This course can be taken as stand-alone, or as part of the Diploma in Human Rights and Forced Displacement.
Course Description
Trafficking in Persons (TIP) is a global human rights violation that constitutes a contemporary form of slavery. It has acquired alarming proportions generating profits of billions of dollars annually, an organized trade in which women and girls are particularly vulnerable. This course is designed to introduce participants to the different manifestations of trafficking, and to examine the broad spectrum of issues related to trafficking from an international and regional legal framework perspective. The course is oriented towards a human rights based approach to TIP and the recognition of the trafficked person as a ‘victim of crime’. Special emphasis will be given to developing an understanding of the measures taken to protect human rights of the trafficked persons.
While the course primarily focuses on commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking for forced prostitution, trafficking for other purposes will also be fully addressed. Such practices include forced labour, the exploitation of immigrant females for domestic services, removal and sale of human organs, the sale of children for irregular inter-country adoption, and the sale of wives legalized by national / transnational marriages.
The course will lay special emphasis on all aspects of Prevention of TIP, Protection of trafficking victims and Prosecution of offenders. Critical challenges and appropriate responses to issues ranging from Rescue of the trafficked victims to comprehensive Integration into their families / society would also be examined.
The course will also look closely at diverse contemporary debates surrounding complexity of human trafficking, especially sex – work and trafficking in women; legalizing prostitution as a means of protecting women against trafficking; migration within and across national borders and trafficking in women; the relationship between supply and demand in diverse forms of trafficking and the impact of economic boycotts and sanctions in addressing trafficking in the supply chain.
The course will finally examine the roles of government, law enforcement, the international community, civil society and individual actors in addressing the problem and will conclude with strategies and ‘good practices’ that have proven effective in different parts of the world. Strong emphasis will be placed throughout the course not only on theory and legal frameworks, but also on case studies resourced globally.
Course Outline
Week 1: Introduction to Trafficking in Persons: Clarifying Concepts, Dimensions and Different Forms of Human Trafficking
This week will contain study of topics (inter alia) such as – meaning of TIP; meaning of different terminologies (e.g. ‘victim’ vis-à-vis ‘survivor’); conceptual difference between TIP and Smuggling of Migrants; clarifying difference between TIP and prostitution; myths and realities surrounding prostitution; different types of TIP; magnitude and incidence; root causes of human trafficking; push and pull factors; supply and demand theories; organized crime networks and its impact on TIP; etc.
Week 2: International and Regional Anti – Trafficking Legal Frameworks
This week will contain study of topics (inter alia) such as – all International (UN + ILO) Protocols / Treaties / Conventions pertaining to Human Trafficking and Trafficking in Children; UN Model Law on TIP; Regional Frameworks from Europe, South Asia, South East Asia, Africa, etc.
Week 3: The 3 P’s Approach to Combat Trafficking in Persons: Prevention, Protection and Prosecution
This week will contain study of topics (inter alia) such as – UN Trafficking Protocol and the 3 P’s approach to deal with TIP; details of the 3 P’s; rights of victims of trafficking; successful case studies on all the 3 P’s as ‘good practices’.
Week 4: ‘Rescue – Rehabilitation – Repatriation – Integration’ of Trafficked Victims: Critical Challenges and Responses
This week will contain study of topics (inter alia) such as – in depth discussion of all strategies from rescue of victim to integration into family / society (RRRI – acronym used by UNICEF); challenges at each of the 4 stages for law enforcement, government and other stakeholders and the appropriate responses; successful case studies globally as ‘good practices’.
Week 5: Trafficking in Persons: Debates and Critiques
This week will contain study of topics (inter alia) such as sex – work and trafficking in women; legalizing prostitution as a means of protecting women against trafficking; migration within and across national borders and trafficking in women; the relationship between supply and demand in diverse forms of trafficking and the impact of economic boycotts and sanctions in addressing trafficking in the supply chain).
Week 6: Multi Disciplinary Response to Trafficking in Persons: Role of Government, Law Enforcement, Non – Governmental Organizations, International Community and Others
This week will contain study of topics (inter alia) such as – role / duties/ responsibilities of all relevant stakeholders in a multi – disciplinary and multi – stakeholder approach to combat TIP; why fragmented approaches do not succeed and why is an integrated response to combat human trafficking required.
Who Should Apply
The course is intended for criminal justice practitioners, staff members of civil society organizations and (inter)governmental organizations involved in combating trafficking in persons, staff members of (international) development agencies, academics and others interested in the human rights of trafficked victims. Candidates should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use.
How to Apply:
For applying, please fill out the following enrollment form. Candidates can also send their CV and a short Statement of Purpose to admissions@hrc.upeace.org.
