Combatting Human Trafficking
The People for Change Foundation promotes a rights based approach to counter-trafficking focusing on the development of law, policy and capacity. Our work, as with work in other areas focuses on research, lobbying and capacity building.
Human trafficking is an unacceptable violation of fundamental human rights, an affront to human dignity and a serious crime. It is a complex international phenomenon and as such needs to be addressed with a global, comprehensive approach. Its multi-dimensionality requires coordination and a multi-agency approach at different levels (national, regional, international).
Our involvement is based on the desire to contribute to the development of consistent and effective anti-trafficking policies based on a human rights, gender, age, and cultural sensitive approach and with a multi-stakeholder, holistic, and integrated perspective. We hope to contribute to evidence based policy making in the area.
PfC holds that:
- The preferred approach to counter-trafficking is the rights based approach which places the trafficked person at the centre of all efforts whilst allowing for the protection of trafficked persons, the prosecution of traffickers and the prevention of further trafficking.
- All forms of exploitation are to be addressed equally and without distinction. This includes, as a non exhaustive list, exploitation in the sex industry, exploitation through forced labour and servitude, exploitation through begging or illegal activities as well as through the removal of organs.
- Policy coherence and cooperation amongst all stakeholders, including NGOs, is critical to the effective management of the phenomenon and the achievement of the requisite results.
- Assistance and protection have to be provided to any trafficked or presumed trafficked person irrespective whether they decide to cooperate with the investigative authorities. Trafficked persons should also be granted access to residence permits assisted with social inclusion. All assistance and social inclusion services have to be provided on a voluntary basis, in a non-discriminatory and non-judgmental manner and in compliance with international human rights norms. Above all, respect for privacy, confidentiality, self-determination and freedom of movement must be ensured.
- Empowerment of trafficked persons and their participation in determining assistance and social inclusion programs is crucial and should be ensured by all stakeholders.
PROMOTING A RIGHTS BASED APPROACH TO COUNTER-TRAFFICKING WHICH PLACES TRAFFICKED PERSONS AT THE HEART OF ALL ANTI-TRAFFICKING MEASURES AND INITIATIVES
Ongoing Work
- Raising awareness of the differences (albeit the potential overlaps) between human trafficking and migrant smuggling
- Ongoing monitoring of human trafficking policies and prevalence in Malta and across the European Union
- Trafficking Policy Assessment Framework - the development of a policy analysis tool to assess national and regional efforts to combat human trafficking.
- Building capacity by sharing knowledge, research and information with all relevant stakeholders, not least through a trafficking specific page on the Malta Human Rights Library.
Past Work
- ASSESS: Assessing the Integration of Vulnerable Migrant Groups, which looked at the integration of, amongst others, Trafficked Persons
- Lobbying and advocacy on trafficking issues, including by highlighting trafficking as a key concern in our submissions to the Human Rights Consultation
- Research on the Communities Vulnerable to Child Trafficking in Malta
- Participation in the European NGO Observatory on Trafficking, Exploitation and Slavery including carrying out the national research – this was the first (and remains the only) NGO assessment of Malta’s counter-trafficking efforts. This is available here.
- Participation in ENPATES platform
- Participation in US Department of State International Visitor Leadership Programme on Trafficking in Persons
- Members of the National Training Team on Human Trafficking - coordinated by the International Organization for Migration
Research on the Communities Vulnerable to Child Trafficking in Malta
The People for Change Foundation has carried out research on behalf of KOPIN Malta as part of the Catch and Sustain Project. Our role is to carry out a literature review on vulnerability to child trafficking in Malta and to map out national initiatives and guidelines aimed at combatting human trafficking. Research outputs are presented at the multi-stakeholder meetings organized by KOPIN Malta. The research outputs will be uploaded on this website when finalised. The first presentation is available here.
The Team:
The team at The People for Change Foundation has specific expertise on the issue of human trafficking gained through academic research and studies as well as experience working in the area. We also work with a number of consultants and partners from across a wide spectrum of areas. To find out more about the team’s expertise contact us on [email protected]. The People for Change Foundation is also looking for interns to join our Anti-Trafficking Policy team. Check out the internships page for more information.
