2023
Oct
On the 4 October 2023, ICLAIM participated in the second meeting of the Constructive Dialogue on Trafficking in Persons. The event was held in hybrid form, in Vienna and online. The meeting took place immediately after the conclusion of the thirteenth meeting of the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons. Significantly, the meeting was attended by 92 non-governmental organisations, as well as other relevant stakeholders, including members states, academia, one intergovernmental organisation and the private sector.
The purpose of the constructive dialogues is to promote fruitful engagement among participants, as well as to inform them on developments concerning the UNTOC review mechanism. At the same time, the constructive dialogues are premised on the meaningful exchange of views, whereby inputs and suggestions are collected from participants, including their contributions as to the ways of advancing the effective implementation of the UN Conventions Against Transnational Crimes (UNTOC) and its three Protocols.
The constructive dialogue was chaired by the co-chairs of the Working Group, Mr. Germán Andrés Calderón Velásquez (Colombia), Mr. Ignacio Baylina Ruiz (Spain), and Ms. Virginia “Patt” Prugh (USA). The co-chairs briefed participants on the status of the review process and as well as the outcomes of the thirteenth meeting of the Working Group, that was held in Vienna from 2 to 3 October 2023. It was noted at the outset that, owing to lack of time, it was not possible to reach consensus on all recommendations provided by participants in the context of the Working Group. Such recommendations were however included in the Report of the Working Group for future consideration by the Working Group or the Conference of the Parties. The co-chairs further remarked on two underutilised options concerning civil society organisations, sending written submissions for publication and participation in the Conference of the Parties. The co-chairs’ briefing was followed by a panel discussion with representatives of non-governmental organisations. The panellists focused their responses on two topics set out by the co-chairs, namely: 1) ‘national challenges and priorities related to child trafficking’, and 2) ‘emerging knowledge and practice regarding the prevention of and response to corruption in the context of trafficking in person’. Following the panel discussion, participants to the constructive dialogue were given the opportunity to take the floor to share their own views and experiences.
Lastly, the participants were invited to reflect on their activities and technical assistance needs as a means of improving the implementation of the Convention and the Trafficking in Persons Protocol. The co-chairs steered interventions from participants based on three set agenda items: a) the role of civil society in the universalisation and implementation of the Trafficking in Persons Protocol; b) State Parties’ technical assistance needs and related civil society engagement/participation; and c) gender, human rights and victim-centred approaches to countering organised crime, in particular trafficking in persons. Discussions highlighted among others the need to enhance multi-stakeholder collaboration among the key stakeholders, namely civil society organisations, national authorities, and the private sector. At the same time, the need for a victim-centred and trauma informed approach was referred to by speakers on several occasions, as a means of providing a comprehensive response to human trafficking, including child trafficking.
Concluding, ICLAIM’s growing expertise and research on criminal activities, primarily human trafficking and smuggling, together with its close cooperation with the public and private sector, the academia, and other relevant stakeholders, are of direct relevance to the ongoing efforts to enhance the impact of the UNTOC and its Protocols, as well as in terms of providing meaningful assistance and support to the national authorities in the context of the UNTOC Review Mechanism.