https://www.eda.admin.ch/deza/en/home/themes-sdc/migration/human-trafficking.html
Human trafficking â prevention and strengthening of local capabilities
SDC focus
SwitzerÂland regards human trafÂfickÂing as a seriÂous vioÂlaÂtion of human rights. The SDC is parÂticÂuÂlarÂly involved in tackÂling this probÂlem in eastÂern Europe and the South CauÂcaÂsus. When it comes to human trafÂfickÂing, these are not only counÂtries of oriÂgin but also of tranÂsit and desÂtiÂnaÂtion. The SDCâs activÂiÂties include:
- impleÂmentÂing inforÂmaÂtion camÂpaigns and raisÂing awareÂness among young peoÂple, parÂticÂuÂlarÂly marÂginÂalised groups withÂin sociÂety (e.g. boardÂing school pupils and orphans)
- strengthÂenÂing nationÂal repaÂtriÂaÂtion proÂgrammes for vicÂtims of human trafÂfickÂing and, where posÂsiÂble, develÂopÂing interÂnaÂtionÂal programmes
- strengthÂenÂing regionÂal netÂworks, organÂiÂsaÂtions and key playÂers that are involved in the preÂvenÂtion of human trafÂfickÂing and the assisÂtance, repaÂtriÂaÂtion and reinÂteÂgraÂtion of vicÂtims of trafficking
- conÂtributÂing to interÂdeÂpartÂmenÂtal workÂing groups, such as the workÂing group on interÂnaÂtionÂal coopÂerÂaÂtion on migraÂtion and the Swiss CoorÂdiÂnaÂtion Unit against the TrafÂfickÂing in PerÂsons and the SmugÂgling of Migrants, in order to ensure that SwitzerÂland has a coherÂent domesÂtic and forÂeign polÂiÂcy in this area
Background
Human trafÂfickÂing is a globÂal probÂlem, one that has intenÂsiÂfied over the last 20 years as globÂalÂiÂsaÂtion has increased. The poorÂer the counÂtry, the easÂiÂer it is for crimÂiÂnal trafÂfickÂing netÂworks to recruit peoÂple. Human trafÂfickÂing is parÂticÂuÂlarÂly wideÂspread in Latin AmerÂiÂca, south-east Asia, and eastÂern and south-east Europe. CounÂtries of tranÂsit and desÂtiÂnaÂtion are typÂiÂcalÂly indusÂtriÂalised countries.
By conÂtrast with peoÂple smugÂglers, who genÂerÂalÂly transÂport conÂsentÂing indiÂvidÂuÂals to anothÂer counÂtry in return for payÂment, human trafÂfickÂers make false promisÂes in relaÂtion to employÂment or marÂriage and threatÂen or use vioÂlence in order to exploit their vicÂtims and enslave them. HowÂevÂer, it is difÂfiÂcult to draw a clear line between these two types of activity.
The InterÂnaÂtionÂal Labour OrganÂiÂsaÂtion estiÂmates that in 2012, 21 milÂlion peoÂple around the world became vicÂtims of human trafÂfickÂing, either in their own counÂtry or abroad. Some 90% of casÂes involve forced labour. Of those, one-fifth conÂcern sexÂuÂal exploitaÂtion, while four-fifths relate to the agriÂculÂturÂal secÂtor, the buildÂing trade, indusÂtry or domesÂtic staff in priÂvate households.
AccordÂing to estiÂmates by the EuroÂpean ComÂmisÂsion and the OrgaÂniÂzaÂtion for SecuÂriÂty and Co-operÂaÂtion in Europe, 55% of all vicÂtims worldÂwide are women or girls.
These days, human trafÂfickÂing is one of the most lucraÂtive crimes there is, on a par with the trafÂfickÂing of weapons and drugs. The total finanÂcial proÂceeds of human trafÂfickÂing worldÂwide are in excess of USD 10 billion.
Current challenges
Human trafÂfickÂing is an interÂnaÂtionÂal probÂlem, one that has been exacÂerÂbatÂed by the interÂnet and the fact that travÂel has become so much easÂiÂer. In order to effecÂtiveÂly tackÂle human trafÂfickÂing, preÂvenÂtive meaÂsures need to be impleÂmentÂed and vicÂtims need to be betÂter proÂtectÂed. There is also a need to increase the numÂber of prosÂeÂcuÂtions and conÂduct more intenÂsive inforÂmaÂtion camÂpaigns in migrantsâ counÂtries of oriÂgin regardÂing the danÂgers of ecoÂnomÂic migration.
InterÂnaÂtionÂal coopÂerÂaÂtion is also imporÂtant. Thus far, howÂevÂer, this has only addressed selectÂed aspects of human trafÂfickÂing, such as the trafÂfickÂing of women and forced labour. AccordÂingÂly, furÂther regÂuÂlaÂtion and agreeÂments are required at the interÂnaÂtionÂal level.