The question guiding my paper asks how policies contribute to/help prevent migrants being targeted for human trafficking. The Palermo protocols were created in order to supplement the “Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.” While there are three protocols, I focus on the following protocol:
“Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against transnational organized crime.”
This protocol was created in an attempt to further combat human trafficking, especially that of women and children. It acknowledges that there are other “instruments” that have been created to combat human trafficking but a universal, international instrument has not been created. By creating a universal code to follow, the goal of this protocol is to help victims to be sufficiently protected. Additionally, this protocol is meant to promote the cooperation of the member states to meet the aforementioned goals. The protocol goes on to detail out the definition of terms, the scope of the application, the criminalization of perpetrators, the protection of the victims of trafficking, prevention protocol, information exchange/training, and border control requirements.
As I mentioned before, there needed to be a more universal document that laid out the details of what trafficking is, how to prevent and punish those who traffic people, as well as a plan to help those who fall victim to trafficking. While it certainly hasn’t ended human trafficking, it is a step towards at least helping other countries to have a basis for their own legislation. Before, it could have been easier for countries to contribute a more minimal effort towards combating human trafficking but now they at least have a standard which to base their efforts on. I especially appreciate the inclusion of an article that addresses the assistance and protection of the victims, however much of it seems to be suggested rather than required.
http://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/sites/antitrafficking/files/united_nations_protocol_on_thb_en_4.pdf