A/HRC/29/38
and Human Rights in 2013.25 The mandate has also developed a draft checklist of indicators
and benchmarks that enterprises could use to assess the risks of human trafficking and
forced labour in their supply chains. They are intended to build on and complement the
Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, as well as existing important initiatives
developed by enterprises themselves and civil society organizations (see
A/HRC/23/48/Add.4).
68.
The Special Rapporteur will continue to build on the work of the mandate in that
field and capitalize on the momentum created by new legislation and initiatives from
businesses and civil society to free the supply chains from trafficking, forced labour and
slavery. On the basis of her global mandate, international standing and expertise on issues
relating to trafficking in persons, the Special Rapporteur intends to continue engaging with
businesses in order to encourage the establishment and effective implementation of selfregulatory action (codes of conduct and other similar mechanisms) by the private sector,
with the aim of increasing awareness of the risks that trafficking entails, and encouraging
them to take action to eradicate trafficking from their supply chains. That would entail the
mandate holder bringing together businesses in a number of selected sectors to exchange
experiences and practices among themselves, review their assessment protocols through the
lens of trafficking prevention, pilot the use of the benchmarks and indicators and encourage
multi-stakeholder initiatives, where they exist, to operationalize the responsibility of
businesses to respect human rights.26
VI. Method of work
69.
In undertaking her activities, the Special Rapporteur will endeavour to adopt a
participatory approach, in the form of consultations and constructive dialogue with all
stakeholders, including victims of trafficking, civil society and the private sector.
A.
Country visits
70.
The Special Rapporteur will continue to undertake country visits to help ground the
mandate’s understanding of the problem of trafficking in national realities and to forge
relationships with those on the front line, while also providing States and their partners with
an opportunity to access information, expertise and insight. The factors to be taken into
account in selecting country visits are varied and in doing so the Special Rapporteur will
follow the usual criteria of special procedures mechanisms.27
71.
During those visits, she will focus on the nature of the trafficking problem, the key
human rights issues and the effectiveness of institutional, legal, judicial, administrative and
other mechanisms to protect those rights. She will ensure that her country visits are widely
consultative, involving government officials; victim support agencies and, where
appropriate, victims; members of the judiciary and parliamentarians; members of United
Nations country offices; and international and non-governmental organizations in the
country concerned.
72.
In the ensuing reports on her visits, she will highlight the major issues of concern to
the mandate; forms and manifestations of trafficking; the legislative and institutional
25
26
27
18
Available from www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Business/ForumSession2/A-HRC-FBHR-20134_en.pdf.
OHCHR, Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011).
Manual of Operations of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council (August 2008).
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