A/HRC/29/38
ECOWAS Initial Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons (2002–2003). Subsequent
plans of action against trafficking in persons have also been adopted. Moreover, the
ECOWAS and Economic Community of Central African States biregional Plan of Action
to Combat Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (2006–2009), the related
resolution and a multilateral cooperation agreement have further strengthened subregional
initiatives to curb trafficking. The biregional Plan of Action reaffirmed the ECOWAS
Initial Plan of Action and extended efforts to combat trafficking into the Central African
region. In addition, the Southern African Development Community Plan of Action to
combat trafficking in persons, the revised African Union Plan of Action on Drug Control
and Crime Prevention (2007–2012 and 2013–2017) can be cited as examples of subregional
initiatives. Joint cooperation between intergovernmental organizations, such as between the
United Nations and the African Union, in the Asian-African Legal Consultative
Organization or within the Commonwealth can be cited as joint actions to address human
trafficking.21
V. Agenda-setting
48.
Building upon the work of her predecessors, and in accordance with Human Rights
Council resolution 26/8, the Special Rapporteur aims to (a) promote the prevention of
trafficking in persons in all its forms and the adoption of effective measures to uphold and
protect the human rights of victims of trafficking in persons; (b) promote the effective
application of relevant international norms and standards and contribute to their further
improvement; (c) identify, share and promote good practices in order to uphold and protect
the human rights of victims of trafficking in persons and to identify protection gaps,
including with regard to the identification of victims of trafficking in persons; and (d)
examine the impact of national, regional and international anti-trafficking measures on the
human rights of victims of trafficking in persons with a view to proposing adequate
responses to challenges.
49.
To that end, the Special Rapporteur will advocate a human rights-based and victimcentred approach to promote and protect the human rights of victims of trafficking,
especially women and children, guided by international human rights law and standards,
including the OHCHR Recommended Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and
Human Trafficking.
50.
The Special Rapporteur will adopt a gendered perspective on trafficking which
acknowledges that both women and men can be involved in trafficking and provides a
better understanding of how to address the similarities and differences in the trafficking
experience of women and men. In her work, she plans to pay particular attention to
understanding the characteristics of trafficking crimes from a gender perspective to ensure
the adoption of targeted measures. A gender perspective is necessary to understand why
women constitute the majority of victims of trafficking in certain sectors, and why men are
less likely to be identified as victims of trafficking and less likely to be reached by existing
support measures for trafficked persons. In addition, the compounded effects of various
types of exploitation which affect women disproportionately should be examined. For
instance, in the agriculture sector, women trafficked for labour exploitation who work in the
fields during the day are often sexually exploited at night by fellow workers and/or brokers
and intermediaries.
51.
Finally, the Special Rapporteur will be guided by the best interests of the child in all
actions concerning trafficked girls and boys, whether undertaken by public or private
21
14
A/HRC/10/16, paras. 24 and 25.
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