"

Abstract deadline:  May 15, 2002

Suggested Topics, and Abstract Submission Form: 

 www.globalhawaii.org/PDF/trafficking.htm

November 13-15, 2002

The human rights challenge of globalisation in Asia-Pacific-US: The Trafficking in persons, especially women and children"
Globalization Research Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii USA

By gathering together knowledgeable stakeholders in Asia-Pacific-US with an action-oriented mandate this conference aims to provide concrete tools for governments to more effectively prevent trafficking.  The practical focus of the conference will be to monitor progress and evaluate implementation strategies of two important international initiatives:

        1. The Asian Regional Initiative Against Trafficking in Women & Children (ARIAT).
        2. The Anti-Trafficking Protocol of the UN Crime Convention.

For program information visit web-site: www.globalhawaii.org/PDF/trafficking.htm

 New Grants

The United States government has awarded US$ 200,000 to the Asia Foundation in support of anti-trafficking activities in Nepal.

The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare working in partnership with local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) will conduct awareness programmes for prevention, review existing legalization on trafficking and immigration to ensure that women's rights to safe migration are protected.

Assistance will be given to the survivors of trafficking.

  Publications

Third Edition of Resource Book against Trafficking in Women and Girls in the Baltic Sea Region

In partnership with five other NGOs in the Baltic Sea Region Kvinnoforum presents the third edition of the Resource Book against Trafficking in Women and Girls in the Baltic Sea Region. It is a result of years of networking and collaboration between six NGOs in the Baltic Sea Region - the AIDS information and Support Centre "AIDS-I TUGIKESKUS", Estonia, Monika, Multicultural Women's Association, Finland, The PRO-centre, Denmark, The Latvian Gender Problem Centre, Latvia, Lithuanian Women's NGO "PRAEITIES PEDOS", Lithuania; and Kvinnoforum, Sweden. Funding received from the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

 "Resource Book on NGOs, Research Institutions and Government Organisations Working with Trafficking in Women and/or Prostitution in the Baltic and Nordic States, Russia and Belarus"  was first published in 1998.  The second edition was published in November 1999: "Crossing Borders Against Trafficking in the Baltic Sea Region". The material from the second edition now forms an internet resource base at www.qweb.kvinnoforum.se/trafficking.

▒Trafficking in human beings is a disgrace to human dignity and an affront to all of us.▓    ▒This is not the time to pay lip service, it is time for action.▓                 Mircea Geoana OSCE Chairman-in-office, Romanian Foreign Minister

Fallen Angels: The Sex Workers of South Asia

SOUTHEAST ASIA'S booming sex industry has been described by numerous authors and journalists, but the outside world has paid scant attention to the same problem in South Asia, where hundreds of thousands of young women and men are trapped in squalid brothels in
India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The book is sold through a Nepalese-based non-governmental organisation, Ray of Hope Foundation, that helps rehabilitate sex workers and works with young villagers in Nepal to teach them about the dangers of entering the sex industry.

Edited by John Frederick and Thomas L. Kelly (photographs).

Lustre Press, Roli Books, New Delhi. $40

Contact : angels@rayhope.org

 Recent Events

UK Anti-Trafficking Network (UKAT) www.womenaid.org/ukat

 Conference ▒Combating global trafficking: Approaches, Strategies and Interventions.▓  11 March 2002  London.   Speakers included Radhika Coomaraswamy, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Isabella Menachini, Italy, Director General National Crime Squad, UK, Peter Brennan, ILO and Lord Alton.

Conference Papers forthcoming from WomenAid.  Request from:-

ukat@womenaid.org and online later at www.womenaid.org/ukat

 Video Campaign

Recently a new video spot was released as a part of a global television campaign by the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP) to increase education and awareness about trafficking in human beings. The new television campaign of 30- and 60-second video spots focuses on trafficking in men, women and children for bonded and forced labour, such as factory, plantation or domestic work.

The video aims to provide a stark warning to millions of potential victims about the dangers of trafficking and to raise consciousness among the general public about the epidemic growth of this modern-day slavery.  The new video spot on human trafficking for bonded and forced labour is currently available in nine languages: English, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Swahili, Hausa and German.

For more information, contact Kemal Kurspahic at  kemal.kurspahic@undcp.org or Luciana Viegas at l.viegas-assumpcao@undcp.org

 Useful Links

House of Lords trafficking debate 13 March 2002.  Introduced by Lord Alton.  Find full text on House of Lords debate

Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW)

http://www.inet.co.th/org/gaatw/index.html

AFESIP  (UKAT member) Afesip aims to rescue,  rehabilitate and aid the social reintegration of trafficked victims. http://www.afesip.org/

 Job Opportunities

Program Associate

Trafficking Prevention Program Coordinator

Winrock International is recruiting applicants for a Trafficking Prevention Program Coordinator based in Arlington, Virginia. 

This is a Program Associate-level position and a full job description is available from Pam Banks, Manager Human Resources, Winrock International 38 Winrock Drive Morrilton, AR 72110   

Contact: 00501-727-5435 ext. 329 Fax:  501-727-5643     PBanks@winrock.org

 Reports

"Trafficking in Women in Israel■  An updated Report 2001.

This report, published by the Hotline for Migrant Workers, reviews the trafficking of women in Israel and looks at the legal and human rights violations and the State response.  Possible future strategies are outlined. [About 2,000 foreign prostitutes - mostly illegal immigrants - work in Israel's £340 million-a-year sex industry.]

Email: sigal333@012.net.il