On Sunday, July 30, CBC's Newsworld aired a documentary called Sex Slave$. It originally aired back in December but IMHO they can't repeat it too many times.
And also IMHO, every sex offender should be made to watch this documentary, as should every patron of pornography and prostitution. Although, sadly, I suspect it might not have as much of a (positive) impact as most decent people would hope.
Sending a thank you to CBC for airing and producing it would be in order, and takes only a minute.
Activists who care about this travesty might also want to contact CBC and enquire about purchasing a copy and arranging screenings for their local communities.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
not exactly an ideal career opportunity
This article illustrates the glass ceiling in the sex "trade."
An Australian brothel owner was sentenced to 10 years in prison Friday for keeping five Thai women as sex slaves.
Not that this woman doesn't deserve her fate, but why aren't they able to catch, prosecute and jail men "with prior convictions" who ruin the lives of far more than five women and treat them even worse?
... the women were brought from Thailand to the southern city of Melbourne with the promise they would be able to work legally in the sex trade and send money home to their families. Prostitution is legal in Australia in limited circumstances. ... Ms. Tang had faced a maximum sentence of 25 years in jail, but the judge said he took into account her lack of prior convictions and the fact that the women were well fed.
Perhaps lawmakers consider that if they're "well fed" then things must be looking up for sex "trade" workers, and they just need a good strong union to improve conditions in other "workplaces" ... such as those Victor Malarek describes in his book The Natashas: The New Global Sex Trade.
An Australian brothel owner was sentenced to 10 years in prison Friday for keeping five Thai women as sex slaves.
Not that this woman doesn't deserve her fate, but why aren't they able to catch, prosecute and jail men "with prior convictions" who ruin the lives of far more than five women and treat them even worse?
... the women were brought from Thailand to the southern city of Melbourne with the promise they would be able to work legally in the sex trade and send money home to their families. Prostitution is legal in Australia in limited circumstances. ... Ms. Tang had faced a maximum sentence of 25 years in jail, but the judge said he took into account her lack of prior convictions and the fact that the women were well fed.
Perhaps lawmakers consider that if they're "well fed" then things must be looking up for sex "trade" workers, and they just need a good strong union to improve conditions in other "workplaces" ... such as those Victor Malarek describes in his book The Natashas: The New Global Sex Trade.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Rogers hypocrisy
So Rogers has launched a PSA Campaign to Combat Online Sexual Exploitation. What good corporate citizens.
Rogers Communications will continue its support of Cybertip.ca's national awareness campaign about online sexual exploitation, by producing two Public Service Announcements for television that aim to raise awareness for Cybertip.ca.
Wonder if Rogers will be running the PSAs during their "adult entertainment" offerings?
Uh, probably not.
Rogers Communications will continue its support of Cybertip.ca's national awareness campaign about online sexual exploitation, by producing two Public Service Announcements for television that aim to raise awareness for Cybertip.ca.
Wonder if Rogers will be running the PSAs during their "adult entertainment" offerings?
Uh, probably not.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Ukraine's SBU liquidates human trafficking channel
Ukraine's Security Service, Kherson Department, detected and liquidated [an] illegal channel for human trafficking from Ukraine to Turkey ...
Article and discussion here .
Article and discussion here .
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Canada pledges assistance for victims of human trafficking
Stop The Trafficking Coalition applauds the recent announcement by the office of the Honorable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, regarding the federal government's adoption of new measures to help victims of human trafficking in Canada.
Canada as an international leader has long needed to demonstrate its deep commitment in treating human trafficking as a crucial and serious human rights issue. While Canada has ratified the U.N. Protocol to Prevent, Punish and Suppress Trafficking in Humans, and has taken the laudable step of passing amendments to the criminal code (Bill C-49), protection of victims of trafficking has , until now, been largely either over-looked or not addressed in terms of definitive constructive planning and commitment.
The victims, often women and children, have for the most part been deported to their country of origin, without proper medical and psychological rehabilitative assistance. It is time that Canada take responsibility for those we have victimized. It is also Canada's responsibility to be an international leader in stopping human trafficking by actively working with other countries to find solutions to this abuse of human rights, both in prosecuting the perpetrators and assisting those innocently victimized.
The proposed guidelines for "Assistance for Victims of Human Trafficking" were outlined this morning during a conference call, chaired by Ben Perrin, Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister for Citizenship and Immigration, Monte Solberg. Participants included government representatives and various non-governmental organizations, including Stop The Trafficking Coalition (STT).
Stop The Trafficking Coalition looks forward to future collaboration and work with the CIC and all those committed to putting these new measures into practice: government and law enforcement bodies as well as non-government organizations, social and immigration service organizations, and grass roots community volunteers.
Irena Soltys
Co-Chair, Stop The Trafficking Coalition
416-806-4469
Canada as an international leader has long needed to demonstrate its deep commitment in treating human trafficking as a crucial and serious human rights issue. While Canada has ratified the U.N. Protocol to Prevent, Punish and Suppress Trafficking in Humans, and has taken the laudable step of passing amendments to the criminal code (Bill C-49), protection of victims of trafficking has , until now, been largely either over-looked or not addressed in terms of definitive constructive planning and commitment.
The victims, often women and children, have for the most part been deported to their country of origin, without proper medical and psychological rehabilitative assistance. It is time that Canada take responsibility for those we have victimized. It is also Canada's responsibility to be an international leader in stopping human trafficking by actively working with other countries to find solutions to this abuse of human rights, both in prosecuting the perpetrators and assisting those innocently victimized.
The proposed guidelines for "Assistance for Victims of Human Trafficking" were outlined this morning during a conference call, chaired by Ben Perrin, Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister for Citizenship and Immigration, Monte Solberg. Participants included government representatives and various non-governmental organizations, including Stop The Trafficking Coalition (STT).
Stop The Trafficking Coalition looks forward to future collaboration and work with the CIC and all those committed to putting these new measures into practice: government and law enforcement bodies as well as non-government organizations, social and immigration service organizations, and grass roots community volunteers.
Irena Soltys
Co-Chair, Stop The Trafficking Coalition
416-806-4469
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Free training program on human trafficking in Illinois
Illinois Regional Institute for Community Policing,
Illinois Fraternal Order of Police,
Illinois Law Enforcement Education Foundation
Training Opportunity
Human Trafficking Awareness
May 8
Illinois State Police Academy
Springfield, Il
A June class will also be at ametro-east Illinois location and day to be announced
Presenter(s): Specially trained Instructors will be from the Illinois State Police and the Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights.
Description: The course curriculum will present issues relative to: modern-day slavery involving the exploitation of persons for commercial sex and forced labor; the global problem and its multibillion-dollar industry; recognizing the U.S. as a country of destination for human trafficking; the laws relative to the crime; the need for interagency cooperation; and the application of the community policing tactics of partnership building and problem solving.
Students will learn about:
Illinois Fraternal Order of Police,
Illinois Law Enforcement Education Foundation
Training Opportunity
Human Trafficking Awareness
May 8
Illinois State Police Academy
Springfield, Il
A June class will also be at ametro-east Illinois location and day to be announced
Presenter(s): Specially trained Instructors will be from the Illinois State Police and the Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights.
Description: The course curriculum will present issues relative to: modern-day slavery involving the exploitation of persons for commercial sex and forced labor; the global problem and its multibillion-dollar industry; recognizing the U.S. as a country of destination for human trafficking; the laws relative to the crime; the need for interagency cooperation; and the application of the community policing tactics of partnership building and problem solving.
Students will learn about:
- Introduction to human trafficking;
- Legal overview
- Investigative considerations
- Victim service providers
- Immigration issues
- Interagency cooperation
- Engaging the community
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
German government biggest friend of human traffickers and pimps
This travesty illustrates that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
As many as 40,000 additional women are expected to be added to the approximately 400,000 prostitutes in Germany's sex industry. German authorities are rushing to accommodate the trade in women by facilitating the construction of mega-brothels and 'sex huts.' Moreover, cities hosting the [World Cup] games will issue special permits for street prostitution, creating a virtual partnership with brothel owners, pimps and traffickers.
In 60+ years the German government hasn't come very far from the days it was forcing women to breed Aryans and bringing slave labourers into the country. Obviously, governing elites in that country have learned little, if anything, from history.
As many as 40,000 additional women are expected to be added to the approximately 400,000 prostitutes in Germany's sex industry. German authorities are rushing to accommodate the trade in women by facilitating the construction of mega-brothels and 'sex huts.' Moreover, cities hosting the [World Cup] games will issue special permits for street prostitution, creating a virtual partnership with brothel owners, pimps and traffickers.
In 60+ years the German government hasn't come very far from the days it was forcing women to breed Aryans and bringing slave labourers into the country. Obviously, governing elites in that country have learned little, if anything, from history.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
George Washington University hosts play and panel discussion on human trafficking
The online student paper of Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, MD reported that on April 22, the George Washington University (GW) hosted a play exposing the harsh truth of human trafficking, followed by a panel discussion with experts.
The evening focused on informing the audience about sexual slavery, which annually forces 700,000 women and children into prostitution ... The presentation included a portion of the play 'Becoming Natashas,' a dramatization of the book The Natashas: Inside the New Global Sex Trade by Victor Malarek.
According to Samantha Healy, a member of Shared Hope International, human trafficking occurs for various reason in Eastern European nations, but the most common condition tends to be economic disparity. ... The actors feel that the play has been widely accepted and beneficial to raising awareness on human trafficking.
Full article here.
For more information on the campaign to stop sexual slavery, visit Shared Hope and Human Trafficking.
The evening focused on informing the audience about sexual slavery, which annually forces 700,000 women and children into prostitution ... The presentation included a portion of the play 'Becoming Natashas,' a dramatization of the book The Natashas: Inside the New Global Sex Trade by Victor Malarek.
According to Samantha Healy, a member of Shared Hope International, human trafficking occurs for various reason in Eastern European nations, but the most common condition tends to be economic disparity. ... The actors feel that the play has been widely accepted and beneficial to raising awareness on human trafficking.
Full article here.
For more information on the campaign to stop sexual slavery, visit Shared Hope and Human Trafficking.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Child sex abuse investigator gets naked on radio
According to WFTV and the Miami Herald, a Florida child sex abuse investigator went on the vile Howard Stern radio program and removed all her clothes so Stern and the rest of the show's cast could assess her body.
She went on the progam not once, but twice, with her police detective husband, who talked about his sex life and gave Stern a t-shirt and a replica of his badge.
Classy.
There's a straw poll on the Miami Herald site asking whether or not she (and, presumably, her husband) should be disciplined. So far the majority of those voting don't think she should.
What a great society that hires such people to "serve and protect," pays huge sums of money to promote perversion, and makes it highly profitable to do so.
She went on the progam not once, but twice, with her police detective husband, who talked about his sex life and gave Stern a t-shirt and a replica of his badge.
Classy.
There's a straw poll on the Miami Herald site asking whether or not she (and, presumably, her husband) should be disciplined. So far the majority of those voting don't think she should.
What a great society that hires such people to "serve and protect," pays huge sums of money to promote perversion, and makes it highly profitable to do so.
Friday, April 07, 2006
ABA-Africa recruiting for four positions
The American Bar Association’s Africa Law Initiative (ABA-Africa) is a public service project that provides assistance in support of legal reforms in Africa.
Currently, ABA-Africa is recruiting for the following positions:
Country Director/Anti-Trafficking Advisor for a Four Year Anti-Trafficking Program in Nigeria
The ideal candidate for the Anti-Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Advisor is a senior legal professional with demonstrated success in the area of criminalprosecution, including sex crimes and domestic violence, as well as rule oflaw programming and management in Africa. The Anti-TIP Advisor will haveprimary responsibilities in developing programmatic synergies between Government Entities, NGO’s and the donor community. To this end, the Anti-TIP Advisor will:
· Develop work plans
· Assist in the design and implementation of training resources
· Trainings in country participants
· Provide oversight of technical specialists
· Provide financial oversight of program; and
· Engage program partners and the donor community.
*Candidate is required to have relevant Africa-based experience.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 references to abaafrica@abanet.org
No phone call accepted.
******************
Country Director/Human Rights Advisor for Liberia
ABA-Africa is currently seeking a Senior Attorney to provide leadership in the development of two legal aid centers in Liberia. The two centers will promote a culture of human rights in Liberia, provide human rights education training and coordinate the training of community based mediators. One center will provide legal aid to the accused. Another center will provide support for victims through legal aide, health awareness and promoting access to the law. The Senior Attorney will:
- Develop and conduct on-going training
- Provide oversight of technical specialists; and
- Ensure effective partner and donor coordination.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 references to abaafrica@abanet.org
No phone call accepted.
*********************
DC –Based Staff Attorney
The Staff Attorney’s principal activities will include day-to-day oversight, program and grant management, responding to inquiries from donors and partners regarding program activities as well as identification of new opportunities to provide additional support and collaborations. The Staff Attorney will oversee the work of the ABA-Africa Program and Finance Associate, in-country staff as well as the work of the ABA volunteer members and sub-grantees.
The Staff Attorney will be charged with ensuring that program activities remain consistent with program and grant objectives. The Staff Attorney must also pay close attention to other organizations in the region and in the countries to ensure program activities are complementary and notredundant. The Staff Attorney should have a law degree with at least five years experience in international development and rule of law programs in Africa. He/she should have spent time working in Africa or working on programs in Africa. Their experience should include program development, training, proposal writing as well as program and grant management, and fundraising.
The Staff Attorney should be able to work independently and have a working knowledge of the political and legal systems in Africa. Special understanding of challenges to program implementation especially in post conflict situations is paramount to this position. Up to date knowledge of major donors’ rules and regulations is required.
*French and Arabic language skills preferred but not required.
*A fair amount of travel is required for this position.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 references to abaafrica@abanet.org
No phone call accepted.
********************
DC-Based Program and Finance Associate
The Program and Finance Associate provides programmatic, financial, and administrative support to attorneys on international technical legal assistance projects. This includes assistance with project development (including preparing detailed budgets and research for grants proposals) and implementation; processing of expense reports, grant budget analysis, tracking and preparation, and maintaining contact with overseas personnel regarding programmatic and financial matters; planning and staffing of meetings, drafting correspondence, and maintaining files.
The Program and Finance Associate is responsible for assisting the Director and Staff Attorney in coordinating activities in the program specific countries and for assisting the Director and Staff Attorney in coordinating the activities of other non-country specific projects. The ProgramAssociate is responsible, together with the Director and Staff Attorney, for monitoring all aspects of the programs in the countries under his/her supervision, including the substantive content of specific projects;c ommunications with representatives overseas; relaying of research requests and providing other support for the ABA- Africa representatives overseas; and communications with U.S. Government and Foreign Embassy personnel.
The Program Associate should have an undergraduate degree with a background in international and cross-cultural relations, and knowledge of the region, including history, politics and geography. Candidate should have at least two years of related work experience and strong written, interpersonal and organizational skills.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 references to abaafrica@abanet.org
No phone call accepted.
Currently, ABA-Africa is recruiting for the following positions:
Country Director/Anti-Trafficking Advisor for a Four Year Anti-Trafficking Program in Nigeria
The ideal candidate for the Anti-Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Advisor is a senior legal professional with demonstrated success in the area of criminalprosecution, including sex crimes and domestic violence, as well as rule oflaw programming and management in Africa. The Anti-TIP Advisor will haveprimary responsibilities in developing programmatic synergies between Government Entities, NGO’s and the donor community. To this end, the Anti-TIP Advisor will:
· Develop work plans
· Assist in the design and implementation of training resources
· Trainings in country participants
· Provide oversight of technical specialists
· Provide financial oversight of program; and
· Engage program partners and the donor community.
*Candidate is required to have relevant Africa-based experience.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 references to abaafrica@abanet.org
No phone call accepted.
******************
Country Director/Human Rights Advisor for Liberia
ABA-Africa is currently seeking a Senior Attorney to provide leadership in the development of two legal aid centers in Liberia. The two centers will promote a culture of human rights in Liberia, provide human rights education training and coordinate the training of community based mediators. One center will provide legal aid to the accused. Another center will provide support for victims through legal aide, health awareness and promoting access to the law. The Senior Attorney will:
- Develop and conduct on-going training
- Provide oversight of technical specialists; and
- Ensure effective partner and donor coordination.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 references to abaafrica@abanet.org
No phone call accepted.
*********************
DC –Based Staff Attorney
The Staff Attorney’s principal activities will include day-to-day oversight, program and grant management, responding to inquiries from donors and partners regarding program activities as well as identification of new opportunities to provide additional support and collaborations. The Staff Attorney will oversee the work of the ABA-Africa Program and Finance Associate, in-country staff as well as the work of the ABA volunteer members and sub-grantees.
The Staff Attorney will be charged with ensuring that program activities remain consistent with program and grant objectives. The Staff Attorney must also pay close attention to other organizations in the region and in the countries to ensure program activities are complementary and notredundant. The Staff Attorney should have a law degree with at least five years experience in international development and rule of law programs in Africa. He/she should have spent time working in Africa or working on programs in Africa. Their experience should include program development, training, proposal writing as well as program and grant management, and fundraising.
The Staff Attorney should be able to work independently and have a working knowledge of the political and legal systems in Africa. Special understanding of challenges to program implementation especially in post conflict situations is paramount to this position. Up to date knowledge of major donors’ rules and regulations is required.
*French and Arabic language skills preferred but not required.
*A fair amount of travel is required for this position.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 references to abaafrica@abanet.org
No phone call accepted.
********************
DC-Based Program and Finance Associate
The Program and Finance Associate provides programmatic, financial, and administrative support to attorneys on international technical legal assistance projects. This includes assistance with project development (including preparing detailed budgets and research for grants proposals) and implementation; processing of expense reports, grant budget analysis, tracking and preparation, and maintaining contact with overseas personnel regarding programmatic and financial matters; planning and staffing of meetings, drafting correspondence, and maintaining files.
The Program and Finance Associate is responsible for assisting the Director and Staff Attorney in coordinating activities in the program specific countries and for assisting the Director and Staff Attorney in coordinating the activities of other non-country specific projects. The ProgramAssociate is responsible, together with the Director and Staff Attorney, for monitoring all aspects of the programs in the countries under his/her supervision, including the substantive content of specific projects;c ommunications with representatives overseas; relaying of research requests and providing other support for the ABA- Africa representatives overseas; and communications with U.S. Government and Foreign Embassy personnel.
The Program Associate should have an undergraduate degree with a background in international and cross-cultural relations, and knowledge of the region, including history, politics and geography. Candidate should have at least two years of related work experience and strong written, interpersonal and organizational skills.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 references to abaafrica@abanet.org
No phone call accepted.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Call for Papers on trafficking
CALL FOR PAPERS
"Anti-Trafficking, Human Rights, and Social Justice"
Special issue for Wagadu, Journal of Transnational Women's and Gender Studies. SUNY Cortland.
This special issue of Wagadu, Journal of Transnational Women's and Gender Studies aims to explore the life experiences, agency, and human rights of the women who are involved in a variety of activities that are characterized as "trafficked" terrains in a deterritorialized and reterritorialized world, in order to shed light on the complicated processes in which anti-trafficking, human rights and social justice are intersected.
While previous studies have highlighted popular discourses, national and international policies, and the victimization and struggles of the trafficked women, few studies have centered on the stories of the migrant subjects themselves to offer a critical reading of the recent competing definitions of trafficking and the complex ways in which the intertwined configurations of gender, race, ethnicity, and nationality complicate the contemporary hegemonic discourse on trafficking.
This special issue will fill this lacuna through theorizing and conceptualizing the intersecting discourses on anti-trafficking, human rights, and social justice from the perspectives of the transnational migrant populations. Specifically, this issue will include articles that will rearticulate the trafficking discourses away from the state control of immigration and the global policing of borders, and reassert the social justice and the needs, agency, and human rights of migrant and working communities.
Some of the topics of investigation may include: a critical analysis of the conflation of trafficking with sex work in international and national discourses and its effects on migrant women; effects on the vulnerable population as a result of the anti-prostitution policy and a denial of human rights of sex workers; suggestions of more effective anti-trafficking interventions that will ameliorate social justice and human rights of the migrant populations; the sociocultural effects on the migrant population as a result of the global and national laws against trafficking, immigration and smuggling; the debate between the recognition of women's human rights to migrate and work as sex workers and the anti-trafficking policy that classifies sex workers as trafficked victims and slaves; a critical analysis of the global anti-trafficking policy and the root causes for the undocumented migration and employment; the relationship between the human rights of the vulnerable population and the state approaches to trafficking; the effects upon the migrant population as a result of the ways in which the state and international policies define "trafficked persons" and "undocumented migrants." the complicated intersections of forced and voluntary labor and migrations at the national and international level.
Please send abstracts (75 words) in English and complete essays (approximately 5,500-7,500 words) by August 1, 2006. Submissions should be sent electronically in MLA or APA format to mailto:zhengt@cortland.edu
TiantianZheng
Sociology/Anthropology
State University of New York
College at Cortland P.O. Box 2000
Cortland, NY 13045
Office phone number: 607-753-2478
Fax: 607-753-5973
Email: zhengt@cortland.edu
"Anti-Trafficking, Human Rights, and Social Justice"
Special issue for Wagadu, Journal of Transnational Women's and Gender Studies. SUNY Cortland.
This special issue of Wagadu, Journal of Transnational Women's and Gender Studies aims to explore the life experiences, agency, and human rights of the women who are involved in a variety of activities that are characterized as "trafficked" terrains in a deterritorialized and reterritorialized world, in order to shed light on the complicated processes in which anti-trafficking, human rights and social justice are intersected.
While previous studies have highlighted popular discourses, national and international policies, and the victimization and struggles of the trafficked women, few studies have centered on the stories of the migrant subjects themselves to offer a critical reading of the recent competing definitions of trafficking and the complex ways in which the intertwined configurations of gender, race, ethnicity, and nationality complicate the contemporary hegemonic discourse on trafficking.
This special issue will fill this lacuna through theorizing and conceptualizing the intersecting discourses on anti-trafficking, human rights, and social justice from the perspectives of the transnational migrant populations. Specifically, this issue will include articles that will rearticulate the trafficking discourses away from the state control of immigration and the global policing of borders, and reassert the social justice and the needs, agency, and human rights of migrant and working communities.
Some of the topics of investigation may include: a critical analysis of the conflation of trafficking with sex work in international and national discourses and its effects on migrant women; effects on the vulnerable population as a result of the anti-prostitution policy and a denial of human rights of sex workers; suggestions of more effective anti-trafficking interventions that will ameliorate social justice and human rights of the migrant populations; the sociocultural effects on the migrant population as a result of the global and national laws against trafficking, immigration and smuggling; the debate between the recognition of women's human rights to migrate and work as sex workers and the anti-trafficking policy that classifies sex workers as trafficked victims and slaves; a critical analysis of the global anti-trafficking policy and the root causes for the undocumented migration and employment; the relationship between the human rights of the vulnerable population and the state approaches to trafficking; the effects upon the migrant population as a result of the ways in which the state and international policies define "trafficked persons" and "undocumented migrants." the complicated intersections of forced and voluntary labor and migrations at the national and international level.
Please send abstracts (75 words) in English and complete essays (approximately 5,500-7,500 words) by August 1, 2006. Submissions should be sent electronically in MLA or APA format to mailto:zhengt@cortland.edu
TiantianZheng
Sociology/Anthropology
State University of New York
College at Cortland P.O. Box 2000
Cortland, NY 13045
Office phone number: 607-753-2478
Fax: 607-753-5973
Email: zhengt@cortland.edu
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
More than 60 trafficked women detained
[On 14 Feb 2006] Kyrgyz security forces on Tuesday removed dozens of young women from a plane in the southern city of Osh set to transport them to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), allegedly for sexual exploitation. ...
Some detained girls from Uzbekistan ... said that they had been offered jobs as cooks and waitresses in the Gulf state. "I was going to work as a cook in a restaurant there," Zalina, an 18-year-old from the central Uzbek city of Samarkand, said, wiping her tears away. Many of the Uzbek women detained were from Samarkand and said they were going to Dubai to take up "an invitation from a sister living there."
However, some appeared to have no illusions about what lay ahead of them. "I knew that I would be making money there, perhaps through sex work, but I don't have any choice. I am an orphan, with no job and no means to survive," said Olesia, 20, from the eastern Uzbek city of Ferghana.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Central Asia is a growing region of origin for human trafficking, with women mainly going to the Gulf states. The main country of origin is Uzbekistan, given that it has the largest population in the region.
Full article here.
Some detained girls from Uzbekistan ... said that they had been offered jobs as cooks and waitresses in the Gulf state. "I was going to work as a cook in a restaurant there," Zalina, an 18-year-old from the central Uzbek city of Samarkand, said, wiping her tears away. Many of the Uzbek women detained were from Samarkand and said they were going to Dubai to take up "an invitation from a sister living there."
However, some appeared to have no illusions about what lay ahead of them. "I knew that I would be making money there, perhaps through sex work, but I don't have any choice. I am an orphan, with no job and no means to survive," said Olesia, 20, from the eastern Uzbek city of Ferghana.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Central Asia is a growing region of origin for human trafficking, with women mainly going to the Gulf states. The main country of origin is Uzbekistan, given that it has the largest population in the region.
Full article here.
Friday, March 31, 2006
2005 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Canada
2005 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Canada
(See section: Trafficking in Persons)
Although the law prohibits trafficking in persons, there were reports that persons were trafficked to, from, and within the country.
On April 14, Vancouver police brought the first case under IRPA against the owner of a massage parlor who was charged with two counts of human trafficking for bringing women into the country under false pretenses and coercing them into prostitution. The case was pending at year's end.
... During the 12-month period ending in February, authorities charged at least 31 individuals under the criminal code with trafficking-related offenses and obtained 19 convictions.
The country was a destination and a transit point to the United States for women, children, and men trafficked for purposes of sexual exploitation, labor, and the drug trade. In its February 2004 assessment, the RCMP indicated that 800 persons were trafficked annually into the country, and 1,500 to 2,200 persons were trafficked from the country to the United States.
More here.
(See section: Trafficking in Persons)
Although the law prohibits trafficking in persons, there were reports that persons were trafficked to, from, and within the country.
On April 14, Vancouver police brought the first case under IRPA against the owner of a massage parlor who was charged with two counts of human trafficking for bringing women into the country under false pretenses and coercing them into prostitution. The case was pending at year's end.
... During the 12-month period ending in February, authorities charged at least 31 individuals under the criminal code with trafficking-related offenses and obtained 19 convictions.
The country was a destination and a transit point to the United States for women, children, and men trafficked for purposes of sexual exploitation, labor, and the drug trade. In its February 2004 assessment, the RCMP indicated that 800 persons were trafficked annually into the country, and 1,500 to 2,200 persons were trafficked from the country to the United States.
More here.
2005 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Ukraine
2005 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Ukraine
(See section: Trafficking In Persons)
The country remained a point of origin for internationally trafficked men, women, and children. The main destinations were Turkey, Russia, West and Central Europe, especially Poland, and the Middle East. ... South Korea, Japan, Nigeria, and Liberia.
Ukraine was also a destination country for individuals trafficked from former Soviet republics and South Asia. ... mothers trafficked their underage children and forced them to beg. There were also reports that both women and men were forced to work in agriculture ... men were mainly trafficked as construction workers and miners. Children who were trafficked across the border or within the country were forced to provide sexual services, engage in unpaid work, or beg. The overwhelming majority of trafficking victims were women, who were used as sex‑workers, housekeepers, seamstresses, and dishwashers. Trafficked women were also used to bear children for infertile couples. ...
... one 1 of every 10 persons knew someone in their community who has been trafficked.
... approximately five to seven million citizens lived and worked abroad, many without legal protection, and were therefore potentially vulnerable to traffickers.
Traffickers used a variety of methods to recruit victims... Traffickers often presented themselves as friends of other friends and deceived the relatives of potential victims. Most of the traffickers were members of organized crime groups.
Corruption in the judiciary and police continued to impede the government's ability to combat trafficking. Local officials reportedly aided organized crime groups involved in trafficking ... local police and border guards received bribes in return for ignoring trafficking.
... investigations of human trafficking revealed abuses of power by governmental officials responsible for issuing passports. ... The low number of prosecutions of government officials for such activities raised questions about whether the government was willing to take serious disciplinary action, especially against high-level officials.
More here.
(See section: Trafficking In Persons)
The country remained a point of origin for internationally trafficked men, women, and children. The main destinations were Turkey, Russia, West and Central Europe, especially Poland, and the Middle East. ... South Korea, Japan, Nigeria, and Liberia.
Ukraine was also a destination country for individuals trafficked from former Soviet republics and South Asia. ... mothers trafficked their underage children and forced them to beg. There were also reports that both women and men were forced to work in agriculture ... men were mainly trafficked as construction workers and miners. Children who were trafficked across the border or within the country were forced to provide sexual services, engage in unpaid work, or beg. The overwhelming majority of trafficking victims were women, who were used as sex‑workers, housekeepers, seamstresses, and dishwashers. Trafficked women were also used to bear children for infertile couples. ...
... one 1 of every 10 persons knew someone in their community who has been trafficked.
... approximately five to seven million citizens lived and worked abroad, many without legal protection, and were therefore potentially vulnerable to traffickers.
Traffickers used a variety of methods to recruit victims... Traffickers often presented themselves as friends of other friends and deceived the relatives of potential victims. Most of the traffickers were members of organized crime groups.
Corruption in the judiciary and police continued to impede the government's ability to combat trafficking. Local officials reportedly aided organized crime groups involved in trafficking ... local police and border guards received bribes in return for ignoring trafficking.
... investigations of human trafficking revealed abuses of power by governmental officials responsible for issuing passports. ... The low number of prosecutions of government officials for such activities raised questions about whether the government was willing to take serious disciplinary action, especially against high-level officials.
More here.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Victor Malarek speech on human trafficking uploaded
Friday, March 17, 2006
Symposium on Canada's response to human trafficking
International Human Rights Program & The Global Anti-Trafficking Working Group presents Ben Perrin, Executive Director of “The Future Group” and U of T Law Alumnus
“Falling Short of the Mark”: Canada’s Inadequate Response in the Fight against Human Trafficking
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
12:15 – 2:00 p.m
Flavelle House – Room FLA
78 Queen's Park
Toronto
The Future Group's international study entitled "Falling Short of the Mark" evaluates the record of various developed countries in protecting victims of human trafficking. Why did Canada get a failing grade? Come and find out at a presentation by the study's main author, and learn about how U of T law students helped out.
In addition, short film “Svetlana’s Journey” will be screened. Winner of the “Best Short Subject” award at the Hollywood Film Festival 2005, it depicts the true story of a young girl who is lured into the sex trade in Bulgaria.
A light lunch will be provided.
More information about The Future Group here.
“Falling Short of the Mark”: Canada’s Inadequate Response in the Fight against Human Trafficking
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
12:15 – 2:00 p.m
Flavelle House – Room FLA
78 Queen's Park
Toronto
The Future Group's international study entitled "Falling Short of the Mark" evaluates the record of various developed countries in protecting victims of human trafficking. Why did Canada get a failing grade? Come and find out at a presentation by the study's main author, and learn about how U of T law students helped out.
In addition, short film “Svetlana’s Journey” will be screened. Winner of the “Best Short Subject” award at the Hollywood Film Festival 2005, it depicts the true story of a young girl who is lured into the sex trade in Bulgaria.
A light lunch will be provided.
More information about The Future Group here.
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