A/HRC/24/43
successful example of specialized training, with its mobile inspections unit comprised of
representatives from across government enforcement agencies.
64.
Government measures to ensure that victims receive full protection and support
when they are identified are also important. Such measures guarantee that perpetrators do
not retaliate against victims for reporting abuses and help those victims to feel safe
whenever they do report. Victims and their family members may be provided with safe
houses, protection services and legal assistance. To this end, some countries have
established specific protections for workers. For example, in Guatemala, article 10 of the
Labour Code prohibits any form of reprisals against workers that are intended to completely
or partially restrict them from exercising their legal rights.
65.
In addition to identifying and protecting victims, Governments have also taken steps
to rehabilitate them and reintegrate them into communities and labour markets. Victims
may need psychological counselling to overcome the trauma they have experienced; they
may also need compensation, social support, job training, social welfare and assistance with
finding new employment to ensure that they do not fall prey to slavery again.
66.
Nevertheless, Government-run rehabilitation and reintegration efforts are not always
effective. In these cases, other stakeholders can offer assistance. Unions and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in sending and receiving countries have cooperated in
order to facilitate the reintegration of victims when return home. In Nepal, where
government reintegration services have been limited, two NGOs rehabilitate and reintegrate
returned migrant workers. Pouraki Nepal was initiated by women migrant workers, while
Pravasi Nepali Coordination Committee advocates for the rights of male migrants. Incountry research in Nepal also indicates that a new foundation to aid migrant workers has
been established, with a free training centre in Kathmandu that helps rehabilitate and
reintegrate returned migrant workers, including a counselling centre for female returnees.
E.
Multi-stakeholder initiatives
67.
In cases in where Governments are unwilling or unable to take action to combat
contemporary forms of slavery or where complex problems require the coordinated action
of multiple stakeholders, new initiatives have been formed to tackle these issues. While
national authorities are the primary entities responsible for combating slavery, other
stakeholders have recently emerged to aid their efforts, including intergovernmental
organizations, unions, NGOs and companies.
68.
ILO followed this up in October 2008 with the publication of its handbook for
employers on Combating Forced Labour, which sought to “encourage a broad partnership
approach to the fight against forced labour and trafficking through the active engagement of
business actors in global action” (p. 7).
69.
Unions have also been active in combating contemporary forms of slavery. For
example, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) established a best practice
manual for trade unions on How to Combat Forced Labour and Trafficking in order to
“provide trade unionists and other interested individuals and organisations with a useful
tool for increasing awareness of what forced labour is and how it can be effectively
challenged”.45
70.
A large number of NGOs have taken up the fight against contemporary forms of
slavery and engaged other stakeholders to successfully do so. For example, Anti-Slavery
International has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ITUC in order to form a
45
ITUC, How to Combat Forced Labour and Trafficking: Best practices manual for trade unions,
(Brussels, 2009), p. 10.
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