1. 39th FAWCO Biennial Conference, March 18-22, 2009, Vilnius Lithuania Trafficking in Human Beings Problems, mechanisms, search for solution Dr. Audra Sipaviciene Head, IOM Vilnius office

2. 2 Main questions when speaking about human trafficking: How big is the crime of human trafficking (numbers) and what are the mechanisms What is beeing done/ should be done to combact THB IOM – its role and strategy in fight against trafficking in persons

3. 3 International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an Inter-governmental organization committed to work with all parties to achieve the goal of managing migration for the benefit of all Established in 1951 Membership: 125 states members, 17 – observers Structure: –HQ in Geneva –25 Regional and SLM offices –400+ field missions in more than 130 countries

4. 4 Objectives of IOM Assist migrants in need Assist governments when dealing with migration issues Different activities in war, conflict, humanitarian dizaster areas

5. 5 IOM: Main service areas: Movements/ transportation of migrants Assisted Voluntary return Technical cooperation Labour migration Mass information campaigns Migration and Health Counter-trafficking in Human beings

6. 6 6 Trafficking in human beings is one of the three largest criminal activities and sources of funding for ORGANISED CRIME Annual global turnover of trafficking over 9 billion USD (UN Centre for International Crime Prevention) TRAFFICKIN G IN DRUGS TRAFFICKIN G IN WEAPONS TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS

7. 7 Definition of trafficking UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Trafficking of persons shall mean: “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat, use of force or other means of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the receiving or giving of payment… to a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.” “trafficking in children” even if this does not involve any of the means set forth in the definition of trafficking in persons.

8. 88 1. Recruitment 2. Transport 3. Harbouring 4. Receipt Abduction or abuse of power Deceit and/or fraud Exploitation, money Threat of Force or Use of Force ServitudeRemoval of Organs Sexual ExploitationForced Labour What are the means? What are the objectives? What is the process?

9. 9 9 The many faces of trafficking in human beings… Cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment Forced labour Slavery Debt bondage Sexual assault Rape Forgery of documents Forced marriage Forced abortion Corruption Illegal detention Bodily injury Murder Kidnapping Exploitation of Labour Torture

10. 10 Forms of trafficking Sexual exploitation and Prostitution Child commercial sex/ pornography and Sex tourism Forced labour/ Bonded labour Involuntary domestic servitude Forced marriages, forced childbearing Forced petty crimes, begging, etc. (children) Trafficking into armed forces, terrorist organizations, etc. Trafficking in organs Etc. UN.GIFT/ UNODC 2009: Sexual exploitation – 79%; forced labour – 18%

11. 11 Victims’ expectations Work – interesting, decent, easy Salary (usually – very high) Living conditions (very good, cheep, traffickers will take care) Expenditure (very few, cheep, all included) Traffickers’ services (transportation, finding job, etc.) are free or easy re- payable on suggested salary Other advantages (will travel, see the world, will learn languages, etc. Free choice - can leave any time Reality / Trafficking Work - Prostitution Salary, if at all: only enough to survive Living conditions (very poor, dirty, very expensive) Expenditure (huge, for living, food, etc. need to pay as requested; plus fines for “transgressions”, disobedience Debt bondage unrealistically huge, may increase even when “working” intensively Other disadvantages (threats, psychological preasure, physical abuse, Slavery

12. 12  Few risks for traffickers Absence of legislation, judicial practice Symbolic penalties for traffickers, if at all Lack of law enforcement training/ coordination Corruption  Low investment  Victims can be re-sold several times  Huge profits  Support networks related to other criminal activities MOTIVATIONS FOR TRAFFICKERS

13. 13  Poverty, lack of opportunities/ unemployment  Desire for quick and easy money abroad  Social and Political Conflicts - (destabilizes and displaces populations)  Social and cultural practices Marginalisation/Subordination of women and girls Sale of young women by their families Entrusting poor children to better off friends or relatives  Subtle and changing methods of recruitment  Low education, lack of information ROOT CAUSES IN COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

14. 14 Some numbers: WORLD 21,400 identified in 2006 through criminal justice process )in 111 countries, UNODC study, 2009) 800,000 world-wide are trafficked across national borders (US Government sponsored research, 2006), internal trafficking not included 12.3 million people in forced labour, bonded labour, forced child labour, and sexual servitude at any given time (ILO, 2007) 4 to 27 million yearly / other estimates (NGOs) EUROPE 120,000 trafficked to western Europe yearly/ estimates by Interpol

15. 15 Lithuania Estimates: 1500 – 2000 trafficked yearly from Lithuania IOM Vilnius and NGO Database (numbers only on victims assisted) 429 cases during the period 2004 – 2008 Estimates: only less than 10 % can and/ or do seek assistance

16. 16 Victims – who are they? Age (34 % are minors, half of which are bellow 16 years of age)

17. 17 Education Majority of victims had lower than basic education Only 15 % had secondary or higher secondary

18. 18 Occupational status Approximately one third were unemployed; 25 % were secondary school students; 15 % were on maternity leave. Only 2.3 % had regular job

19. 19 Children Even though absolute majority of victims are not married, over 40 % have children Trafficking Victims having children

20. 20 Economic background Only 3 % considered their situation as economically satisfactory; Over 60 % - economic situation was bad or very bad

21. 21 Traffickers’ offer/ Victims’ expectations Majority were expecting a decent job; 16 % knew that they will have to provide sexual service

22. 22 Trafficking – geographical coverage

23. 23 Trafficking – geographical coverage Vilnius 59 Kaunas 56 Klaipėda 48 Šiauliai 33 Panevėžys 24 Marijampolė 24

24. 24 Countries of destination

25. 25 Who are the traffickers? Disproportionate number of women get involved as traffickers (proportion much higher than in other criminal activities, especially organized crime Cases when former victims become perpetrators

26. 26 What can/ should be done? What does IOM?

27. 27 Victim-centred and Rights-based Concern for the victim lies at the centre of all IOM’s counter trafficking activities. Why “victims”? Deceived, coerced, exploited, vulnerable, etc… IOM’S APPROACH TO COMBATTING TRAFFICKING

28. 28 IOM Aproach: The Three Ps PREVENTIONPROTECTIONPROSECUTION Root causes Awareness Raising Sound Migration Policies Reintegration Empowering Rights Based Criminalisation Investigation International Cooperation

29. 29 IOM Counter-trafficking activities in Lithuania Prevention  Research/data collection  Awareness-raising/ information campaigns  Work with youth/ schoolchildren Protection  Voluntary Return and Reintegration  Shelter and accommodation  Medical and psychosocial assistance  Legal counseling  Vocational training, job search Prosecution  Law Enforcement Training  Legislation and Operational Procedures

30. 30

31. 31 Assistance to victims In destination countries  urgent safe place for a victim  preparation of documents necessary for return  shelter and accommodation during document preparation and/or testimony  medical assistance  legal assistance  psychological assistance  safe return home (transportation, including transit assistance ) In Baltic countries  arrival assistance, internal transportation  document restoration  medical assistance  legal/ social assistance  psychological assistance  shelter and accommodation  new skills/ professional training  assistance in finding job

32. 32 Providing assistance – cooperation scheme IOM IN DESTINATION COUNTRY NGO IN DESTINATION COUNTRY BALTIC EMBASSY IN DESTINATION COUNTRY LAW ENFORCEMEN T ABROAD MEDICAL INSTITUTION IN BALTIC COUNTRY PSYCHOLOGIS T PROFESSIONAL TRAINING/ EMPLOYMENT AGENCY (State and Private) COORDINATED ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING LEGAL/ SOCIAL CONSULTATION IOM IN BALTIC COUNTRY VICTIM’S FAMILY/ FRIENDS BALTIC NGO/ GO LAW ENFORCEMENT IN BALTIC COUNTRY VICTIM

33. Future needs Comprehensiveness and Continuity Protection of victims Prosecution/ punishment of traffickers Prevention, especially among: –Youth –Vulnerable groups –Economically disadvantaged population Monitor development of new trends/ forms/ mechanisms 33

34. 34 Thank you! For contacts: Audra Sipaviciene Head, IOM Vilnius Office Jaksto 12, 4th floor, Vilnius 01105, Lithuania tel.: +370 52 610115 Fax: +370 52 611326 e-mail: iomvilnius@ iom.lt www.iom.lt