The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Challenges and available means on the way forward towards health care access for victims of trafficking Linda Eriksson IOM Denmark September 2010

2 Objective and structure of presentation The purpose of this presentation to contribute to the discussion on future steps towards improving the access to health care services for victims of trafficking in the Nordic and Baltic countries. 1.The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and its counter-trafficking activities. 2.Comments on the case-studies report 3.Challenges on the way forward

3 IOM: general information IOM is an intergovernmental organization established in 1951 and committed to working with all key stakeholders to achieve the goal of managing migration for the benefit of all. Membership increased from 67 States in 1998 to 127 States in 2010 and continues to grow. IOM has today 17 observer States. Total Expenditure increased from million USD in 1998 and exceeded 1 billion USD in Field locations increased from 119 in 1998 to more than 460 at present. Active projects increased from 686 in 1998 to more than 2,360 at present. Operational staff increased from approximately 1,100 in 1998 to more than 7,000 at present, almost entirely in the field. In 2009, more than 97% of IOM’s funding was in the form of voluntary contributions for projects. The remainder represents the administrative budget, funded from Member State contributions. Source: IOM fact -sheet

4 IOM: main areas of work Source: IOM fact -sheet Points of departure: - Health is a human right - Migration is a social determinant of health.

5 IOM: Counter-trafficking IOM takes a comprehensive approach to trafficking in persons within the wider context of managing migration. IOM’s wide range of activities are implemented in partnership with governmental institutions, NGOs and international organizations. The approach is based on three principles that govern all counter trafficking activities: 1.Respect for human rights 2.Physical, mental and social well-being of the individual and his or her community 3.Sustainability through institutional capacity building of governments and civil society The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been working to counter the trafficking in persons since In this time, the Organization has implemented more than 500 projects in 85 countries, and has provided assistance to approximately 20,000 trafficked persons. IOM’s primary aims are to prevent trafficking in persons, and to protect victims of the trade while offering them options of safe and sustainable integration and/or return and re-integration to their home countries. Source: IOM home-page

6 IOM: Counter-trafficking What do we do? IOM conducts both quantitative and qualitative research of human trafficking. Specific areas of focus have included human trafficking routes and trends, the causes and consequences of human trafficking both for the individual trafficked person and for society at large, as well as the structures, motivations, and modus operandi of organized criminal groups. IOM carries out prevention activities in form of general awareness campaigns in both source and destination countries to educate the general public about trafficking in persons, encourage people to report suspected cases, and equip vulnerable populations with the information necessary to better protect themselves from the recruitment tactics of traffickers. Also, IOM implements prevention projects that aims at tackling the root causes of trafficking. IOM’s technical cooperation activities build the capacity of both government and civil society institutions to better address the challenges posed by human trafficking. IOM offers direct assistance to victims of trafficking in collaboration with its partners. Source: IOM home-page

7 IOM: Counter-trafficking Examples in the area of direct assistance to VoT: Source: IOM home-page In 2000, IOM developed and implemented a standardized CT data-management tool, the Counter- Trafficking Module (CTM), which is the largest global database with primary data on VoTs. The IOM Handbook on Direct Assistance for Victims of Trafficking provides guidance and advice necessary to effectively deliver a full range of assistance to victims of trafficking from the point of initial contact and screening up to the effective social reintegration of the individuals concerned. The Global Assistance Fund for the Protection and Reintegration of Trafficked Persons provides assistance in countries of destination, transit and origin which can include emergency assistance, assisted voluntary return and re- integration assistance.

8 IOM: Counter-trafficking What do we do in the area of THB and health? Source: IOM home-page Expert group initiative Led by IOM and LSHTM Released in 2009 Field experience, Research, Global best practice Handbook Practical Non-clinical Chapters (12 guiding principles) 17 Action Sheets Additional resources

9 IOM: Counter-trafficking What do we do in the area of THB and health? Source: IOM home-page Caring for trafficked persons: building capacity among health providers: 1.Production of Caring for Trafficked Persons in Spanish and Arabic. 2. Capacity-building of health providers through regional trainings in Latin America, Southern Africa, and the Middle East / North Africa 3. Field - testing of the handbook in the targeted regions to validate the guidance prior to final rollout of slightly revised versions. Research on health consequences for victims of trafficking: 1.Indonesia 2.South East Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam)

10 Comments on case studies report Points in common: Demand for more research on the health consequences of trafficking in human beings Existence of extended networks on persons and organizations working on human beings Need for expanding and regulating the system for victim’s identification NGOs providing assistance to victims of trafficking in human beings Need for training Non-physical methods of pressure or violence Important corner-stones in place (legal framework, PoA, knowledge-base, experience, health structure, manageable numbers). Need to identify set of health care services to be offered to VoTs.

11 Challenges 1.Trust-building 2.Research (including mapping of resources) 3.Sustainability 4.Flexibility 5.Capacity-building 6.Definition of specific health care services to be offered to VoT (medical, psychotherapy and drug-related)

12 Way forward Policy position: IOM recommends that all actors strive to overcome the barriers (structural, financial, cultural, technical) that may impede access to health care services for victims of trafficking. Actions for governments: Supportive legal and policy environment Strengthen the capacity of health providers through targeted training Work towards health care services independent of cost barriers, through the identification of health financing mechanisms. Promote bilateral and multilateral and multisectoral, cooperation Promote research Actions for international partners: Technical cooperation Funding Facilitate research Actions for civil society: Work with governments Advocate policies and programmes based on the needs of the VoT Conduct participatory research with migrant communities to identify their health needs and barriers Suggestions on the way forward

13 Suggestions on the way forward Suggestions related to the handbook “Caring for trafficked persons: Guidance for health providers”: Capacity-building of health providers through a Nordic-Baltic regional or national training using the handbook and corresponding training-tools produced by IOM and the LSHTM. Translation of the handbook and corresponding training-tools produced by IOM and the LSHTM Replication of research similar to the “Stolen Smiles Report”.Capacity- building

14 Thank you!