1. Trafficking in
Persons in
Conflict Zonesby
Jonathan Martens
Programme Specialist
Migration Management Department
Geneva, Switzerland
May 19, 2009 – Geneva

2. 1 OVERVIEW OF
2 INTRO TO TIP
3 TIP IN 4 5
CONFLICT IOM’S END
Learning Objectives
IOM AND TIP
ZONES APPROACH
OUTLINE
1. Overview of IOM.
2. Introduction to Trafficking in
Persons
3. Trafficking in Persons in Conflict
Zones
4. IOM’s Approach to Countering
Trafficking

3. 1 OVERVIEW OF
2 INTRO TO TIP
3 TIP IN 4 5
CONFLICT IOM’S END
IOM
IOM AND TIP
ZONES APPROACH
IOM is…
THE MIGRATION AGENCY
The global, intergovernmental
organization dealing with the entire
range of migration issues.
 125 member states and 89 observer
states
 420 field locations in more than 120
countries
 Approx. 6,000 staff
 Approx. 2,000 programmes – about

4. 1
OVERVIEW OF
2 INTRO TO TIP
3 TIP IN 4 5
CONFLICT IOM’S END
IOM AND TIP
ZONES APPROACH
WHAT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING?

5. Human Trafficking is…
 A Process that is
commonly described  An organized
by 3 steps: crime;
1. Recruitment  A violation of
2. Transportation
3. Exploitation
human rights;
…of a person.  A business which
earns organized
criminal groups
approximately
$32bn/year;
 A problem which
may affect
between 600,000

6. Root Causes and
Contributing Factors
Push Factors – egs.
 Relative disparity Root Causes:
 Socio-political
instability
 Profit motive
 Discriminatory  Demand for cheap
cultural practices and labour and services,
attitudes
including sexual
 Environmental
degradation services
Q: Is human
Pull Factors – eg.
trafficking a new
 Desire for better
opportunities – incl. problem?
education,

7. No! Related Instruments
1904 International Agreement for the Suppression of the
White Slave Traffic
1926 Slavery Convention
1930 C29 Forced Labour Convention
1933 International Convention for the Suppression of Traffic
in Women of Full Age
1949 Convention for the Suppression of Traffic in Persons
1956 Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery,
the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to
Slavery
1957 ILO Convention No.105 concerning the Abolition of
Forced Labour
1973 ILO Convention No.138 concerning Minimum Age for
Admission to Employment
1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child
1999 C182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
2000 Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime,
and


8. TIP Protocol Definition
3 key
Art 3(a): “Trafficking in persons” elements:
shall mean
…the recruitment,
transportation, transfer, → Action…
harbouring or receipt of
persons
…by means of force or other → Means…
forms of coercion, of
abduction, of fraud, of
deception, of the abuse of
power or of a position of
vulnerability or of the giving
or receiving of payments or
benefits to achieve the
consent of a person having
control over another
person,
→ Purpose…

9. TIP Protocol
Definition:
Exploitation
 …Exploitation shall
include, at a
minimum, the
exploitation of the
prostitution of
others, or other
forms of sexual
exploitation, forced
labour or services,
slavery or practices
similar to slavery,
servitude or the
removal of organs...

10. 1OVERVIEW OF
2 INTRO TO TIP
3 TIP IN 4 5
CONFLICT IOM’S END
IOM AND TIP
ZONES APPROACH
 TIP in conflict zones  Amplify pressure of
have similar push factors in
characteristics as particular
elsewhere.
 Undermine traditional
support structures
 But, conflicts can…
 Encourage high risk
migration
 Create favourable
conditions for organized
criminal groups to
expand
 Create new markets for
traffickers (eg.

11. the Challenge of
Identification
How do you think you 1. Relocated to an environment
would feel if you where you didn’t understand
were: the language, customs ?
2. Deprived of all your
identification documents ?
3. Debt bonded for $100,000 ?
4. Confined to one room or one
house for 6 months ?
5. Beaten and otherwise
? How likely would you be to assaulted ?
seek assistance? 6. Knew that the safety of your
family depended on your
? Would you cooperate with cooperation ?
law enforcement officials? 7. Saw your abuser’s best
friends wearing police

12. Identifying Victims is
Not Easy
Trafficked persons…
2. May not speak local
language
3. May not see themselves
as victims
4. May feel responsible for a
family debt
5. May not trust police
6. Fear their traffickers
7. May suffer “Stockholm
Syndrome”
8. May have PTSD & Memory
loss

13. Common Reactions How Reactions may be Manifest
in Service Setting
Fear, Insecurity, Reluctance to meet people, to go outside, to be
Anxiety alone; trembling or heart racing, insomnia or
nightmares
Mistrust of Others Reluctance to disclose information; giving false
information
Mistrust of Self; low Passivity; difficulty trusting one’s decisions or
self esteem planning for future; hyper-sensitivity to outside
Self-blame, Guilt, influences expressing oneself; reluctance to
Difficulty in
Shame undergo physical exams or participate in group
therapy
Anger Hostility towards support personnel; self-
inflicted physical harm; overreacting;
Memory Lapses; unwillingness to participate answer questions;
Unwillingness to respond or
Dissociation altering past events; Inability to recall details or
Isolation, entire passages of time
Sadness, depression, disengagement from
Loneliness others and activities, lethargy; self-absorbed;
believing no one can understand
Dependence, Desire to please; easily influenced; inability to
Subservience or assert self or personal preferences; regular
Defensiveness complaining; reluctance to accept assistance or

14. 1 2 3 4 5
OVERVIEW OF
IOM’s Approach
IOM AND TIP
INTRO TO TIP
TIP IN
CONFLICT
ZONES
IOM’S
APPROACH
END
to Counter Trafficking
 IOM has been working
actively to counter
trafficking since Consists of…:
1996/7.  Research and Data
Collection
 Implemented approx.
500 projects in 85  Prevention
countries
 Provided direct  Institutional Capacity
assistance to approx. Building
20,000 trafficked
persons  Victim Protection and
Assistance
 Pursue a
comprehensive

15. Thank You!
For more information, please
contact:
Jonathan Martens
IOM Geneva
jmartens@iom.int
avrctmms@iom.int
International Organization for
Migration (IOM)
17 Route des Morillons
CH-1211 Geneva 19 – Switzerland
www.iom.int