ARCHIVES

PEOPLE TRAFFICKING GUIDELINES FOR NGOs LAUNCHED

The Minister for Home Affairs, Bob Debus, has launched the

'Guidelines for NGOs working with trafficked people' in Sydney today

along with the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission,

Catherine Branson QC and the Director of the NGO Anti-Slavery Project, Jennifer Burn.

"Assisting victims to deal with and recover from the trauma

associated with people trafficking presents unique challenges. NGOs

are often the first point of contact for victims, so I'm pleased to

launch this practical resource that will support NGOs in their work."

The guidelines cover key issues including:

* gaining informed consent from a victim before taking action on

their case

* protecting the privacy of victims and treating their cases

confidentially

* the importance of providing culturally appropriate services, and

* the requirement that service providers must also meet

professional/occupational standards and codes of conduct.

"NGOs play a vital role working on the ground to protect the rights

of trafficked people and we have an ethical responsibility to make

sure trafficked people can obtain the information and services they need.

These Guidelines are the gold standard for ethical ways of working

with trafficked people," Ms Burn said.

The Guidelines were developed by a Working Group established at the

first meeting of the National Roundtable on People Trafficking in June 2008.

The Working Group was comprised of Commonwealth Government agencies and nine NGOs chaired by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner,

Elizabeth Broderick.

"It has been a great pleasure to chair the Working Group and to watch

so many committed individuals in action," Ms Broderick said. "These

Guidelines are a testament to how collaboration and goodwill between

NGOs and the government sector can create outcomes that deliver real

protections for the human rights of trafficked people."

"Too often it is those who have suffered the great human rights

violations who face the greatest obstacles securing justice," Ms Branson said. "These Guidelines will be an invaluable tool for the community and welfare groups who work so hard to protect the rights of trafficking victims. The Guidelines for NGOs working with trafficked people can be accessed at http://www.ag.gov.au/peopletrafficking or at

http://www.humanrights.gov.au/sex_discrimination/publication/traffic_

New guidelines to help people trafficking victims

Non-government organisations (NGOs) that help victims of people trafficking have been issued with a new set of guidelines.

The guidelines are designed to ensure trafficked people have their privacy protected and are given full access to culturally appropriate support services.

President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Catherine Branson QC, says they will be a vital resource.

"There is of course no way to undo the abuses experienced by those who are targeted by those who wish to traffic, no way to reclaim the time that they spend in servitude," she said.

"But we can ensure that we can help people who have been trafficked, help them recover from their experiences, obtain information about their legal rights and options, and help them receive the type of respectful and cultural services that they deserve."

Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus says those involved in creating the guidelines could be proud of their efforts.

"Providing the right support to victims, to enable them to recover from their experiences, is something that presents particular challenges to those who work in the field," he said.

"This launch is to recognise the contributions of those organisations and to celebrate the publication of this important practical resource."

Josephite Counter Trafficking Project (JCTP)

The Josephite Counter Trafficking Project (JCTP) is a Congregational Ministry that responds to the needs of people who are trafficked.

Trafficking of persons is a human rights violation with between 700,000 and two million persons being trafficked globally each year. Human trafficking is the second largest source of income globally and Australia is a country of destination.

Men, women and children are brought into Australia under false pretences

and end up in forced labour, including sexual servitude, sweat shops and

work under appalling conditions. They are not free to leave because of fear

of threat or harm to them and/or their families.

Members of the JCTP are Asian women or who have had long experience in Asia or in working in cross cultural situations. They offer flexible culturally-sensitive support to women of Asian origin who have been trafficked into Australia. They also offer collaboration with religious, government and NGO groups involved in providing services.  They offer companionship in mother–tongue language in Chinese, Malaysian, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, and Khmer for women who need this re-assurance.  They can provide culturally-sensitive mentoring to enable women who have been trafficked to Australia to make informed choices. They are developing programs to enable women to develop a sense of self worth. They continue

to develop and maintain grass roots contacts in the Asia-Pacific region so that choices and options for women returning to their country of origin are clearly understood.