Policy and legislative recommendations towards the effective implementation of the non-punishment provision with regard to victims of trafficking
- Document number
- 2979
- Date
- 2013
- Title
- Policy and legislative recommendations towards the effective implementation of the non-punishment provision with regard to victims of trafficking
- Author/publisher
- OSCE
- Availability
- View/save PDF version of this document
- Document type(s)
- Guidelines/Recommendations, International Law, Meeting Documentation/Conference Reports,
- Keywords
- human trafficking, human rights, human rights-based approach, non-punishment
- Summary
- The principle of non-punishment of victims is affirmed in a number of international standards, including legally and politically-binding instruments. In the OSCE region, participating States committed to endorse a human rights-based and victim-centred approach to anti-trafficking action, an approach that respects the dignity and human rights of trafficking victims at all times. Such a
human rights approach calls for governments and parliaments to take the lead in their national jurisdictions to ensure that legislation and policy are not negatively impacting on the protection of rights of trafficked persons. The non-punishment of victims of trafficking for offences they have committed as a consequence, or in the course, of being trafficked is an essential element of such a human rights approach. With a view to supporting participating States in the implementation of these commitments, the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (hereinafter SR), in close consultation with partners in the Alliance against Trafficking in Persons, has engaged in the development of policy guidance to assist States in the translation into practice of the commitment on the non-punishment of victims of trafficking.
This paper examines the principle of non-punishment in international law, explores the scope of its application and discusses the challenges in its practical implementation. It includes a number of practical examples and court cases which were made available by national agencies, NGOs and legal professionals who have been examining these issues extensively, in particular the Belgian Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism, the Bureau of the Dutch National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings, as well as UK courts and lawyers. The paper concludes with the provision of practical guidance, and the formulation of policy and legislative recommendations, towards the effective implementation of the non-punishment provision with regard to victims of trafficking.