Citation

Oxman-Martines J, Hanley J, Gómez F. Int. Migr. 2005; 43(4): 7-27.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration [and] Research Group for European Migration Problems)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article describes Canadian government policy and practice surrounding human trafficking since the adoption of the United Nations (UN) Protocol on Trafficking in 2000. In particular, the discussion reviews and critically analyzes Canada's efforts in the three key areas of the UN protocol: prevention of human trafficking, protection of trafficking victims, and the prosecution of traffickers. Overall, some progress has been made in Canadian policy responses. The government began by developing and implementing its tools for the prosecution of traffickers, thereby responding to most of the prosecution recommendations of the UN protocol. Different government agencies are also coordinating their efforts to implement prevention projects, both in source countries and at home, including awareness-raising campaigns, education campaigns, and policy development collaborations. However, the more structural elements of prevention have yet to be adequately addressed. Finally, without shifting their basic border control framework, Canadian government agencies are in the process of improving the protection of trafficking victims who are intercepted in law enforcement operations or who come forward for help. These protection measures would be strengthened if migrants' rights were explicitly protected by law--something that has failed to occur given the recent prioritization of crime and security. The formal protection of victims, as implemented to some degree in several European and American policies, is introduced for comparison.

Language: en