La Strada Documentation Center

Submission La Strada International UNSR report on non-punishment provision

Document number
3388
Date
14 February 2021
Title
Submission La Strada International UNSR report on non-punishment provision
Author/publisher
La Strada International
Availability
View/save PDF version of this document
Document type(s)
Guidelines/Recommendations,
Keywords
non punishment provision UNSR Trafficking punishment residence arrest
Summary
La Strada International submission - Upcoming Report on the implementation of the non-punishment provision by the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children, Ms. Siobhán Mullally

Acknowledging the urgent need to identify trends, gaps and good practices related with the implementation of the non-punishment provision in the context of trafficking, the Platform outline in this submission remaining legal and practical challenges, faced by member NGOs in the European context and recommendations for change.

Serious failures, to protect victims from unjust punishment for acts they have been compelled to commit, occur daily. Despite international and European legally binding standards on non-punishment, and the adoption of specific legislation in several countries, trafficked persons in Europe are often still wrongly detained, prosecuted and punished for offences, they have been compelled to commit in the course, or as a result, of having been trafficked. This is a serious human rights violation and a denial of justice and reinforces distrust towards the criminal justice system by victims and others.