Gender & Trafficking

The Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking

2008-02-13T05:50:00.002-01:00

Global forum on Human Trafficking Via: UNPulse

The first global forum to fight human trafficking will take place in Vienna from 13-15 February 2008. The Vienna Forum is being convened by the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) which was formally launched by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in March 2007 in recognition of the fact that human trafficking takes many forms and that a co-ordinated and united approach is required.

(http://www.ungift.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=375&Itemid=687)

Trafficking in persons: US policy and issues for Congress

2008-01-24T08:35:00.000-01:00

CRS Report for Congress

Published by: Congressional Research Service (CRS), 2008
Via: Docuticker

The State Department issued its seventh congressionally mandated Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report on June 12, 2007. Each report categorizes countries into four tiers according to the government’s efforts to combat trafficking. Those countries that do not cooperate in the fight against trafficking (Tier 3) have been made subject to U.S. sanctions since 2003. Sixteen countries were placed on Tier 3 in the 2007 report. On October 18, 2007, President Bush imposed new trafficking in persons related sanctions on Burma, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Venezuela.

In the 110th Congress, there are several bills with trafficking-related provisions. The Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007 (P.L. 110- 53) directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide specified funding and administrative support to strengthen the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center. H.R. 3887 (Lantos), approved by the House on December 4, 2007 by a vote of 405-2, would, among other provisions, reauthorize anti-trafficking programs through FY2011, and amend the criminal code and immigration law related to trafficking.

It is likely to be considered by the Senate early in the second session of the 110th Congress. Another bill, H.R. 2522 (Lewis), would establish a Commission to evaluate the effectiveness of current U.S. anti-slavery efforts, including anti- trafficking in persons programs, and make recommendations. S. 1703 (Durbin), approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 20, 2007, would create additional jurisdiction in U.S. courts for trafficking offenses occurring in other countries. This report will be updated periodically to reflect major developments.

(http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL34317.pdf)

Stolen smiles: the physical and psychological health consequences of women and adolescents trafficked in Europe

2007-10-03T06:44:00.001-01:00

First data on the health consequences of women who have been trafficked

By: Zimmerman C, Hossain M & Yun K
Published by: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 2007
Via: Eldis

Trafficking is a severe form of violence against women and a serious violation of human rights. Women and adolescents who are trafficked often suffer serious abuse, exploitation and degradation. The damage to their health and well-being is often profound and enduring. Yet, to date, little data has been available on the range and extent of the physical and psychological health damage experienced by women who are trafficked.

This report presents some of the first-ever statistical data on the health consequences of women who have been trafficked. It also provides information on the violence and health risks that may have influenced these outcomes. The authors hope that this evidence base will contribute to improved policies and well-planned resources and services available for the many women who require assistance in rebuilding their health and well-being.

(http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/hpu/docs/Stolen%20Smiles%20-%20Trafficking%20and%20
Health%20(2006).pdf)

Reference guide on protecting the rights of child victims of trafficking in Europe

2007-08-30T12:15:00.000-01:00

Prevent child trafficking in Europe: a practical guide By: Dottridge, M
Published by: United Nations Children's Fund, 2006
Via: Eldis

Guidelines to protect the rights of child victims of trafficking were developed by UNICEF to ensure the best interests of children at every stage of anti-trafficking action. This guide provides recommendations for the implementation of these standards and measures. It offers step-by-step instructions to those working directly with victims of trafficking and children at risk of being trafficked.

The handbook is divided in three main sections:

guiding principles and strategies for the implementation: introduces the issue of child trafficking and explains in detail the implications of each of the standards and measures, including key challenges in their implementation and examples of good practice
specific tools for a broad range of practitioners: includes checklists to assist in dealing with child victims of trafficking, and is specifically relevant to professionals in direct contact with children at risk and/or trafficked children
relevant international and regional human rights standards and instruments: contains the text of the UNICEF guidelines, and examples of national and bilateral coordination mechanisms and agreements on the protection of child victims of trafficking.

This guide is relevant for governments, organisations, and other advocates seeking to develop and implement effective policies and specific actions to prevent child trafficking and protecting victims.

(http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/UNICEF_Child_Trafficking_low.pdf)

Globalization and the illicit market for human trafficking: an empirical analysis of supply and demand

2007-08-30T12:06:00.000-01:00

Human trafficking: what forces affect the demand for trafficked victims?

By: Danailova-Trainor, G & Belser, T
Published by: International Labour Organization (ILO), 2006
Via: Eldis

Human trafficking has been identified as a form of modern slavery, as a threat to human security, and as one of the greatest human rights challenges of our time. But while there is an increasing body of literature on different aspects of human trafficking, so far there has not been any more rigorous empirical work on the forces affecting the market for trafficked victims (TV). This paper makes a contribution towards filling this gap by developing largely ad hoc models of demand and supply of TV.

The authors use data on trafficking collected from open sources by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and determine the explanatory variables by a study of the literature, data availability in countries of origin and destination and by experimentation. The focus is on cross-border trafficking as a manifestation of trans-national criminal activities and as a consequence of the deep social and economic differences that characterise countries.

Key findings include that prostitution incidence and openness - including the permeability of borders - in countries of destination affect the demand for TV in the destination countries. Female youth unemployment also plays a significant role in fueling the supply of TV. Policies that focus on addressing these underlying factors of human trafficking could have an important impact on the market, in addition to the protection and prevention of TV. However, the authors have not examined the link between legalisation of prostitution and prostitution incidence, and have not found any correlation between legalised prostitution and trafficking.

The paper concludes by highlighting the importance of future data collection and estimation of trafficking flows.

(http://www.ilo.org/dyn/declaris/DECLARATIONWEB.DOWNLOAD_BLOB?Var_
DocumentID=6676)

Human trafficking to Australia

2007-07-19T12:47:00.000-01:00

A research challenge

By: Putt, J
Published in: Trends & Issues in cime and criminal justice. No. 338, June 2007
Via: Docuticker

We know that for some crimes, like human trafficking, it is difficult to secure prosecutions. It is also the case that these kind of crimes are difficult to detect. Human trafficking presents different challenges from domestic crimes, like sexual assault, because of its often transnational nature and the potential involvement of a network of facilitators in a number of countries. Extreme caution should be exercised in extrapolating from the under-reporting of domestic crimes to transnational crimes, as Australia enjoys the natural protection provided by being both an island and geographically remote and has extensive border protection mechanisms. This paper argues that we need to be aware of trends, internationally and in the region, to ensure we have early warning of activities that could impact on the level and type of trafficking to Australia, and to ensure we are providing the most effective responses to prevent and detect trafficking. This paper provides an overview of the challenges involved in obtaining reliable information on the trafficking process. (http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi2/tandi338.pdf)

Trafficking in persons interim assessment

2007-02-01T11:48:00.000-01:00

Published by: U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, 2007
Via: Docuticker

The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President in December 2003, requires the Department of State to submit to the Congress an Interim Assessment of the progress made in combating trafficking in persons (TIP) by those countries placed on the Special Watch List in September 2006. The evaluation period covers the six months since the release of the June 2006 annual report.

This year, 39 countries are on the Special Watch List. These countries either (1) had moved up a tier in the 2006 TIP Report over the last year’s Report, or (2) were ranked on Tier 2 in the 2006 TIP Report, but (a) had failed to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat TIP from the previous year, (b) were placed on Tier 2 because of commitments to carry out additional future actions over the coming year, or (c) had a significant or significantly increasing number of trafficking victims. Thirty-four of the 39 countries on the Special Watch List are in the second category–ranked as Tier 2 Watch List–including two countries initially ranked as Tier 3 in the June 2006 TIP Report, but reassessed as Tier 2 Watch List countries by the State Department in September 2006 (Belize and Laos). Attached to this Interim Assessment is an overview of the tier process.

Holliday Season!

2006-12-15T06:12:00.000-01:00

Dear Readers

Yet another year has flown by. And it was a busy year indeed! I am going to take a well-deserved break, and will start posting again at breakneck speed in the New Year.

I hope that Gender Focus and its sister blogs have been of some help to you, and will continue to do so in the future. So look forward to a bumper crop of posts early in January 2007, as I will endeavor to bring you all up to speed with what has been happening over the holiday season.

Have a great time, and a Happy New Year!

Migration, human smuggling and trafficking from Nigeria to Europe

2006-12-01T06:14:00.000-01:00

Looking at migration through the lens of Nigerian culture

By: Carling J
Published by: Noragric, Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Norwegian University of Life Sciences , 2006
Via: Eldis

This report contextualises the problems of migration, human smuggling and trafficking from Nigeria to Europe, focusing on cultural and social implications both within Europe and Nigeria. Some of the topics covered include:

what is it about Nigeria: ethnic groups, regional and religious differences; gender and sexuality, trafficking in the region
leaving Nigeria: hopes and opportunities; emigration and prostitution
entering Europe: migration routes and transit stays; asylum application as a foothold
Nigerians in Europe

The paper concludes that to understand the dynamics of Nigerian trafficking, various factors need to be taken into account. For example, many potential migrants enter into an emigration pact, which is perceived as a strongly binding agreement between two parties. This is sealed by religious rituals, as well as by the relation to the local community in Nigeria.

Trafficking in human beings and the 2006 World Cup in Germany

2006-11-21T07:31:00.000-01:00

Draft Report

By: Hennig J, Craggs S, Larsson F & Laczko F
Published by: International Organization for Migraion (IOM), SIDA. September 2006

Prior to the World Cup in Germany in 2006, there was considerable international concern that this event would contribute to a sharp increase in trafficking for sexual exploitation. Media reports suggested that prostitution would increase and that up to 40,000 women might be trafficked. This report investigates whether the number of victims of human trafficking (VoT) for sexual exploitation increased during the World Cup 2006 in Germany. The study also examines the measures taken by the authorities and NGO community in Germany, before and during the World Cup to prevent human trafficking.

The study was conducted between June and September 2006. Research included a systematic review of media and statistical sources, an analysis of previous large-scale events and their impact on trafficking, and in-depth interviews with representatives of key agencies responsible for combating human trafficking in Germany. Sixteen in-depth interviews were conducted in total; with six experts from the relevant departments of German Länder Criminal Police Offices or the City Police Offices of selected World Cup Cities and ten in-depth expert interviews with civil society organisations (street work and assistance to victims of THB). In addition to the analysis of the situation in Germany, information on trends in connection with the World Cup was gathered in cooperation with IOM missions

Poverty, gender and human trafficking in sub-Saharan Africa

2006-10-17T05:08:00.000-01:00

Rethinking best practices in migration management

By: Truong TD
Published by: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) , 2006
Via: Eldis

This report critically analyses the linkages between poverty, gender and human trafficking in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The report asserts that poverty is one of the primary factors that cause people, particularly women and children, to become victims of trafficking. And because human trafficking keeps victims in poverty, a vicious circle of poverty-human trafficking-poverty is perpetuated. The author also states that even though human trafficking is currently a priority issue for many governments, it remains a subject that is poorly understood, and there is a dearth of information on the magnitude of the problem. Also, knowledge about the intersection between migration and trafficking has not yet brought about any consensus on the underlying forces and their implications for the wellbeing of children and women.

In addressing this issue, the report provides a gender critique of Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs), which reveal how the lack of consensus on the relation between economic growth and poverty renders choices in collective action more vulnerable to error. This gender critique also highlights the negative effect of the dismantling of the care domain on livelihood systems in SSA, and how it exacerbates the pressure to migrate.

Also, the reports highlights a number of practices by organisations participating in the research, to point out how practices of migration management can benefit from a more holistic approach – one which addresses a broad set of overlapping livelihood systems. The organisations’ profiles, strengths, weaknesses, their understanding of trafficking and the replicability of their methods are presented.

Toolkit to combat trafficking in Persons

2006-10-10T05:51:00.000-01:00

Global programme against trafficking in Human Beings

Published by: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 2006
Via: Docuticker

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime today launched a toolkit to help Governments, policy-makers, law enforcement agencies and NGOs tackle human trafficking more effectively.
It contains practical tools for police and other law enforcement officers such as a checklist to help identify trafficking victims as well guidance on interviewing victims and victim protection.

The toolkit also outlines key aspects of a comprehensive response to human trafficking, such as the need to bring national legislation into line with international standards and strengthen international cooperation in criminal justice, including the extradition of criminals, seizure of assets and confiscation of the proceeds of crime.

UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa said robust international collaboration was essential in fighting trafficking. “Traffickers make a mockery of national borders. International cooperation is the basic condition for a successful response to human trafficking,” he said.

A profile of the world's young developing country migrants

2006-10-09T06:58:00.000-01:00

Backround paper to the 2007 World Development Report

By: McKenzie, David J
Published by: World bank, 2006
Via: Docuticker

The paper uses individual level census and household survey data to present a rich profile of the young developing migrants around the world. Youth are found to comprise a large share of all migrants, particularly in migration to other developing countries, with the probability of migration peaking in the late teens or early twenties. The paper examines in detail the age and gender composition of migrants, whether young migrants move alone or with a parent or spouse, their participation in schooling and work in the destination country, the types of jobs they do, and the age of return migration.

The results suggest a high degree of commonality in the youth migrant experience across a number of destination countries. In particular, developing country youth tend to work in similar occupations all around the world, and are more concentrated in these occupations than older migrants or native youth. Nevertheless, there is also considerable heterogeneity among youth migrants: 29 percent of 18 to 24 year olds are attending school in their destination country, but another 29 percent are not working or in school. This illustrates both the potential of migration for building human capital, and the fear that lack of integration prevents it from being used.

Female Migrants: bridging the gaps throughout the life cycle

2006-10-05T04:59:00.000-01:00

Selected papers of the UNFPA-IOM Expert Group Meeting, New York, 2-3- May 2006

Published by: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), 2006
Via: Eldis

This is a collection of papers that came out of an expert group meeting organised by the UNFPA and IOM meeting on 2-3 May 2006 entitled “Female migrants: bridging the gaps throughout the life cycle”. The aim was to formulate a set of recommendations for action by governments, international organisations and civil society, as a contribution to the High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development to mainstream female migrants’ needs and rights into the agenda.

Various issues were discussed at the meeting, including the growing numbers of women migrants and the contribution they are playing in maintaining their families through remittances and the empowering potential of migration, and the negative aspects associated with migration, including trafficking and exploitation.

New in the Library

2006-09-22T05:22:00.000-01:00

Getting to grips with trafficking
Reflections on human trafficking research in South Africa
ISS Monograph no. 123
By: Robyn Pharoah
Published by: Institute for Security studies, 2006
In this monograph the author presents an objective overview of what we know and what we dont know about human trafficking in South Africa and suggests the kinds of research which could be undertaken to fill the knowledge gap.

Focus 2006: crossing borders

2006-07-26T05:05:00.000-01:00

Multilateral treaty framework: an invitation to universal participation

Published by: United Nations, 2006
Via: UNPulse

Focus 2006: Crossing Borders (full text), a book about treaties being specially promoted for signature and ratification this year at September's High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development (Web site), is now online. The 30 treaties covered in the 156-page book, in French and English, cover a broad spectrum of migration-related issues: refugees and stateless persons; migrant workers and human rights; human security and trafficking in persons, and firearms; sustainable development, food security and ecological migration; and disarmament and State security. The book summarizes the objectives and key provisions of each treaty and, lists the Member States who had signed and ratified each as of 1 March 2006.

Trafficking in persons

2006-07-25T06:26:00.000-01:00

Global patterns

Published by: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), April 2006
Via: UNODC

The fact that slavery - in the form of human trafficking - still exists in the 21st century shames us all. Governments, international organizations and civil society are devoting considerable efforts to counter it, but there is still an information deficit about the extent of this tragedy. Only by understanding its depth, breadth and scope can we design policies to fight it. This understanding still eludes us: efforts to counter trafficking have so far been uncoordinated and inefficient. This Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is our first attempt to close the knowledge gap

Trafficking in persons report 2006

2006-07-05T05:26:00.000-01:00

Best practices for implementing the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA)

Published by: US Department of State , 2006
Via: Eldis

This report is the sixth annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report issued by the US Department of State, aimed to assist the elimination of severe forms of TIP. In assessing foreign governments’ efforts, the TIP Report highlights the “three P’s”— prosecution, protection, and prevention. A victim-centred approach to trafficking is also used which equally to addresses the “three R’s”— rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

The report also outlines best practices for implementing the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) amended in 2000.

Trafficking in persons - Global patterns

2006-05-09T05:38:00.000-01:00

Human Trafficking

Published by: Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), 2006
Via: UN Pulse

Virtually no country in the world is unaffected by the crime of human trafficking for sexual exploitation or forced labour, a new report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released on the 24th of April shows. The report on Trafficking In Persons: Global Patterns (full text) identifies 127 countries of origin, 98 transit countries and 137 destination countries. It shows that global efforts to combat trafficking are being hampered by a lack of accurate data, reflecting the unwillingness of some countries to acknowledge that the problem affects them.

Report on activities to combat human trafficking, Fiscal years 2001-2005

2006-04-12T05:29:00.000-01:00

Combating Human Trafficking

Published by: U.S. Department of Justice, 2006
Via: ResoureShelf's DocuTicker

This report summarizes the Department's work during the fiscal years 2001-2005. Some of the accomplishments mentioned include an increase in prosecutions by more than 300%. Nearly 1000 human trafficking victims have been assisted, and since 2004, the Department has awarded grants totaling, more than $30 million to institute 32 multi-disciplinary anti-human trafficking task forces and 21 victim service providers in communities across the nation.

Describing the unobserved: methodological challenges in empirical studies on human trafficking

2006-03-28T06:10:00.000-01:00

Improving methodological research on human trafficking

By: Tyldum G & Brunovskis A
Published by: Human Trafficking , 2005
Via: Eldis

In this paper the authors discuss the production of various types of data on human trafficking. The study analyses existing data and research, and suggests methods for improving enhanced data collection techniques and developing new methodologies. The authors also focus both on the development of estimates of victims of trafficking, as well as the production of data that describes the characteristics of this group. The discussion is based on a review of publications on trafficking for sexual exploitation in Europe as well as the authors’ own research, on transnational prostitution and trafficking in Oslo.

The authors conclude that, due to a lack of empirical knowledge about causes and mechanisms tied to trafficking, proxy (or process) indicators such as poverty, migration patterns, or missing persons have limited application for estimating size of the population of trafficking victims.

The authors also argue for the importance of conducting systematic research to collect accurate data on trafficked populations and call for further research asking the question is trafficking best understood as a phenomenon within the field of labour migration, international prostitution, or migration in general, or does trafficking constitute a distinct and separate phenomenon with its separate causes and mechanisms?

Victims of trafficking for forced prostitution: protection mechanisms and the right to remain in the destination countries

2006-03-23T07:18:00.000-01:00

Protecting the rights of trafficked victims

By: Simic O
Published by: Global Commission on International Migration , 2004
Via: Eldis

This study explores the right of trafficked victims of forced prostitution to remain in destination countries through the application of legal standards and victim protection mechanisms found at the national, regional and international level. The study also highlights the importance of State recognition that trafficked persons are victims of serious human rights abuses. Protecting the rights of trafficked victims.

It argues that States need to take steps to safeguard the legal rights and protective needs of trafficking victims regardless of their immigration status or willingness to cooperate with law enforcement officials. It considers the feasibility of the position that trafficked persons should have the right to temporary residence and work permits, thereby serving the dual interests of both enabling trafficked persons to recover and rebuild their lives, and enabling the effective prosecution of traffickers by encouraging victims to report to the authorities and to act as witnesses.

Rethinking masculinity: educating young men to reduce the demand side of trafficking

2006-02-02T05:23:00.000-01:00

Challenging male perceptions of trafficking in women

By: Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific; Enriquez J
Published by: The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific (CATW-AP) , 2005
Via: Eldis

This practical guide outlines the challenges faced in changing male perceptions of paid sex with women. The document provides details of a three day course run by the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women which aimed to provide young men with a critical understanding of violence against women, particularly prostitution, and move towards a change of attitude and treatment of women.

The guide also focuses on the production of teaching materials and options available for resourcing the education aspect of a programme. These include flipcharts, comics and flyers on prostitution. Insights are offered into the results of the example camp and the affect that this had on the male participants. The document further outlines how the camp was set up and the different sectors of society that participants were recruited from.

Maid to order: ending abuses against migrant domestic workers in Singapore

2006-01-19T06:02:00.000-01:00

Women domestic workers in Singapore suffer grave abuses

Published by: Human Rights Watch (HRW) , 2005
Via: Eldis

This report presents research carried out on the abusive conditions facing many domestic workers in Singapore. It suggests that many women domestic workers face poor working conditions, anxiety about debts owed to employment agencies, social isolation, and prolonged confinement indoors, sometimes for weeks at a time.

The Singapore government to date has relied on market forces rather than laws to regulate key labour issues for domestic workers such as charges imposed by employment agencies, wages, and weekly rest days. As a result, a migrant domestic worker’s fate in Singapore is highly variable. The report also finds that the Singapore government has instituted several policies that exacerbate domestic workers’ isolation in homes and their risk of abuse. Whilst in response to growing publicity and alarm over abuses against migrant domestic workers, Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower has instituted some encouraging reforms in the past two years, these initiatives, though important, do not go far enough. Singapore needs to do more to address the underlying inequities and lack of protection that result in widespread abuse.

A new blog on Same-Sex Marriage

2006-01-09T13:08:00.000-01:00

Dear Readers

In the light of the recent developments regarding Same-Sex Marriage in South Africa, I have added another blog to my little family. It will deal with all matters relating to Same-Sex Marriage, especially regarding legislation.

A link to it has been added in the breadcrumb, and several links to informative websites have been added to the link menu

On the agenda: older migrant women

2006-01-09T05:09:00.000-01:00

Facts, figures, personal stories: an inventory in five EU Countries

Produced by: AGE+ , 2005
Via: Eldis

This reports summarises key findings on the situation of older migrant women in the five participating countires of the AGE+ project - the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands and Italy.

The report argues that older migrant women belong to a vulnerable group. Statistically they are hardly visible and their lives go practically unnoticed. The results of the research that does exist do not render a positive image. Because of their limited possibilities at the labour market, low incomes and insufficient pensions, migrant women are at risk of spending their retirement in poverty. Along with the feminisation of poverty, there is now a high risk of the colouring of poverty.

News from the Librarian

2005-12-09T12:29:00.000-01:00

Dear Reader

Yet another year has flown by. And it was a busy year indeed! I am going to take a well-deserved break, and will start posting again at breakneck speed in the New Year.

I hope that Thread and Thrum and its sister blogs have been of some help to you, and will continue to do so in the future. So look forward to a bumper crop of posts early in January 2006, as I will endeavor to bring you all up to speed with what has been happening over the holiday season.

Have a great time, and a Happy New Year!

Regards
The Librarian

Update

2005-11-14T08:03:00.000-01:00

Dear Readers

I will unfortunately not be updating the Blogs until the 21 November, due to work pressure. I apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Regards
The Librarian

Brain Drain

2005-11-02T04:56:00.000-01:00

International migration, remittances, and the brain drain

Produced by: World Bank
The World Bank recently issued a new report called International migration, remittances, and the brain drain (full text). The report looks at the impact of "brain drain" on development, and agree that the loss of skilled workers may be trapping the least developed countries in poverty. More information on related topics is available via the World Bank's Private Sector Development blog

The concept of internal displacement and the case for internally displaced persons as a category of concern

2005-10-31T07:18:00.000-01:00

Internally displaced persons

Produced by: Refugee Survey Quarterly, 2005

"At a time when the IDP issue is a major subject of international discussion, conceptual clarity is essential. Erin Mooney, the Deputy Director of the Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement...analyzes the different meanings connoted by the term internally displaced person (IDP). She also counters the argument that IDPs should not be a group of particular focus by putting forth a case for IDPs as a category of concern based on indicators of need and vulnerability."Full Document (PDF; 160 KB)

Update

2005-10-20T16:45:00.000-01:00

Dear Readers

I will unfortunately not be able to update the Blogs until the 26th of October. Please visit next Thursday, and get the latest news and views.

I apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Regards
The Librarian

Gender analysis of the patters of human trafficking into and through the Koh Kong Province

2005-10-19T12:30:00.000-01:00

Situational and gender analysis of migration and trafficking within Cambodia and to Thailand

By: Preece S
Produced by: Legal Support for Children and Women (LSCW) , 2005

This research project presents a situational and gender analysis into the patterns of human trafficking into, through and from Koh Kong in Cambodia, as well as identifying areas of weakness in the current criminal justice and social welfare response within Koh Kong and between Cambodia and Trad province in Thailand. It provides a number of recommendations relating to Cambodia in particular, general recommendations to governments of Cambodia and Thailand including strategies for safe migration and prevention of trafficking.

A problem by a different name?

2005-10-18T05:45:00.000-01:00

A review of research on trafficking in South East Asia and Oceania

By: Piper N
Produced by: International Organization for Migration (IOM) , 2005

This article reviews the existing research and literature on trafficking in South-East Asia and Oceania – concentrating on those countries that are usually classified as destination countries in the region, including Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. It attempts to identify key themes and critically assess the knowledge base and gaps that emerge from this review.

The review finds that trafficking in humans emerges as a complex phenomenon that requires multi-dimensional responses. Despite its high and growing profile, statistical data and precise figures do not exist, and although an understanding of the processes, dynamics, and underlying causes of human trafficking has substantially improved, it remains largely fragmented.

Migration Report

2005-10-18T05:30:00.000-01:00

Migration in an interconnected world: New directions for action

Produced by: Global Commission on International Migration, 2005

The Global Commission on International Migration pesented its report, Migration in an interconnected world: New directions for action, to the Secretary-General today (full text). Launched in 2003 and comprised of 19 commissioners, the commission is independent body with the mandate to provide the framework for the formulation of a coherent, comprehensive and global response to the issue of international migration. More details are available on the commission's Web site.

Cutting edge pack: gender and migration

2005-10-14T11:51:00.000-01:00

How does migration advance or impede gender equality?

By: Jolly S, Reeves H
Produced by: BRIDGE , 2005

How does migration advance or impede gender equality? How can policy-makers and practitioners promote gender equality in work on migration? This report seeks to answer these questions by looking at both internal and international migration, regular and irregular migration, as well as across the spectrum from forced, such as trafficking, to voluntary migration. It explores the gendered patterns of migration, including how gender impacts on decisions to migrate in terms of who goes and why, and in turn how this affects the benefits and risks of migration for women and men, including impact on gender relations. How levels of development may influence migration decisions and the consequent impact are explored from a gender perspective, including a review of remittances, “brain drain” and HIV/AIDS.