Publications
Human trafficking and technology: trends, challenges and opportunities
ICAT Issue Brief 07, 07/2019
Technology development has had an important influence on the crime of trafficking in persons, presenting both challenges and opportunities to its prevention and response. While technology is frequently misused to facilitate the commission of the crime, its positive use can also help practitioners combat trafficking, such as by aiding investigations, enhancing prosecutions, raising awareness, and providing services to victims. Taking this into account, future success in eradicating human trafficking, in its many forms, will depend on how countries and societies are prepared for and equipped to harness technology in their response.
Click here for Russian.
Submission to CEDAW’s General Recommendation on Trafficking in Women and Girls in the Context of Global Migration
The Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) welcomes the elaboration of a General Recommendation on Trafficking in Women and Girls in the Context of Global Migration by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
(CEDAW). Achieving gender equality, the empowerment of all women and girls and the realization of their human rights must be at the core of all international policy commitments, as the cornerstone for addressing all forms of violence against women and girls, including human trafficking.
Tasked with ensuring coordination and coherence across the international system to facilitate a holistic and comprehensive approach to preventing and combating trafficking in persons, including protection and support for victims of trafficking, ICAT wishes to offer its support to the Committee in the process of drafting the General Recommendation by identifying priority areas which we hope will inform the drafting of the text.
ICAT welcomes the award of the 2018 Nobel Prize for Peace to Ms. Nadia Murad
ICAT congratulates Nadia Murad on her receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize. Ms. Murad, a UNODC Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking, is the first survivor of trafficking to receive the prize. In addition to the powerful work she has done to raise awareness around trafficking, she helped establish a United Nations investigation into the crimes that she and others endured. Her activism is an inspiring example and an important reminder of the work that must be done to ensure that the voices of survivors and victims of trafficking and sexual slavery are heard and the perpetrators of this crime are brought to justice. Her passionate, persistent, informed, and effective advocacy for victims of trafficking and sexual violence in conflict reflects the importance of survivor leadership in combatting this crime. ICAT advocates for the voices of survivors to be at the center of all policy making and anti-trafficking initiatives. The work of survivors like Nadia should continue to be supported, strengthened and be at the center of all actions to prevent and respond to trafficking in persons.
ICAT facilitates a holistic and comprehensive approach to preventing and combating trafficking in persons, including protection and support for survivors of trafficking. The Group supports providing effective remedies for victims of trafficking and gender-sensitive and survivor-centered approach to addressing the crime.
Trafficking in Children
ICAT Issue Brief 06, 07/2018
- How does trafficking in children differ from trafficking in adults?
- Data snapshot: what is the scale of trafficking in children?
- Child-specific drivers and challenges
- What are ICAT’s recommendations?
Key Activities and Achievements of ICAT: An Overview
This report provides an overview of ICAT’s accomplishments since it was created a decade ago. It was produced at the occasion of the ICAT Principal level meeting which took place in London on 2 May 2018, to reflect on the key achievements of ICAT to date.
ICAT Expertise and Experience in Countering Trafficking in Persons: An Overview of the Mandate and Activities of ICAT Organizations
This paper provides an up-to-date overview of the mandates of ICAT organizations, reflecting evolutions in their mandates, as well as in the international response to trafficking in persons. These organizations collectively represent the relevant United Nations agencies and other international organizations involved in preventing and combating trafficking in persons. It was prepared as a background document for the ICAT Principal Level Meeting which took place in London on 2 May 2018.
The Role of the Sustainable Development Goals in Combatting Trafficking in Persons
ICAT Issue Brief 05, 04/2018
The Issue Brief looks at the context specifically related to the three Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets related to trafficking in persons, Targets 5.2, 8.7, and 16.2. It analyzes how these are interlinked, how they are connected with other SDGs addressing poverty, rule of law, migration, labour issues and education. Finally, the Issue Brief draws attention to the efforts that are already ongoing and the areas that Member States may support to accomplish these goals.
Trafficking in Persons in the Zero Draft of the Global Compact for Migration
Following the release of the zero draft of the Global Compact for Migration on 5 February 2018, this document provides a number of suggestions for consideration by Member States in their discussions going forward.
The Gender Dimensions of Human Trafficking
ICAT Issue Brief 04, 09/2017
- Root cause and risk factors: Why trafficking disproportionally affects women and girls
- Considerations regarding male victims
- Recommendations: A gendered approach to prevention and response to trafficking
Trafficking in Persons and Refugee Status
ICAT Issue Brief 03, 09/2017
Persons who have been trafficked across an international border, in transit or at destination, may be in need of international protection as refugees on the basis of this experience. Ensuring protection against their refoulement and access to procedures which can determine their refugee status is therefore critical. Despite this, victims of trafficking continue to face barriers in receiving the assistance and protection they need, not only as victims of trafficking, but also as potential refugees. This issue brief clarifies the relationship between refugee status and trafficking in persons across a number of situations and provides recommendations on what States can do to ensure that victims of trafficking have access to international protection as refugees where they need it.