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Bollettino Agosto 2008 del GAATW- Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women PDF Stampa E-mail

GAATW e-Bulletin August 2008

Dear Members and Friends,

 Greetings from GAATW International Secretariat, This month’s e-bulletin highlights GAATW’s recent Roundtable on Gender-Migration-Labour-Trafficking Linkages held from 6-9 August in Bangkok. The participants reflected on how each of these themes is being discussed by academics, policy-makers and activists, and how the movements can work together. The discussion emphasised the need for re-framing trafficking from a more positive rights-based approach. A summary of this event can be found in the Updates of the Secretariat section of this bulletin, and a full report will be completed soon. We also highlight a number of upcoming meetings and conferences on trafficking and migration happening in September and October. If you have additional events you wish to share with the GAATW network, or if you are planning to attend any of the upcoming conferences, we would love to hear from you. Warmly, The GAATW International Secretariat 
GLOBAL HIGHLIGHTS
 The International Day for the Remembrance of Slavery and its Abolishment on Saturday 23 August was observed with a United Nations call to all people to be resolute in seeking to abolish all forms of slavery. “Despite the arsenal of international instruments created to combat the exploitation of human beings … the disturbing truth is that such flagrant violations continue,” said Mr Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General of United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO).http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/200808/19727.asp Ireland: UN Criticises Ireland’s treatment of trafficked personsThe UN Human Rights Committee, in its review of Ireland's Human Rights record released last week, found that Ireland was not adequately protecting the human rights of trafficked persons. This is despite the passing of an anti-trafficking law earlier this year. Amnesty Ireland added in a statement: “Protections for victims are conditional and fall short of our international commitments under the European Convention on Action Against Trafficking” and called on the Government to make assistance non-conditional. Other concerns raised by the Human Rights Committee were the summary removal of undocumented migrants without due process or access to the courts, as well as the renditions of suspects by the United States Government through Irish airports. http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/ireland/un-confirms-iccl-concerns-on-human-rights-in-ireland-2136.html Bahrain: Call to review women's rights Activists and campaigners in Bahrain continue to call for the protection of women’s rights in the lead up to Bahrain’s country report on its implementation of CEDAW that will be presented to the committee in October. Women's groups and human rights societies will also submit shadow reports. Activists and human rights groups are hopeful that Bahrain will lift the country’s reservations to CEDAW – submitted due to conflict with Sharia law, traditions and Islamic principles – and will then be forced to pass a family law and other regulations. http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=227154&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=31157 
JUSTICE UPDATE
 South Africa: Bill to allow for prosecution of all forms of human traffickingThe South African National Prosecuting Authority has announced that a law is being drafted to criminalise all forms of trafficking and acts that contributed to but were not directly involved in the crime. An inter-sectoral task-force of prosecutors, government and civil society has formed to strengthen South-Africa’s anti-trafficking efforts. http://www.buanews.gov.za/news/08/08081416151004  
REGIONAL/MEMBER UPDATES
 The AMERICAS AMUMRA organizes public action on the EU Returns DirectiveOn 28 August, AMUMRA, an organisation of migrants and refugees in Argentina and a GAATW member, held an action against the European Union’s Returns Directive. Buses carried supporters to the city centre for a rally, and then people marched to present a petition to the President of Argentina, Dr. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. The petition called for the President to call on European ambassadors and consulates to assist and protect migrants. “To accept the EU Returns Directive, or the absence of action in response to it, would imply our approval,” says Natividad Obeso, president of the AMUMRA, in her statement.  GAATW-IS supported this action through an international media release and information sharing to its network. EUROPE New members of the European Union (EU) Experts Group on Trafficking from GAATWOn the 22 July, two GAATW members, Stana Buchowska, National Coordinator of La Strada Poland, and Evelyn Probst, Coordinator of LEFO-IBF, were appointed as new members of the EU Experts Group on Trafficking in Human Beings.[1] The Group comprises both government and NGO experts. During their three-year term, the Expert Group meets monthly to provide advice to European Commission (EC) decision makers on EC anti-trafficking policies, including analysis and revision of existing documents and policies. “Monitoring the Observance of Human Rights for Victims of Trafficking in Persons”La Strada Foundation Against Trafficking in Persons and Slavery, Poland La Strada Poland has released a report analyzing the human rights protection of trafficked women who were participating in cases against their traffickers in Poland. The research considered cases that concluded between 1995 and 2006. During this time, 26 cases resulted in a verdict, 24 cases ended in a decision to discontinue the proceedings or to refute the instituting of proceedings by the prosecutor, and 17 cases in which the women decided not to testify. Obstacles to accessing justice in Poland include limited translation services, prolonged proceedings, failure by the authorities to detect and detain the perpetrators, limited witness or victim protection, lack of information about legal rights, lack of legal representation, and absence of orders for the confiscation of trafficker’s assets that could be used to pay compensation. The report makes recommendations to the Polish authorities about changes to the law and better treatment of trafficked persons.The full report (in Polish) is available at La Strada Poland website:http://www.strada.org.pl or for a brief summary (in English), you can contact Nerea at: Indirizzo e-mail protetto dal bots spam , deve abilitare Javascript per vederlo  Italy’s “security package” leading to human rights violationsNGOs in Italy have expressed concerns about human rights violations committed against vulnerable groups as a consequence of Italy’s "security package". The package of emergency laws and decrees is being implemented on the pretext of confronting urban degradation. However, it is resulting in further stigmatization and abuse of individuals such as sex workers (migrants and non-migrants); transgender people; trafficked women; migrants, especially Roma; and homeless people. Civil society organizations report that they are organising to respond to the situation. For more information, please contact Pia Lucciole (Comitato per i Diritti Civili delle Prostitute) at: Indirizzo e-mail protetto dal bots spam , deve abilitare Javascript per vederlo  Switzerland Petition to Protect Trafficked WomenOn 8 March 2008 a large coalition of NGOs in Switzerland, including GAATW member FIZ, launched a petition to improve the protection of trafficked women as part of the campaign “Euro 08 Against the Traffic in Women”. The petition, among other things, calls for the right to a residence permit, as well as for common standards for victims’ protection across all the cantons in Switzerland. The petition will be handed to authorities in Bern on 11 September 2008 and will be accompanied by a press conference and a public action at the Federal Building (Bundeshaus). The campaign calls on others to join in this action and to distribute this information to their networks.For more information, please contact: Indirizzo e-mail protetto dal bots spam , deve abilitare Javascript per vederlo  ASIA Jordan: Join forces to protect foreign domestic workers On 26 August, migrants’ rights representatives from 15 countries called for greater cooperation between the Jordanian authorities, international agencies and civil society for the protection of foreign domestic workers. A high-level roundtable forum on the situation of foreign domestic workers was hosted by the ADALEH Center for Human Rights Studies and co-organised by UNIFEM and CARAM Asia. The representatives, speaking on behalf of domestic workers associations and rights groups in Asia and the Middle East, welcomed Jordan's recent move to amend the labour law to include the protection of all domestic workers, but emphasised the need for implementation to begin as soon as possible. Eni Lestari, representative of the Asian Migrant Coordination Body and GAATW board member, called on the Jordanian government to work closely with civil society and migrant worker groups to allow migrant workers to unionize. http://www.aliran.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=695:join-forces-to-protect-foreign-domestic-workers&catid=55:2008&Itemid=40  
FROM THE SECRETARIAT
 GAATW Roundtable, 6-9 August 2008, Bangkok‘Gender-Migration-Labour-Trafficking: Exploring conceptual linkages and moving forward’ The GAATW Roundtable on Gender-Migration-Labour-Trafficking Linkages was held in Bangkok earlier this month, hosted by the GAATW-IS. The Roundtable was the first step in an on-going discussion with members, allies and friends about how these themes are being linked by both policy-makers and those working on the ground. The discussion was very enriching for all involved and allowed participants to reflect on global changes in policy on migration and trafficking, and the need for building bridges across movements.  The eight participants of the Roundtable all had addressed the ‘linkages’ either in theory or practice, as academics and/or activists, and came from different regions of the world. They were Dovelyn Rannveig Agunias, MPI (Migration Policy Institute), USA; Ratna Kapur, Centre for Feminist Legal Research, India; Lenore Lyons, University of Wollongong, Centre for Asia Pacific Social Transformation Studies, Australia; Jackie Pollock, MAP (Migrant Assistance Programme) Foundation, Thailand; Ranabir Samaddar, Calcutta Research Group, India; Jyoti Sanghera, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nepal; Mario Serrano, Servicio Jesuita Para Migrantes y Refugiados, Dominican Republic; Elena Tyuryukanova, Migration Research Centre, Russia. Sessions included discussion of hierarchies created by categorising migrants, understanding concepts such as ‘irregular’ and ‘managed migration’, noting the way in which anti-trafficking has become a highly specialised field and isolated from other fields, how to introduce the human rights message when talking to governments about migration, and plans for the upcoming Global Forum on Migration and Development. Some of the messages that emerged from the discussion were:
  • Mainstream discussion and policy on trafficking has led to ‘collateral damage’ in the form of violations of the rights of trafficked persons, migrants and women. We should learn from this in our future advocacy.
  • Anti-trafficking, migrant rights and labour rights movements are calling for many of the same things and inter-movement dialogue and joint advocacy is essential.
  • All movements are complex and all have their own tensions. Different organisations and movements will align with each other at different times.
 Some suggestions for GAATW were:
  • This discussion is very timely and should be continued and broadened.
  • Continue using positive and affirming rights advocacy when advocating for the rights of trafficked persons, rather than focus on violations. For example, emphasise the right to freedom of movement and to bodily integrity for all.
  • Building on the long history of advocating for the rights of migrant women, start learning more about the labour rights movement and how our messages and actions can support each other.
  • Contribute gender analysis to migration and labour discussions, and bring the experience of migrant women into these discourses.
  • Consider also how the market/ corporate sector could be allies in protecting the rights of migrant labour, and in demanding protections from governments.
  APF Forum, Kuala Lumpur, 28-31 July 2008 The Asia Pacific Forum is the secretariat supporting the work of 17 national human rights institutions around Asia and the Pacific. Each year the Forum brings together the national institutions (NIs) to discuss their work and topics of emerging human rights interest. This year the topic was the human rights obligations of trans-national corporations, which is a crucial issue for the protection of migrant workers. As the only regional event with a specific human rights focus (in the absence of any human rights mechanism or charter in Asia), this forum is an important opportunity for human rights advocacy. Prior to the event, Forum Asia together with the International Service for Human Rights and IWRAW-AP held a four day civil society meeting to support NGO engagement with the Forum. Eleanor from the GAATW-IS attended the both the CSO meeting and the Forum, to encourage NIs to monitor the human rights impacts of anti-trafficking laws in their countries.  Upcoming Events September and October are very busy months for both member organizations in the Alliance and the GAATW-IS. Some upcoming highlights, previously featured in the e-bulletin include: Conference on Compensation for trafficked person on 3-5 September 2008 in Berlin, Germany. The meeting is being organised by La Strada International, Anti-Slavery International and GAATW-IS. For more information, please contact Nerea Bilbatua: Indirizzo e-mail protetto dal bots spam , deve abilitare Javascript per vederlo  Human Rights Council, 8-26 SeptemberThe 9th session of the Human Rights Council will begin in the second week of September. The new Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, Ms Gulnara Shahinian of Armenia, will present her first report to the Council. The GAATW Advocacy Team will attend and also meet with her to learn more about her plans for the mandate.  World Social Forum on Migration, 11-13 SeptemberThe World Social Forum on Migration will be held in Madrid in September. GAATW-IS and some members will be present and are planning two presentations on Collateral Damage and the Recognise Rights Campaign. We look forward to hearing from any other GAATW members, allies or friends who will be attending this conference.For more information, please contact Zoë Bake-Paterson: Indirizzo e-mail protetto dal bots spam , deve abilitare Javascript per vederlo  Pre-GFMD Conference on Women’s Rights, 25-26 SeptemberA large civil society meeting entitled “Seizing Opportunities, Upholding Women Workers Rights” will be held in Manila on 25-26 September 2008.  The conference is being convened by the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) in partnership with several NGOs and UN organisations.  Eleanor Taylor-Nicholson from the GAATW-IS is presenting at this event. For more information, please contact Rebecca Napier-Moore: Indirizzo e-mail protetto dal bots spam , deve abilitare Javascript per vederlo  UNODC Conference of Parties to the Convention on Transnational Organised Crime and related Protocols, 8-17 October 2008This Conference is the main international discussion of the Palermo Protocol being implemented by states.  GAATW-IS and members will be participating in this event to meet with member states and advocate for better protections of the the rights of trafficked persons, and better monitoring by States of their activities. For more information, please contact Eleanor Taylor-Nicholson: Indirizzo e-mail protetto dal bots spam , deve abilitare Javascript per vederlo or Zoë Bake-Paterson: Indirizzo e-mail protetto dal bots spam , deve abilitare Javascript per vederlo  European Regional Consultation, 24-26 OctoberGAATW-IS is organizing the European Regional Consultation from 24-26 October in Vienna, with assistance from LEFO-IBF (based in Vienna). The three-day event will be an opportunity for members in the region to exchange experiences, learn from each other, receive inputs from the GAATW-IS, and develop a common regional response to the anti-trafficking scenario. For more information, please contact Nerea Bilbatua: Indirizzo e-mail protetto dal bots spam , deve abilitare Javascript per vederlo   
RESOURCES
 ReportsAfrica's Human Rights ArchitectureThis volume compiles the discussions during a policy seminar organized by the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR) in Cape Town, South Africa, in June 2007. It attempts to address three questions on human rights in Africa: Why do human rights violations remain rife on the continent? Why has Africa been slow in responding to human rights violations? And What is the AU doing to mitigate human rights violations?  The full report can be downloaded in: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/lib.nsf/db900sid/EVOD-7FVGUF/$file/HRbook_synopsis.pdf?openelement

On 20 August 2008, Amnesty International Scotland launched a review of trafficking of persons in Scotland. The Report, “Scotland Slaves” looks at trafficking in Scotland and reviews the responses of both the Scottish and the UK Governments in protecting the rights of trafficked persons in compliance with the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, which the UK Government has signed but not yet ratified.  The report can be downloaded from:http://www.amnesty.org.uk/uploads/documents/doc_18605.pdf  
 “Protections for victims are conditional and fall short of our international commitments under the European Convention on Action Against Trafficking…I am calling on the Government to accept the UN’s recommendation to allow trafficking victims to remain in the state even if they do not cooperate with the Gardaí in prosecuting alleged traffickers….This would be an important step for the Government in meeting the minimum standards for the protection of these women who have been subjected to horrific abuses.” Executive Director Colm O’Gorman, Amnesty International, Irish Sectionhttp://en.epochtimes.com/n2/ireland/un-confirms-iccl-concerns-on-human-rights-in-ireland-2136.html
  The GAATW e-bulletin is sent out to all member organisations of the Alliance as well as to many of its friends and sister NGOs worldwide. o         The e-bulletin is published every last week of the month. A Spanish version goes out three days after the English version. Sometimes additional follow up information and/or reminders are also sent via email to member organisations. o         Primarily a tool for communication between the International Secretariat and the Alliance members, the e-bulletin aims to cover a broad range of topics although trafficking related issues remain its special focus. We also use this e-bulletin to inform members about upcoming events and provide regular updates about the Secretariat. o         We strongly encourage members and friends to send us their input to the e-bulletin at Indirizzo e-mail protetto dal bots spam , deve abilitare Javascript per vederlo  o         If you do not want to receive this e-bulletin please send us a message at Indirizzo e-mail protetto dal bots spam , deve abilitare Javascript per vederlo and we will delete your address from the list. Please note that we have not inserted the advertisements that may appear on this message.  GAATW International Secretariat is not associated in any of these ads over which we have no control.  
 
 
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