Human Trafficking in the Russian Federation

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• Human Trafficking in the Russian Federation

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What is Human Trafficking?

• Trafficking consists of all acts involved in the
  recruitment or transportation of persons within
  or across borders, involving deception, coercion
  or force, debt bondage, or fraud for the purpose
  of placing persons in situations of abuse or
  exploitation.
• - UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children

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Human Trafficking in Russia

• Common Types of Human Trafficking in Russia
• Labour Exploitation e.g. slave labour in shadow
  economy, domestic situations
• Sexual Exploitation e.g. forced prostitution,
  sex tourism, pornography
• Begging particularly attracting children,
  disabled, elderly

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Human Trafficking in Russia

• Common Methods of Exploitation
• Involuntary provision of sexual services
• Involuntary servitude
• Confiscation and retention of documents
• Use of debt dependency
• Restriction of movement

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Root Causes of Human Trafficking

• Poverty
• Shadow economy and organised crime
• Weak social infrastructure
• Limited migration legislation and regulation
• Corruption
• Limited legislative and judicial responses
• Gender discrimination

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High Risk Groups

• People living in poverty
• Poorly educated
• Illegal migrant workers
• Substance abusers
• Children without parental care
• Victims of other forms of exploitation or
  violence
• Women and children face the highest risk within
  these groups.

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Effects of Human Trafficking

• Risk of trauma and mental health effects
• Risk to physical health including exposure to
  HIV/AIDS and other STIs
• Loss of Education
• Involvement in substance abuse and/or criminal
  activity

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Scale of the Problem

• Sexual Exploitation
• Russian women have been trafficked to at least 50
  different countries (US State Department TIP
  Report, 2006)
• Labour Exploitation
• Approximately half a million illegal migrants
  face conditions bordering on human trafficking
  (ILO, 2004)

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Trafficking Routes
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Russia as a Destination Country
Ukraine and Moldova The Caucasus Central
Asia China

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Russia as an Origin Country
Baltic Route Central European Route Caucasus
Route Middle East Route Balkan Route Far East
Route
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Russia as a Transit Country
Transit Route
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Internal Trafficking in Russia
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Trafficking as a Human Rights Issue

• An effective response to trafficking must include
  a human rights approach
• Recognising trafficking as a violation of the
  rights of the individual
• Implementing a response that is victim-centred
• Paying primary attention to the situation and
  interests of victims of trafficking
• Addressing trafficking from a gender perspective

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Trafficking from a Gender Perspective

• Intervention addressing women exclusively are
  not necessarily gender-sensitive. They often view
  differences between men and women as natural and
  unchangeable, reinforce discriminatory
  stereotypes, and ultimately further disadvantage
  women.
• Trafficking in Persons A Gender Rights
  Perspective

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Current Responses to Trafficking

• In addressing the issue of trafficking, there
  are 3 key areas of intervention
• Prosecution
• Protection
• Prevention

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Current Responses - Prosecution

• International Palermo Protocol
• Russia ratified March 2004
• Prosecution under Russias anti-trafficking
  provisions Criminal Code articles 127.1 127.2
• Limited number of cases opened, even fewer
  sentences
• Classification of crime changed during
  investigation
• Even in courts classification sometimes
  disregarded

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Current Responses - Protection

• Providing protection and assistance to victims
• The limited available assistance is provided
  primarily by NGOs international organisations
• Witness Protection Law passed March 2005
• Inadequately financed
• New approaches without tested mechanisms
• More effective responses require greater
  collaboration among government agencies NGOs

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Current Responses - Prevention

• Enhancing awareness and knowledge about human
  trafficking
• Mass Media
• Reporters often emphasise sensational elements
• Focus on trafficking for sexual exploitation
• As a result
• Potential Victims do not obtain needed
  information
• Reports do not provide comprehensive analysis of
  the process or possible solutions

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Current Responses - Prevention

• Training of Specialists
• More common and developed specialised education
  programmes targeted towards law enforcement
• Key Challenge Provide systemic sustainable
  training programmes and information

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Summary of Key Issues

• Russia origin, transit destination country
  for human trafficking, and internal trafficking
  also exist.
• Men, women and children all face risks of being
  trafficked
• Russias existing responses do not sufficiently
  guarantee human rights and victim-centred
  principles

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Summary of Key Issues

• Legislation law enforcement currently do not
  effectively combat human trafficking
• Special protection needs of children are not
  considered under the current law.
• Lack of institutionalised collaboration between
  civil society organisations government agencies
  in combatting human trafficking

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Conclusion

• Significant efforts have been made by the
  Government and civil society to address human
  trafficking.
• However, a comprehensive and multi-sectoral
  approach still needs to be developed.
• Any effective strategy requires communication
  between all community members including the
  Government, civil society, businesses, and
  international organisations.