A/HRC/17/35
IV.
Conclusions and recommendations
60.
All States of origin, transit or destination have an international legal obligation
to provide remedies for trafficked persons where an act or omission attributable to
them breaches an international obligation. In the context of trafficking, which
involves in most cases the conduct of private persons, it is important to recall that
States are under an obligation to provide remedies for trafficked persons where they
fail to exercise due diligence to prevent and combat trafficking in persons or to protect
the human rights of trafficked persons. The right to an effective remedy is also a
fundamental human right in itself and States have a duty to respect, protect and fulfil
this right. While discussions on the right to an effective remedy for trafficked persons
at the international level often focus on the right to compensation, it is stressed that
other components, such as recovery, restitution, satisfaction and guarantees of nonrepetition, are equally important aspects of a remedy. Viewed from this perspective,
an effective remedy necessarily calls for individually tailored measures, based on a
careful assessment of the best interests of that particular trafficked person.
61.
The importance of implementing this right in a holistic manner has received
peripheral attention by States, which instead tend to focus on criminal justice
responses. Trafficked persons are often seen as “instruments” of criminal
investigation, rather than as holders of rights. In many States, trafficked persons do
not receive remedies in a holistic manner as a matter of right, but are only provided
with ad hoc measures which are effectively by-products of criminal investigation, such
as temporary residence permits contingent upon cooperation with law enforcement
authorities and assistance in recovery which is in turn tied to temporary residence
permits. Trafficked persons are rarely known to have received compensation, as they
are often not provided with the information, legal and other assistance and residence
status necessary to access it. At worst, many trafficked persons are wrongly identified
as irregular migrants, detained and deported before they have an opportunity to even
consider seeking remedies.
62.
In the light of these challenges, the Special Rapporteur submits the draft basic
principles on the right to an effective remedy for trafficked persons in annex I to the
present document. These basic principles are a work in progress, as the Special
Rapporteur intends to continue refining them on the basis of inputs she may receive.
The Special Rapporteur hopes that the basic principles serve as a useful guidance for
States and practitioners on the content and scope of the right to an effective remedy
for trafficked persons and also as indicators of the minimum obligations of States in
the realization of this right.
63.
In the efforts to enhance the implementation of the right to an effective remedy
for trafficked persons, the Special Rapporteur also makes the following
recommendations.
Accurate identification of trafficked persons
64.
States should ensure that relevant authorities and officials, such as police,
border guards, and immigration officials, are adequately trained in the identification
of trafficked persons to allow rapid and accurate identification of trafficked persons.
Proper identification of trafficked persons is the first step in ensuring that trafficked
persons have the opportunity to seek remedies as victims of human rights violations.
17
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