NCJ Number
213703
Date Published
December 2005
Length
35 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses the key issues concerning the trafficking in and violence against women and girls and explores the potential of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to reduce trafficking in and violence against women and girls.
Abstract
Eradication efforts focused on trafficking in and violence against women and girls call for a multisectoral, integrated approach that combines prevention with personal empowerment and awareness raising. It is recommended that men and boys be enlisted in efforts to reduce son preference and violence against women. Work to reduce the demand-side of trafficking in women and girls should also be undertaken to realize reductions in trafficking supply. Poverty reduction efforts and efforts to reduce all forms of workplace discrimination and exploitation are also recommended components in the strategy to reduce human trafficking problems and violence against women. The CEDAW provides the framework for promoting equality between men and women by ensuring women’s equal access to opportunities in political and public life as well as equal access to education, health care, and employment. Moreover, the CEDAW is the only human rights treaty that affirms the reproductive rights of women and recognizes the influence of culture and tradition in shaping gender roles and family relations. Countries that ratify the CEDAW are legally obligated to put its provisions in place and submit reports every 4 years on the measures taken to comply with the CEDAW. The main problems with the CEDAW are that it links trafficking to prostitution only and it does not clearly define trafficking. A more comprehensive approach to the elimination of trafficking in and violence against women can be achieved by combining the CEDAW with the United Nations Convention on Transnational, Organized Crime, which does clearly define human trafficking. Policies, plans, and actions toward the eradication of human trafficking should also follow the United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Trafficking to ensure the protection of human rights. In addition to discussing trafficking reduction strategies, this paper provides an overview of the human trafficking problem, particularly in the Asia-Pacific Region. Footnotes