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Unedited
Version
Asia-Pacific
Seminar of Experts in Preparation for the World Conference
against Racism:
Migrants and Trafficking in Persons with Particular Reference to
Women and Children
5-7 September 2000
Bangkok, Thailand
CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
I.
CONCLUSIONS
1.
The Seminar noted that migration was the movement of people both
within and across national borders and that people migrated,
inter alia because of poverty, “perceived deprivation”,
racial discrimination, internal conflicts, lack of opportunity,
discrimination against women, and to reunite separated families.
2.
The Seminar also noted that trafficking was a major concern to
the Asia- Pacific region and that the primary victims were women
and children. Trafficking often involved the involuntary movement
of people within countries and across boundaries, incited by
coercion, trickery or deceit. Sometimes trafficking was a
result of racial discrimination and/or the limited social and
economic opportunities available to the trafficked persons and
their families.
3.
The Seminar further noted that:
(i) There was a critical and close relationship between the
movement of people and discrimination, including such forms as
racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;
(ii) These relationships were often of a long-standing nature,
such that some contemporary issues of racism and discrimination
were the result of long-ago migrations; and,
(iii) Trafficking and irregular migration were very often the
result of the absence of avenues for legal migration.
4.
The Seminar recognized that:
(i) Labour migration was largely from poorer regions to more
prosperous regions and from less-developed to more developed
countries. It was occasioned by poverty and scarcity of
employment in the sending country and demand for labour in the
receiving country;
(ii) Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance might be deeply embedded as the cause and
the effect of the migration of labour and the trafficking in
human beings within a country and across national frontiers;
(iii)
Racist ideology was often manifest in discriminatory immigration
laws and practices which gave preference to entrants of a certain
race, religion, or national or ethnic origin while excluding or
making difficult the entry of persons belonging to a specific
group based on their race, gender, colour, religion, or national,
or ethnic origin.
(iv)
Racist and sexist ideology, structures and institutions could
contribute to the “commodification” of women’s
sexuality. Some women of certain racial or ethnic groups were
subjected to abuse in larger measure than others on account of
racial attitudes and perceptions.
(v)
Persons, especially women and children, who were trafficked
through deceit or by force were subjected to serious violations
of their human rights and often became helpless prisoners in
brothels and other establishments from which they could not
escape.
(vi)
Migrants and their families often suffered from indignities and
could become the victims of unequal treatment and discrimination
in remuneration and other conditions of work as compared to the
nationals of the receiving country.
(vii)
There was considerable trafficking in children in the countries
of the region for sexual abuse, pornography, domestic work, and
use for specific sports. This might be largely based on,
and involve, racism and racial discrimination.
5.
The Seminar also recognized that:
(i) The Constitutions of most countries in the Asia-Pacific
region contained protections against racism and racist and
religious discrimination. To make these protections enforceable
in the national courts, they would have to be incorporated into
domestic legislation, policy, practice and jurisprudence.
(ii)
The enactment of legislation alone would not be sufficient to
promote positive attitudinal and behavioural changes in the
hearts and minds of people with regard to the scourge of racism
and racial discrimination.
(iii)
Such attitudinal and behavioural change was a slow process, which
must be continually monitored.
6.
The Seminar also recognized the positive political, economic and
social roles and contributions of groups that faced
discrimination and that the full participation of such groups was
an essential element in eliminating all forms of discrimination.
7. The Seminar noted that there was no country in the region
which was free from racism and racial discrimination as defined
in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Racial Discrimination.
8.
The Seminar welcomed regional initiatives on trafficking such as
the Bangkok Accord and Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in
Women (1998) and the Asian Regional Initiative against
Trafficking in Women and Children (Manila Declaration, 2000) and
in particular noted the need for:
(i)
Research, analysis and study of problems relating to migrant
labour and trafficking in women and children;
(ii)
Elaboration of National Plans of Action in each country
referring, inter alia, to trafficking in and exploitation of
women and children;
(iv)
Preparation, in collaboration with NGOs, of an analysis of the
national situation in regard to the problems of migrant workers
within the territory and trafficking in women and children;
(v)
Establishment of special units in the law enforcement agencies,
which would include female police officers, for dealing with
issues of trafficking in persons, especially women and children;
(vi)
Prevention of trafficking in persons and the establishment of
community-based organizations for combating trafficking;
(vii)
Protection, rehabilitation and humanitarian treatment of victims
of trafficking and punishment of those engaged in trafficking;
(viii)
Repatriation of the victims of trafficking and their
rehabilitation and reintegration in their country of origin; and,
(ix)
Information in regard to monitoring mechanisms.
II.
RECOMMENDATIONS
A.
General
9.
The Seminar urged the Governments in the region to demonstrate
the political will needed to successfully establish and implement
policies aimed at combating racism, and to pay particular
attention to the manifestations of racial discrimination in the
migration and trafficking of persons.
10.
The Seminar encouraged the promotion of forms of good governance
based on the principles of rule of law, equality and
non-discrimination and that reflect the full diversity of a given
State. A model code of conduct should be developed for political
parties so those members of those parties refrain from public
utterances that could encourage racism and racist sentiment among
the public.
11.
The Seminar urged the Governments to encourage the establishment
of institutions and mechanisms that include representatives of
Government, non-governmental organizations and grass-roots groups
to protect against, and prevent, racial and gender-based violence
against migrants and trafficked persons in host and transit
countries, in situations of custody and incarceration and in the
context of repatriation.
12.
The Seminar urged the States to recognize the role of
non-governmental organizations and grass-roots organizations as
active partners in addressing the problems of migration and
trafficking and in combating all forms of discrimination, and to
secure their participation in all processes leading up to the
World Conference against Racism.
13.
The States should ensure that the mandates of all national and
regional human rights mechanisms and institutions include the
elimination of all forms of racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance.
14.
The World Conference against Racism should encourage all States
and international, regional and civil society organizations to
take all necessary steps to eradicate racial discrimination as
defined in article 1(1) of the International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to mean
"any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based
on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has
the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition,
enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and
fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural
or any other field of public life."
15.
The World Conference should urge all States parties to the
Convention and others to conduct nationwide campaigns to raise
awareness among State organs, such as the judiciary, law
enforcement agencies, legislators, public officials as well as
civil society organizations, including associations involved with
migrants and other vulnerable groups, concerning the provisions
of the Convention.
B.
Racism and racial discrimination in the context of migration and
trafficking
16.
The Seminar noted that racist ideology and racial, ethnic and
gender discrimination were root causes of migration and
trafficking within countries and across national borders and
occurred in both countries of origin and countries of
destination. On the other hand, this ideology and racial
and gender discrimination could create a demand in the region or
country of destination which could contribute to migration and
trafficking.
17
.
Similarly, racist ideology was manifested in discriminatory
immigration laws and practices which gave preferences to
nationals of some countries while excluding or making difficult
the entry of nationals of other countries. This was the result of
racist and stereotyped attitudes towards certain groups. States
should make greater efforts to investigate and address the root
causes of migration and trafficking, including poverty, political
and social oppression, ethnic, religious and gender- and
caste-based discrimination, and situations of violence and armed
conflict.
18.
The States should identify and address the root causes of
migration and trafficking such as poverty, unemployment,
political and social oppression and social exclusion, as a first
step towards eliminating all forms of discrimination against
trafficked persons and migrants and their families. In this
context, the World Conference should underline the importance of
all human rights, in particular the realization of economic,
social and cultural rights and the right to development.
19.
The States should acknowledge, redress and reform legislation,
policies and programmes which have racist content or racist
effect, and those which have marginalized, displaced or severely
discriminated against indigenous peoples and have contributed to
the deprivation of their land rights, the destruction of their
cultures and have heightened their vulnerability to migration and
trafficking.
20
. The
Seminar noted that while the socio-economic process referred to
as ”globalization” had brought greater economic
opportunities, it had also contributed to widening the gap
between rich and poor within and across countries in the
Asia-Pacific region. The Seminar identified three features which
have contributed to the problems of migration and trafficking:
(i)
The benefits of globalization were extremely uneven and it had
deepened inequality in the region;
(ii)
It has led to deeper divisions along racial, gender and
class/caste lines while contributing to and exacerbating a
feeling of “perceived deprivation” in relation to
others; and,
(iii)
This process had been accompanied by more restrictive migration
and asylum policies in more developed countries as well as labour
deregulation policies in underdeveloped countries, leading to an
increase in trafficking in persons and irregular migration.
21
. The World
Conference should recommend that any economic development
programmes in sending countries must ensure that they do not
simply further entrench elites whose positions are often
legitimized by discriminatory attitudes engendered by racism,
sexism, ethnicity and class/caste. Receiving countries
should take necessary measures, including reviewing immigration
laws and policies, to adjust to these new circumstances and the
effects of economic globalization.
1.
Migrants
22.
The Seminar noted with regret that the International Convention
on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and
Members of Their Families (1990) had not yet come into force on
account of the absence of the required number of ratifications
and urged States that had yet done so, to ratify the Convention.
23.
Given the increasing feminization of migration, it is recommended
that special focus be put on gender issues and gender
discrimination, particularly the multiple jeopardy that occurs
when gender, class, race and ethnicity intersect. Human
rights treaty bodies, in particular CEDAW, CERD and CRC, should
pay special attention to this area when examining periodic
reports of States parties that are countries of origin and/or
destination. Detailed research should be undertaken not
only in respect of human rights violations perpetrated against
women migrants, but also on the contribution that women make to
the economies of their countries of origin and destination/host
countries.
24.
The Seminar noted with concern the vulnerability of a new
subgroup of migrant children whose numbers were increasing,
namely the children of migrant women who had been raped; children
of mixed parentage and children of migrants born in the
destination/host country. These children were subjected to racial
discrimination and were often stigmatized not only in host
countries but also in their home communities and countries.
25.
The Seminar recommended that the relevant authorities,
institutions and organizations study and identify the
vulnerabilities and needs of children in order to provide
immediate relief and to establish mechanisms that would affirm
their identity as integral parts of their community.
26.
The Seminar recommended that immediate steps be taken to provide
education, training and skills development to women and children
in order to diminish so as to their vulnerability and thereby
reduce the incidence of migration.
27.
Subjects relevant to the interrelationship of migration, racism
and xenophobia should be incorporated in the curricula of formal
and informal education both in labour-receiving and
labour-sending countries so that children and adults alike could
become aware of the economic and cultural nexus between migration
and racism - which will result in the appreciation of diversity
and the development of tolerance.
28.
The Seminar recommended that further studies be conducted on how
racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of
intolerance were reflected in laws, policies, institutions and
practices and how this had contributed to the vulnerability,
victimization and exclusion of migrants especially women and
children.
29.
The World Conference against Racism should recognize forced
migration of populations as a manifestation of racism and should
urge States to ban forced migration of populations and to take
effective remedial measures, including providing for reparation
to and withdrawal of these populations.
30.
The Seminar urged States to ensure to victims of racial
discrimination and racial violence, in particular the most
vulnerable groups, including migrants, their right to seek from
tribunals just and adequate reparation or satisfaction for any
damage suffered as a result of such discrimination.
31.
The Seminar noted that the resolution of migration-related
problems such as racism, xenophobia, and related intolerance and
possible conflicts that resulted therefrom should be shared and
that international responsibility requires the full commitment of
both sending and receiving countries. The Seminar urged States to
modify immigration legislation and policies in order to improve
accessibility to legal avenues for migration, and ensure
transparency of the processes related to migration.
32.
The Seminar recommended that States review and revise immigration
laws and policies in order to harmonize them with the realities
of actual presence and importation of migrant labour, e.g. by
creating an “unskilled and semi-skilled workers” labour
category separate from categories under the trainee system.
33.
Labour-receiving countries of the region should adopt labour laws
based on minimum international labour standards and should
introduce procedures and assistance for migrant workers to ensure
their protection under those laws. They should also, in
consultation with employers’ and workers’ organizations
and NGOs, modify their immigration policies taking into
consideration their short-, medium- and long-term labour market
needs and the basic rights of migrant workers.
34.
The Seminar recommended the inclusion of domestic work in the
formal labour laws so that domestic workers, who were mainly
women, were accorded recognition as workers and were not treated
as the property of their employers and were provided protection
under the law, social security, access to legal assistance and
other benefits.
35.
Countries in the region should establish better information and
data systems on migration movements and should undertake policy
analysis and review legislation and procedures on migration
policies. In addition, States were encouraged to create National
Focal Points or statutory bodies to monitor the status of the
migrant workers and their families. Specialized agencies and
other concerned institutions should provide assistance in the
accomplishment of those activities as necessary.
36.
States in the region were encouraged to support the establishment
of associations of migrant workers and to remove all barriers to
their freedom of association, as identified in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
37.
The World Conference should address the effects of economic
globalization on migration trends and the resurgence of racism,
racial discrimination and xenophobia and related intolerance.
38.
Criminalizing, dehumanizing and stereotyping migrants as social
commodities represented a dimension of victimization and were a
manifestation of racial discrimination.
39.
The World Conference against Racism should encourage countries
receiving migrants to safeguard their human rights, particularly
those of unaccompanied minors. Additionally, migrants should not
be detained and countries of origin must strictly enforce laws
against the illegal exit of migrants, especially minors.
40.
Governments of labour-sending and –receiving countries
should institute policies, programmes and specific measures
aiming towards the planned, safe and productive reintegration of
migrants in their home countries. The Seminar underlined the need
for intensive efforts to assist the NGOs involved in these
reintegration programmes and initiatives and that they should be
provided financial support by Governments and international
organizations.
41.
It was recommended that enforcement strategies and migration
control measures should be accompanied by relevant training of
public officials and institutional capacity-building in sending
countries in order to reduce corruption.
2.
Trafficking
42.
The World Conference should recognize that certain racial and
ethnic groups, indigenous peoples, migrants and the poor in
society become victims of trafficking because of their
vulnerability and that all States need to take effective measures
to improve the civil, political, economic, social and cultural
status of such persons, with specific programmes of affirmative
action.
43.
The World Conference should urge States to take special measures
to ensure that every child, woman and man is registered and
issued with legal identity documents to reduce the incidence of
statelessness and trafficking. This preventive measure would
protect individuals and gain them access to available legal
procedures and remedies and development opportunities.
44.
The Seminar recommended that strategies to combat trafficking
should be comprehensive and multisectoral in their approach and
involve several key partners. They should be directed towards:
(i)
Addressing the root causes of poverty: lack of education,
awareness, equal access to productive resources and employment;
(ii)
Protection strategies that address aspects pertaining to the safe
rescue, return and reintegration of persons who have been
trafficked;
(iii)
Promotion, through the enactment of appropriate laws at the
national level, of the effective investigation of
cases and the prosecution of traffickers;
(iv)
Regional and bilateral reciprocal arrangements and mechanisms to
promote the harmonization of laws and practices in the region;
and
(v)
Sensitizing State actors to the experiences and needs of women
and children who are at risk of being, and who have been
trafficked.
45.
States should encourage the business sector, in particular the
tourist industry and Internet providers, to develop codes
of conduct with a view to protecting trafficked persons,
especially those in prostitution, against gender-based and racial
discrimination and promoting their rights, dignity and security.
States should encourage the establishment of independent civil
society committees to monitor compliance with such codes of
conduct.
46.
The World Conference should encourage all States to develop
national laws that deal with trafficking in persons, and allocate
resources to ensure law enforcement and the creation of adequate
judicial institutions to deal with trafficking cases.
States should be further encouraged to create inter-ministerial
task forces or national focal points to combat trafficking in
persons.
47.
The World Conference should encourage all States to develop
bilateral and cross-border cooperation to eliminate trafficking
in persons. This should allow for cross-border arrests and
prosecution.
48.
The World Conference should encourage States to take effective
measures for the rehabilitation of the victims of trafficking and
to recognize the important role played by NGOs in rehabilitation
programmes and the needs of NGOs for financial support
49.
The World Conference should address the different manifestations
of trafficking of women and children, in particular the abhorrent
acts of trafficking of children for prostitution, pornography,
slavery and domestic work.
50.
As part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the demand for
trafficked children and infants, both sending and receiving
States should seek ways to simplify procedures in order to reduce
the waiting period for legitimate adoptions.
51.
The World Conference should recommend that the General Assembly
declare a United Nations Year or Decade against Trafficking in
Persons, especially in Women and Children.
52.
The World Conference should recommend that the High Commissioner
for Human Rights coordinate the efforts of treaty bodies,
specialized agencies, regional organizations, intergovernmental
organizations and NGOs in respect of the racist dimensions of
trafficking and that she monitor actions resulting from such
efforts.
53.
The Seminar recommended that the Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights (OHCHR) continue and strengthen its efforts to
protect and promote the human rights and the dignity of victims
and potential victims of trafficking, especially women and
children. The World Conference should encourage Member States to
support the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,
financially and otherwise, in these efforts.
54.
The United Nations should make adequate budgetary allocations to
the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to address
trafficking of persons through its technical cooperation
programme. States should be called upon to create a United
Nations voluntary fund to eradicate trafficking.
55.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights should continue her
efforts to ensure that the draft Protocol to Prevent, Suppress
and Punish Trafficking in Persons and the draft Protocol against
the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Air and Sea - both
supplementing the United Nations Convention on Transnational
Organized Crime - maintain a focus on the human rights of the
victims of trafficking and that the text reflect the principles
of non-discrimination contained in the International Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
C.
Ratification and implementation of relevant international
instruments
57.
The Seminar noted with regret that there were several countries
in the region which had not ratified the relevant United Nations
and International Labour Organization Conventions. States should
be urged to ratify those international treaties and to undertake
to comply with the obligations contained therein. States should
be requested to review legislation which affects migration and
trafficking in order to tackle racism and racial discrimination
and/or introduce new legislation.
58.
States should give priority consideration to ratifying without
reservation the principal United Nations conventions and the
major International Labour Organization conventions relating to
migrants, including:
-
The
International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights;
-
The
International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural
Rights;
-
The
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Racial Discrimination;
-
The
Convention on the Elimination of A Forms of
Discrimination against Women;
-
The
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights
of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families;
-
The ILO
Migration for Employment Convention (Revised) (No. 97),
1949;
-
The ILO
Migrant Workers Convention (Supplementary Provisions)
(No. 143), 1975 and the accompanying Migrant Workers
Recommendations(No. 151),1975;
-
The ILO
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No. 182), 1999,
which makes specific reference to trafficking in
children.
59. The World Conference should in particular encourage States
that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination without any reservations or declarations within a
time-bound period. Further, the Seminar welcomed the “universal”
ratification of the Convention of the Rights of the Child and
encouraged Member States to fully implement the provisions
contained therein, without reservations.
60.
Governments were urged to ensure consistent and effective
enforcement of existing international standards regarding the
prohibition of discrimination against minorities and migrants and
to ensure that migrants enjoyed all human rights.
61.
The Seminar recommended that States parties to the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination and the Convention on the Rights of the Child
submit their reports in a timely and comprehensive manner.
In particular, when reporting to the respective committees,
Member States should report more fully on the actual situation of
vulnerable groups, including racial discrimination against
trafficked persons, migrants, women and children.
62.
States parties to the various human rights conventions should
ensure appropriate follow-up to the conclusions, recommendations,
comments and views of the treaty bodies in respect of racism,
trafficking and migrants.
63.
States should ensure that children and families of migrants and
trafficked persons are adequately protected and enjoy fully the
rights contained in the International Convention on the
Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of
Their Families and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
D.
Bilateral, regional and international cooperation
64.
States should be encouraged to establish mechanisms which could
play a positive role at the regional level in fostering racial
tolerance and which could address issues of common concern with
respect to migration policy and practice.
65.
Countries of origin and destination should be encouraged to enter
into additional bilateral agreements that would protect all
migrants, particularly women and children, and would include
preventive measures against possible abuses.
66.
States in the region should promote bilateral, regional and
international cooperation using, whenever possible, existing and
pertinent mechanisms and frameworks such as the Association of
South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Bangkok Accord and Plan of
Action to Combat Trafficking in Women (1998) and the Asian
Regional Initiative against Trafficking in Women and Children
(Manila Declaration, 2000).
67.
States should, wherever appropriate, make efforts to bring into
any other regional forum issues of racism and racial
discrimination in the context of migration and trafficking. In
this regard, regional organizations such as ASEAN, Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC) should initiate or deepen dialogue
and action on these issues. This may include cooperation on law
enforcement procedures, the harmonization of legislation,
information-sharing and modalities of return procedures.
68.
In the implementation of the relevant international conventions,
States may wish to seek technical assistance and cooperation from
one another as well as from specialized agencies and
organizations such as ILO, the International Organization for
Migration (IOM), the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM),
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) and the OHCHR.
E.
Sensitization progammes
69.
The Seminar encouraged the elaboration of sensitization and
capacity-building programmes for educators, social welfare
personnel, and members of the judiciary and police that sensitize
them to provide services and to handle cases in a just and humane
manner and assist them in understanding the social consequences
of migration and trafficking of persons, particularly women and
children.
70.
The Seminar recommended that police and immigration officials
receive training in the application of international human rights
standards such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of
the Child and the International Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Racial Discrimination and that the successful
completion of such training progammes be made one of the criteria
for promotion. In this connection, OHCHR should be invited to
provide the necessary training manuals.
71.
The Seminar noted that increased public awareness would play a
vital and fundamental role in the fight against racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at the
national, regional and international levels. The launching of
educational and training programmes was essential and should
focus on the key notion that the human person, regardless of
race, colour, creed, ethnicity and religion, belongs to the
“whole human family”.
72.
States should be encouraged to involve civil society
organizations in awareness-raising and in the monitoring,
evaluation and implementation of governmental policies and
programmes.
73.
As part of a comprehensive strategy to stem “migrant
trafficking”, receiving countries should be encouraged to
cooperate with the country of origin to conduct culturally and
linguistically sensitive public education campaigns in affected
communities.
74.
Awareness and greater social and political respect for all forms
of diversity and greater recognition of the contributions of
migrants should be encouraged through educational curricula,
community programmes and the mass media.
75.
Solutions to the issues of racism in migration and trafficking
should be formulated in the context of both the countries of
origin and of destination. The role of countries of origin in
educating, informing and assisting its nationals, as well as
instituting effective measures to track, monitor and prosecute
smugglers and traffickers of persons was of paramount importance
in any effort to successfully tackle the issue of racism and
racial discrimination.
76.
Human rights training, anti-racism training and dissemination
were essential to prevent and overcome racist and discriminatory
attitudes and behaviour. They should emphasize ethical attitudes
and conduct. They should be complemented by an
understanding of daily life situations as distinguished from
“ book learning”. Community programmes, such as
voluntary service for young people of different racial and ethnic
backgrounds, were key to promoting cross-cultural empathy and to
countering racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance. They were a crucial part of “learning by doing”.
F.
Best practices
77.
National plans of action should include specific references to a
country’s race relations strategy and its methods for
realizing the benefits of ethnic diversity. National human rights
institutions should collaborate to develop a manual of “best
practices” for combating racism.
78.
The United Nations should compile best practices/models resulting
from projects and programmes undertaken by both Governments and
NGOs in combating racism. A chapter in this compilation
should address racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and
related intolerance manifested in policies and programmes related
to the treatment of victims of trafficking and illegal migration.
Such a compilation should include model legislation, educational
and training materials, and examples of successful media
campaigns.
79.
The Seminar recommended that States in the region, with the
support of NGOs, establish support structures for survivors of
exploitative migration and trafficking both in the country of
destination as well as the country of origin, such as shelters,
skills training, access to legal and health services, and the
possibility of acquiring visa extensions.
80.
The Seminar noted that steps should be taken by States to improve
the database on international migration, on the numbers of those
moving illegally and the characteristics of those being
trafficked.
81.
The Seminar recommended that destination countries closely
re-examine their immigration policies to ensure that there was no
significant mismatch between the demand for labour and the legal
means of recruiting labour.
82.
NGOs should be closely involved not only in implementation but
also in the development of policies against racism and racial
discrimination and related issues of trafficking and migration.
83.
States should place more emphasis on the development of a
strategic approach to combating racism and racial discrimination.
Such a strategy should include a sensitization and education
component and form part of a country’s national plan of
action.
84.
Efforts should be made to promote cooperation and coordination
among international agencies and donors in their activities aimed
particularly at eliminating all forms of discrimination with a
view to maximizing financial and technical resources. Exchanges
of information and experience at the regional level should be
further strengthened, taking into account the role that regional
organizations and the United Nations regional commissions could
play in this regard.
http://www.hri.ca/racism/official/traffick.html
Posted on 2001-08-13
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