NCJ Number
221299
Date Published
December 2007
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper focuses on the challenges that may confront law enforcement officials in any country in their efforts to detect trafficking, identify victims, investigate offenses, and contribute to the successful prosecution of offenders.
Abstract
Since the entry into force of the U.N. Trafficking Protocol in 2003, 115 countries, including Australia have agreed to a set of key legal obligations relating to trafficking. The entry into force of the U.N. Trafficking Protocol represented a major step forward in the fight against trafficking. In response, many countries have implemented criminal laws against trafficking. However, experience confirms that the introduction of criminal laws is just the first step towards an effective criminal justice response to trafficking. There are many practical challenges for the agencies responsible for implementing and enforcing the anti-trafficking laws, including law enforcement. As individual countries and regions come to terms with the challenges, it is important that lessons learnt are collected, documented and shared. Emerging responses need to be tested and evaluated, so that it is possible to know their impact and effectiveness, thereby making a significant contribution towards the larger effort of securing justice for victims, and ending the impunity of traffickers. Drawing on international experience, some examples of emerging good practice to overcome challenges, and contribute to the effectiveness of the larger criminal justice response to trafficking are identified. References