Trafficking: specific standards and mechanisms

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Description: * Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of slavery * Working Group of the Sub-Commission on Contemporary Forms of Slavery *Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery
Source/publisher: United Nations
Date of entry/update: 2010-12-24
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English, Francais, Espanol
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Description: "At its sixtieth session, the Commission on Human Rights adopted decision 2004/110, by which it decided to appoint, for a three-year period, a Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children to focus on the human rights aspects of the victims of trafficking in persons. In the same decision, the Commission invited the Special Rapporteur to submit annual reports to the Commission together with recommendations on measures required to uphold and protect the human rights of the victims. The Commission requested the Special Rapporteur to respond effectively to reliable information on possible human rights violations with a view to protecting the human rights of actual or potential victims of trafficking and to cooperate fully with other relevant special rapporteurs, in particular the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, and to take full account of their contributions to the issue. The Commission also requested the Special Rapporteur to cooperate with relevant United Nations bodies, regional organizations and victims and their representatives. The Economic and Social Council, in its decision 2004/228, endorsed Commission on Human Rights? decision 2004/110... In the discharge of his/her mandate, the Special Rapporteur: a) Takes action on violations committed against trafficked persons and on situations in which there has been a failure to protect their human rights (See Individual complaints)... b) Undertakes country visits in order to study the situation in situ and formulate recommendations to prevent and or combat trafficking and protect the human rights of its victims in specific countries and/or regions... c) Submits annual reports on the activities of the mandate... International standards; Individual complaints; Annual reports; Country visits; Documents; News; Contact.
Source/publisher: United Nations
Date of entry/update: 2010-12-24
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
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Description: "January 2024 Girls as young as 14-years-old were recently brought to safety from sex trafficking, in an operation run by an IJM partner and the Anti-Trafficking Task Force. The operation was initiated after one of the girls was reported missing by her aunt. She’d been coerced into forced labour at a restaurant before being trapped in sexual exploitation in a night club. Two perpetrators were also arrested at the brothel where the women and girls were found. As soon as the survivors were safe, an IJM-funded partner provided them with urgent aftercare support, including accommodation and health checks. Meanwhile, IJM’s legal partner ensured legal protection for the survivors by filing a case under the Human Trafficking Prevention and Suppression Law. Six of the survivors received legal counselling and are involved in legal proceedings. Today, after receiving intensive support at a shelter, the women and girls are safely home with their families and guardians..."
Source/publisher: International Justice Mission
2024-01-17
Date of entry/update: 2024-01-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Sub-title: China has a history of working with organised crime syndicates to achieve political goals. This time, it has affected Chinese nationals.
Description: "After China opened its economy last year, ending its zero Covid policy, an old problem has roared back with a vengeance. Chinese authorities are grappling with the issue of their citizens operating fraudulent schemes from Southeast Asian countries, targeting mainland Chinese residents. China has a history of collaborating with organised crime syndicates in places like Australia, Canada, and Taiwan, employing criminal groups to achieve political objectives. However, the increasing prevalence of telecom fraud and human trafficking in Myanmar and the Golden Triangle area is now adversely affecting Chinese citizens. What has been described as ‘scamdemic’ encompasses a series of illicit activities, including human trafficking and online scams. The epicentre of these activities lies in Cambodia and the Golden Triangle area, which overlaps Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos and is notorious for illicit opium production and other criminal activities. Global threat of human trafficking Cambodia, particularly Sihanoukville, has long been known as a hub for Chinese nationals engaging in illicit activities, including gambling. However, these scams originating in Cambodia have now reached industrial scale, deterring Chinese tourists from visiting this once-preferred destination. In June, Interpol issued a warning about online scam centres operating from Cambodia, with networks extending into Laos and Myanmar. Interpol noted that initially, victims of human trafficking primarily came from Chinese-speaking regions such as China, Malaysia, Thailand, or Singapore. However, victims are now drawn from as far away as Europe and South America, with even Indian nationals falling prey to job scams in Southeast Asian countries. “What began as a regional crime threat has become a global human trafficking crisis,” said Jürgen Stock, Secretary-General of Interpol. Interpol is not the only organisation sounding the alarm. In August, the United Nations reported that over 1,00,000 people were trafficked into Cambodia, and 1,20,000 into Myanmar. In recent months, the Chinese Public Security Bureau has conducted a large-scale crackdown on the scam centres, which appear to have tacit support from the governments in Cambodia and Myanmar. The Ministry of Public Security has said that it has “intensified the fight against telecom and online fraud” in the “Northern Myanmar and the Golden Triangle, an area that comprises parts of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, are two major hiding places of the fraudsters”. “Since the beginning of this year, the ministry has dispatched teams to countries including the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos for cooperation on international law enforcement, with severe crackdowns on telecom fraud and human trafficking,” said an article in China Daily. The report was subsequently published on the website of China’s Supreme People’s Court. China’s international security In a recent joint operation, Chinese police, in collaboration with local law enforcement in Myanmar, shut down approximately 11 dens operating fraudulent schemes. The bust resulted in the arrest of 269 suspects, including 189 Chinese nationals. In a separate action, China’s Ministry of Public Security launched a massive crackdown on telecom scams in Northern Myanmar, resulting in the transfer of 1,207 suspects from Myanmar to Chinese law enforcement authorities in Yunnan. These suspects were apprehended in connection with telecom fraud cases affecting Chinese citizens. While improved relations between China and Myanmar have allowed Chinese public security agencies to conduct policing activities more effectively in the country, challenges remain. Interestingly, there is even a new Chinese blockbuster movie titled No More Bets, released in 2023, which educates people about the dangers of being lured into jobs in Southeast Asia and getting ensnared in networks of fraudsters. The film tells the story of a Chinese model and a computer programmer who are promised high-salary jobs overseas but end up becoming part of a trafficking network that forces Chinese nationals to work for an online fraud scheme. The movie has been a sensational hit, grossing over $500 million in its first month and drawing attention to the issue of human trafficking. As domestic economic prospects fray, Chinese nationals are increasingly seeking opportunities in Southeast Asia for investment and employment. However, they often find themselves entangled in a web of scams in politically unstable regions, where their fellow compatriots lure them into illicit activities. Global threat of human trafficking Cambodia, particularly Sihanoukville, has long been known as a hub for Chinese nationals engaging in illicit activities, including gambling. However, these scams originating in Cambodia have now reached industrial scale, deterring Chinese tourists from visiting this once-preferred destination. In June, Interpol issued a warning about online scam centres operating from Cambodia, with networks extending into Laos and Myanmar. Interpol noted that initially, victims of human trafficking primarily came from Chinese-speaking regions such as China, Malaysia, Thailand, or Singapore. However, victims are now drawn from as far away as Europe and South America, with even Indian nationals falling prey to job scams in Southeast Asian countries. “What began as a regional crime threat has become a global human trafficking crisis,” said Jürgen Stock, Secretary-General of Interpol. Interpol is not the only organisation sounding the alarm. In August, the United Nations reported that over 1,00,000 people were trafficked into Cambodia, and 1,20,000 into Myanmar. In recent months, the Chinese Public Security Bureau has conducted a large-scale crackdown on the scam centres, which appear to have tacit support from the governments in Cambodia and Myanmar. The Ministry of Public Security has said that it has “intensified the fight against telecom and online fraud” in the “Northern Myanmar and the Golden Triangle, an area that comprises parts of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, are two major hiding places of the fraudsters”. “Since the beginning of this year, the ministry has dispatched teams to countries including the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos for cooperation on international law enforcement, with severe crackdowns on telecom fraud and human trafficking,” said an article in China Daily. The report was subsequently published on the website of China’s Supreme People’s Court. Also read: Xi Jinping toured Northeast China during G20. His way of showing he has ‘other priorities’ China’s international security In a recent joint operation, Chinese police, in collaboration with local law enforcement in Myanmar, shut down approximately 11 dens operating fraudulent schemes. The bust resulted in the arrest of 269 suspects, including 189 Chinese nationals. In a separate action, China’s Ministry of Public Security launched a massive crackdown on telecom scams in Northern Myanmar, resulting in the transfer of 1,207 suspects from Myanmar to Chinese law enforcement authorities in Yunnan. These suspects were apprehended in connection with telecom fraud cases affecting Chinese citizens. While improved relations between China and Myanmar have allowed Chinese public security agencies to conduct policing activities more effectively in the country, challenges remain. Interestingly, there is even a new Chinese blockbuster movie titled No More Bets, released in 2023, which educates people about the dangers of being lured into jobs in Southeast Asia and getting ensnared in networks of fraudsters. The film tells the story of a Chinese model and a computer programmer who are promised high-salary jobs overseas but end up becoming part of a trafficking network that forces Chinese nationals to work for an online fraud scheme. The movie has been a sensational hit, grossing over $500 million in its first month and drawing attention to the issue of human trafficking. As domestic economic prospects fray, Chinese nationals are increasingly seeking opportunities in Southeast Asia for investment and employment. However, they often find themselves entangled in a web of scams in politically unstable regions, where their fellow compatriots lure them into illicit activities. Also read: What is the no 1 search word on China’s Baidu? ‘Bharat’, ‘Modi’s table sign’ at G20 Growing clout Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Global Security Initiative is a policy tool aimed at expanding China’s influence in the realm of human and national security beyond its immediate borders. The crackdown in Cambodia and Myanmar serves as an example of how China can leverage its security institutions to achieve specific objectives, highlighting China’s growing clout in the region. With significant economic challenges at home, Xi is keen to project strength in addressing large-scale fraud activities that harm Chinese nationals. Thus, this crackdown represents a display of power on an unprecedented scale in the Southeast Asia region. In the realm of high-table diplomacy, it is often easy to forget that people are the true drivers of geopolitical influence. Southeast Asia has emerged as a backyard for China’s externalised power projection and a destination for its citizens seeking new opportunities. The crackdown on ‘scamdemic’ illustrates that China is willing to use its externalised policing authority to address domestic issues on a scale never seen before, thereby expanding the reach of Chinese public security institutions..."
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Source/publisher: The Print
2023-09-13
Date of entry/update: 2023-09-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: The Convention entered into force on 29 September 2003... Annex I: United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime... Annex II: Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime...Annex III: Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime...Myanmar accession: 30 March 2004... The UNODC page at http://www.unodc.org/unodc/crime_cicp_convention.html contains the finalized instruments; Signatures/Ratifications; Legislative guides; Background information; Conference of the Parties.
Source/publisher: United Nations (A/RES/55/25)
2000-11-15
Date of entry/update: 2005-05-23
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish available)
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Source/publisher: United Nations (E/2002/68/Add.1)
2002-05-20
Date of entry/update: 2005-05-20
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English (Francais, Espanol)
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Description: Adopted by General Assembly resolution 45/158 of 18 December 1990; sometimes called the "1990 Convention". Entered into force 1 July 2003. Neither Burma nor the main destination countries for Burmese migrants are party to the Convention (29 States Parties as of May 2005, all sending countries)
Source/publisher: United Nations
1990-12-18
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English (French and Spanish available)
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