The video introduces 'the RighT guide. A tool to assess the human rights impact of anti-trafficki... more The video introduces 'the RighT guide. A tool to assess the human rights impact of anti-trafficking laws and policies'. The toolkit provides users with a step-by-step method to investigate the impact of anti-trafficking laws and policies on the human rights of the groups affected by these policies, including trafficked persons, sex workers and migrant workers. The outcomes can be used to hold states accountable for their human rigths commitments and to advocate for evidence-based policies that respect the human rights of all groups affected.
This paper critically examines the current strategies employed by both governmental and nongovern... more This paper critically examines the current strategies employed by both governmental and nongovernmental agencies (NGOs) to address the issue, focussing on their impact on the women affected. In this context attention is also paid to the measures taken by the European Union, in particular the recent European Commission Proposal for a Council Directive on a short term residence permit for trafficking victims. Central perspective throughout the paper is that of the women concerned.
To fulfil obligations in international law State parties have to take the issue of human traffick... more To fulfil obligations in international law State parties have to take the issue of human trafficking seriously. The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) provides General Recommendations (GR) to member states on the interpretation of the Women's Convention. In 2018 the CEDAW Committee started to develop a GR on trafficking in women and girls in a process planned to conclude in 2020. The first stage towards this was through the publication of a Concept Note to serve as a basis for dialogue during the two-year international consultation period. The Concept Note is a vital link in a textual chain because it frames the policy problem and actively constructs its own 'documentary reality'. This article provides a critical analysis of the CEDAW Concept Note on the grounds that such analysis provides an understanding of its discursive construction of trafficking, migrant labour and sex work, by an institution responsible for international jurisprudence on human rights. Analysis of the Concept Note explores the documentary constructions including narratives that merge adult women with girls, the symbolism of exploitation, the silencing of scientific research, the elision of sex worker voices, and sex work as work. The analysis leads us to conclude that the General Recommendation should define what counts as 'exploitation', and 'forced labour', and address the growing international recognition of best evidence on the wider impact of sex work laws, in order that legal framing and constructions of sex trafficking are not erroneously used to curtail rights of sex workers.
To fulfil obligations in international law State parties have to take the issue of human traffick... more To fulfil obligations in international law State parties have to take the issue of human trafficking seriously. The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) provides General Recommendations (GR) to member states on the interpretation of the Women’s Convention. In 2018 the CEDAW Committee started to develop a GR on trafficking in women and girls in a process planned to conclude in 2020. The first stage towards this was through the publication of a Concept Note to serve as a basis for dialogue during the two-year international consultation period. The Concept Note is a vital link in a textual chain because it frames the policy problem and actively constructs its own ‘documentary reality’. This article provides a critical analysis of the CEDAW Concept Note on the grounds that such analysis provides an understanding of its discursive construction of trafficking, migrant labour and sex work, by an institution responsible for international jurisp...
The video introduces 'the RighT guide. A tool to assess the human rights impact of anti-trafficki... more The video introduces 'the RighT guide. A tool to assess the human rights impact of anti-trafficking laws and policies'. The toolkit provides users with a step-by-step method to investigate the impact of anti-trafficking laws and policies on the human rights of the groups affected by these policies, including trafficked persons, sex workers and migrant workers. The outcomes can be used to hold states accountable for their human rigths commitments and to advocate for evidence-based policies that respect the human rights of all groups affected.
This paper critically examines the current strategies employed by both governmental and nongovern... more This paper critically examines the current strategies employed by both governmental and nongovernmental agencies (NGOs) to address the issue, focussing on their impact on the women affected. In this context attention is also paid to the measures taken by the European Union, in particular the recent European Commission Proposal for a Council Directive on a short term residence permit for trafficking victims. Central perspective throughout the paper is that of the women concerned.
To fulfil obligations in international law State parties have to take the issue of human traffick... more To fulfil obligations in international law State parties have to take the issue of human trafficking seriously. The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) provides General Recommendations (GR) to member states on the interpretation of the Women's Convention. In 2018 the CEDAW Committee started to develop a GR on trafficking in women and girls in a process planned to conclude in 2020. The first stage towards this was through the publication of a Concept Note to serve as a basis for dialogue during the two-year international consultation period. The Concept Note is a vital link in a textual chain because it frames the policy problem and actively constructs its own 'documentary reality'. This article provides a critical analysis of the CEDAW Concept Note on the grounds that such analysis provides an understanding of its discursive construction of trafficking, migrant labour and sex work, by an institution responsible for international jurisprudence on human rights. Analysis of the Concept Note explores the documentary constructions including narratives that merge adult women with girls, the symbolism of exploitation, the silencing of scientific research, the elision of sex worker voices, and sex work as work. The analysis leads us to conclude that the General Recommendation should define what counts as 'exploitation', and 'forced labour', and address the growing international recognition of best evidence on the wider impact of sex work laws, in order that legal framing and constructions of sex trafficking are not erroneously used to curtail rights of sex workers.
To fulfil obligations in international law State parties have to take the issue of human traffick... more To fulfil obligations in international law State parties have to take the issue of human trafficking seriously. The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) provides General Recommendations (GR) to member states on the interpretation of the Women’s Convention. In 2018 the CEDAW Committee started to develop a GR on trafficking in women and girls in a process planned to conclude in 2020. The first stage towards this was through the publication of a Concept Note to serve as a basis for dialogue during the two-year international consultation period. The Concept Note is a vital link in a textual chain because it frames the policy problem and actively constructs its own ‘documentary reality’. This article provides a critical analysis of the CEDAW Concept Note on the grounds that such analysis provides an understanding of its discursive construction of trafficking, migrant labour and sex work, by an institution responsible for international jurisp...
To fulfil obligations in international law State parties have to take the issue of human traffick... more To fulfil obligations in international law State parties have to take the issue of human trafficking seriously. The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) provides General Recommendations (GR) to member states on the interpretation of the Women’s Convention. In 2018 the CEDAW Committee started to develop a GR on trafficking in women and girls in a process planned to conclude in 2020. The first stage towards this was through the publication of a Concept Note to serve as a basis for dialogue during the two-year international consultation period. The Concept Note is a vital link in a textual chain because it frames the policy problem and actively constructs its own ‘documentary reality’. This article provides a critical analysis of the CEDAW Concept Note on the grounds that such analysis provides an understanding of its discursive construction of trafficking, migrant labour and sex work, by an institution responsible for international jurisp...
The RighT guide. A tool to assess the human rights impact of anti-trafficking laws and policies. FACTSHEETS, 2010
Factsheets belonging to 'The Right guide. A tool to assess he human rights impact of anti-traffic... more Factsheets belonging to 'The Right guide. A tool to assess he human rights impact of anti-trafficking laws and policies'. The toolkit provides users with a step-by-step method to investigate the impact of anti-trafficking laws and policies on the human rights of the groups affected by these policies, including trafficked persons, sex workers and migrant workers. The factsheets provide additional information about what human rights are, the UN Trafficking Protocol, standards that states have to meet in regard to combating trafficking and protecting the rights of trafficked persons, and the various human rights that users will be dealing with when undertaking a Human Rights Impact Aassessment (HRIA). Also included is a factsheet on methods for collecting and analysing information.
The RighT guide. A tool to assess the human rights impact of anti-trafficking laws and policies , 2010
Most states take action against trafficking in persons. While intentions might be good, in many c... more Most states take action against trafficking in persons. While intentions might be good, in many cases effects have been less positive. States prioritise prosecution and punishment of traffickers, while often failing to effectively safeguard the rights of persons who have been trafficked. Moreover, anti-trafficking efforts often even negatively impact the rights of trafficked persons and other groups that are affected by these efforts, such as sex workers and migrant workers. The RighT Guide provides affected groups with a tool to investigate the gap between the human rights commitments made by their state and the actual ability of groups and communities to enjoy these rights. The outcomes provide NGOs with evidence based information to advocate for policy reforms that respect human rights, and to hold states accountable for fulfilling their human rights commitments. They can use the outcomes to lobby their national government and/or international institutions and agencies, as an input for compiling shadow reports on the various human rights conventions, to inform a large group of stakeholders and to communicate their concerns more effectively to the competent authorities. At the same time, the process of conducting the assessment will increase their capacity to integrate a human rights framework in their work. The tool consists of a step-by-step process that allows determining the positive and negative human rights impacts of anti-trafficking interventions. In seven steps users define the problem, analyse the related policies, collect information about the effects on the human rights of the groups affected by these policies, link these effects with the human rights obligations of their State and draw up an action plan based on their findings. Each step consists of a set of questions to guide data collection and analysis.
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